Traditionally styled timepieces, for the modern man
A stunning watch should be the staple of every man’s wardrobe. Whether you’re a business man in formal attire everyday needed a daily rotation of dress watches, or just an average joe who wants something a bit sharper and refined to spruce up his outfit. You can’t do without a proper watch. That said, with so many in the market to choose from, it can be hard to find the right one for you, which is why we’ve taken the liberty of narrowing down 7 from one of the oldest watchmakers in America; Ingersoll. Narrowing down the perfect few watches that deserves a spot in every collection. Without further ado, let’s take a look, shall we?
INGERSOLL THE SCOVILL I05003 MEN'S WATCH
The dive watch is like a rite of passage for virtually all watch companies around. For a brand like Ingersoll, more well known for their complex and intricate skeleton dress watches, you’d expect something a bit more unconventional and even strange from their new dive watch. But it isn’t. In fact, the Ingersoll Scovill is a rather handsome vintage style diver that is a pretty good attempt for a brand’s first diver.
The Scovill is certainly one of Ingersoll’s less polarizing designs, looking very much like what a vintage diver should. A bold slap-sided stainless-steel case, with a conventional brushed silver finishing and a clean legible dial with bold hands and markers too. Paired with a rather slim deep red dive bezel for a splash of colour and what you get is a rather handsome and unfussy vintage style diver. Powering the watch is an ever-reliable Japanese Miyota automatic caliber, offering a date and 41 hours of power-reserve too. With a threaded crown and 100m of water resistance, its not the most ground-breaking performance but it gets the job done.
Reliable, tough and handsome, the Ingersoll Scovill doesn’t really offer the performance or pedigree of say, a Seiko Prospex diver. But then again, they are two very different watches. One of them is a proper modern professional tool watch, and the other, is a celebration of a traditional design that has now become an icon in watchmaking. If you’re looking for a casual diver with a bit of vintage flair and charm, the Ingersoll Scovill is certainly the watch for you.
INGERSOLL RELIANCE I05501 AUTOMATIC SILVER STAINLESS STEEL MEN'S WATCH
The Ingersoll Reliance I05501 is undoubtedly the most conventional and simple looking timepiece we have today. Simple by Ingersoll’s standards at least, the Reliance is the brand’s take on a vintage style stainless-steel dress watch. And with a brushed, stainless-steel case and a simple black dial, 3 hands, applied gilt indexes, and an unobtrusive 40mm in diameter, it certainly fits the bill nicely.
Powered by a reliable automatic caliber, the Reliance, like most Ingersoll watches out there, is a handsome, and reliable piece of kit. I would’ve preferred to see a bit more polished finishes to contrast with the brushing but it does add to the overall ‘Vintage’ vibe of the watch. The bracelet is a simple affair too, 3-links, with brushed side links and a polished center links, which adds to the dressiness of the watch that Ingersoll was going for. Legibility, like you would expect from a vintage style 3-hander, is great, with slim gilt gold hands and applied indexes both with fairly decent luminescent painted on top of them for some night time visibility too. All in all, if you’re looking for steel dress watch with a distinct and timeless design, the Ingersoll Reliance I05501 should be right up your alley.
INGERSOLL THE REGENT AUTOMATIC I00203 MEN'S WATCH
The next watch in our list and probably the most elegant of the lot; The Regent Automatic I00203 is certainly the dressiest of the lot. Matching the modern and elegant case design with a muted time only dial gives the watch all the flair and subtlety it needs to stand out from the crowd. The dial is the reason why it ended up on our list though, with applied indexes and of course, a stunning black sunburst guilloche pattern radiating outwards sitting within a sandblasted outer dial.
It truly accentuates the beauty of the vintage style, turning an otherwise traditional and muted design into something that is striking yet still elegant. Powering the watch is an ever-reliable Miyota automatic caliber, offering 41 hours of power-reserve and a 3Hz frequency. It’s nothing to cry home about, but it’ll get the job done. The black alligator textured calf leather strap complements the watch nicely and will sit happily on your wrist whether you’re rocking it with a suit or casually with a pair of denim and a T-shirt. You’ll be hard pressed to find another watch in this price range that is as beautiful and well executed as the Regent.
INGERSOLL THE COLUMBUS AUTOMATIC I04202 MEN'S WATCH
The next watch on the list is a stunning vintage styled dress watch, and its certainly one of my favourites on the list. Featuring a unique cushion shaped case, paired with a gorgeous striped and sandblasted grey dial, with a day-date display. It’s a proper modern take on what a vintage styled watch could be. The cushion shaped case has never really been used for dress watches as they were seen to be too brash and more suited to be used for tool watches without much need for refinement. But with its high polish and two-stepped lug design, the Columbus is a no-nonsense dress watch that elevates the circle within a square design to the next level.
The dial is really where the beauty of this watch truly shines, with the bold striping along the center taking center stage and the sandblasted ring, offering an added layer of depth too. The golden applied indexes and day/date window frames adds a perfect finishing touch to this incredibly refined timepiece. And all of this is attached to a grey alligator style leather strap for that last touch of dressy refinement. All of these little design details when put together truly creates a beautifully elegant dress watch that subtly exudes that bold style of American elegance we love so much.
INGERSOLL ORVILLE I09302B BLACK LEATHER MEN'S WATCH
The Ingersoll Orville I09302B is a prime example of the saying; while less may be more, more is still more. It is a relatively simple and conventional 3 hander telling only the time and nothing else, not even the date. So far so simple, but there’s a catch, the dial is almost completely open, showcasing the innards of the automatic movement powering it.
The watch is fitted with an angular cushion shaped case with integrated lugs, along with a matching black dial and strap as well. So, it’s a very monochromatic and industrial look, very cool indeed. Despite the very dark theme of the overall design, legibility isn’t compromised thanks in part to the contrasting silvered hands against the intricate dial and of course, the silvered applied baton markers as well. The watch features a trialled and tested seagull automatic caliber that is very nicely decorated too which gives a nice flair to the otherwise simple watch.
What really makes the Orville work for me is that it is a modernization of an otherwise traditional practice in watchmaking. Industrializing a skeleton dial with a modern dial layout and a uniquely shaped case is a bold risk, but it is one that pays dividends with the execution of the Orville. If a stunning skeleton mechanical dress watch is what you’re looking for, the Orville should be high on your list of considerations.
Ingersoll The Producer Automatic Silver Stainless Steel I09701 Black Leather Strap Men's Watch
We can’t have a list of the most stylish watches a man can get without looking at a tonneau shaped watch, can we? Though technically closer to a rectangle, the ‘tonneau watch design was popularized and defined in the 1990s by none other than the acclaimed Franck Muller, and adopted by industry icon and haute horologist, Richard Mille too.
It is an icon in watch design and high-fashion, amongst celebrities as well as those who want a more unconventionally shaped watch. But what if you want a tonneau shaped watch with a skeleton dial mimicking the unmistakable Franck Muller/Richard Mille style without having to break the bank or buying an homage? Well, you could have this; the Ingersoll Producer I09701. If you’re looking for a tonneau shaped watch but prefer a more refined and less stout package, then the Producer I09701 is certainly for you.
Cased in a polished stainless-steel case, and measuring in at a dressy 39mm in diameter. Paired with a nicely matching brown alligator style leather strap, the watch is an elegantly masculine timepiece with some bold and distinct touches from the brand sprinkled around.
All in all, if you’re looking for a timeless, design and don’t want to contribute to the ocean of round watches around, then the Producer I09702 is undoubtedly the watch for you.
Ingersoll The Hollywood Automatic Rose Gold Stainless Steel I09601 Black Leather Strap Men's Watch
This rather striking piece from Ingersoll serves as a reminder that creativity and style really does go a long way to why some of us still wear a traditional mechanical wrist watch in this day and age. With an otherwise conventional rounded case shape and simple swooping lugs, it’s certainly not a brash or particularly ostentatious watch.
But it really is the dial that makes this piece truly special. It comes with a set of hands that tells the hours, minutes and seconds and a date indicator with a moonphase too. Sounds normal, doesn’t it? Well, that’s until you notice the twin balance wheels taking up the entire bottom half of the dial merrily beating away. Twin balance wheels aren’t common to find in watches like this, and they don’t really serve much purpose besides to look pretty.
Though that’s exactly why we love this piece, it houses a rather complex movement that adds no tangible benefits to the watch other than to make for a lovely viewing experience. Oh, and don’t worry, it’s not one of those ‘you’re kidding yourself moments’ because there’s still plenty of details that this watch offers that really sets it apart. The striped upper dial set against the circular graining of the lower dial adds even more sophistication to this already stunning watch. All in all, if you’re looking for a striking and reliable every day dress watch that really doesn’t look like anything else out there, it’s certainly hard to do better than the Hollywood.
A staple piece for the modern Gentleman
And there you have it, 7 of the best Ingersoll watches to have in your collection. Whether you’re looking for an affordable and timeless design, or a properly striking and complex piece, there’s certainly a watch for everybody in the Ingersoll collection. And if you’d like to see more, then feel free to check out our full range of Ingersoll timepieces in our collection here.
