A classic wristwatch is a timeless and stylish gift. The end of the year marks a time when gifts are often exchanged to celebrate a graduation or religious occasion or to reward exemplary performance in the workplace. Here are our top picks to help you count your blessings.
By Debbie Hathway
Gold Standard
Continuing its quest for innovation in materials, Panerai this year revealed the Luminor Marina Goldtech™ in an unmistakable metal case coloured by the combination of copper (24%) and platinum (0.4%). The material, which is extremely strong and has high oxidation resistance, features in Panerai’s first Luminor Marina with a 44mm Goldtech™ case. Another focal point is the sun-brushed sandwich dial in the world’s favourite colour – blue. The Arabic numerals and indices are in white Super-LumiNova™ with green luminescence. What’s more, you can change your strap through a convenient screw system for extra personalisation.
The piece is powered by a P.9010-calibre movement.
Wrist candy
The new Oyster Perpetual watches released by Rolex this year feature the beautifully classic Oyster Perpetual 41 as well as the Oyster Perpetual 36 with brightly coloured dials for a more contemporary look. The case, made of Oystersteel, is fitted with a domed bezel. The Oyster Perpetual 41 has a silver, sunray finish on the dial with hands and hour markers in 18ct yellow gold or a bright black sunray-finish dial with hands and hour markers in 18ct white gold. The Oyster Perpetual 36 offers lacquer dials in candy pink, turquoise blue, yellow, coral red and green. These models have a Chromalight display: the hands and hour markers are coated or filled with a luminescent material that emits an enduring blue glow in poor light. They are equipped with the new calibre 3230, launched by Rolex this year. Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual 41 and Oyster Perpetual 36 carry the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.
Award winner
TUDOR recently won its sixth award at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, a highlight on the annual watchmaking calendar. The Black Bay Fifty-Eight “Navy Blue” won the “Challenge” Prize in 2020. This timepiece perpetuates the TUDOR tradition of blue sports watches. The name is inspired by the colour as well as the year 1958, when the first TUDOR divers’ watch waterproof to 200 metres (reference 7924 or “Big Crown”) was revealed. Proportions of the “Navy Blue” model are characteristic of that era. The timepiece suits watch enthusiasts with slim wrists, who go for more compact models with vintage appeal. The 39mm case contains the Manufacture Calibre MT5402, and a silicon balance spring, which achieves a 70-hour power reserve. The model is COSC-certified too. The navy blue, matt domed dial displays applied hour markers, and “Snowflake” hands enhanced by grade A, Swiss Super-LumiNova® luminescent material. There are three strap/bracelet options: blue Jacquard fabric with silver band, blue soft touch, and riveted steel.
New Look
OMEGA’s classic De Ville Prestige Collection features five new dials finished with vertical as well as sun brushing. Watch fans love the 39.5mm models for their first-class materials, no-frills design and beautifully restrained dial. There are two stainless steel and 18K red gold models with a silvery or PVD linen coloured dial, two stainless steel and 18K yellow gold models with PVD Moonshine™ Gold or PVD greened dial as well as one stainless steel “power reserve” option with PVD blued dial. The power reserve indicator is at 6 o’clock and there is a small-seconds subdial.
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- Omega
Sunset Over the Beach
For travel inspiration, the brown gradient dial of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five channels a glorious Mediterranean sunset for that time when you will be able to experience it again! The colour palette is enhanced by the bronze detailing on the outer edge of the bezel and in the central link of the metal bracelet or brown leather strap. The contemporary iteration of the first Oris diver’s watch to be released in 1965 features a 40mm stainless steel case, domed sapphire crystal, screw-down crown and automatic mechanical movement.
Light and Ice
Ulysse Nardin’s DIVER X ANTARCTICA is a tribute to Sebastian Copeland’s photography of the Earth’s southernmost continent as well as exploration and all it entails. Copeland is planning a new expedition to cross the Arctic Ocean in 2021. He says, “Helping people fall in love with their world is a catalyst to wanting to save it.” Described as a “polar symphony of light and ice”, the Ulysse Nardin Diver X ANTARCTICA is an extension of his deep love and respect for the planet’s oceans. This is a passion shared by Ulysse Nardin. The matte white rubber strap of the DIVER X ANTARCTICA recalls the clean, austere lines of Antarctica with ice-blue touches on the dial that reflect its icebergs. Its UN-118 movement guarantees accuracy in any hemisphere at any time of the day or night. The crown, horns and case back are made from titanium. The stamp on the back of the watch details not only the coordinates of Antarctica: 90° latitude (there is no longitude for the landmass at the southernmost tip of the Earth) but also the route of the Vendée Globe sailing race for which Ulysse Nardin is the official sponsor.
Sustainable collab
Breitling’s Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown is the third watch collaboration with Outerknown, the sustainable apparel brand cofounded by surfing superstar Kelly Slater. Its design channels the cool, laid-back lifestyle reminiscent of the surfing scene in Southern California and Hawaii in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It is available with a classic stainless-steel case or as a limited-edition model with an 18k red gold bezel. Both Breitling and Outerknown share a commitment to clean oceans and beaches. The Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown has arrow-shaped hands, oversized indices, a concave bezel, and a case back that features an engraved Outerknown logo. The watches are COSC-certified chronometers, and have a power reserve of about 42 hours thanks to the Breitling Caliber 10 movement. The Outerknown NATO straps are made from ECONYL® yarn, created from repurposed nylon waste.
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- Kelly Slater
Ocean Commitment
Blancpain has been committed to exploring, preserving and understanding the world’s oceans since the launch of the Fifty Fathoms – the first modern diving watch – in 1953. It is currently supporting a new mission by Laurent Ballesta and Andromède Océanologie to study the impact of reduced human activity during the pandemic on marine vertebrate and invertebrate populations. Their efforts will reveal the state of biodiversity in the coastal waters of the French Mediterranean, partly financed by proceeds from the sale of BOC III limited edition watches. The BOC III remains loyal to the DNA of the original watch. It has a four-day power reserve, achieved by the hardy self-winding movement, calibre 1151. The piece comes in a 40mm satin-brushed steel case, a diameter exclusively reserved for limited-edition Fifty Fathoms watches.
