From SwissWatchExpo…
Spotlight on: The Watches on Mad Men. Don Draper’s choice timepieces. Very few TV characters have had as much influence
on men’s fashion, as Mad Men. The men of advertising firm Sterling Cooper, led by Don
Draper, helped resurrect 1960’s dapper. His sleek, tailored and classic styling had
the modern man aiming for his suave and sophisticated look. Don wore amazing dress watches on the show,
and lucky for us, they are still being made in contemporary versions today. Let’s check
them out! Don’s mid-century looks called for period
correct watches, and Jaeger LeCoultre was a fitting brand to wear. The Memovox Polaris is the very first watch
that Don sported on the show. His timepiece featured a Tuxedo dial — that is, a white
dial, black outer ring and a round steel case, that was very popular in the 60s. The vintage version was discontinued before
the decade ended, and made a comeback in 2012. It is now being produced in a sleeker, more
modern version today. The Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso becomes Don’s
go-to watch by Season 2, presumably to reflect the fact that he has moved up in the company.

The rectangular dress watch has been in production
since 1931. Originally, it was a watch for polo players, but its classic Art Deco style
quickly gained appeal outside the polo fields. Don begins wearing a 1960’s Rolex Explorer
I, possibly the reference 1016, in Season 4. There’s no mistaking the watch with its
all-steel construction and 3-6-9 Arabic markers. Originally created for mountain expeditions,
the contrasting black dial and luminous markers, were meant to make it more legible in low-light
conditions. The Explorer is Rolex’s most classic sports
model. The original design is still being made today, in a more modern 39 millimeter
version. Don also wore Omega Seamaster mid-century
designs on the show. The era’s Seamaster watches, just like Don’s
black dial De Ville design, were introduced with a water resistant case, but looked like
elegant dress watches.

In Season 6, we see Don wearing a yellow gold
dress watch, presumably another Omega DeVille. The yellow gold case and black leather strap
go very well with his warm-colored ensembles for the season. Of course, the men of Sterling Cooper also
wore dapper dress watches. Here’s the agency’s silver fox, Roger Sterling, wearing a Tudor
Oyster Prince. The classic style is a great accompaniment to his flashy suits. And finally, we have the ambitious yet volatile
Pete Campbell’s funky Hamilton Sputnik watch. The watch is notable for its flared lugs,
stepped bezel, and unusual dial. Mad Men was compelling for many reasons, and
the timepieces sure count as one of them. Which watch was your favorite? Tell us in
the comments section. Want to learn more? For the best and the latest
in watches, head over to The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo. For more videos, subscribe to our YouTube
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