Tom Ford 001 Wristwatch ($9,900)
When we heard Tom Ford was launching his first timepiece, we were likely as surprised as you to learn that Tom Ford didn’t already have one. Considered one of today’s leading luxury fashion designers (particularly for menswear), he’s practically got everything but—the suits, the shoes, the fragrance—so naturally, a wristwatch was long overdue. And thankfully, the wait was truly worth it.
Like all things Tom Ford, the Tom Ford 001 is an elegant, modern take on a timeless classic—except in this case, that classic tells time just fine, as it’s made in partnership with Bedrock Manufacturing, the parent company behind both Shinola and Filson, whose commitments to quality and craftsmanship run as deep as Tom Ford’s himself.
Featuring a two-hand quartz movement housed in an elegant rectangular-shaped “tank” casing, the Tom Ford 001 is all about options. The encasing itself is available in either 40 mm or 40 mm with the option of an 18-karat gold encasing or stainless steel one that comes in three finishes—brushed, polished, or matte, while the face comes with either a sleek white or black background dial. But the customizations don’t stop there.
Similar to the Apple watch, the wristbands are completely interchangeable, with several color options available as well as several different types of material, from alligator and braided leather to pebble and stitched.
“When I was young, I used to buy webbing strap watch bands and thread them through my watch,” Ford recently told Vogue. “It always drove me crazy how difficult this was, and I always wondered why someone hadn’t just designed a watch that was made for this. The 001 is a sleek curved watch that follows the natural shape of the wrist, but the most striking thing about it is the ease with which one can change the band. It is literally like pulling the belt out of the belt loops on your pants and switching the belt to another color or material. The interchangeable bands are such a key part of this collection,” he continued.
Although watches are a new addition to Tom Ford’s namesake label, he’s hardly a novice when it comes to designing them. While serving as Creative Director for the Gucci Group, Ford was responsible for designing watches at Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Boucheron.
“In general, I dislike a trendy watch, as I am a fairly classic person,” Ford told GQ. “For a man who is more traditional, watches are really one of the few accessories he can wear outside of maybe a wedding ring. [And] I don’t love diamonds on a day watch.” 
