Watch Dandy

Editor’s note: “What watch would you recommend to someone who wants just one do-it-all piece, and that doesn’t require a remortgaging of the family home?” As someone who writes about watches on the daily, this is one of the most common questions I get asked. Usually right after, “How many watches do you own?” While I do love answering the question, it first requires the asker answering a few questions of my own: “What do they do every day? What’s their style?” If they tick all the right boxes, it’s hard to go past the Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph. A stylish, versatile and sporty value-driven offering for your every day. The story in a second: A value-packed chrono from one of the few remaining family-owned watch companies. It wasn’t all doom and gloom during the quartz crisis of the mid ’70s. While brands and manufacturers were disappearing left, right and centre, never to be seen again, others like Raymond Weil were only just starting out, which makes them a relative newcomer to the watch world. However, unlike many others, they’ve managed to remain independent and create a diverse catalogue that’s bursting at the seams with collections like the Freelancer. Introduced in 2007, it’s now one of…

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Jaquet Droz is a brand that has built its reputation on incredible automata and extravagant finishing. Fluttering birds, delicate miniature painting, and exquisite handcrafts are all par for the course for the brand. Which is why this watch, the Astrale Grand Heure Minute, was such a surprise. It’s no less beautiful, but much more spartan in its style. In fact, besides two hands, some tiny hour markers and some words, there’s hardly anything on this dial at all. This Astrale has been pared back to its most essential elements, and I’ve got to say the strength of the design holds up on its own. For me, it’s a completely different look for Jaquet Droz, and a good one for Australia. If Jaquet Droz is a brand you’ve never considered before, I’d suggest checking out the latest Astrale. It might just change your mind. Jaquet Droz Astrale Grand Heure Minute Australian pricing Jaquet Droz Astrale Heure Minute, in steel, $11,250

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Last week the entire Time+Tide team were posed a challenge. The premise was simple: construct a hypothetical watch collection with as many watches as we liked for as close to $20,000 AUD as possible. The only other stipulation — we couldn’t choose any watches that we currently own. Well, we had a lot of fun, and if the reaction on social media was anything to go by, you guys did too. To be honest, so much fun was had, we thought we’d keep the ball rolling and post a few of our favourite dream collections that you, our readers, sent us. So, without further ado, the great $20k fantasy watch collection (readers only) challenge. Jonathan from Facebook Jonathan’s collection is not only value packed – we’re assuming he’s going with second-hand prices here and that he has some solid hook-ups – but it’s also incredibly diverse. There’s a GMT, a chronograph, a handful of divers, and something dressy for when the occasion calls for it. A collection more than worth celebrating with that bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon at the end. Rolex Explorer II Rolex? Check. A little complication? Check. Value? Check! Omega Aqua Terra Something for all occasions (even…

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Let me be clear from the outset, this is a ridiculous challenge. It’s clearly hypothetical and I’m pretty sure none of us has any plans to sell our collections and follow through with this. But having said that, it’s a perennial watch party favourite, and can be pretty fun. It’s also a useful challenge for distilling just what it is you like about watches – it’s like mindfulness for watch nerds. Dan’s pick – A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Striking Time My one watch is also my Grail watch. The A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Striking Time. It’s robust enough for everyday wear yet horologically significant to make a statement. I would choose the white gold with black dial version as my preference. I may be forced to have this as my ‘only watch’ regardless – as I’d have to sell or trade everything I own (along with a kidney) to get it! Justin’s pick – Heuer Autavia 11630 GMT Limiting myself to a single watch for life would be a painful task, to say the least (damn you, Felix), but given the challenge I chose to work backwards based on my needs in terms of complications. Regardless of where my…

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