WATCH & JEWELRY /
SIHH＆BASEL
March 26, 2015
GUCCI: A masterful fusion of the brand's iconic heritage and design, with the substance of a truly exceptional timepiece.
GUCCI｜Gucci
Gucci's Traditional Brand Icons and Designs
A Richly Satisfying Core, Truly Befitting a Serious Watch
In recent years, Gucci has been quietly gaining the attention of watch enthusiasts by developing timepieces that rival and even surpass the quality and detail of dedicated watchmaking brands.GucciIn 2011, the year the brand celebrated its 90th anniversary, Gucci garnered attention with collections that incorporated its traditional design icons—such as the green-red-green web stripe and the Diamante pattern—more than ever before, including commemorative models.
Reporting and text by Yasuhito Shibuya
Quality Uncompromisingly on Par with Dedicated Watch Brands
The quality of watches from fashion houses has been remarkable in recent years. While their design prowess and ability to propose styles that resonate with the times have always far surpassed those of dedicated watch brands, what truly deserves praise is the quality beyond mere aesthetics. Through the involvement of watchmaking professionals in planning, development, and manufacturing, the internal mechanisms—specifically the movement's grade, manufacturing technology, and know-how—have dramatically advanced. This has resulted in "serious timepieces" that retain their appeal for years and are indistinguishable from the products of specialized watch brands. Gucci's recent watch collections are exemplary of this trend. The brand's quality has seen a dramatic improvement, not only due to the exceptional design skills of Creative Director Frida Giannini but also thanks to the appointment of Michele Sofisti, formerly of Omega and Swatch, as Director of the Watch and Jewelry division.
Designs Skillfully Incorporating Brand Assets
The 2011 new releases, spearheaded by the 90th-anniversary collection, are superb examples of the fusion of a prestigious fashion maison's outstanding design capabilities and the expertise of watchmaking professionals. Among these, we first recommend the "Gucci Coupé" sports watch. Its square case, with rounded edges achieved through sandblasting, is designed and colored to evoke the styles of the 1960s, adding a vintage touch to current trends. While both the 90th-anniversary model with an automatic movement and the regular models with quartz movements are appealing, we would first recommend the regular model's sports version to OPENERS readers. The "G-Timeless" collection, with its round case, offers not only impeccable functional design as a sports watch but also features Gucci's icons in a truly captivating and exquisite manner. Both are timepieces that you'll want to purchase without hesitation.
Gucci Coupé
An appealing design and color palette exuding a subtle vintage charm
The case, with its distinctive Gucci shape and落ち着き (calmness) achieved through a sandblush finish, features the traditional Diamante pattern, G motif, and green-red-green web stripe on its face with a big date complication. It harmonizes beautifully with the strap made of punched calfskin. The combination of this cobalt blue dial and white punched calfskin strap, in particular, exudes a perfect vintage feel that is ideal for wearing right now. Other variations include a black dial with a black punched calfskin strap, a white dial with a white strap featuring the green-red-green stripe, a black dial with a stainless steel bracelet, and a brown dial with a stainless steel bracelet. Additionally, for the brand's 90th anniversary, two models are available featuring Dubois Dépraz automatic movements with small seconds and date counters, recommended for watch connoisseurs.
Quartz movement, 40mm square sandblasted stainless steel case, white calfskin strap, 5 ATM water resistance, ¥110,250. Scheduled for release in May.
G-Timeless Sport
A fresh combination of black case and Gucci strap
This is a sharp and novel sports watch, featuring a black PVD-coated stainless steel case paired with a strap made of ultra-resistant nylon adorned with the green-red-green web motif. The Diamante pattern and G monogram shadow at the center of the dial subtly yet assertively proclaim that this is indeed a Gucci sports watch, enhancing the joy of wearing it. You can also choose models with a white dial and a white-based strap with the green-red-green web motif, a black and red dial with a black PVD-coated case and bracelet, or a white dial with a stainless steel case and bracelet.
Quartz movement, 44mm diameter stainless steel case, nylon bracelet, 10 ATM water resistance, ¥122,850. Scheduled for release in July.
Luxury Timepieces Japan
Tel. 03-5766-2030
www.guccitimeless.com