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The Blancpain team saw what Swatch did for Omega and said, 'We'll have some of that'. We're so glad they did, as just like the timepieces that emerged from the Omega x Swatch collaboration, the inexpensive Blancpain x Swatch line is as charming as it is luxe-feeling.
Here's the newest one, Ocean of Storms. It's named after the largest 'sea' on the moon, whilst the five that came before it are bestowed with the moniker of one of the Earth's seas: so there's Atlantic, Arctic, Antarctic, Indian and Pacific.
All are available on reliable resale marketplace, StockX.
Thanks to the release of the very hypey Travis Scott x Audemars Piguet collection, which is all done up in the Houston-born hitmaker's signature palette, chocolate brown watches have gained newfound popularity.
Swiss label Certina has jumped aboard the bandwagon with the DS4 Quartz watch, which looks surprisingly fresh in the modish shade.
A retro wrist accessory – one favoured by the King of Rock and Roll – for the mid-century modern men who rest back in their Eames lounge chair after a long day in the city, reading in the light of their Artemide Nesso lamps. In other words, it's the time-honoured timepiece you need in your life.
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Time has been in good hands at Tissot since its inception in 1853. The respected Swiss marque prides itself on providing quality timepieces to style-savvy individuals across the globe.
Right now, it's the brand's seventies-born PRX collection in focus, seen here in stainless steel and green. Not only is the 40mm automatic timepiece a looker, but it's also water resistant (up to 100 metres) and fitted with the brand's pretty famous Powermatic 80 movement that boasts 80 hours of power reserve.
Ah, the MoonSwatch. We’ve spoken a lot about this much-hyped collab between Omega and Swatch; whether its success can be replicated or sustained. We’ve ranked every single release, from the initial batch that had people queuing up for hours around the world, to the most recent iteration. One thing's for sure: it’s much easier to get your hands on one now, either from a local Swatch boutique or via StockX, where you can take your pick for a very reasonable price.
The appropriately named all-black model. Comes with a day and date display, plus 1oo meters of water resistance. The slick PVD case is well-executed, and there’s a reason the 5 Sports models are as loved by watch nerds and the fashion crowd as they are by Joe Public – Seiko has been making untouchably good watches at this price for decades.
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A slightly more weekending take on the mid-century sleekness that Hamilton majors in, with tan leather strap and deep blue dial and silver hardware. This is the kind of watch which can roll straight from office to cocktail hour to the green on the 18th. Wearing this definitely implies you still believe in the principle of cocktail hour, at least.
A moon phase complication for under £1,000? It can be done. Certina packs a lot of information into its legible and well-proportioned dial that can, as its name suggests, be set by referring to the current lunar cycle. The brand’s 130-year history is built on quality Swiss workmanship – they were one of the first brands to persuade the public that watches weren’t ‘just’ for women – so it has history on its side.
9Avi-8
Courtesy SHOP
We could have picked almost anything from this brand specialising in pilot watches drawing on cockpit instruments and WWII planes of yore. They’ll all well-priced, well-thought-through, and typically honour a squadron or charity worth of your time. English aircraft designer Joseph Smith was, for example, heavily involved in the original Spitfire – and hence played a vital role in this country’s defence.
£275, jurawatches.co.uk
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This I.N.O.X from ‘Swiss army knife’ manufacturers Victorinox has some claim to being a ‘Swiss army knife’ of watches itself, in that its paracord stap unravels and can be used a survival rope if you find yourself in dire straights – though quite what those straights might be is anyone’s guess. Elsewhere, the carbon case and bright markings make it suitably action-ready/ techy choice by itself.
11Seiko
END Clothing SHOP
Originally launched in 1963, Seiko's classic 5 Sports watch receives a blacked out stainless steel case and nylon strap update as part of the Japanese brand's Street umbrella. Water resistant to 100m with a fully automatic movement, you get a lot of watch for less than £300.
£279; endclothing.com
12Hamilton
- SHOP
Pared back to a lean, mid-century inspired point, the American Classic is exactly that. The only way it could be more quintessentially late-Sixties America is if it parped out 'Wichita Lineman' on the hour every hour and could pour a scotch on the rocks when you press the crown in.
£910; jurawatches.co.uk
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13Mondaine
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Elegantly clipped mitteleuropean styling meets Swiss engineering in this clean, elegant Mondaine piece. The brand tends to lean toward quartz innards, but flip this one over and you'll be able to see its 26-jewel automatic movement hard at work. It's a lot more svelte than the chunky styling of the face implies too.
£649; jurawatches.co.uk
14Bulova
- SHOP
Despite being the kind of thing a secretly aristocratic Belgian pastry chef played by Adrien Brody would wear in a Wes Anderson film set in 1920s Marseille, Bulova's watches are designed in New York. The squared-off case and numerals are art deco perfection.
£899; jurawatches.co.uk
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