Style / World of Watches (WOW)

Guide: 20 Watches to Achieve 6 Looks

Pair the right gear with the right watch and you’ll do fine no matter where you go.

Mar 26, 2016 | By Staff Writer

Pair the right gear with the right watch and you’ll do fine no matter where you go. Here are six thematic looks, curated and shot by our friends at WOW, World of Watches in Singapore, to help you choose the right timepiece.

GO SPORTY

Whether you’re out to look like an athlete or just like the casual sportive style, the ensemble would really fly when there’s a sports watch on the wrist – think high-performance materials and utility-driven design. After all, no sporting pursuit was ever made without a keen eye on the time.

01-Graham-Prodive

Graham Prodive
The Prodive is Graham’s dive watch line, and this reference’s rose gold accents gives it a dual identity of both tool and luxury watch. The timepiece has all the hallmarks of a dive watch, including a water resistance of 600m and a helium escape valve, making it suitable for compression diving. It also comes equipped with a 30-minute chronograph that is operated with Graham’s patented trigger system. The trigger’s size makes it a cinch to access, and pushing it successively will start and stop the chronograph. Reset with the button above the trigger. In DLC-coated steel and rose gold. ($23,219)

01 733 7675 4754-Set RS - Oris Aquis Depth Gauge

Oris Aquis Depth Gauge
Any dive watch that is worth its weight in saltwater will perform flawlessly underwater and act as a backup to the dive computer. The Aquis Depth Gauge doesn’t stop there; it takes things a step further with an integrated depth gauge that’s useable to 100m – far deeper than where most recreation divers will venture. The watch has a commanding presence on the wrist, with a large 46mm case executed in DLC-coated steel, topped with an equally tough tungsten bezel insert. A bright yellow rubber strap completes the sporty look both in and out of the water. ($4,600)

03-Chopard-Mille-Miglia-GTS-Power-Control

Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control
Rally the petrolheads with this watch. Themed on the Mille Miglia endurance race, the Power Control’s design harks back to the classic cars of yore. It houses a power reserve indicator at nine o’clock that mimics the dashboard fuel gauge, while the date window is set in the Mille Miglia’s red arrow race logo. The icing on the cake here is the rubber strap, which has a textured pattern recalling Dunlop tyres from the 1960s. In steel, with a black aluminium bezel insert. ($8,470)

04-Omega-Seamaster-Ploprof-1200M-Co-Axial-Master-Chronometer

Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M Co-Axial Master Chronometer
Nothing quite matches up to the imposing presence of a Seamaster Ploprof on the wrist, thanks to its chunky, angular case. Omega has given the watch several updates this year, beginning with a titanium and ceramic construction and a matching titanium mesh bracelet. This reduces its weight by nearly 50 per cent vis-à-vis its stainless steel predecessor to greatly improve on comfort. The watch is also a METAS-certified Master Chronometer now, having fulfilled eight criteria that include accuracy and magnetic resistance. ($17,850)

GO PREPPY

You might not come from old money or have graduated from an Ivy League college, but those are not reasons not to embrace the preppy look. This style conveys refined tastes and an appreciation for quality without appearing stuffy. What’s not to like? Naturally, a watch that is neat and minimalist with a stylish touch cements the look.

05-Zenith-Elite-6150

Zenith Elite 6150
The Elite 6150’s eponymous movement is a reworked version of the original Elite, and boasts a 100-hour power reserve that’s double its predecessor’s. The new calibre has a flat and wide construction, which the watch mirrors with a steel case that’s just 10.5mm high, but 42mm in diameter. These proportions are further accentuated by the cambered dial, which is silver-toned like the hands and indices. Be sure to match this with an appropriate belt buckle and cufflinks. ($10,500)

06-Baume-and-Mercier-Hampton-Ref-10156

Baume & Mercier Hampton Ref. 10156
Shaped watches are never as common as their round cousins, which makes this Hampton in steel the perfect choice for jazzing up a preppy outfit. The watch exudes a quiet, confident vibe, with a simple three-hand layout that’s supplemented by a date window at six o’clock. Legibility is further enhanced by the sculpted bezel, which is recessed at three and nine o’clock to expose the crystal and let in more light for an even airier dial. ($3,650)

07-Raymond-Weil-Maestro-Frank-Sinatra-Limited-Edition

Raymond Weil Maestro Frank Sinatra Limited Edition
Jazz aficionados with a penchant for prep will be well served to consider this limited edition Raymond Weil Maestro, which honours Frank Sinatra himself. Ol’ Blue Eyes was known for his impeccable dressing, and this watch would’ve completed his ensemble both on and off stage, making it a fitting tribute. The round steel case contains a patterned dial sporting blue indices, with matching leaf-shaped hands in blued steel, for a simple yet classy appearance. ($2,190)

GO QUIRKY

When more of the usual just won’t cut it, it’s time to shake things up with a dash of quirk. Work those clashing colours and mismatched prints, and ditch the conservative navy suit for a checked jacket instead. While you’re at it, have on your wrist something off-kilter. Why conform?

08-Romain-Jerome-Subcraft-Titanium

Romain Jerome Subcraft Titanium
The Subcraft eschews hands and a dial for an atypical way of presenting the time. The hour is read from the front via a linear, retrograde, and jumping indicator, while the minute display sits on top of the brushed titanium case. The watch sports a contoured form that’s devoid of straight lines and reminiscent of a graceful manta ray, to hold a dual identity of timepiece and sculptural work of art. A cuff in black calf leather acts as the interface between watch and wrist for a comfortable fit. ($35,000)

09-Ulysse-Nardin-Freaklab

Ulysse Nardin FreakLab
If you can’t already tell from its name, the FreakLab is not your typical watch. The timepiece’s avant-garde design permeates its entire layout, not least by how the silicon escapement-equipped movement turns about its own axis with the hands to indicate the time. Don’t bother looking for the crown – the time and date are set by turning the upper bezel. The lower bezel, on the other hand, winds the watch. In white gold, with a case diameter of 45mm. ($160,400)

10-Urwek-UR-105-TA-Black-Orange

Urwerk UR-105 TA “Black Orange”
The UR-105 TA tells the time not with hands, but using Urwerk’s revolving satellite system – the brand’s take on the wandering hours complication. This setup is housed in a shield-shaped case bearing numerous facets, and finished with an oversized crown at 12 o’clock. To top things off, the watch has been executed in a combination of orange and black – uncommon choices for a luxury timepiece, but certainly a striking one. In titanium with black PVD steel bezel. ($109,200)

11-Corum-Heritage-Bubble-Squelette

Corum Heritage Bubble Squelette
No matter which way you slice it, Corum’s Bubble is in a class of its own. At 47mm wide and 18.8mm high, the new Heritage Bubble Squelette will not fit under any shirt cuff. Instead, the watch sits openly on the wrist like a work of art, and extends an open invitation to admire its bubble-shaped crystal, so thick it both distorts and magnifies the skeletonised movement under it. In steel, with a leather-on-rubber strap. ($13,268)

GO EDGY

From skate punk to industrial metal and beyond, there’s a myriad sub-cultures to cop an edgy look from, depending on one’s inclinations. Steel and leather might make up the essentials alongside ink and piercings, but why stop there? Finish it off with a timepiece sporting the right colors and motifs – because the devil is in the details.

12-Franck-Muller-Vanguard-Carbon

Franck Muller Vanguard Carbon
There’s no such thing as going too far with black. The Vanguard Carbon here is proof, beginning with an all-black carbon case in Franck Muller’s signature Cintrée Curvex shape, which is paired with blacked-out hands, dial, and indices. Naturally, the strap delivers the finishing touch with a matching black Cordura-over-rubber construction. Things don’t look plain or drab though, thanks to Franck Muller’s play with textures and materials. ($19,881)

14-Bell-&-Ross-BR01-Skull-Bronze

Bell & Ross BR 01 Skull Bronze
The skull has been used by various groups ranging from Hell’s Angels to paratroopers, and serves to both inspire and intimidate. The BR 01 Skull Bronze displays this symbol prominently on its 46mm wide case, which uses additional detailing to outline the dial and form a set of crossbones. Bronze is an interesting choice here – the material develops a patina over time, which will make each Skull Bronze unique to its owner. For a personal memento mori that ages with its owner, look no further. ($9,500)

13-Hublot-Big-Bang-Unico-Italia-Independent

Hublot Big Bang Unico Italia Independent
The Big Bang Unico Italia Independent is serious business, and owes its look to a cohesive combination of colours, materials, and textures. Its case and bezel are constructed in Texalium – Hublot’s proprietary material of aluminium-coated carbon fibre, which combines strength, lightness, and a brilliant finish that was previously unattainable. Match this with a skeletonised dial in blue, attach a studded denim strap, and a complete package to electrify any wrist emerges. ($43,800)

GO GEEKY

Whether his chosen pursuit today is Star Wars, 3D printing, or something else entirely, the modern geek has left his sartorially challenged past behind. Geek chic staples such as knit ties and horn-rimmed glasses are easy picks, of course, but the bona fide geek remains identifiable by his choice of gadgets and, above all, his watch.

15-Hamilton-Khaki-Chrono-Worldtimer

Hamilton Khaki Chrono Worldtimer
The Khaki Chrono Worldtimer combines a chronograph and a worldtimer, with a twist on each thanks to its multifunction quartz movement. By selecting the operating mode using the pusher at 10 o’clock, the user can measure elapsed time of up to 120 minutes, view UTC time, or access the worldtimer, which automatically accounts for daylight savings time. A bold steel case 45mm across keeps the dial large and legible for the multitasker. ($1,860)

16-Breitling-B55-Connected

Breitling B55 Connected
The B55 Connected is Breitling’s take on the smartwatch – a timepiece that functions independently, yet is able to link up with a smartphone for greater convenience. In this case, the paired smartphone can adjust the B55 Connected’s functions and indicators, while also storing and displaying the watch’s chronograph measurements. The watch remains the dominant device here though. Performance fanatics will appreciate the COSC-certified high accuracy quartz movement, which measures elapsed time down to 1/100 seconds. In titanium, with a black carbon coating. (Price unavailable)

17-Casio-GShock-MTG-G1000D

Casio G-Shock MTG-G1000D
For the fan who bought his first G-Shock decades ago, the watch remains relevant today thanks to Casio’s constant updates to it. The MTG-G1000D is the latest such example, with a steel construction in lieu of resin, and the brand’s proprietary technology that combines GPS and terrestrial radio wave reception for timekeeping. New dual coil motors now allow the watch to switch indications almost instantaneously – just another improvement in a long line of upgrades the watch has received. ($1,799)

GO NORMCORE

When you’re tired of it all, there’s always normcore to fall back on. Take a leaf out of Steve Jobs’s book, and embrace the ordinary. Do not confuse plain with mediocre though – Jobs wore black turtlenecks from Issey Miyake, not Gap – let your choice of watch be something unassuming, but nothing short of excellent.

18-Sinn-EZM-3F

Sinn EZM 3F
Beneath the EZM 3F’s unassuming dial lie several technical details that make it worthy of its mission timer (EinsatzZeitMesser) label. The timepiece is water resistant to 200m, anti-magnetic to 1000 gauss, and contains Sinn’s proprietary dehumidifying technology, which creates a moisture-free environment inside the steel case. These features all add up to a robust and reliable tool watch, which doesn’t take a pilot to appreciate. ($3,600)

19-Tudor-North-Flag

Tudor North Flag
Created as a throwback to scientific instruments of the past, the North Flag’s design puts a premium on legibility, with bold hands and markers plus a high-contrast colour scheme. The highlight of the watch is the movement under its hood – Tudor’s first in-house calibre, MT5621, which boasts a 70-hour power reserve. The North Flag tops things off with the inclusion of both a power reserve indicator and a date display – arguably two of the most useful complications for a wristwatch. In steel, with a steel and ceramic bezel. (Price unavailable)

20-Junghans-Meister-Calendar

Junghans Meister Calendar
Junghans watches share a common design code and the Meister Calendar is no exception, with a pink gold-coated steel case that houses a relatively clean and minimalist dial. A closer look, however, will reveal that the watch contains a complete calendar complication, with a moon phase indicator to boot. These have all been subtly integrated into just one sub-dial and two tiny apertures to reduce clutter, which speaks volumes about the efficacy of the Teutonic design language. (Price unavailable)

Story Credits
Text by Jamie Tan
Photography by Greenplasticsoldiers
Styling by Ong Weisheng

This article was originally published in World of Watches


 
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