Carl F. Bucherer pays homage to the 1960s with a brand-new Heritage Chronometer Celebration collection. This retro-futuristic series of limited editions finds its inspiration in a historic timepiece that is being brought back into the limelight for lovers of the sixties style. The historic model marked a pivotal point for the brand at the time of its release as the company was rapidly expanding internationally and introducing a progressive new aesthetic.
Sixties watch fashion
The sixties were an exciting time in terms of design, fashion and culture. It was an era of profound cultural and social change with the counterculture movement, the civil rights movement, and free love. It was a time for breaking fashion codes with long hair for men, flared trousers, tie-dye t-shirts, and more. The music scene was marked by the arrival of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Janice Joplin to name a few. In terms of watches, designs became more sleek with dials that featured a less-is-more aesthetic with thin indexes, instead of Arabic numerals, and lugs that were faceted.
From the past to the future
The new version of the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Celebration Collection is inspired by the original model but is altogether different at the same time. Firstly, the all-yellow-gold aesthetic has been swapped for a choice of 18-karat rose gold or stainless steel cases, which are accompanied by dials in a silver galvanized finish, brown gradient or black lacquer. Secondly, the hands and indexes have also been redesigned to be more prominent with chunkier, gold-plated, squared-off, and facetted angles that have been enhanced with black lacquer and SuperLumiNova, bringing a more modern touch to the timepieces. Although quite different from the original, these new versions all respect the simple, utilitarian aesthetic that made this model such a hit over 60 years ago.
All the details: inside and out
The timepieces come with the choice of a 38 mm, 18-karat rose gold or stainless steel case and feature the 1960s-era Bucherer family crest on the caseback with an image of a swan and a beech tree (the symbols of Lucerne), and the date of the manufacture’s foundation in 1888. The watch is water resistant to 100 metres and is powered by a COSC-certified automatic movement – the Calibre 1965 – that powers the hours, minutes, seconds, and date, and comes with a 42-hour power reserve.
Limited editions
The models are limited to 88 pieces each for the rose gold versions and 188 for the stainless steel models, and they come on matching mesh bracelets with a quick-release system, which further champion the 1960s design.
This reborn Heritage Chronometer Celebration connects the brand to the past while taking it firmly into the future. And just as the original model marked a turning point in the brand’s history, so does this new version to some extent, as the watchmaker will shortly be unveiling its new strategy at an exclusive event in Munich. WorldTempus will be there, of course, and will report back with more news from the brand very soon, so stay tuned for more.
