I love watches. Other than eyeglasses, they really are the bastion of masculine jewelry.
There are some challenges with these watches. The Welder watches shown above are from the same manufacturer of the U-Boat watches, Italo Fontana. The U-Boat watches were originally commissioned in 1942 for “distinguished officers” of Italy’s navy.
Back in 1942 the "Officine Fontana" was poised to produce a professional watch for the distinguished officers of its navy’s U-Boats. Though the project was ultimately scrapped, the distinctive original drawings, color samples and innovative materials were lovingly preserved for more than 60 years. In 2000, Italo Fontana, a cousin of the watchmaker’s late founder, made a long held company dream come true with the launch of today’s inspired U-Boat brand.
U-Boat watches, just like their original namesake, are bold, aggressive and oversized. These timepieces embodied force and style and revealed the unique personality of the man behind the revival, Italo Fontana: “It took me seven years to develop and refine the U-BOAT watches. Inspired by 18th century craftsmanship and intricate made-by- hand detailing we can now produce a timepiece of rare artisanal quality that reaches to a new dimension of watch making .”
As Richard Cohen points out some may have moral qualms about wearing watches designed for the operators of the U-Boat that took so many lives. Well you can decide how you feel about that in your Mercedes Benz, BMW or Volkswagen. Decide for yourself.
In Toronto, you can find the Welder collection at Got Style on King Steet West.
1 Comment
September 11, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Really great watches!
If you live in the States you can also get a hold of a Welder watch through http://www.welderamerica.com.