You might have seen the familiar hand-applied blue anodized markers appearing all over your Instagram feed, usually accompanied with a clean white ceramic dial and a beautiful filter. It’s the Heritage 40 from Corniche Watches, a Stockholm brand founded by three watch enthusiasts.
Inspired by their childhood summers on the French Riviera, the founders set out to create a wristwatch that combined the languid vibes of the Mediterranean coastline with an honest attention to detail. The result is a classic slim dress wristwatch reminiscent of an era when time took, well, its own sweet time and men would dress up in tailored suits for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
To keep prices within an acceptable range, the company opted for a Miyota 2025 quartz movement. Sure it isn’t exactly the pinnacle of watchmaking but it’s a dependable workhorse that keeps the Heritage 40 ticking. However what makes Corniche Watches excel is its meticulous attention to detail.
Even before you unveil the Heritage 40, you’ll be wowed by the packaging. Corniche Watches spares no expense, creating a lacquered wooden box with a push button opening mechanism. It looks like a work of art and one you’ll proudly display on your bedside or even coffee table.
The finishing of the stainless steel case is exemplary, with different areas brushed or finished to the highest degree, and the caseback features an embossed Mediterranean pine tree, a nod to the inspiration of the brand. With a manageable case size of 40mm, the Heritage 40 fits every wrist and fits perfectly under the cuffs of your shirt. While you can take it into the showers, thanks to its 5 ATM waterproof case, we don’t recommend it.
There are different colour combinations available – black and rose gold, white and rose gold, and our personal favourite white and stainless steel. You must admit that there is something timeless about vintage pieces given a fresh coat of paint.
Much like how vinyl is returning and reissues of old timepieces are dominating the watch world headlines, there is something appealing about putting on the Heritage 40, like the new and the old combining to create this beautiful piece.
Corniche Watches is available exclusively in Singapore at Red Army Watches (Millenia Walk, Wisma Atria, ATRIX, www.redarmywatches.com) and Krasnaya (ION Orchard).