Tissot Brings Back the 100-Year-Old ‘Banana’ Again

Basel, Switzerland--Tissot is bringing back its “Banana” watch again and this time, it’s not referencing the Prince. 

When National Jeweler shared the updated Banana on Instagram during Baselworld, one commenter remarked the dial reminded her of Franck Muller, but the Banana--which also has been called the “Heritage Prince”--pre-dates Muller by decades.

As the story goes, Tissot first began making the Banana in 18-karat yellow gold in 1916 and sold one model to a Russian diplomat.

A year later, in August 1917, that same diplomat sent the timepiece back to Tissot for maintenance and safe-keeping, but it never found its way back to him. In October 1917, the Russian Revolution erupted, and the watch stayed in Switzerland.

The “Banana” watch, pictured here with a black dial, black alligator strap and stainless steel case, takes its name from the curve of the case.
The Banana Centenary Edition, made to mark the 100 years since that particular Banana came back, is powered by a quartz movement and comes in stainless steel, and yellow or rose gold PVD with a chocolate brown or black alligator strap, or a smooth, vintage-looking dark brown leather strap.

Retail prices for the Banana Centenary Edition range from $315 to $375.

American-born watch brand Hamilton, meanwhile, marked the 60th anniversary of the Ventura, otherwise known as the “Elvis watch,” with the introduction of three new models.

When Hamilton introduced the Ventura in 1957, it was the world’s first electrical, battery-powered watch. Its then-futuristic appeal attracted a number of famous watch fans, including the King himself. Presley wore his personal Ventura in the 1961 movie “Blue Hawaii.” Ever since then, the timepiece has been known as the “Elvis watch.” 

The three models introduced this year to mark the watch’s 60th anniversary mimic the Ventura’s original, unusual case design.

First is the Hamilton Ventura Classic, which comes in two styles.

The first is a quartz watch with a stainless steel case with yellow PVD coating that is available in two sizes: 24 x 36.5 mm or 32.3 x 50.3 mm (about $895 retail for either size). The watch has a brown teju-patterned leather strap.

The larger versions of both Ventura Classic watches are pictured here.
The second is a jeans-inspired model with a blue denim strap and a 3-D printed matching denim dial that is available in the same two sizes (about $875 retail for either size).  

The new Hamilton Ventura Skeleton, meanwhile, comes in one size: 42.5 x 44.6 mm and has a skeletonized dial with Super-LumiNova on the hour markers and minute hands.

The skeletonized dial on this new Hamilton Ventura was designed to resemble the microphones the King used.
It is powered by an H-10-S automatic skeletonized movement and has an 80-hour power reserve.

The Hamilton Ventura Skeleton retails for about $1,600.