Protection racket

Keeping your prized possessions safe is common sense, hence these toughened up timepieces

- RICHARD HOLT

BULL BARS ON CARS STARTED getting popular in the 1950s. At first they were a practical way to keep wildlife from embedding itself in your grille, but because some people thought they looked cool, they became fashionable. Incredibly, protective steel bars on watches came along a lot earlier than the automotive versions.