Classic watches make a comeback, much like popular TV shows Roseanne and Twin Peaks

Roseanne, Will & Grace, Murphy Brown, Dynasty, Twin Peaks … the list is long. It seems we’ve run out of ideas when it comes to television, so best just to reboot successes from the past. And if resuscitating the dead is not possible, just set your “new” show in years gone by and play heavily on nostalgia (I’m looking at you, Stranger Things ).

And it’s not just TV. Look at films, fashion, even music. All of them seem to be gazing backwards. This is where I’m supposed to say, “This is ridiculous! We should be looking forward to a bright, innovative future,” but, actually, I’m loving the revival fest. Bring back ALF, give me more Murder, She Wrote, send Columbo on one more case.

Nostalgia (segue alert) is the foundation of the mechanical-watch industry, and looking back has long worked brilliantly well for Rolex. Popular with everyone from hedge-fund managers to Hong Kong cab drivers, the brand thrives because it rarely veers away from what it knows works. And that if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it mentality informs the new Deepsea Sea-Dweller (Ref. 126660), which barrelled out of the Baselworld watch fair a few weeks back.

The biggest tweak here is the calibre 3235 movement, with 70 hours of power reserve and industry-leading accuracy. The movement alone will encourage fanboys to rush to the nearest dealer. For me, though, the Deepsea is a looker, too, even after all these years, especially if you have chunky wrists.

Sized at 44mm, it’s a beast of a watch, with a thickness that recalls the 1980s excess that Rolex did better than anyone else. The steel case and bracelet have been tweaked slightly, but not so much as to alter the watch’s silhouette. The new Deepsea is going for US$11,700 elsewhere, and Hong Kong prices and availability will be released soon.