Watch Dandy

Over the last few years the Laureato line has emerged as Girard-Perregaux’s valiant hero — a sporty steel warrior well equipped to win wrists across the world. Earlier this year, at SIHH in Geneva, Girard-Perregaux unleashed their latest expression of the Laureato – the evolved Laureato Absolute.  This darkly clad watch was offered in a trio: time-only, world time and chronograph — we’re going to focus only on the latter today. The case is the familiar Laureato shape, though the material used is titanium, which has been given a black PVD coating — the finishes are a mix of polished and brushed, elevating the somewhat utiliarian treatment to more refined territory. A rubber strap is a natural choice for this sort of sporty look.  The chronograph complication is also a natural choice, and it looks good here — the three registers in black, to match the case, but the rest of the dial is realised in a graduated blue sunburst. The pushers on the Laureato Absolute also offer an evolution of the octagonal screw-down numbers of the ‘regular’ version.  Here we’re treated to sporty paddle-shaped numbers with a dashing blue highlight. The movement that you activate by pressing those pushers…

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For any brand creating a new collection, the challenge lies in the tension between aesthetic innovation and consistent design language. With the new Bell & Ross BR05, the brand has successfully maintained their core visual identity with a circular dial and squared-off case, exposed screws at the corners of the case, and bold Arabic numerals. The innovation begins most prominently with the integrated bracelet directly into the case, which is a departure from the more traditional Bell & Ross look. The softened curves of the polished bezel contrast sharply with the angles of the brushed steel lugs, creating visual depth that continues along the bracelet. Constructed in a H-link style, the bracelet also features a mixture of polishing on the softer angles and brushing on the right angles. For those seeking a more lightweight fastening system, the BR05 is also available on a rubber strap that suits warmer conditions. There are five new models in the collection, with three steel options in grey, blue or black sunray dial options. The final steel model is the BR05 Skeleton, complete with a fully skeletonised dial that offers unobstructed views of the automatic winding BR-CAL.322. The final model offers significantly more wrist presence…

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Editor’s note: We’re deep in the age of premium athleisure, so it makes sense that this patrician approach to utility is extending to our wrists. But can the two — seemingly polar opposite — aesthetics peacefully coexist? These five watches say yes.  Sports luxury is one of those ephemeral subgenres in watchland that hides a multitude of sins. It’s easy for a watch maker to label any oversized solid-gold diver as sports luxe, but the reality is that most of these watches will never see any actual sports time. Frankly, that’s not good enough. So we found a select handful of timepieces that you could wear with ease on the court or in the boardroom. Patek Philippe Aquanaut I was never really on team Aquanaut, but then I caught up with David and his ‘one watch’ Patek Philippe, and I just got it. Like the Rolex, the Aquanaut has the winning combo of rubber strap and slender case. But beyond that there’s a dazzling mix of finishings, an interesting dial and top-notch movement. Beautiful but not delicate. Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Oysterflex   It’s an obvious choice, but this Everose beauty’s inclusion isn’t solely due to the action-ready and oh-so-comfy Oysterflex.…

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