A Peaceful Shift in Time: Praesidus Honors Military History With Its First Dress Watch

Historically, the Praesidus brand has created pieces that pay tribute to veterans and military personnel, with watches that mirror historic military-issued timepieces. However, the brand’s inventive path took a unique turn in honouring the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, marking the end of World War II. Straying from their military design roots, Praesidus unveiled their first dress watch, named Victory Day, symbolising the peaceful era that followed the war. The timepiece blends vintage charm with modern durability, which is standard for the brand’s rugged, military-inspired watches.

Praesidus maintained a distinct focus on producing modern interpretations of famous military-issued models, such as the renowned A-11 or “Dirty Dozen” field watch. The Victory Day is a departure from this theme, created to commemorate the period of tranquillity and prosperity after World War II. Drawing inspiration from the elegant watches soldiers chose after their victorious return, the timepiece replicates the mid-century aesthetic. Yet, the Victory Day subtly stands out by taking advantage of contemporary materials, updated proportions, and a sleek automatic mechanical movement.

The Victory Day collection offers four colourways, with the Arizona-based brand recently adding a ‘Blue’ version, boasting a gold-tone PVD case with a slightly revised dial and hands design. The novel selection juxtaposes the dainty vintage appearance with contemporary proportions, modern materials, and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques. It is crafted from high-polished 316L stainless steel with a gold-tone PVD finish for a dashing profile, pairing a thin bezel with elegantly twisted lugs. Remarkably, the watch promises 100 meters of water resistance, a generous feature for a dress watch. The Victory Day, although compact with a 38 mm diameter and 10.8 mm thickness, mirrors modern consumer preferences. Despite the scaled-up size compared to mid-century wristwatches, the timepiece’s proportions remain versatile and well within the sweet spot for many collectors. All in all, the victory day is a vintage gem that pays homage to peaceful times, marking a shift in Praesidus’s design approach and broadening the brand’s appeal.