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Hip and Stylish Stuhrling Original Models for Watch Fans

Swiss watchmakers have been producing the world's finest timepieces for over four centuries now. Even after all these years, watches are an important part of the Swiss economy. In fact, only chemicals and electronics rank higher on the list of exports. How is this possible?

When people think of Switzerland, they think of chocolate, cheese and knives. But watches are in a different league altogether. As any watch seller will tell you, a timepiece is far more likely to sell if it has "made in Switzerland" stamped on the back. The country has been world famous for watch making for centuries. But, believe it or not, the Swiss were not always the world leaders.

The British and the French ruled the proverbial roost until Swiss watchmakers developed a new timekeeping technology in the 1960s. These watches were powered by quartz technology, i.e., digital technology. Though it was clear they had a winner on their hands, most watchmakers were conflicted about this new technology. After all, they had been working with mechanical watches, one that had cogs and wheels, for generations. Perhaps that is why the inventors of the new technology did not capitalize on it immediately - because they did not know how it would be received by their countrymen.

In the end, the so-called Quartz Revolution was both a blessing and a bane for watchmakers in Switzerland. On the plus side, it did make them the world's number one exporter of timepieces. However, these new digital models put a lot of old-world masters out of work. Because many of them refused to accept the new technology and focused instead on improving mechanical models, they eventually fell by the wayside. According to watch historians, the total number of watch companies has plummeted from 1600 in 1970 to around 600 today. But even though their numbers have declined, Swiss watchmakers have been able to increase overall watch exports, due mostly to improved production techniques and lower material costs.

Where are we now?

Like most new technologies, the appeal of quartz-powered watches eventually began to fade. Yes, they were accurate and affordable, but many of them looked, well...cheap. Working professionals wanted timepieces that combined modern styles with old-fashioned craftsmanship. In the next few paragraphs, we will discuss a new company that does just that.

Stuhrling Original was founded in 1999 by a businessman who has three generations of Swiss watchmakers in his family. Max Stuhrling IV choose to enter the incredibly mature watch market because he believed he could carve out a niche for his new company with high-quality, stylish timepieces. But Stuhrling Original didn't have to settle for being a niche player.

The company has reported positive growth every year it has been in business. Stuhrling Original is presently one of the fastest growing watch manufacturers in the world. The following is a brief list with descriptions of their most popular models.

Apocalypse Skeleton

The name might be a bit off-putting, but the watch is actually quite fetching. It is an automatic timepiece, which means that it is powered by cogs, gears and jewels, rather than electronic pulses. Because they are less expensive to produce, most new companies start with quartz-powered electronic watches. But Stuhrling Original did not cut corners. They knew the modern watch wearer needed a stylish timepiece to wear to the office and one for casual wear as well.

The Apocalypse Skeleton is a unique timepiece that uses the fact that it is a mechanical model to its aesthetic advantage. The design is referred to as a skeleton because the watch dial is open and it lets the wearer observe the inner moving parts of the watch.

Sportsman's Eagle

Like most contemporary watchmakers, Stuhrling Original offers a full line of sports watches. These watches are designed for use in the outdoors and for sports-related activities. The Eagle is a rugged timepiece that has an oversized case and an easy to read black dial. The luminous orange hour hands and magnified date window give the watch a distinctive look. A black leather watch strap with orange stitching puts the finishing touch on this unique timepiece. The Sportsman's Eagle has a synthetic sapphire watch case that protects it in up to 155 feet of water. The watch is powered by genuine Swiss quartz movement.

Classic Heritage

Stuhrling Original has gained a reputation as a maker of eye-catching timepieces. But even for them, the Classic Heritage is on the ostentatious side. The watch features a 16 karat gold rose-toned case, a black mother-of-pearl watch dial, and rose-gold toned hour hands in leaf style. Arabic numerals keep track of the hours and there is even a date window alongside the three o'clock hour position. The watchband is made of water-repellant alligator-embossed French leather. It's an awful lot of watch for a very affordable price. Stuhrling Original offers a full range of watches for casual and professional wear. Find your favorite model now.

About the Author

Pat Moran is a freelance writer who writes about jewelry, watches and specific brands such as Stuhrling Original.

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