Watches That Could Be Future Classics

The pace of new watch releases has never been faster. Every week seems to bring a fresh wave of models vying for our attention. We’re certainly not complaining, but it does make us curious: which of today’s timepieces might one day become future classics? That’s the question at the heart of today’s episode of Fratello Talks, as Nacho, RJ, and Daan explore the modern watches most likely to stand the test of time. Hindsight may be 20/20, but spotting tomorrow’s icons today takes a mix of intuition, taste, and a touch of luck. Still, the guys have a few strong contenders in mind that they’d be happy to bet on. But first, it’s time for a wrist check.

Disclaimer: There’s a slight audio issue in this week’s episode affecting RJ’s mic from the 20-minute mark onward. Thanks for bearing with us.

Wrist check

Daan is first off the blocks in this week’s wrist check, wearing his vintage Seiko 6105-8000 on a soft, waffle-texture NATO-style strap by RSM Watch Straps. This vintage diver charmed its way into his collection by way of its modern counterpart, the Seiko SPB317. The former’s presence ultimately cost the latter its spot in Daan’s watch box. However, all it takes is one look at the original, with its beautifully aged lume and condition, and we can easily forgive him for making that call.

RJ is wearing his freshly modded Rolex Day-Date 18238. This watch left the factory with a golden dial, but RJ has now swapped it with a white one. He has done so in a bid to improve the watch’s legibility. He has opted to leave the original day and date disks, which give them an aged look in contrast with the stark white dial. We really enjoy the combination, and we’re sure it’ll be a good long while until he goes back to the gold dial.

And finally, Nacho is still honeymooning with his Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer Jungle LE. Over the last two weeks of ownership, he has worn it on about a dozen strap options. The latest swap has seen him put the watch on a Forstner seven-row beads-of-rice bracelet. We’re not sure how long this combination will last, but we wouldn’t expect it to last long before he moves on to the next one.

Fratello Talks: Modern Watches That Could Be Future Classics

What is it that makes a watch a classic? Is it staying power alone, or does that come from other factors? Innovative features, outstanding design, a great name, and iterations over time tend to converge, creating most of the watches we consider “classics” or “icons” today. In today’s episode, we consider some modern contenders with the potential to become future classics. These are watches that are either doing something new in terms of design or have the staying power to become a household name. However, we can only speculate about what the future will look like.

Which modern watches do you think could become future classics? Let us know in the comments below. And, as always, tune in next week for more Fratello Talks!