The glamour of the Art Deco age has always had a timeless appeal, especially when expressed through watchmaking. For those who appreciate elegance and refinement, explore our top Art Deco-inspired picks.
1. Hamilton American Classic Boulton Small Second Quartz
Hamilton may be celebrated for its field and pilot’s watches, but the brand also knows how to deliver pure elegance. Just look at the Art Deco-inspired American Classic Boulton, a true icon of sophistication.
With its striking rectangular case and classic white dial boasting crisp Roman numerals and a small second counter, this watch is unmistakably distinctive.
With quartz reliability at its core, sapphire glass to protect it, and a fine leather strap to embrace your wrist, the Hamilton American Classic Boulton exudes a subdued luxury.
2. Echo/neutra Rivanera Black
Echo/neurtra channels Art Deco elegance through a contemporary lens with the Rivanera. Compact at 27mm and unapologetically minimalist, it’s a watch that stands out by keeping things simple.
Stripped back to essentials: a logo, a seconds counter, and a railway track, the Rivanera turns simplicity into its statement style.
Weighing only 21 grams thanks to its sandblasted titanium case, the watch offers unmatched comfort. Powering it is an ETA 7001 manual-wind calibre, visible through the exhibition case back, giving a window into Swiss precision at its finest.
3. Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Eggshell
Adding its voice to the Art Deco revival movement, Nivada Grenchen brings forward the Antarctic 35mm, a compact yet striking watch that captures the charm of a bygone era.
With its creamy eggshell dial and bold Art Deco numerals at 12,3,6 and 9 o’clock, the Antarctic captures vintage charm at a glance. Arrowhead-style hour markers complete the layout. All indexes are filled with white Super-LumiNova for superior clarity and visibility.
Powering the Antarctic 35mm is the hand-wound Laderon 21 movement, offering a 36-hour power reserve and a tactile connection to traditional watchmaking. Flip the watch over, and you’ll find an embossed penguin on a gold medallion, honouring the watch’s deep ties to exploration.
4. Baltic HMS 002 Black
Few brands do vintage-inspired designs with the finesse of Baltic. Its Art Deco-influenced models are a nod to an era that never goes out of fashion.
The HMS 002, featured here, pays homage to 1940s aesthetics, with a sector dial that’s all about subtle contrasts. A sandy matte centre draws the eye inward, while the brushed, circular chapter ring adds a sense of structure to the overall scene.
The HMS 002 also features clean dauphine hands and large Arabic numerals that make time-telling a visual delight. The watch runs on the dependable Miyota 8315 and is offered with a green leather strap that adds a fresh twist to the vintage-inspired design.
5. Furlan Marri Disco Volante - Havana Disco
Drawing on the refined geometry of Art Deco from the 1930s and 1950s, the Furlan Marri Disco Volante makes a dazzling impression on anyone who lays eyes on it.
Here, the sector dial is reimagined with a creamy white central zone and a vibrant chapter ring dotted with precise markers. Overlapping both sections is a small seconds counter at 6 o’clock, lending the dial a touch of dynamic symmetry.
Glowing subtly around the chapter ring and central part, the Super-LumiNova contours offer both legibility and visual interest. Underlying all of this is the Peseux 7001 manual-wind calibre, which is visible through the exhibition caseback.
Can’t decide which one of these watches has your name in it? Swing by our Discovery Watch Studio on Collins Street, Melbourne, and try them all on for size. Plus, several models come in different colour schemes that might just tip the scales.
