Omega Seamaster 300 Bronze Gold
Tool watches, which are used for specific tasks, have become more robust and practical to operate under extreme conditions.
The Omega Seamaster 300 Bronze Gold is an example.
Created in 1957 for professional divers, it now has a thinner case, sandwich dial and domed sapphire glass along with its usual attributes, among those a resistance to magnetic fields.
The watches are tested and passed by the Federal Institute of Metrology and awarded the master chronometer certification, which requires the watches to pass eight different tests related to quality, durability and accuracy.
These 41mm timepieces are also available in stainless steel.
From R115,000, omegawatches.com
Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 80 Hours
Japan’s Grand Seiko watches are known for their pared-back design and precision and won this year’s Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) for men’s watch of the year.
It features the Caliber 9SA5 mechanical movement, an evolution of the 9S series introduced in 1990, the first Grand Seiko movement to be submitted to and pass official Swiss chronometer testing (COSC).
The Caliber 9SA5 has a precision rate of +5 to -3 seconds a day.
Price on application from grand-seiko.com or Seiko Boutique 010-285-0091
Tudor Black Bay Chrono
The Tudor Black Bay Chrono is one of the best value-for-money watches. Launched in 2017, the two-tone Tudor Black Bay Chrono S&G took the GPHG Petite Aiguille prize that year for the best watch with a retail price of between R62,000 and R175,000.
It combines the Black Bay diver’s watch with a technical, sporty functionality. The white Panda dial version with black sub dials costs R88,250 on a steel bracelet. The Chrono is powered by the COSC-certified Calibre MT5813, a self-winding chronograph movement. Water resistant down to 200m.
Tudorwatches.com or Rolex Watch Co SA 011-784-9230
Breitling Top Time Classic Car Squad
The Breitling Top Time Classic Car Squad line-up was inspired by three American motoring icons of the 1960s: the Shelby Cobra, Corvette C2 Sting Ray and Ford Mustang, which combine a sense of nostalgia, free spirit and contemporary watchmaking.
The 40mm Top Time Shelby Cobra has a simple dial layout in blue and brown and is powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 41, a self-winding 1/4th of a second chronograph. The slightly bigger 42mm red-dialled Chevrolet Corvette and green Ford Mustang models are powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 25, a self-winding 1/8th of a second chronograph movement.
R95,300, breitling.com or Breitling Boutique Sandton 011-883-2286
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300
Smaller sizing has been a trend of luxury watches this year. TAG Heuer’s new Aquaracer Professional 300 has a sporty design feature that makes even the 36mm model masculine for a smaller male wrist. There are also 43mm models.
This evolution of the Aquaracer takes many of its design cues from the Ref 844, Heuer’s first diver’s watch, introduced in 1978. All models feature a new uni-directional rotating bezel with a polished ceramic insert, a thinner case, screw-down crown, and a new bracelet. Inside beats the COSC-certified Calibre 5 automatic movement with a power reserve of 38 hours. The date window shifts to six o’clock on the new models.
From R50,000, tagheuer.com or call TAG Heuer Boutique 021-421-8539, 011-784-7422, 031-566-4452.
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