Before the world turned digital, mechanical stopwatches were the best way to follow time on the track and beyond. Wind Vintage and Tracksmith have teamed up to bring a collection of those original stopwatches back, and each of the 11 in the group are vintage gems. The impetus behind this project is to celebrate people’s achievements in running. Dubbed the Tracksmith x Wind Vintage Track and Field Stopwatch Collection, each of the stopwatches has split-seconds functionality, with iconic brands like Breitling, Heuer, and Omega represented. Each stopwatch includes a custom Tracksmith x Wind Vintage navy blue leather pouch.
Wind Vintage owner Eric Wind has been offering vintage watches and timepiece services to collectors since founding the company in 2017. Prior to this work, he was a senior specialist at famed auction house Christie’s, where he specialized in important timepieces offered up for sale to the highest bidder. Examples from the collection include the Breitling, which has a dial that watch aficionados call a “red quarter dial” due to the red markers that appear at the 15, 30, 45, and 60-second positions on the watch, contrasted with the black numbers. The Gallet stopwatch counts to 60 seconds and 30 minutes, ideal for a range of sporting activities that require timing. Dating from the 1970s, it features a sandblasted finish. The Heuer, from Abercrombie & Fitch, has two tracks, allowing the wearer to keep track of the time of two different runners as they pass the finish line.
For one of Tracksmith’s recent apparel collections, check out the Track & Field Collection.