BULOVA Octagonal Integrated Bracelet ref.4423901 / 1970s Clous de Paris Dial

— Imitation is the most honest form of praise —

There cannot be a watch enthusiast who does not recognise this shape.

An octagonal bezel and an integrated bracelet.

Its geometric strength was not only carried widely into later models from that famous house — it produced countless homages, and the outline has survived across the decades.

— The dial design, recomposed —

Like the case, the dial inherits a familiar composition.

But here it is slimmer and more restrained, a quiet recomposition.

Rather than the familiar grande tapisserie, it uses a fine clous de Paris dial.

The pyramid texture gives a soft, satin-like reflection.

— Hands and indexes —

The hands are polished pencil hands.

A black line runs discreetly through them, in harmony with the baton indexes.

At twelve sits the tuning fork emblem, faceted, adding a quiet brightness.

— A gift from America —

Bulova ref.4423901.

If this watch were announced today, the internet would be full of accusations of a knock-off, and the row would be considerable.

But the 1970s were a different time.

The dawn of luxury sports watches was a more generous age, and this form was allowed.

How good an expression an homage can become — even when it is not really an homage at all.

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