Historical watches: three ways to connect with the past
What is a historical watch?
A historical watch is first and foremost a piece linked to a specific era, event, or figure that has left its mark on history. But it is also a mythical, emblematic watch, a collector's item designed to last and embody the history of something or someone beyond its primary function.
At Col&McArthur, these two dimensions are not opposed: they converge in every creation. History is the raw material of the House, and each collection explores a different facet of this universal memory of humanity.
Milestones historical watches: milestones of humanity
Our Milestones collection focuses on events that marked a turning point in collective history. These historical watches serve as a reminder that some days are more significant than others, and that everyone can decide when that day has come for them.
- The Lunar 1969 contains an authentic fragment of lunar regolith, a symbol of man's first steps on extraterrestrial soil. It serves as a reminder that no dream is too grand when willpower and science unite.
- The more contemporary Resilience 2020 timepiece seals in steel the memory of a year of global crisis. This historic watch testifies to humanity's ability to stand firm in the face of the unexpected, and invites its wearer to see in every difficulty an opportunity for growth.
Choosing a Milestone means inscribing one's life in resonance with these shared milestones: a diploma, a birth or a decisive step can then find echo in a moment that has marked all of humanity.
Discover the historic Lunar 1969 watch
Battlefront historical watches: a memory of battles
The Battlefront collection pays tribute to the great military trials that forged today's freedom and peace. It does not celebrate war: it honors the bravery, strength of character, and horizon of peace that emerged from these struggles.
- The First World War is commemorated by the Armistice 1918 watch, which marks the day the fighting ceased after four years of total war. Each version of this historical timepiece pays tribute to an Allied country, one of its soldiers, and its national flower—the poppy for the Commonwealth, the cornflower for France, and so on. This diversity makes the Armistice 1918 watch both personal and universal: it connects each wearer to their national heritage while also recalling a shared duty of remembrance and peace.
- For World War II, Col&McArthur designed several models, each linked to a key moment: Dunkirk 1940 to celebrate the heroic rescue, Spitfire 1940 with its dial inspired by the cockpit of the iconic aircraft, Pearl Harbor 1941 with its radar dial, and Berlin 1989 with its authentic fragment of the Wall embedded in the dial. These complementary symbols serve as a reminder that this conflict was a succession of acts of bravery and sacrifice, where collective will was forged in the face of adversity.
These historical watches from the First and Second World Wars serve as a reminder that battles only have value insofar as they lead to freedom and peace. Worn on the wrist, they become silent witnesses to this shared memory and to the ever-present duty to stand together to build a better future.
Discover the historical mounts of the First World War Armistice
Visionary historical watches: the legacy of great figures
Finally, our Visionaries collection highlights the personalities who, through their genius, ambition, or determination, have left a lasting mark on the world. These historical watches remind us that the fabric of destiny is woven not only by battles, but also by the individuals who dare to see further and forge a new path.
- The Napoleon 1821 perpetuates the image of a great builder whose legacy and institutional architecture remain inscribed in our societies: the Civil Code, high schools, French institutions… but also the noble teachings of war. To wear this timepiece is to keep alive the memory that a vision can transcend centuries.
- The Leonardo 1519 pays homage to the universal inventor. Its hands, turning backwards, evoke his inverted writings, a nod to an insatiable curiosity that rejected conventions. The dial becomes an invitation to think differently, to question time itself.
- The Charles de Gaulle 1970 celebrates the voice of Free France, the voice that knew how to say “no” when surrender seemed the easiest option. Its understated design, marked by its uprightness, reflects the spirit of independence and the steadfastness of a figure whose legacy still resonates today.
Wearing a historical watch celebrating one of these great men of history is choosing a totem figure, a mirror that resonates with our own journey, that places us in a lineage that does not simply transmit the past, but continues to show a path towards the future.
Discover the watch of the historical figure Leonardo da Vinci
A historical tribute to watchmaking – The Sarton 1748 watch
At the origin of our passion, there is a name that takes us back to our roots: Hubert Sarton. In 1748, this watchmaker from Liège created the automatic rotor, a discreet pivot but the foundation of modern watchmaking.
Without him, modern watchmaking would not be what it is today. It is in Liège, the cradle of this decisive advance, that our Maison has chosen to establish its workshops.
For the Maison, the Sarton 1748 is not merely a historical timepiece : it is an intimate tribute, a reminder of our own roots, and an affirmation that our mission is to pass on this vibrant memory. By dedicating it to its inventor, we share with every collector and enthusiast the emotion of completing a circle: the one that connects the watchmaking tradition of yesterday to the memory we are shaping today.
Discover our historic watch from Liège watchmaking
Whether they celebrate a collective milestone, honor a struggle or embody a figure, all Col&McArthur watches share the same ambition: to make time a witness, and each piece a memory to be shared.
Because a historical watch is not just an accessory: it is a fragment of history, chosen to accompany yours.
