Useful functions, anyone?
close
Mathilde Binetruy
Freelance journalist
CLOSE
If there is one item not to leave off your holiday checklist (apart from your passport), it has to be a multi-function watch. From a GMT (in Bali) to a chrono (behind the wheel of a sports car), FHH Journal shares its pick of watches to suit every destination.
Every second counts
Whether you’re the driver of a Ferrari (0-100 kph in a 2.90-second flash) or an E-Mehari (between 8 and 13 hours to recharge the battery), you will need a decent chrono (to confirm the above figures, if nothing else). The Abyss from Hysek won’t weigh you down with its 44mm titanium case, giving you the freedom to easily read the indications on the dial: date at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9, 30-minute totalizer at 12 and twelve-hour totalizer at 6. Its powerful design in a black and yellow livery sits well on a manly wrist. On the road again!
Instagram your vacation
Having crossed an ocean and settled into his hotel room, our traveller now faces a twofold challenge: 1) let the social media community know he is on vacation halfway round the world and 2) do so in an original way. Fortunately for him, H. Moser & Cie. is one step ahead. A lucky few get to take a Pioneer Centre Seconds Funky Blue Black Edition on a one-year road trip – with no imposed itinerary. The tour is presented as a chance to test the watch, appreciate its complexity, and of course follow its adventures on a dedicated landing page or on Instagram @moserwatches under the #PioneerTour hashtag. You might want to pack an underwater GoPro to capture the midnight blue dial beneath the surface of one of the seven seas: no worries, it’s water-resistant to 120 metres.
Shining armour
Fans of live action role play (LARP) can thank Roger Dubuis for another powerful interpretation of the legend of King Arthur and his mythical Excalibur sword. Set inside a 45mm pink gold case, the twelve knights are depicted in three dimensions, using a technique that recalls the low poly art of computer graphics. Moulded from pink gold, these twenty-first-century warriors mark the hours of the Excalibur Knights of the Round Table IV. A watch that will magic you back to an era of dragons, wizards and impenetrable fortresses – or console those still mourning Game of Thrones.
Shock absorber
From one too many tipples by the pool to a slippery climb up to ancient ruins, there’s always an accident waiting to happen. An all-terrain watch launched by MeisterSinger in 2018, the Metris stands out for the robust nature of its 38mm anti-shock case. Honed from steel with a DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating, it is exceptionally tough and resistant to scratching. The aesthetics are hard to knock too, with a black dial paired against a cognac brown leather strap. All in all, an adventure-proof watch that’s high on style.
Moon madness
Every month, thousands of tourists flock to Koh Phangan island in the Gulf of Thailand for the all-night Full Moon Party. Thanks to the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Blue Moon and its prominent moon-phase display, these ravers will know when exactly to pump up the volume. And when dawn breaks, indications of hours, minutes, centre seconds and date (by a hand at 6 o’clock) will guide them gently back down to Earth.
The art of letting go
A cross between a dive watch and a navigator’s watch, the Tudor Black Bay P01 also has a talent for putting time on hold. Thanks to a “weekend-proof” power reserve of 70 hours, its owner can set it down on Friday evening and pick it up again on Monday morning, ready to go. How he fills those 70 hours is up to him.
The world on your wrist
Every summer we’re gripped by that same urge to give it all up and travel the world. Those who have decided to take the plunge might want to check out the latest addition to Omega’s Seamaster Aqua Terra collection; a worldtimer that simultaneously displays the time in the 24 main time zones. In the centre of the dial, the depiction of the Earth viewed over the North Pole is for those who plan to “put the world to rights” over cocktails on the beach.
Total immersion
For years, the watch-buying community has been asking the question: does a dive watch serve a purpose in deep waters? Only freedivers really need a specialised instrument as they plunge closer to the ocean floor but, let’s face it, there’s a certain pride to be had from knowing your Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique can take a depth of 300 metres in its stride. More to the point, the combination of a 45mm titanium case with an ebony-black dial and strap makes for some very stylish snorkelling.
High on style
Nothing says seaside chic better than a delicate mechanism on the wrist. We’ve entrusted our summer style to the Calibre 2950 automatic flying tourbillon from Audemars Piguet. Sporting a fumé blue enamel dial and an opening at 6 o’clock through which to admire the tourbillon’s beating heart, the Code 11:59 is the one to wear for poolside cocktails or on a date. Prove you’re a watch snob and wax lyrical about the movement’s Côtes de Genève, snailing and hand-polished bevels, all visible through the sapphire back.
Orange is the new black
Whether apricot, salmon or amber, we’re seeing every shade of orange dial this summer. Ruggedly handsome forty-somethings have been spotted wearing Patek Philippe’s Aquanaut to show off their French Riviera tan. Its low-key luxury hits exactly the right note when chilling out on a yacht.
