S1 E1: What Became Of The Concept Watch?

Welcome to the first episode of The Watch Enquiry! Hosted by journalists Timothy Barber and Chris Hall, The Watch Enquiry delves into areas of watch culture and history that are often overlooked, asking questions that promise to inform, entertain and educate.

In this episode, we ask what happened to the futuristic high-tech showcases of the 2000s and 2010s - watches from mainstream, mid-market giants like Cartier and TAG Heuer that promised a glorious future for everyday customers. It was around this time that both of us entered the world of watch journalism, and we were excited by this wave of enthusiasm for redefining what an 'ordinary' watch could look like. Powered by 21st century materials science and manufacturing techniques, these concept watches advertised a future that never really arrived.

Or did it? Watches like the Cartier ID 1 and ID 2, TAG Heuer's Mikro- series of chronographs, and all the many timepieces with 'LAB' somewhere in their name may not have translated into much that you could actually buy, but have some of the ideas they introduced trickled down into the mainstream nonetheless? 

 

Music by 99Instrumentals and Grand Seiko Kodo Tourbillon