1970s/1980s GUCCI 'Marine Link' Bracelet Watch with Bezels
View Similar Items
1970s/1980s GUCCI 'Marine Link' Bracelet Watch with Bezels
About the Item
Gucci
Long before trend-bucking creative director Alessandro Michele brought his hallucinatory “Utopian Fantasy” campaign to Gucci, it was a modest Italian leather shop. Today, it’s an internationally renowned luxury house with an iconic logo, and vintage Gucci clothing, handbags and shoes are among high fashion's most covetable goods.
Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) admired the stylish suitcases he saw wealthy guests arrive with at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked as a bellhop. So, in 1921, after a stint at Franzi, a luggage company in his hometown of Florence, he opened a leather goods shop of his own.
At first, Gucci’s Florence business specialized in equestrian accessories. But as its reputation flourished, particularly among the English aristocracy, so too did its footprint. In 1938, he brought three of his sons — Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo — into the business and expanded it to Rome and later Milan. In the mid-1930s, a League of Nations embargo against Italy pushed Gucci to experiment with alternatives to imported leather. Its woven hemp fabric from Naples, adorned with the brand’s signature diamond print, was a hit, especially among A-list celebrities. The material was first used on suitcases before finding enduring popularity on handbags. (No list of revered designer purses would be complete without Gucci.)
In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor carried one of Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote bags, another adaptation to material rationing. After Jackie Kennedy was seen sporting a slouchy Gucci tote in 1961, it was renamed for the First Lady. Then Grace Kelly, on a visit to the boutique in Milan, inspired Rodolfo Gucci to work with Italian illustrator and Gucci textile designer Vittorio Accornero on the Flora print in 1966. Taking cues from Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, with its pattern of flora and insects, it was painted entirely by hand and featured no fewer than 37 colors.
In 1953, just 15 days after opening his first store on New York’s 5th Avenue, Guccio passed away at 72. The early 1970s saw store openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong, but by the late 1980s, Gucci was floundering. Rodolfo Gucci took charge in 1982, but family drama and lawsuits ensued. In 1993, Rodolfo’s son, Maurizio, transferred his shares in the company to Investcorp, ending the family’s involvement in Gucci. Dawn Mello, then-president of Bergdorf Goodman, joined as creative director in 1989. But it was Tom Ford, who took over as creative director in 1994, who ultimately revived the brand.
Ford’s racy ads, shot by photographers such as Mario Testino, stirred controversy. And his potent vision of sexed-up femininity — with “jewel-toned satin shirts unbuttoned to there,” as Vogue described his breakthrough 1995 runway show — was wildly successful. The new millennium brought new ownership — Pinault Printemps Redoute in 2004 — and a more toned-down vision from Frida Giannini, who became sole creative director in 2006. Alessandro Michele was named creative director in 2015, and the storied brand took a giant leap forward.
Find vintage Gucci clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- 18 Karat Rose Gold Ruby Bracelet Watch by ZenithLocated in Palm Springs, CA18 karat rose gold Zenith bracelet watch with soft links and lid decorated with set rubies in star motifs / Made in Switzerland 1950sCategory
Mid-20th Century Italian Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
- David Webb 18K Yellow Gold Platinum Diamond Wristwatch BraceletBy David WebbLocated in New York, NYA luxurious gold, platinum and diamond bracelet by David Webb with a hidden wristwatch dial. 18K yellow gold, approximately 7ct of diamonds, signed Webb, marked 18K, Plat, numbered. ...Category
Late 20th Century Wrist Watches
MaterialsDiamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold
- Carol Felley Sterling Silver Watch Galloping Horse 1980sBy Carol FelleyLocated in Wallkill, NYVintage Sterling Silver Watch with Galloping horses making up the bracelet of the watch. Face is a Indian Head with the date 1911 on th...Category
Vintage 1980s American Wrist Watches
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Turquoise Gold Watch Tips, 14 Karat Yellow Gold, Turquoise Nugget in 14k GoldLocated in Austin, TXThese 14 karat yellow gold watch tips featuring 4 stunning genuine turquoises are the perfect bold accessory, and would make a wonderful addition to any out...Category
2010s American Artisan Wrist Watches
MaterialsTurquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet with Diamonds and Peek-A Boo Swiss Geneva WatchLocated in Boston, MAThis extraordinary vintage piece is a true masterclass in luxury craftsmanship and design innovation. Handcrafted from heavy 18K yellow gold, the panther-style bracelet features meticulously corrugated links that exude a powerful, textured elegance. Interspersed throughout the bracelet are 28 white gold sections, each one expertly set by hand with four round brilliant diamonds, totaling an impressive 2.80 carats of scintillating brilliance. The diamonds, graded G-H in color and VS in clarity, are a testament to the exceptional quality and attention to detail in this piece's construction. Designed to fit a wrist size of 6 to 6.5 inches, the bracelet strikes a perfect balance between opulence and wearability. In addition to the true showstopper of this bracelet, is the ingenious "peek-a-boo" feature, revealing a hidden Swiss Geneva watch...Category
Vintage 1960s Swiss Link Bracelets
MaterialsDiamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$14,400 Sale Price20% OffFree Shipping - Yellow Gold Link Concealed Dial Watch Bracelet by Rosieres GenevaLocated in Mount Kisco, NYFancy filigree links of fourteen karat 14K yellow gold create the 7-1/2 inch bracelet of this 1950's ladies wristwatch. The complementing large center charm link with filigree cover conceals a Rosieres Geneva manual wind 17 jeweled watch...Category
Vintage 1950s Swiss Wrist Watches
Materials14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Explore a Century of Gucci Fashion in London
The iconic Italian label’s traveling exhibition has just arrived in London.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.