For many people, watches are items that often need to be replaced every few years. However, when carefully chosen, watches can provide decades of faithful service while maintaining and perhaps even increasing in value. Many “inexpensive” watches can end up costing more than one heirloom-quality timepiece.
SEAL Tough
$5,075
Since being founded in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf, who earlier had founded Rolex, Tudor timepieces have established a reputation for reliability, as evidenced by their dive watches having been issued to Navy SEALs and other elite military units. The Pelagos was designed for offshore sailboat racers, combining dive watch features including the bidirectional titanium bezel, fabric strap, and 43mm carbon composite case that is waterproof to 660 feet, with a chronograph movement for optimal practicality.
Not Just Another Dive Watch
Brietling Superocean Automatic 42 Kelly Slater
$5,250
Dive watches are among the most popular styles due to their ability to shrug off the most extreme conditions while creating an air of adventure. This eye-catching timepiece honors professional surfer Kelly Slater, but would look great on anyone’s wrist. Waterproof down to 1,000 feet, it can go from the beach to the opera, where the Super-Luminova®-coated indexes and hands provide excellent low-light visibility.
Sun-Powered
Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph
$2,350
Tag Heuer’s latest watch geared towards for automotive enthusiasts features an innovative movement made to withstand offroad racing, powered by sunlight to ensure extreme reliability. The icy-blue dial inside the 40mm stainless-steel housing functions as a solar panel, eliminating the need for batteries or winding, while the Super-Luminova® coating on the hands makes it easy to check the time under all light conditions.
The Astronaut’s Choice
Omega Mark II Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph
$6,250
As just one indication of their reliability and versatility, Omega Speedmasters have been on six lunar missions, with this model just as capable of keeping you precisely on time here on Earth. The mechanical movement powers the subdials displaying elapsed seconds, minutes, and hours, while the Tachymeter scale located on the inner can be used to measure speed and distance traveled to the moon or just to the mall.
The Moon & The Stars
$7,000
Since 1860, Zenith has been producing world-class time pieces in Le Locle, Switzerland, including this elegant complication model which displays the movement of the moon and the stars. Powered by an automatic movement with a 50-hour power reserve, seconds are displayed at the 9 o’clock position while hours and minutes revolve in the traditional manner on the sunray dial. A tasteful alligator strap keeps it securely in place.
