I went to the cinema to see 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny'. Like all children of the 1980s, I had very high expectations and had no doubt that I would be entertained, at least thanks to the nostalgia effect.
Instead, the disappointment hit me like a slap in the face. The fundamentals of the most classic Indiana Jones were all there: the woman, the child, the Nazis, the precious archaeological find that everyone is after, the fantasy element. However, two important ingredients were missing: the new and the unexpected. The result was that I left the cinema feeling old and unfashionable.
Remakes of past things can have this effect, so they are risky operations: the 'original was better' effect is always just around the corner.
Then there are cases where the inspiration, skill and taste of the person proposing a re-edition combine to create something magical: the past that is renewed and returns to make us dream.
I witnessed a similar case on 27 June, when Omega launched the collection celebrating 75 years of the Omega Seamaster. A collection that, by retracing the history of a mythical watch, updates each model and gives it a new character.
I could say the same about many current re-editions of watches that have become myths. For many, but not all. Another successful 'remake' is that of the Reverso Chronograph, proposed this year by Jaeger-LeCoultrewhich brings back to the House's iconic watch the complication designed specifically for its case in 1996, renewing rather than replicating.
The same applies to the work he performed Bulgari on Gérald Genta's Octo, coming up with a design that, oblivious of its origins, is now strongly identified with the Roman signature.
Or for the Big Pilot's Watch by IWCwhich transformed a wartime professional instrument, such as the B-Uhr of the 1940s, into a modern and stylistically and functionally evolved timepiece.
What other examples would you add to my list?
