MSRP $7,190 Tom Ford 001 Tank Watch, Solid Gold 18k / 750, 27mm, Full Set

Description: There’s a reason Tom Ford’s label is called Tom Ford. Ford isn’t just the founder and designer—he’s also the ultimate client, a guy who swears by a wardrobe of his brand’s sharply cut peak-lapel suits and just-worn-enough denim. So when Ford decides he wants to make something new—a fragrance, a tailoring silhouette, a shoe—you better believe it’s been road-tested and perfected by the pickiest TF client: himself. That’s why the designer’s new watch—the Tom Ford 001—doesn’t look new or novel but like a timepiece that’s already stood the test of, well, time. “In general, I dislike a trendy watch, as I am a fairly classic person,” Ford writes over e-mail. “For a man who is more traditional, watches are really one of the few accessories he can wear outside of maybe a wedding ring.” The Swiss-made 001’s silhouette is intentionally quiet: “I don’t love diamonds on a day watch,” Ford explains. But, as one would expect of a product bearing a TF label, it’s loaded with luxury touches. The rectangular case comes in either 18-karat gold or stainless steel in one of three finishes: brushed, polished, or matte (with either a white or a black dial). “I have always preferred tank watches, so it felt natural to introduce the rectangular shape to our customer first,” he says. Ford’s timepieces are being made in partnership with the Bedrock Manufacturing Company, the parent company of both Shinola and Filson (two brands with an often-touted commitment to craftsmanship). The 001 style features a two-hands quartz movement, if you’re into the under-the-hood stuff, but the real selling point here—beyond just owning something Tom Ford—is that the watch straps can be swapped for one of dozens of others, and easily. We’ve extolled the virtues of the wrist refresh, but it’s usually tough to execute IRL without a tiny screwdriver and a lot of elbow grease. The 001’s design, much like that of the Apple Watch, allows you to swap the made-in-Italy straps easily and as you see fit, whether you’re feeling alligator for the office or braided leather for your off-duty hours (and all in colors as safe as basic black or as wild as magenta, forest green, and safety orange). Sure, it’s a very smart merchandising move—but it’s also borne of Ford’s own history with timepieces. “When I was young, I used to buy webbing-strap watch bands and thread them through my watch. It drove me crazy how difficult this was, and I wondered why someone hadn’t just designed a watch that was made for this,” he explains. Ford’s solution was to make sure changing bands “is literally like pulling the belt out of the belt loops on your pants.” Watches are the latest launch for Ford’s namesake label, but Ford is hardly a novice when it comes to designing them. During his time at Gucci Group, he was responsible for the design of dozens of timepieces at Gucci, YSL, and Boucheron, experience he drew upon when designing the 001. Ford’s luxury conglomerate know-how is how he and Domenico de Sole (the company’s chairman and Ford’s longtime business partner) have been able to find success in the highest—and priciest—echelons of fashion in just over a decade. Ford’s success—like that of the Chanels, Vuittons, and Guccis of the world—is built on the understanding that clothes inform a brand’s aesthetic but accessories build its bottom line. Ford might be king of the $5K charcoal suit, but recently, the brand’s biggest launches have been playboy-approved loafers and the 001 watch, with underwear coming later. These aren’t necessarily glamorous categories. They are, however, items that just about every guy wants to buy—and that guys who might not be able to afford that suit can save up for, too.

Price: 4999 USD

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

End Time: 2024-11-11T23:59:27.000Z

Shipping Cost: 99 USD