Vintage TV Blue 7H140-B - NOS

Founded in 1907 by Julius Epple, Aristo combines Swiss-made precision and Pforzheim watchmaking tradition. Back then, the brand was known as  Aristo Uhren- and Uhrgehäusefabrik (Aristo Watches and Watch Cases Manufacturing). The company was passed down two generations to Helmut Epple, the grandson of Julius. Helmut then passed on the mantle to Vollmer - who fused the development of Aristo and his own family business - which led to the company that we know today as Aristo Vollmer GmbH. 

Aristo Vintage TV Blue 7H140-B - NOS

Today, Aristo continues to excel in producing impressive German-made timepieces that range from classical designs to Flieger watches. This latest release from the German brand is no exception. However, there is a slight twist. These series of watches are what we call new old stock (NOS) watches. These are watches that have never been sold before, with brand new parts that are sourced from the past, giving such watches a great dose of retro vibes. Aristo is putting the NOS back in NOStalgia. 

To launch this retro series, Hansjörg Vollmer, the head of Aristo himself, hand-picked the components that he was able to track down while doing research in his hometown of Pforzheim and other watchmaking metropolises. Talk about commitment to the cause. 

Swiss Made Selita SW215-1 movement

Let’s first get the dimensions out of the way. The case of the Aristo Vintage TV measures 36mm, with a lug-to-lug of 34mm and a thickness of a mere 9.5mm. This set of dimensions ensures that the timepiece will sit superbly well on almost all wrist sizes and is in line with the sizing of vintage watches from the 1970s. The 316L stainless steel case also features a good mixture of brushed and polished finishing. Fine horizontal brushing can be found on the top of the case while the sides are well polished. This adds an extra dimension to a vintage-sized timepiece.

As the name suggests, the Aristo Vintage TV NOS Blue has a case shape reminiscent of a television. The “television screen” format corresponds to the Woodstock era. The music and arts festival of 1969 defined the era of hippiedom and is often seen as the pinnacle of rock ‘n’ roll and free love. With its avant-garde look, the TV screen case is still the perfect case for a wristwatch 50 years later. After all, it exudes a cool rock ‘n’ roll vibe that still proves to be very popular today. Available in blue, green and orange - the dial colours that were chosen for this collection help to tie in the hipster vibe of the watch perfectly and elevate the style of the watch. I imagine the wearer can strap this on at the golf club on weekends or at a quaint cafe and the watch will not look out of place at all. Prepare to receive plenty of compliments. 

Case shape reminiscent of a television

This blue dial variant features a rich shade of blue with a grainy texture, giving the watch a more period-correct vibe. Baton hands are used here, with a printed minute track and indices spread evenly across the outer edges of the dial. A white date wheel can also be found at 3 o’clock, a useful complication that does not really disrupt the proportions of the dial. In line with the vintage styling of the watch, a boxed plexiglass crystal is affixed atop the dial, creating brilliant distortions as you glance at the watch from different angles. A push-pull crown gives the watch 40m of water resistance which is ample for such timepieces. Just make sure you don’t swim with it! 

Powering the Aristo Vintage TV NOS Blue is the Selita SW215-1 movement. No worries here, the movement is definitely brand new and not NOS! It is a hand-wound movement that has 19 jewels, beats at 28,800 BPH and has a power reserve of 42 hours. This Swiss movement is robust and reliable and will stand the test of time superbly. The hand-wound movement will also help connect wearers to their timepieces even more, as it feels like they are giving the watch “life” with every wind.

NOS back in NOStalgia

Aristo pairs the Vintage TV NOS Blue on a matching 18mm blue leather strap. The leather strap tapers slightly and is soft and supple, which will allow it to be comfortable and conform to the wrist easily. 

The Aristo Vintage TV NOS Blue is a superb NOS release of a unique case design not available on the current watch market. It combines vintage good looks with a modern movement to ensure the longevity of the timepiece. What’s more, as these vintage TV cases are extremely hard to come by, there are only 50 of them available across the 3 colours. You’d be the special 1 out of 50 people in the world to own such a brilliant and unique timepiece. Cool, retro and hella fun, what’s not to love? Get your hands on one before they completely sell out today.