Alpina - Startimer Pilot Chronograph Big Date Shadow Line
Alpina presented its Shadow Line in the autumn. It includes Alpiner 4 and Startimer Pilot automatic models, as well as a Startimer Pilot Big Date with a quartz movement, all of which are equipped with Alpina’s smart E-strap. Since we are dealing with sports watches here, I have opted for the chronograph with big date, with black PVD case, black dial and grey hour markers (there is also a version with dark-brown hour markers and a dark-brown strap). No other watch with a traditional dial and movement comes with a smart strap that offers activity tracking, sleep monitoring and dynamic coaching. It’s the perfect everyday watch for the active gentleman.
Case: stainless steel with black PVD coating, 44mm
Movement: AL-372 quartz movement
Power reserve: 48 months
Price: CHF 1,095
Anonimo - Militare Chrono WRC Special Edition
It may be the most expensive watch in the Anonimo collection, but it’s a small (and very reasonable) price to pay to have the same watch as Sébastien Ogier, the man who has won every World Rally Championship since 2013. Details such as the Cordura strap, which is fireproofed just like the driver’s racing overalls, as well as the WRC colours and logo, are bound to appeal to rally fans.
Case: stainless steel with black PVD coating, 43mm
Movement: Sellita SW300 with Dubois-Dépraz 2035M chronograph module developed exclusively for Anonimo
Power reserve: 42 hours
Price: CHF 5,250
Breitling - Superocean Héritage II B20 Automatic 44
As a diver’s watch fan and a bit of a purist, I’ve chosen the automatic version of Breitling’s Superocean (a chronograph is also available). Like many watches of its era it started out as an instrument for professionals but quickly gained more widespread popularity to become a classic. It ticks all the diver’s watch boxes, with a unidirectional ratcheted bezel, 200 metre water resistance and a screw-lock crown, plus a black “Aero Classic” rubber strap. It is powered by Breitling’s manufacture calibre B20, which is a certified chronometer. Bigger wrists may prefer the 46mm, smaller ones the 42mm model. Breitling has your needs covered!
Case: stainless steel, 44mm
Movement: Breitling Calibre B20
Power reserve: min. 70 hours
Price: CHF 4,350
Favre-Leuba - Bathy 120 Memodepth
Serious divers will love this technical watch. Not only is it water resistant to 200 metres, it can also indicate current depth and record maximum depth up to 120 metres. During the dive, water enters a special chamber on the back that houses a copper membrane sensitive to pressure. The big central blue hand and the smaller blue hand on the subdial at 3 o’clock both turn clockwise to record depth as the diver descends, but when the maximum depth is reached, the smaller hand stops to record the maximum depth, while the larger central blue hand turns anti-clockwise during the ascent. Red markings between 3 and 6 and between 9 and 12 on the depth scale clearly indicate the most important decompression stops.
Case: titanium, 48mm
Movement: manually-wound FL321 movement with specially designed depth gauge.
Power reserve: 65 hours
Price: CHF 8,500
Graham - Chronofighter Vintage UK Ltd
The question mark after Brexit on the subdial at 6 o’clock on this limited edition suggests that there may still be some hope for the nearly 50% of voters who wanted the UK to remain in the European Union. As things stand, however, the country is heading for the exit door just after Baselworld. Whether it will be with or without a deal is anyone’s guess at this stage. This is the watch that will serve as a souvenir of one of the most tumultuous periods in British politics in decades. It’s worth snapping one up for this reason alone (it is a “non-negotiable” limited edition of 100 pieces) and the bold Union Flag dial is a nice touch of patriotism, whatever your political leanings are.
Case: stainless steel, 44mm
Movement: calibre G1747 self-winding chronograph
Power reserve: 48 hours
Price: CHF 5,450
Jaquet Droz - SW Chrono
Sporty watches from Jaquet Droz are pretty rare and just to avoid any confusion, this one wears its heart on its sleeve (SW in the name stands, quite simply, for “sport watch”). It successfully combines the racy looks of a chronograph with more traditional watchmaking codes such as Roman numerals on the dial. Inside is a high-tech chronograph movement with a silicon balance spring and pallets.
Case: stainless steel, 45mm
Movement: Jaquet Droz 6885.Si-S, self-winding mechanical movement with ruthenium treatment, silicon balance spring and pallets, column wheel, 18-carat white gold oscillating weight.
Power reserve: 40 hours
Price: CHF 17,850
Montblanc - TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph «Cappuccino»
The Montblanc TimeWalker ushered in a brand-new in-house movement when it was presented earlier this year. Its “panda” dial has an unusual “cappuccino” look, mixing a milky coffee background with macchiato spots for the chronograph counters. Together with the aged and perforated leather strap, this gives the watch a decidedly vintage feel. Those who prefer their pandas inversed should look to the 2019 models, though they probably won’t be in the shops in time for Christmas.
Case: stainless steel, 43mm
Movement: Montblanc manufacture calibre MB25.10 self-winding chronograph calibre
Power reserve: approx. 46 hours
Price: CHF 5,730
TAG Heuer - Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Ayrton Senna Special Edition
What better gift for the Formula 1 fan than a chronograph that oozes motor racing pedigree and is dedicated to one of the sport’s most legendary drivers. The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Senna special edition has an all-black look with a black PVD case and bracelet as well as a black opaline dial and black ceramic bezel. Red accents highlight the chronograph functions and the Senna name (on the tachymeter) and logo (at 9 o’clock).
Case: brushed stainless steel with black PVD coating, 45mm
Movement: TAG Heuer Calibre Heuer 01 self-winding chronograph
Power reserve: 50 hours
Price: CHF 6,200
