What is the point of a Rolex?? Quality is the most precious resource at Patek Philippe. The entire company is designed to support it. With the introduction of the Patek Philippe Seal in 2008 the company imposed rigid standards that often exceed normal industry standards. But the commitment to quality does not just apply to the watches themselves. Patek Philippe places the highest standards on employee training – from the watchmaker to the salesperson, including customer support that extends from sales to service.
When Swatch launched the Sistem51 — an autonomously assembled automatic movement boasting a 90-hour power reserve — it was a revelation, but its plastic case limited its appeal. Now you can get the same movement cased up in stainless steel, making it a more versatile option for everyday wear. No list of dirt-cheap watches is complete without the Seiko 5. Originally launched in 1963, the 5 has cultivated a feverish following amongst watch fans for its utilitarian mechanical movement and the value it provides. The Seiko 5 comes in many iterations, and the “Sea Urchin” dive watch is one of our favorites. In addition to using Seiko’s workhorse 7S36 automatic movement, it comes adorned with a unidirectional countdown bezel and steel bracelet.
AP, on the other hand, is not advertising the accuracy the way Rolex is and this may be because they don’t have a standard minimum precision the way Rolex does. The accuracy of AP watches depends on a few things: the model of the watch, the movement, how long has it been since it was brought in to be serviced, the level of activity of the person wearing it, how the watch is placed when not being worn. There are quite a few variables here as you can see. The truth is, if you want the most accurate watch, you shouldn’t be looking at mechanical watches at all but rather, the less expensive (to say the least) quartz watch which is battery powered and has a level of precision that is simply unattainable by mechanical watches. Read more details at Richard Mille Black And Red.
Chunky, luxury watches don’t suit everyone’s style, but this sleek-looking beauty carries the elegance and swagger needed to stand out from the crowd. The steel blue-like dial with its mix of distinctive leaf hands and Roman numerals exudes an air of class appropriate to a watch brand founded in Geneva in 1830. At 40mm it’s on the upper end of the medium size scale. Strap it on your wrist and see why celebs like David Duchovny and Kiefer Sutherland are huge fans. Chotovelli, a brand founded in the 1920s in Turin, derived and inspired by Italian aviators, is a name you probably haven’t heard before. Which just means it qualifies as a ‘find’. For the price, this handsome oversized chrono is by far the biggest bargain on the list, and the opportunity it affords to give each admirer a mini history lesson is just icing on the cake. The saddle leather strap will only get better with age, but caveat emptor: at 47mm, this is one big watch.
Some companies claim that their wooden watches should be worn loosely and cannot be adjusted to fit a specific wrist size. If you come across such a company, just know that it is not reputable. If you purchase from them, you will end up having a substandard watch. This is simply because any high-quality watch should be made adjustable to fit any wrist size with little strain. The last thing of our wooden watch guide that you should consider is the features and functionality of the watch that you want to buy. Depending on what you prefer, there are some extra features that you can look for, such as calendar display, luminous hands, waterproof capability, hypo-allergenic properties and many more.
1858 Geosphere Limited Edition, 42mm bronze case, dark green woven fabric Nato strap. If you’re jaded with watch cases in brushed steel, white/rose/red gold, titanium, ceramic, carbon fibre et al, take a look at this adventurous offering from Montblanc in bronze. Inspired by the spirit of early 20th century mountaineering, the 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition is dedicated to the Seven Summits climbing challenge to conquer Earth’s highest peaks; and only 1,858 of this model will be manufactured. Beneath its rose gold hands, the outdoors-friendly khaki dial displays the date, a second time zone and two rotating globes representing the Northern and Southern Hemisphere’s 24-hour time zones with day and night depicted in contrasting colours. The rugged khaki woven Nato strap further enhances its explorer credentials — how far you venture with it is your call. Find additional details at www.hmwatches.ae.