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Give the gift of a positive future. The watchmaking industry has a long history of adapting to an ever-changing landscape, and recent times are no exception. Cutting-edge design and groundbreaking innovations prove the future of watchmaking remains bright—no matter what the stars have in store. http://www.esquire.com/style/g3152/the-19-best-timepieces-to-give-the-futuristic-watch-lover/  Watches with a little history don't have to look like boring antiques. That's why we've rounded up 16 timepieces with serious staying power. The DNA is drawn from the past, but the features and looks are entirely contemporary. http://www.esquire.com/style/news/g3150/classic-watch-gift-guide/  Progress in the world of design is important for a reason: It makes our lives better. Innovative thinking leads to smarter resources, greater sustainability, and hopefully, more beautiful surroundings. At the recent Design Miami Fair, New York-based SHoP Architects were this year's recipients of the Panerai Design Miami/Visionary Award.   For Chinese artist Sun Xun, the existential questions explored in his artwork are the same existential questions he asks of himself. What is time? What is forever? What is history? What is the future? What is now? http://www.esquire.com/style/news/a51263/audemars-piguet-sun-xun-art-basel-miami-beach/  At the invitation of luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, a site-specific artwork called "Reconstruction of the Universe" was unveiled for the second Audemars Piguet Art Commission at Art Basel in Miami this past weekend. It may not immediately seem like a natural pairing, but these compelling time-related concepts are shared by AP—a reflection upon the rapidly changing future of complicated fine watches. What seems to be a highly conceptual connection slowly reveals an important similarity between the artist and watchmaker. Imagine a top fashion designer showing a collection that barely changes from one season to the next. For an industry built on change, it would be a radical concept. By definition, trends come and go, but Rolex believes in the opposite. Consistency equates to reliability, with the brand's fabled attention to detail being its key to success. A former company slogan, "A crown for every achievement," sums up Rolex accurately: No other watchmaker commands this level of popular recognition or manufactures a product that's viewed as a tangible symbol of success by a huge swath of the world.  In the pantheon of luxury goods, Rolex has a unique spot: The word conjures up not a logo or a covetable item, but rather the very idea of a beautifully made and enduring timepiece. It is nearly synonymous with the word heirloom, and for that reason, the watchmaker has earned an enormous and loyal following around the world. For many, buying new gives them instant access to this legacy, but collectors and connoiseurs want something more, a watch with history as well as pedigree. The value of rare models reaches stratospheric heights at some of the biggest auction houses in the world. Phillips, Sotheby's, Christie's, and Antiquorum have all set records prices for notable Rolex watches that have come up for auction.  |
AuthorStephen Watson is a freelance stylist and watch editor. Archives
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