TECHNOS CORONET, 1950s

— A design that speaks for mid-century —

Concentric circles in black and silver, a discreet crosshair across the centre, and raised markers on the outer ring. The whole face carries the air of the years when mid-century modernism was simply how things were drawn.

Sharp straight lugs, delicate dolphin hands, and nothing that does not need to be there — an avant-garde quality that current dress watches no longer attempt.

— A seal that stopped the clock —

A "TECHNOS SINCE 1745" sticker survives on the case back. The green and gold are still vivid after several decades, and a condition this improbable says a good deal about how the watch has been kept.

— Swiss mechanical craftsmanship —

The movement is calibre Duroflex 2391, an ETA 2390 with Incabloc shock protection added. Precisely assembled gearing and a regularly beating balance still deliver the particular warmth of a mechanical watch, and the watch settles quietly into classical dress.