Before steel stole the show, gold reigned supreme. It was only in the 1970s that sporty steel timepieces began a revolution in the world of fine watchmaking and set new aesthetic standards. The hardy, robust metal has been the most prevalent material for decades since, and given these objects an edge of utility in addition to luxury. But trends, as they say, come and go. And at the moment, it’s looking like gold—lustrous yet durable in its own right—is coming back into favour.
Consider, for instance, that when Bulgari unveiled its timepieces for the year at LVMH Watch Week in Miami, it named the
