GQ JAPAN Editor-in-Chief Masafumi Suzuki's Top 5 New Watches of 2020

Masafumi Suzuki

Editor-in-Chief of GQ JAPAN. Born in 1949. Dropped out of Keio University. After working for a commercial film production company and as a journalist for the English edition of a shipping and shipbuilding industry newspaper, he served as editor-in-chief of NAVI (Nigensha) and ENGINE (Shinchosha). He has held his current position since November 2011.

Watches and fashion have never been closer than they are now.
　A long time ago, performance was the key element required of a watch. But then Bamford linked it to culture, and (Jean-Claude) Biver took notice. Fashion and watches have never been closer than they are now, and they will likely become even more intertwined with street culture. In this context, I think "rarity" will become a focal point. This year's trend is a clear preference for vintage. People today are turning to old watches, but vintage watches aren't cheap. So reproductions are feeding into this trend. As a result, it seems like they're all starting to look like Daytonas or Submariners. It's both fun and a bit disappointing.

　In this day and age, I think manufacturers with their own historical assets are strong. The new Pasha announced by Cartier is a unique masterpiece, unlike anything else. Bulgari's Aluminium also has a clever design. And Breguet's Classic. Personally, I'm paying attention to its moon phase. Speaking of reissues, Longines' Tuxedo is also good, and Zenith's Shadow is a modern take on an old design. Expressing yourself through clothing can be difficult, but sneakers and watches are easy. I was talking to Hiroshi Fujiwara the other day, and he said there's no longer a dress code for watches. I agree. A watch is a communication tool, and I think dress codes are no longer relevant when it comes to wearing one. (Interview)

Masafumi Suzuki's Top 5 New Watches for 2020

Cartier Pasha de Cartier

The design is reminiscent of the first model from 1985, but it also features interchangeable straps and a highly anti-magnetic automatic movement. "The Pasha is an attractive model, but it's not yet well known among the younger generation," says Mr.

Zenith Chronomaster Revival "Shadow"

This model is modeled after a hand-wound prototype made in the 1970s. The case at the time was probably made of stainless steel and PVD, but this model uses blasted titanium. "It's an old case design, but it's a model that has been successfully given a modern touch."

Longines Heritage Classic Tuxedo

This new model is a faithful reproduction of a 1940s model. The name comes from the coloring that is reminiscent of a tuxedo. The case diameter is 38.5mm, but the position of the small seconds is appropriate. "When it comes to reproductions, Longines makes good watches."

Breguet Classique 7337

This is the successor to the 3330/3337, which was released in 1986. The design follows the model released in 2009, but the guilloching is finer and the finish has been improved. "What I've been interested in recently is the moon phase. I also think combinations would be good."

Bvlgari Aluminium Chronograph

This is the revival of a model that was released in 1998 and became a huge hit. The design and size remain the same, but the aluminum material used for the case has been changed. "The hairline finish on the aluminum case is very clever."