This video explores the foundational watch archetypes that shaped modern watch collecting. Each major category of wristwatch can be traced back to a defining reference point that established expectations for design, functionality, and purpose. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust and its impact on the everyday watch, the Cartier Tank rectangular dress watch, Patek Philippe's Calatrava Ref 96 and its unexpected Bauhaus influence, the Rolex Submariner and the evolution of the dive watch, Breitling's Navitimer as a purpose-built pilot tool watch, the Omega Speedmaster, NASA, and its engineering moonwatch legacy, and Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak as the origin of the integrated steel luxury sports watch. Rather than focusing on price or brand prestige, this discussion centers on influence, design philosophy, historical context, and how these archetypes continue to shape consumer, microbrand, and luxury watches today. Understanding these reference points can change how collectors interpret design, category, and intention within their own collections. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C8ZD2xkzFU

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