Plundering the past isn’t a new thing for watch brands; however, recently it seems we’ve reached ‘heritage’ saturation. Going to the Baselworld or SIHH watch fairs is like walking into a horological Downton Abbey, with everything lovingly recreated down to the perfectly faux-aged patina.

But there’s a reason for this, other than vintage style still stealing a march sartorially on new design and a slight reticence to invest in R&D. It’s down to our love of nostalgia too.

“In our modern world, the correct time is ubiquitous, either on phones, computer screens, car dashboards, or microwave ovens. The wristwatch is virtually obsolete and has become more of a style accessory searching for relevance,” says Adrian Hailwood, senior watch specialist at leading UK auctioneer Dreweatts.

“Little wonder that both brands and buyers are harking back to a time when watches were important pieces of equipment. Witness the focus on tool watches, diving watches, chronographs or field watches, most completely unnecessary for a sedentary lifestyle, but in their day, watches that could genuinely save lives. We are not wearing timekeepers so much as stories for the wrist.”

Here’s a few whose tales are worth telling.

Tudor Black Bay P01

Not so much a reissue as a resurrection of a prototype, this Tudor divided opinion when it was launched at Baselworld 2019. The original was intended for the US Navy, who were having problems with knocked crowns and easy-to-move bezels on their Submariners. Tudor solved those issues, but the US Navy thought the finished product was too technical, so it was shelved and disappeared into a rumor.

Fifty-one years later, it’s back. Its bulky aesthetic doesn’t photograph well, but in the metal, it’s actually a rather smart-looking fellow. And has an origin story that would impress Marvel.