Its been 10 years since Tom Ford launched his first Menswear collection. Hard to believe we have had to wait that long for the first ever TF timepiece range but the time has arrived and ‘The Tom Ford 001 Collection’ represents his signature style of simplicity and timeless elegance.
The epitome of modern masculinity, this iconic brand introduces the timepiece range to an already successful ensemble of ready-to-wear, accessories, fragrance, beauty and sunglass offering.
In a watch world that is crowded with many competing brands and options, it can be quite difficult to stand out with a point of design difference. But this isn’t a piece that has every bell and whistle in order to reach his audience. An effortlessly sleek design with broad customisation is the angle Mr Ford has taken.
Partnering with Bedrock Manufacturing Company, the Swiss Made pieces come in two distinctive rectangle design sizes; the Large 44m and medium 40mm.
With customisable options, you have the choice of 18K yellow gold, brushed steel, polished steel and black DLC coated cases. Selecting your strap is also open to customising with braided leather, alligator, pebble leather and stitched leather coming in a gamut of colours from black, tan, choc and cabernet, right through to bright orange, green, red and many more. As the straps are a pinless design, you can swap and change straps with easy to work with your outfit. Featuring the crown with an Onyx inlay, the dials come in Opaline White or Matt Velvet Black with diamond cut hands.
In an interview with WWD, Mr Ford said “It’s a single watch design. Right now, it comes in two different sizes and in different finishes and different colored faces. But it is a watch; it is the Tom Ford watch. This watch has given me the vocabulary to now do another one, but it isn’t like I’m going to have 50 watches. I may ultimately have five models.
Great watch brands, which is, of course, what I’m aspiring to be — Hermès has what, five, six, seven models? Rolex, they have very few but they’ve done an incredible amount of business; Cartier the same. I’m not competing with Cartier and Rolex; that’s a much higher price point. I would say I’m more directly competing with the price point and the target customer of an Hermès watch. I’m very excited about it because it’s a very simple concept that no one has ever done, and is, as far as I can tell, nowhere in the market. It’s something I have wanted for years, and never understood why somebody didn’t do it.”
If you thinking price, they start from around $3k AUD and right up to approx $13k AUD.
Positioned as a unisex timepiece, it really comes down to the size of the face that suits best on your wrist. Ford said “There are two sizes. I don’t necessarily believe in a woman’s watch and a man’s watch. A Cartier Tank is a Cartier Tank, and you buy it in different sizes. An Hermès Arceau is an Hermès Arceau, and you buy it in different sizes. Maybe it’s a different strap.”
If a different strap is what you’re after, there are 62 strap options, in 30 shades.
A debut range that’s classy as much classic, you can check out the collection here and head to the customisation page to have a play around with creating your own perfect Tom Ford timepiece.
Stay dapper gents.
Robbie – Dapper Lounge.
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