Which watch best defines the 1990's for you? Being a kid of that era, it was a mixture of F-91W, Omega SMP300 & 16613 Submariner for me 🥃 - Honourable Mentions - Breguet Type XX Aeronavale 3800 • Roger Dubuis Sympathie
The Casio G-Shock along with Casio’s pilot and dive watches. They dominated across the different military services here in the USA. They were rugged and reliable while being easy to afford and obtain. Lots of memories!
@@alvinmick218 G-Shocks, untouchable. I still remember how practically every kid had F-91W's all through grade school. The DW's did crop up as a teenager. Ah, love it 🥃
Where the love for Timex? I had a Timex Marathon....take that over a crappy f91w any day of the week. Timex Ironman have outclassed g- shocks for functionality, legibility, back light, cost and dare I say it come bloody close on durability as well. And their not as huge and ugly. 😂 @@ID-Guy
👏 Please CONTINUE this series. I'm very interested to see the '70's, '80's and '00's but would also like to see all decades going both backwards and forwards. Nice work.
@@ID-Guy I have a TAG-Heuer Formula 1 all black that I recently acquired because Mel Gibson as Riggs wore one in the first "Lethal Weapon" movie and it's also the first appearance of the TAG-Heuer logo. It was a lot of fun to see it in your video, even though you weren't able to get good quality video of an original.
The Rolex Submariner 14060M (two liner dial) is peak 90s. Such a underrated watch in my opinion. No dial clutter, the old proportions, a alloy bezel insert and tritium lume.
Just as the "M" was included, spot-on. Such a great piece... between that and the GMT of the time, finding a Birth Year model is a still on that bucket list of mine 🥃
Tag Heuer was THE watch brand that got me into watches in the mid/late 90’s. My engagement present from my now wife was a 34mm quartz Tag SEL, in two tone with brushed steel and polished yellow gold. The curved bracelet links sure gave it a unique look… it now stays in the back of my watch case as a reminder to simpler times, and was where it all started in terms of watch collecting. 😊
I may have been ahead of my time. I wore my 6139 for 30 years when I saw my 2254 in a display case in 2000. Fell in love instantly! Wore it for 2 years then went on vacation to Florence in '02. Spotted my first PAM on a wrist, was smitten again, asked the guy where he got it and raced to the boutique and bought one. Paid $1,100. The only 3 watches I would never part company with.
Great selection of some of my favorite watches. I think the Citizen NY004 would have deserved an honourable mention as it was very popular and worn by many.
I'd add the Citizen Promaster "Lefty". Introduced a year after the SKX the originals (now dwindling supplies) and uprated modern versions that Citizen had the sense to introduce rather than cancelling the watch as Seiko did with the SKX are available at very reasonable prices. I'm not sure if it's the cheapest ISO rated automatic diver available but it has to be the cheapest with that kind of heritage.
Casio DW400 Tachymeter. ❤️ Exceptional video as always. I've been in the Blancpain Leman Chronograph for a few months now too. If I pull the trigger, it's in the post to you! 🥃😉👍 Hope you're well sir. The FXD looks incredible on the blue NATO by the way!
Loved this edition IDG, you curated a great cross section. One i'd add is a Tag Heuer SEL, preferably a two tone with that crazy bracelet. One day it'll come roaring back into fashion, the same way flared jeans do from time to time 😂
As always, another great video and of course I had a smile as it just so happens that I’m wearing my Omega Seamaster 300 M today. I believe it is just as relevant and there I say beautiful as it was when it first was introduced. It was a great look back at a truly wonderful time in our history. Thank you so much.
My younger brother has the original James Bond Seamaster Prof 300 where Pierce Brosnan wore while beating up baddies..I own the new version but the original definitely had a lot of charm and nostalgia….cheers ID Guy!
I wasn’t born in the 90’s (born in the early 00’s), for me the watch that defines the 1990’s would definitely be the Rolex GMT Master II 16710, specifically the coke bezel. Classic proportions, “jingly jangly” bracelet, tritium lume, and aluminum bezel; perfection. Oh and the ads with Chuck Yeager on them, just insanely cool!
Coke Bezel was so, so close to being another Rolex added. It was one watches I really weighed up and thought about. Call me a nutter, but I see it as that "late 80's" model, right in that gap before the the 90's. I'll be sure to include it in my 80's roundup (along with the Day Date of course 😉)
My second big watch purchase was a Blancpain Leman Flyback Chrono Big date, I saw it in a boutique in NYC in about 2005, and totally fell in love, when I found one used for under £3,000 in 2008 I bought it instantly, it was my daily for the best part of 12 years, such a superb watch, needs a service now, but I think when it's back it'll be time to re-visit it.
What a great read! They really are sleepers, right? Especially the Chrono. Freaking love it and the proportions. So good to know that the BP Leman still gets love 😉 Thanks for sharing this man, excellent testimonial 🥃
I'm glad you mentioned BP FF Aqua Lung. Prices have gone through the roof since Putin wore it. Putin gifted “one” of BP FF Aqua Lung to the factory worker who asked Putin for something to remember him by, true story. This fact was mentioned on the BP website (before they removed it). Now it's called "The Putin's watch" among watch enthusiasts. Another honorable mention JLC Deep Sea Chrono (discontinued as well).
Very cool story (never heard about the specifics) but I've seen the Putin Leman in tonnes of photos - quite a legendary piece. AND the Deepsea Chrono... great, great mention. I'll be bringing that up when we eventually get round to the 1950's... something tells me that video is going to be over and hour long 😆
Minor correction: The Bond era Seamaster did indeed first ship in 1993 with the Quartz ref 2541.80, however, the automatic ref 2531.80 shipped only one year later in 1994, featuring an off the shelf ETA 2892 will an 1109 marked rotor plate. About a year later, Omega finally built their own ETA based 1120 movement, making the short run of 1109 equipped 300m's rather rare.
Only one year later, that's incredible. Here I was thinking it was at least 2! Goes to show how good sales were for them to get those automatics thrown in so quickly ;) Thank you for correcting me here 🥃
@@ID-Guy In all likeliness, I presume Omega intended to ship with both a quartz and an auto concurrently, as the predecessor, the pre-bond, did. But in the early 90's, Omega was making a play at Rolex and simply did not have everything in order, as evidence by the off the shelf "1109," which was a practice that bled to other watches like their Valjoux based Speedmaster reduced... the early ones simply had an off the shelf, ETA stamped valjoux 7750, before switching to the 7750 based Omega caliber 1152 a year or so later. But that information is surprisingly difficult to find because: 1. Specific technical Watch history is something that simply is not as well defined as, say automotive specs and 2. I am pretty sure Omega does not like to advertise this history, as TAG caught a lot of heat for continuing the "off the shelf" ETA movements branded as their own caliber.
Dang you are getting me to look at my own bucket list again. 14060M with long f, 16570 chi chi di mais and Blancpain Leman flyback on bracelet. Love this series nonetheless!
There are some grand pieces thrown in there... I'm still kinda on the hunt for a birth year Rolex (maybe GMT) - there were too many good pieces of that time 🥃
Great idea! Great video!! For me: 1994, Rolex Air king..My first luxury watch...it was 1.400 Usd retail back then ( no waiting list, no profile needed) god I miss those times...
Agree with the Seamaster 300 as a modern classic. A hugely underrated watch because it was so popular. It was to the 1990s what the Submariner was to the 1950s and 60s. It was also the first luxury dive watch, or desk diver, depending on your point of view.
Not really a specific watch, but it was during the 90s that Citizen introduced Eco-drive to the market and made solar an alternative to mechanical and classic quartz movements.
Fantastic going down memory lane with you! 🔥I remember picking up my mid-sized Omega Seamaster with blue wave dial whilst on holiday in San Francisco. It was 1998 I think?? Great memory and stayed on my wrist for the next ten years until my head got turned by the Rolex Submariner 🙂Some great watches covered, and great fun thinking back on these
Ah, a pleasure to share Dom and what a story... Seamaster on your wrist for 10 years! I just think back to my first ever cellphone. Saved up for what must be years (around 1999) and finally picked up a Nokia 7110. All these years later I think it was the single item that propelled me down the design rabbit hole. Talk about nostalgia 🥃
Nice vid. As I’ve lamented in many CZcams vids these days, the hyper-tight editing is making these vids an utter whirlwind ride rather than a relaxing meander. Removing the human quality of, say taking a breath of air, or having a contemplative pause now and again really does morph these into more of an “AI” production than a personal engagement. This could have been twice as long and twice as endearing with a few breaths, and a few imperfections. A professor of mine years ago once wisely said of public speaking, “leave room for silence”.
The late 90's, early aughts are my jam. I drive a 996 and dress like a Friends episode lol. The exit piece for me to match my 14270 my be a Bluesy. Yum.
You nailed it with the Explorer and Explorer II. Even the 2024 iterations of those watches are time machines (haha!) to another era. Such amazing designs.
I've recently began my obsession as a watch collector. And i must say- out of all the luxury brands I've been researching, for me the amzwatch's watches are the most intriguing.
The Seamaster all the way. I also agree it helped push Rolex along. Better bracelets, movements, finishing followed. Great video. How about a cheers to this man for putting in such an effort to produce this enjoyable content!
It’s easy to forget that in the 1990s watches were still primarily functional and the watch hobby wasn’t really a thing. Mobiles were bricks with pull-out ariels for making calls only used for business. Thirty years ago a Seiko 5 could be bought from Argos for £45 and a Casio stainless steel white dial quartz anadigi suitable for wearing with a suit for £15 (see S/S 1994 catalogue). The idea of buying luxury watches was for a tiny minority compared to today.
I wrote a long reply and it disappeared when I sent it. But you nailed it, watches weren't on our radars. As a kid, digital and Quartz. Growing up in Africa in the 90's? Luxury watches weren't even considered. And phones... I saved up everything I had for a Nokia 7110, the more I think about it, it was probably the one thing that pushed me down the "design" rabbit hole. Oh how times change. Thank you for sharing this 🥃
I remember buying my first G-Shock in high school when they first came out and my buddies dad getting a Tag. That's when I started loving watches. You captured the icons perfectly and made me realize how far back my passion actually stretches. Great video brother
I am privileged to have some iconic watches but to exclude the Captain Willard makes me wince. Perhaps because uncle Sam had a invitation for me in the early 70s but your list of watches is impressive.
I'll be sure to make a roundup of pieces from the 60's, 70's and all the rest in the future 😉 I wanted to keep it very "90's specific" for this one. But when late 60's / 70's design come up... oh wow, we'll be here all day...
There are 3 that define it for me: Casio DW290 - Otherwise known as the Mission: Impossible, I own this watch and while it may be cheap, it's maybe one of my favourite watches of all time! Seiko SKX - you covered why. I'll never own one but will get an SSK003 soon so I'll experience its DNA and what I think will be this generation's SKX. Omega SMP300 - You covered why, I'll one day own one, but a modern variant. I'm just debating between the blue and grey dials.
This is now my favourite watch channel on CZcams , such great content and done superbly, well done sir and I got my favourite watch at amzwatch， it hasn’t left my wrist for weeks
Loving omegas from the 90s - 2000s. Bravo... man my Citizen Tough affair only lasted two days. Just ordered a Smiths PRS Navigator 48... can't wait. My tribute watch to IWC mark XI, while I save up for an actual IWC
I had a feeling that Citizen wouldn't last long 😆🥃 But man... being one of the first people in the UK to recieve and review the Navigator (think it was one of a handful to have an ETA) I was smitten... also was so close to asking for a black dial variant, think I decided against it because of my Smiths W10(s) getting all the wrist time. Thinking back on it? I should've kept one. The 35mm size is perfect...I'd even say arguably a better made piece than what IWC has put together in a long time. Chuck it on all the Nato straps and wear the heck out of it! 🔥
Love your videos. I have a suggestion on a theme for you, that I couldn’t find in any content… “Which is the most a disappointing watches out there”. Thinking about final price, finishing, design flaws or just the old “It’s not as good as I expected”. Cheers!!
Phew, we could have a field day with this one! Excellent, excellent suggestion here brother thank you! I think there are so many pieces that we could reflect on and use as good examples 🥃
What I had experience was swatch , in mid 80s , still remember the craving kids teenager, pop celebrity going nuts (I was one of them) they used to cost around 20USD , but later I felt it faded in the late 90s, swatch had always impervise with new art design, but since they introduced Swatch X Omega and Swatch X Blancpain , it's like 80s trend all over again ( never purchase and not interested) Over all still impressed with swatch marketing strategy to it's customers, I mean they boost the purchase to Omega and Blancpain, that is huge risk to take on
Aaaand I'll be kicking myself for the rest of the weekend because I forgot about the Breguet Type XX 3800... that is utterly shameful. But hey, can't win them all :) Thank you John 🥃
Picked up a amzwatch's watch as my first watch last month and I’m absolutely in love with it. Perfect size, looks elegant, very comfortable. Now my only problem is holding off from buying more watches so quickly!
Some really cool pieces to come out of that time, right? My regrets? Never shared the Roger Dubuis Sympathie... AND the Breguet Aeronavale 3800... cannot believe those slipped my mind. Ah, win some and lose some ;)
A great selection of I’ve got a 300M Seamaster mid-size quartz. A great beater watch with lots of style. Diminutive yet capable. I see Prince William always wears his, of course as a gift from his mother, it has tremendous sentimental value for him. Being a fair bit older than you, I still have my all steel Tag 2000 Series, quartz movement, which was my first serious watch from that era. Still looks great.
People used to wear concords in the 90s and 31mm dress quartz pieces a lot , the seamaster and the bluesey were indeed something you could see a lot , also date justs/ day dates , some cartiers and loads of Casio
Really enjoyed this video. I am a fan of 1990s watches. I would add the Ebel classic sport (chronograph) from Miami Vice, the Cartier Santos Galbee and Hublot big bang. As well as the rolex yacht-master and IWC Da Vinci
Santos Galbee, Big Bang... Rolex YM (man I should've added it) and the Da Vinci, also a standout. Great pieces man! I'll try my best to slot some of these in when I get round to another batch of 00's or 80's pieces ;)
@@ID-Guy I was hoping you would continue this series! Really enjoy your videos. The Ebel and Da Vinci epitomize the 80s category with the tag heuer SEL and constellation manhattan
Untouchable. And I think back now, my 1999 Nokia 7110. Saved up everything I had for one... probably the single thing that pushed me down the "design" rabbit hole. Looking back at it? Yeah, still perfect 🥃
Damn, must've been a "king of the hill" 16613 back then. I somehow saw tonnes through the late 90's and 2000's. And as for the 14060... I'm still eager to find an NOS birth year. A shame that you had to let yours go 🥃
Yep, I started with watches in the 90s with a Tag Heuer. Not an F1 but a Professional 2000 - my son has it now. Agreed on the Omega SMP. It is a classic. Mine's a later one (2008) but from Goldeneye to CR that design became _the_ Bond watch for me.
I even remember being a kid of single digits and seeing that SMP300 everywhere (during a time where watches were never involved in my life) Amazing how much of an impact Bond & the marketing of the time had on us, right? Ended up being one of the most important "defining" watches of the 90's and early '00's 🔥
'ol Faithful! The SMP really does feel like that undisputed watch that defined the 90's and early 00's 🔥 And on my wrist, the Tudor FXD. Years later, still cannot get enough of it ;)
I have seen à lot of vidéos by experts saying that 90's were bad years for mecanics movement and no real new things. For them 70's are the best. They may be right for the 70's but your video is a perfect démonstration for the genius designs we saw. Indeed Seamaster, Rolex Zénith Daytona, all the complexity of rich dials with guilloché and all sort of textures. We can even say that 90's saw the best cases with godrons curves détails everywhere. Those détails give the impression that watches from this time périod have a soul. Those same détails are deleted in the rationalized world that we know today. Thank you for this vidéo which is rehabilitating the 90's to à great horlogical périod.
Solid vid as always! Man, Omega SMP, that's my dad's watch! Anyway, I wish you have included Oakley Timebomb, it's a watch I always wanted for whatever the reason, but never seen it irl lol, and the design is soooo 90s, like Demolition man level of 90s lol
And now that we're heading down the nostalgia road? Saved up everything I had for my first cell phone: the Nokia 7110. Hindsight, it was probably the first thing that propelled me down the road to love design. Man, the 90's had some cool stuff 🔥
@@ID-Guy Nokia 7110? Man, it was that phone that could do the proper matrix slide opening one right? But yeah, 90s and 00s had more "funky" designs all around compared to now, now, everything looks all same-y designed by a committee, I mean watches, cars, cellphones. Back in the days, sure there were some "wtf were you thinking" designs, but there were some really excellent designs like no other. Maybe it's my nostalgia talking, but hey XD
Tag F1 was my first big brand watch even though at the time it was only something like £115. I still have it too! I didn't get my first luxury watch for another 10 years when I bought the Seamaster Bond watch in the mid size. Still got that as well.
This was a very eye opening video for me, I had no idea all these iconic models were released in the 90s. I really have to rethink my notion of what watch design looked like in that decade. Because of my age, for me the late 80s and 90s were defined by the timex ironman :).
Great video! Some real classics One of the first watches on my watch journey was my Panerai Luminor, bought in the early 00’s. I still love it and wear it often. So classic, distinct.
Great episode, it spoke to me on a deep level. I'm a sucker of 90's and 2000's watches. Also one of many who got into watches because of Tag Heuer. In the search now for Seamaster James Bond and the Rolex 16570 😍
100% it wasn't seen as a hobby and someone already mentioned nostalgia, you bringing up phones. I bought my first cell (with all the money I'd saved up for years and years) Nokia 7110. And thinking back, I genuinely reckon it was THE first item that propelled me down this road of design... looking at it today? What a beauty 🔥 Watches? I was all digital with a touch of quartz back then. Mechanical pieces didn't even register in my world 😆 Growing up in Africa in the 90's? Yeah, luxury watches weren't a thing...
Would love brands to reissue some of these watches with modern parts etc. Looks the exact same, but has the durability of a modern watch. Similar to VC and the 222.
I guess that's why I'm such a sucker for reissue pieces in general (I own at least 4 at this point) Classic details and designs from the 50's and 60's but could be used daily without a care in the world. Agree that brands should be looking back at some of these gems and reviving them 🥃
Couple designs screaming 90s to me are Longines Admiral divers (white dial, sometimes two tone), Speed master reduced and GP Richeville 2710. I'm not sure whether Ebel was still making their iconic two tone sportwave chrono but to me it's peak 80s/90s design.
Been watching your videos for a while now and was inspired to start a collection. Started with the amzwatch, its specs for price and clean looks, now am looking for a dress watch to add.
Great video, and pleasantly surprised too see two of my 4 watch collection featuring in it. The Sinn EZM 1. Although I own the 1.1 still a very cool watch. Well done to Sinn for a relatively small company to have a watch that made such an impact. And the Blancpain leman aqualung big date. This is a relatively new addition to my small collection. All I can say. If you get the opportunity to buy one. Do it. Its near perfect( but it looks like you know this already)
One of those IYKYK pieces for sure, such a cool bit of history (worthy of a video in itself) Angelus movement and all the rest 🔥 I'll find any excuse to talk about a '50's inspired watch ;)
Maybe lacking as a "classic design", but to me late 80s & 90s was the time of Tag Heuer SELs. The advertising was inescapable and the form unforgettable.
Killer piece, right? That first shot I used at the opening of the video was a last minute find before uploading the video. Such a gem 🔥 Think we’d all want to find an NOS example…
Ironic you would use the adjective streamlined to describe the Porsche Design IWC, it reminds me of the H Moser Streamliner. One of my favorites of the 90's is the Roger Dubuis Hommage Chronograph with the guilloche´ dial. Stunningly beautiful watch and is finally being appreciated for the masterpiece it is.
Great topic and a great showcase of the variety of examples for it. If you've watched The Deep Track channel, it's a familiar genre of watches that is frequented on that channel. Some cool stuff lesser known if not forgotten that are brought back to light. For me, I can't deny the influence TAG Heuer has had for me from the mid-90s as my first luxury watch I bought for myself.
Which watch best defines the 1990's for you?
Being a kid of that era, it was a mixture of F-91W, Omega SMP300 & 16613 Submariner for me 🥃
- Honourable Mentions - Breguet Type XX Aeronavale 3800 • Roger Dubuis Sympathie
The Casio G-Shock along with Casio’s pilot and dive watches. They dominated across the different military services here in the USA. They were rugged and reliable while being easy to afford and obtain. Lots of memories!
@@alvinmick218 G-Shocks, untouchable. I still remember how practically every kid had F-91W's all through grade school. The DW's did crop up as a teenager. Ah, love it 🥃
Rolex models are deliberately ageless but two tone is definitely 90’s. Even today, I think it looks dated.
Where the love for Timex?
I had a Timex Marathon....take that over a crappy f91w any day of the week. Timex Ironman have outclassed g- shocks for functionality, legibility, back light, cost and dare I say it come bloody close on durability as well. And their not as huge and ugly. 😂 @@ID-Guy
Tag was an inspiration piece in the 90s
👏 Please CONTINUE this series. I'm very interested to see the '70's, '80's and '00's but would also like to see all decades going both backwards and forwards. Nice work.
It means a lot to know that someone else is keen to see the icons of each decade! I'll absolutely continue these John and thank you! 🥃
@@ID-Guy I have a TAG-Heuer Formula 1 all black that I recently acquired because Mel Gibson as Riggs wore one in the first "Lethal Weapon" movie and it's also the first appearance of the TAG-Heuer logo. It was a lot of fun to see it in your video, even though you weren't able to get good quality video of an original.
The Rolex Submariner 14060M (two liner dial) is peak 90s. Such a underrated watch in my opinion. No dial clutter, the old proportions, a alloy bezel insert and tritium lume.
Just as the "M" was included, spot-on. Such a great piece... between that and the GMT of the time, finding a Birth Year model is a still on that bucket list of mine 🥃
Yes 🙌🏼
Tag Heuer was THE watch brand that got me into watches in the mid/late 90’s. My engagement present from my now wife was a 34mm quartz Tag SEL, in two tone with brushed steel and polished yellow gold. The curved bracelet links sure gave it a unique look… it now stays in the back of my watch case as a reminder to simpler times, and was where it all started in terms of watch collecting. 😊
Yes! Just commented on the same watch.😃
I have the Omega 'Bond' quartz from Goldeneye, and it is still classy.
I may have been ahead of my time. I wore my 6139 for 30 years when I saw my 2254 in a display case in 2000. Fell in love instantly! Wore it for 2 years then went on vacation to Florence in '02. Spotted my first PAM on a wrist, was smitten again, asked the guy where he got it and raced to the boutique and bought one. Paid $1,100. The only 3 watches I would never part company with.
What a story... from Pogue to 2254 and Panerai... You inadvertently owned 3 defining watches of each decade 🔥 Thank you for sharing this Dave!
Great selection of some of my favorite watches. I think the Citizen NY004 would have deserved an honourable mention as it was very popular and worn by many.
I love the 90s designs. My two favourites being the Citizen Promaster NY0040 and the Seamaster Pro
Excellent selection of watches from the 90's
Great episode. I wore my Casio F-91W daily in the '90s. Recently gave my son a new one, he loves it.
I'd add the Citizen Promaster "Lefty". Introduced a year after the SKX the originals (now dwindling supplies) and uprated modern versions that Citizen had the sense to introduce rather than cancelling the watch as Seiko did with the SKX are available at very reasonable prices. I'm not sure if it's the cheapest ISO rated automatic diver available but it has to be the cheapest with that kind of heritage.
I just received my Seamaster 2531.80 today, over the moon with it!
Wear it in good health brother AND get some straps ready! Those SMPs have got to be one of THE most versatile watches on the planet 🥃
I'm wearing mine while reading your comment.
@@bobnewby9129 you’re a man of great taste
As I watched I thought how the 2255.80 screams 90’s to me. Yes it was released in 2000 but its design language to me is pure 90’s.
Casio DW400 Tachymeter. ❤️
Exceptional video as always. I've been in the Blancpain Leman Chronograph for a few months now too. If I pull the trigger, it's in the post to you! 🥃😉👍
Hope you're well sir. The FXD looks incredible on the blue NATO by the way!
Loved this edition IDG, you curated a great cross section. One i'd add is a Tag Heuer SEL, preferably a two tone with that crazy bracelet. One day it'll come roaring back into fashion, the same way flared jeans do from time to time 😂
As always, another great video and of course I had a smile as it just so happens that I’m wearing my Omega Seamaster 300 M today. I believe it is just as relevant and there I say beautiful as it was when it first was introduced. It was a great look back at a truly wonderful time in our history. Thank you so much.
I remember growing up how popular Tag Hauer was in the 90s and also Panerai and people with money loved them.
My younger brother has the original James Bond Seamaster Prof 300 where Pierce Brosnan wore while beating up baddies..I own the new version but the original definitely had a lot of
charm and nostalgia….cheers ID Guy!
For me one of the most nineties looking watch I know, is Ebel 1911 chronograph.
I love the look of those.
I wasn’t born in the 90’s (born in the early 00’s), for me the watch that defines the 1990’s would definitely be the Rolex GMT Master II 16710, specifically the coke bezel. Classic proportions, “jingly jangly” bracelet, tritium lume, and aluminum bezel; perfection. Oh and the ads with Chuck Yeager on them, just insanely cool!
Coke Bezel was so, so close to being another Rolex added. It was one watches I really weighed up and thought about. Call me a nutter, but I see it as that "late 80's" model, right in that gap before the the 90's. I'll be sure to include it in my 80's roundup (along with the Day Date of course 😉)
@@ID-Guy can’t wait for the 80’s round up! Keep up the fantastic work.
My second big watch purchase was a Blancpain Leman Flyback Chrono Big date, I saw it in a boutique in NYC in about 2005, and totally fell in love, when I found one used for under £3,000 in 2008 I bought it instantly, it was my daily for the best part of 12 years, such a superb watch, needs a service now, but I think when it's back it'll be time to re-visit it.
What a great read! They really are sleepers, right? Especially the Chrono. Freaking love it and the proportions. So good to know that the BP Leman still gets love 😉 Thanks for sharing this man, excellent testimonial 🥃
A Fantastic Compilation of Modern Classics , even managed to view while away camping.
Ah! Fantastic Ian and thank you sir! I hope you’re experiencing decent skies wherever you are 😉 Have a great weekend away!
@@ID-Guy Yesterday managed to see U.s.a.f F15 Strike Eagles on the way into the MachLoop
I'm glad you mentioned BP FF Aqua Lung. Prices have gone through the roof since Putin wore it. Putin gifted “one” of BP FF Aqua Lung to the factory worker who asked Putin for something to remember him by, true story. This fact was mentioned on the BP website (before they removed it). Now it's called "The Putin's watch" among watch enthusiasts. Another honorable mention JLC Deep Sea Chrono (discontinued as well).
Very cool story (never heard about the specifics) but I've seen the Putin Leman in tonnes of photos - quite a legendary piece. AND the Deepsea Chrono... great, great mention. I'll be bringing that up when we eventually get round to the 1950's... something tells me that video is going to be over and hour long 😆
@@ID-Guy I’m all ears.
Watches are so delicate and intricately designed, so I have intense respect and admiration for amzwatch watch makers
Minor correction: The Bond era Seamaster did indeed first ship in 1993 with the Quartz ref 2541.80, however, the automatic ref 2531.80 shipped only one year later in 1994, featuring an off the shelf ETA 2892 will an 1109 marked rotor plate. About a year later, Omega finally built their own ETA based 1120 movement, making the short run of 1109 equipped 300m's rather rare.
Only one year later, that's incredible. Here I was thinking it was at least 2! Goes to show how good sales were for them to get those automatics thrown in so quickly ;) Thank you for correcting me here 🥃
@@ID-Guy In all likeliness, I presume Omega intended to ship with both a quartz and an auto concurrently, as the predecessor, the pre-bond, did. But in the early 90's, Omega was making a play at Rolex and simply did not have everything in order, as evidence by the off the shelf "1109," which was a practice that bled to other watches like their Valjoux based Speedmaster reduced... the early ones simply had an off the shelf, ETA stamped valjoux 7750, before switching to the 7750 based Omega caliber 1152 a year or so later.
But that information is surprisingly difficult to find because:
1. Specific technical Watch history is something that simply is not as well defined as, say automotive specs and
2. I am pretty sure Omega does not like to advertise this history, as TAG caught a lot of heat for continuing the "off the shelf" ETA movements branded as their own caliber.
Dang you are getting me to look at my own bucket list again. 14060M with long f, 16570 chi chi di mais and Blancpain Leman flyback on bracelet.
Love this series nonetheless!
There are some grand pieces thrown in there... I'm still kinda on the hunt for a birth year Rolex (maybe GMT) - there were too many good pieces of that time 🥃
Great idea! Great video!! For me: 1994, Rolex Air king..My first luxury watch...it was 1.400 Usd retail back then ( no waiting list, no profile needed) god I miss those times...
There are so many great watches. So glad there is such a wide variety
Tag Heuer was definitely popular in the 90s. Not on the list but I also remember the Cartier Santos being popular around that time.
The Santos Galbee, spot on. Yet another piece I should've included ;)
Good video. Just recently got a 2230.50, and I love the elevated 00s look it has.
Agree with the Seamaster 300 as a modern classic. A hugely underrated watch because it was so popular. It was to the 1990s what the Submariner was to the 1950s and 60s. It was also the first luxury dive watch, or desk diver, depending on your point of view.
Not really a specific watch, but it was during the 90s that Citizen introduced Eco-drive to the market and made solar an alternative to mechanical and classic quartz movements.
Fantastic going down memory lane with you! 🔥I remember picking up my mid-sized Omega Seamaster with blue wave dial whilst on holiday in San Francisco. It was 1998 I think?? Great memory and stayed on my wrist for the next ten years until my head got turned by the Rolex Submariner 🙂Some great watches covered, and great fun thinking back on these
Ah, a pleasure to share Dom and what a story... Seamaster on your wrist for 10 years! I just think back to my first ever cellphone. Saved up for what must be years (around 1999) and finally picked up a Nokia 7110. All these years later I think it was the single item that propelled me down the design rabbit hole. Talk about nostalgia 🥃
The 2541.80 is the watch that for me into watch collecting - still have it too!
Nice vid. As I’ve lamented in many CZcams vids these days, the hyper-tight editing is making these vids an utter whirlwind ride rather than a relaxing meander. Removing the human quality of, say taking a breath of air, or having a contemplative pause now and again really does morph these into more of an “AI” production than a personal engagement. This could have been twice as long and twice as endearing with a few breaths, and a few imperfections. A professor of mine years ago once wisely said of public speaking, “leave room for silence”.
The late 90's, early aughts are my jam. I drive a 996 and dress like a Friends episode lol. The exit piece for me to match my 14270 my be a Bluesy. Yum.
You nailed it with the Explorer and Explorer II. Even the 2024 iterations of those watches are time machines (haha!) to another era. Such amazing designs.
I've recently began my obsession as a watch collector. And i must say- out of all the luxury brands I've been researching, for me the amzwatch's watches are the most intriguing.
The Seamaster all the way. I also agree it helped push Rolex along. Better bracelets, movements, finishing followed. Great video. How about a cheers to this man for putting in such an effort to produce this enjoyable content!
It’s easy to forget that in the 1990s watches were still primarily functional and the watch hobby wasn’t really a thing. Mobiles were bricks with pull-out ariels for making calls only used for business. Thirty years ago a Seiko 5 could be bought from Argos for £45 and a Casio stainless steel white dial quartz anadigi suitable for wearing with a suit for £15 (see S/S 1994 catalogue). The idea of buying luxury watches was for a tiny minority compared to today.
I wrote a long reply and it disappeared when I sent it. But you nailed it, watches weren't on our radars. As a kid, digital and Quartz. Growing up in Africa in the 90's? Luxury watches weren't even considered. And phones... I saved up everything I had for a Nokia 7110, the more I think about it, it was probably the one thing that pushed me down the "design" rabbit hole. Oh how times change. Thank you for sharing this 🥃
Thanks you for this one! Remember those good old days when I was young boy spending time reviewing all watch catalogs from various brands.😊
I was wearing my Quartz 300m today, so slim and comfortable.
Why Omega forgot about the fact that a lot of the SMP's appeal was its slimness... love it Steve! 🥃
Has to be the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m. Made famous by Pierce Brosnan's James Bond in GoldenEye in 1995.
Outstanding video. Very informative and interesting.
I remember buying my first G-Shock in high school when they first came out and my buddies dad getting a Tag. That's when I started loving watches. You captured the icons perfectly and made me realize how far back my passion actually stretches. Great video brother
I am privileged to have some iconic watches but to exclude the Captain Willard makes me wince. Perhaps because uncle Sam had a invitation for me in the early 70s but your list of watches is impressive.
I'll be sure to make a roundup of pieces from the 60's, 70's and all the rest in the future 😉 I wanted to keep it very "90's specific" for this one. But when late 60's / 70's design come up... oh wow, we'll be here all day...
There are 3 that define it for me:
Casio DW290 - Otherwise known as the Mission: Impossible, I own this watch and while it may be cheap, it's maybe one of my favourite watches of all time!
Seiko SKX - you covered why. I'll never own one but will get an SSK003 soon so I'll experience its DNA and what I think will be this generation's SKX.
Omega SMP300 - You covered why, I'll one day own one, but a modern variant. I'm just debating between the blue and grey dials.
Two tone may be old, but there's still something charming about them
There is something about it that appeals to many of us AND the beauty? They’re more affordable than their all-steel variants 🤣 Classic.
This is now my favourite watch channel on CZcams , such great content and done superbly, well done sir and I got my favourite watch at amzwatch， it hasn’t left my wrist for weeks
Loving omegas from the 90s - 2000s. Bravo... man my Citizen Tough affair only lasted two days. Just ordered a Smiths PRS Navigator 48... can't wait. My tribute watch to IWC mark XI, while I save up for an actual IWC
I had a feeling that Citizen wouldn't last long 😆🥃 But man... being one of the first people in the UK to recieve and review the Navigator (think it was one of a handful to have an ETA) I was smitten... also was so close to asking for a black dial variant, think I decided against it because of my Smiths W10(s) getting all the wrist time. Thinking back on it? I should've kept one. The 35mm size is perfect...I'd even say arguably a better made piece than what IWC has put together in a long time. Chuck it on all the Nato straps and wear the heck out of it! 🔥
@@ID-Guy man YESSSSS... you rock as always. I can't wait to get this watch honestly
Watching while wearing my SKX009, while considering a blue dial Omega Seamaster. Excellent video concept and execution 🥃
When it comes to fine imitation watches, amzwatch delivers. I've bought from them several times, and I've never been let down.
The TAG Kirium got me started.
Still have it too.
The Kirium! Wow, yet another piece I should've mentioned! Saw them all over the place back in the day 🥃
Love your videos.
I have a suggestion on a theme for you, that I couldn’t find in any content…
“Which is the most a disappointing watches out there”.
Thinking about final price, finishing, design flaws or just the old “It’s not as good as I expected”.
Cheers!!
Phew, we could have a field day with this one! Excellent, excellent suggestion here brother thank you! I think there are so many pieces that we could reflect on and use as good examples 🥃
What I had experience was swatch , in mid 80s , still remember the craving kids teenager, pop celebrity going nuts (I was one of them) they used to cost around 20USD , but later I felt it faded in the late 90s, swatch had always impervise with new art design, but since they introduced Swatch X Omega and Swatch X Blancpain , it's like 80s trend all over again ( never purchase and not interested)
Over all still impressed with swatch marketing strategy to it's customers, I mean they boost the purchase to Omega and Blancpain, that is huge risk to take on
I love my 2531.80 and 2254.50. Best of the best. Omega i am looking at you
what a fantastic list of great watches.
Aaaand I'll be kicking myself for the rest of the weekend because I forgot about the Breguet Type XX 3800... that is utterly shameful. But hey, can't win them all :) Thank you John 🥃
@@ID-Guy the Type XX oh my yessss!
Picked up a amzwatch's watch as my first watch last month and I’m absolutely in love with it. Perfect size, looks elegant, very comfortable. Now my only problem is holding off from buying more watches so quickly!
Awesome video bro, great selection. I have yo say my favourite is definitely the Explorer II, and the Aquanaut. Have a great weekend 🙏🏽
Some really cool pieces to come out of that time, right? My regrets? Never shared the Roger Dubuis Sympathie... AND the Breguet Aeronavale 3800... cannot believe those slipped my mind. Ah, win some and lose some ;)
@@ID-Guy Oh both are Hits, definitely heavy hitters 😁
A great selection of I’ve got a 300M Seamaster mid-size quartz. A great beater watch with lots of style. Diminutive yet capable. I see Prince William always wears his, of course as a gift from his mother, it has tremendous sentimental value for him.
Being a fair bit older than you, I still have my all steel Tag 2000 Series, quartz movement, which was my first serious watch from that era. Still looks great.
People used to wear concords in the 90s and 31mm dress quartz pieces a lot , the seamaster and the bluesey were indeed something you could see a lot , also date justs/ day dates , some cartiers and loads of Casio
Really enjoyed this video. I am a fan of 1990s watches. I would add the Ebel classic sport (chronograph) from Miami Vice, the Cartier Santos Galbee and Hublot big bang. As well as the rolex yacht-master and IWC Da Vinci
Santos Galbee, Big Bang... Rolex YM (man I should've added it) and the Da Vinci, also a standout. Great pieces man! I'll try my best to slot some of these in when I get round to another batch of 00's or 80's pieces ;)
@@ID-Guy I was hoping you would continue this series! Really enjoy your videos. The Ebel and Da Vinci epitomize the 80s category with the tag heuer SEL and constellation manhattan
Watches are so delicate and intricately designed, so I have intense respect and admiration for MaMaCoo watch makers
Great video! My 1999 Omega Seamaster GMT 50th Anniversary is sublime.
Untouchable. And I think back now, my 1999 Nokia 7110. Saved up everything I had for one... probably the single thing that pushed me down the "design" rabbit hole. Looking back at it? Yeah, still perfect 🥃
Once again a great video.
Tag Heuer F1 was an 18th birthday gift in 1998, certainly the watch that got me into watches
My roommate had the blue two tone submariner back in ‘89. I bought the 14060 in 1990. Wish I still had that watch.
Damn, must've been a "king of the hill" 16613 back then. I somehow saw tonnes through the late 90's and 2000's. And as for the 14060... I'm still eager to find an NOS birth year. A shame that you had to let yours go 🥃
Yep, I started with watches in the 90s with a Tag Heuer. Not an F1 but a Professional 2000 - my son has it now. Agreed on the Omega SMP. It is a classic. Mine's a later one (2008) but from Goldeneye to CR that design became _the_ Bond watch for me.
I even remember being a kid of single digits and seeing that SMP300 everywhere (during a time where watches were never involved in my life) Amazing how much of an impact Bond & the marketing of the time had on us, right? Ended up being one of the most important "defining" watches of the 90's and early '00's 🔥
I would replace the blancpain (unknown watch) by the breguet 20! No comparison here!
Cannot believe that THE Type 20 slipped my mind... wow, I'm going to be kicking myself for the rest of the weekend 🥃
another great vid, many thanks! proudly sporting my omega 300 metre smp whilst watching. What do you have on your wrist in this video?
'ol Faithful! The SMP really does feel like that undisputed watch that defined the 90's and early 00's 🔥 And on my wrist, the Tudor FXD. Years later, still cannot get enough of it ;)
@@ID-Guy it looks good on your wrist :-)
I have seen à lot of vidéos by experts saying that 90's were bad years for mecanics movement and no real new things. For them 70's are the best. They may be right for the 70's but your video is a perfect démonstration for the genius designs we saw.
Indeed Seamaster, Rolex Zénith Daytona, all the complexity of rich dials with guilloché and all sort of textures.
We can even say that 90's saw the best cases with godrons curves détails everywhere. Those détails give the impression that watches from this time périod have a soul. Those same détails are deleted in the rationalized world that we know today.
Thank you for this vidéo which is rehabilitating the 90's to à great horlogical périod.
Have the Omega 2252.50 (midsize of 2254.50) and I never got over the honeymoon - just want to wear it all the time.
Solid vid as always!
Man, Omega SMP, that's my dad's watch!
Anyway, I wish you have included Oakley Timebomb, it's a watch I always wanted for whatever the reason, but never seen it irl lol, and the design is soooo 90s, like Demolition man level of 90s lol
And now that we're heading down the nostalgia road? Saved up everything I had for my first cell phone: the Nokia 7110. Hindsight, it was probably the first thing that propelled me down the road to love design. Man, the 90's had some cool stuff 🔥
@@ID-Guy Nokia 7110? Man, it was that phone that could do the proper matrix slide opening one right? But yeah, 90s and 00s had more "funky" designs all around compared to now, now, everything looks all same-y designed by a committee, I mean watches, cars, cellphones. Back in the days, sure there were some "wtf were you thinking" designs, but there were some really excellent designs like no other. Maybe it's my nostalgia talking, but hey XD
Always enjoy your videos! Couldn't help but think of our friend Bruce (Blueshirt Buddha) when you mentioned the Rolex Bluesy 🙏
Nice. TAG Heuer SEL for me
The Seamaster 300 Professional changed the world massively.
The omega Mark 2 ( orange embassies)is the killer for me ❤
Oooh! I was close to including the Mark 40 when putting this list together ;) Love them... and that Racing dial Mk2? Legend! 🔥
Very happy to find the BP Leman on your list. In terms of build quality, specs and design It’s one of the most underrated watches out there.
Tag F1 was my first big brand watch even though at the time it was only something like £115. I still have it too! I didn't get my first luxury watch for another 10 years when I bought the Seamaster Bond watch in the mid size. Still got that as well.
This was a very eye opening video for me, I had no idea all these iconic models were released in the 90s. I really have to rethink my notion of what watch design looked like in that decade. Because of my age, for me the late 80s and 90s were defined by the timex ironman :).
Great content! Keep up the good work
Nice retrospective.
Fantastic
Great video! Some real classics
One of the first watches on my watch journey was my Panerai Luminor, bought in the early 00’s. I still love it and wear it often. So classic, distinct.
Great episode, it spoke to me on a deep level. I'm a sucker of 90's and 2000's watches.
Also one of many who got into watches because of Tag Heuer.
In the search now for Seamaster James Bond and the Rolex 16570 😍
Seamaster 300 for sure, it blazed its own path, and still does
I Amy or may not own several of the watches you have featured 😎🤣😉👍🏻
100% it wasn't seen as a hobby and someone already mentioned nostalgia, you bringing up phones. I bought my first cell (with all the money I'd saved up for years and years) Nokia 7110. And thinking back, I genuinely reckon it was THE first item that propelled me down this road of design... looking at it today? What a beauty 🔥 Watches? I was all digital with a touch of quartz back then. Mechanical pieces didn't even register in my world 😆 Growing up in Africa in the 90's? Yeah, luxury watches weren't a thing...
Would love brands to reissue some of these watches with modern parts etc.
Looks the exact same, but has the durability of a modern watch. Similar to VC and the 222.
I guess that's why I'm such a sucker for reissue pieces in general (I own at least 4 at this point) Classic details and designs from the 50's and 60's but could be used daily without a care in the world. Agree that brands should be looking back at some of these gems and reviving them 🥃
Couple designs screaming 90s to me are Longines Admiral divers (white dial, sometimes two tone), Speed master reduced and GP Richeville 2710. I'm not sure whether Ebel was still making their iconic two tone sportwave chrono but to me it's peak 80s/90s design.
Oh, and Breitlings!!! Sirius is just perrrfect!
Been watching your videos for a while now and was inspired to start a collection. Started with the amzwatch, its specs for price and clean looks, now am looking for a dress watch to add.
An Aquaracer from Tag was pretty 90's as well 🙂
Hindsight, I should've made the Aquaracer the watch under TAG. Definitely a significant 90's piece of theirs 🥃
Great video, and pleasantly surprised too see two of my 4 watch collection featuring in it. The Sinn EZM 1. Although I own the 1.1 still a very cool watch. Well done to Sinn for a relatively small company to have a watch that made such an impact.
And the Blancpain leman aqualung big date. This is a relatively new addition to my small collection. All I can say. If you get the opportunity to buy one. Do it. Its near perfect( but it looks like you know this already)
Victorinox Swiss Army quartz field watches, I owned three or four of them and they were everywhere in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Roger Dubuis under Roger Dubuis. Probably the Sympathie with original crystal.
Excellent shout! When I think RD I think “Sympathie” with those gorgeous cases… I don’t know if they fall in line with the late 90’s or more 2000’s? 🥃
Great video
Very nostalgic!
Very good explanation of the PAM203 ❤
One of those IYKYK pieces for sure, such a cool bit of history (worthy of a video in itself) Angelus movement and all the rest 🔥 I'll find any excuse to talk about a '50's inspired watch ;)
@@ID-Guy Oh yes it was my grail watch about 20 years ago
Maybe lacking as a "classic design", but to me late 80s & 90s was the time of Tag Heuer SELs.
The advertising was inescapable and the form unforgettable.
Loved this, thank you
Of the watches you showed. I think the Zenith Rainbow is the one for me.
Killer piece, right? That first shot I used at the opening of the video was a last minute find before uploading the video. Such a gem 🔥 Think we’d all want to find an NOS example…
Brilliant work
Ironic you would use the adjective streamlined to describe the Porsche Design IWC, it reminds me of the H Moser Streamliner. One of my favorites of the 90's is the Roger Dubuis Hommage Chronograph with the guilloche´ dial. Stunningly beautiful watch and is finally being appreciated for the masterpiece it is.
Great topic and a great showcase of the variety of examples for it. If you've watched The Deep Track channel, it's a familiar genre of watches that is frequented on that channel. Some cool stuff lesser known if not forgotten that are brought back to light.
For me, I can't deny the influence TAG Heuer has had for me from the mid-90s as my first luxury watch I bought for myself.
For me it's the mid-90s Eterna Matic KonTiki. Their best look ever, and a very high quality watch.