Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Buying Guide – The Best Dress Watches of 2017 to Prepare the Holiday Season – Part 1
The holiday season is fast approaching, which means it’s nearly time to tackle your gift list (including some to give yourself) and for us to plan our gift guides. We’ll start our series by trying to help to make dressing up easier, so we’ve picked 13 dress watches of 2017 with choices to suit every pocket and taste. And because that would be a lot for one single article, here is part one, with 7 watches priced under CHF / EUR 20,000.
Frederique Constant Classic Manufacture
The Frederique Constant Classic manufacture is an elegant dress watch with vintage flair. The time indication is complemented by an analogue date display at 6 o’clock, all of that running on a visually pleasant glossy black dial, with long white Roman numerals. 42 mm in diameter, made of polished steel, it is powered by the in-house automatic calibre FC 710. Overall, it’s a great package for EUR 2,290 only.
Quick facts: 42mm steel case – automatic movement calibre FC 710 with hours, minutes, seconds and date. Leather strap with folding buckle – EUR 2,290 – For more information, please visit frederiqueconstant.com.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Date ‘Sector Dial’
The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Sector Dial watches were among the most-talked-about watches at SIHH 2017. The trio of watches to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Master Control collection includes a superb dress watch with exquisite vintage flair. It is presented in a restrained 39 mm steel case and powered by the automatic calibre 899.1, one of the most recent generations of movements introduced by JLC. The Master Control sector dial retails for EUR 5,900, which is the entry price for the Master collection and definitely makes it hard not to like it!
Quick facts: 39mm steel case – automatic movement calibre 899-1 with hours, minutes, seconds and date. Alligator strap with folding buckle – EUR 5,900 – For more information, please visit www.jaeger-lecoultre.com
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Peripheral Boutique Edition
To celebrate the opening of their first stand-alone boutique in Switzerland, Carl F. Bucherer has released a superb Manero Peripheral limited edition, presented with a blue dial and pink dauphine hands and hour markers. Behind the restrained elegance of the watch ticks an in-house movement which draws its energy from a blue peripheral rotor. Its accuracy is COSC-certified. A very elegant watch, from a rising manufacture.
Quick facts: 40.6mm steel case – automatic (peripheral rotor) movement calibre CFB A 2050 with hours, minutes, small seconds and date. Alligator leather strap with folding buckle – CHF 6,500 – For more information, please visit www.carl-f-bucherer.com
Jaquet-Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered 39mm
The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered is now available in a smaller, 39mm version. Stripped down to the bare essentials, this classic with a twist feels at once understated, sophisticated and elegant. It is powered by the automatic JD2663 calibre: a twin-barrel movement with a silicon balance spring and silicon pallet horns. A watch with an undeniable elegance on the wrist, yet with that little “je ne sais quoi” that makes it unique.
Quick facts: 39mm steel case – automatic movement calibre JD2623 with hours, minutes and seconds. Alligator leather strap with pin buckle – CHF 9,400 – For more information, please visit www.jaquet-droz.com
Ulysse Nardin Classico Paul David Nardin
This year, Ulysse Nardin has released several vintage-inspired watches including the handsome Classico Paul David Nardin. Inspired by a 1945 model and quite different from the traditional designs from the brand, it is presented in a 39 mm steel case featuring a domed sapphire crystal. The model is powered by the in-house automatic calibre UN 320 with silicon technology. Distinction and heritage, from a great manufacture.
Quick facts: 39mm steel case – automatic movement calibre UN 320 with hours, minutes, small seconds and date. Alligator leather strap with pin buckle – CHF 9,500 – For more information, please visit www.ulysse-nardin.com
Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronometer
Presented at SIHH 2017, the Toric Chronometer is a modern interpretation of the first watch designed by Michel Parmigiani. Its elegant and well-proportioned 40.8 mm case features a stepped, knurled bezel. Knurling is a delicate and time-consuming technique and consists of manipulating the material with a wheel that leaves the imprint of its notches in the metal. The result is both restrained and original, with a real Italian sense of design. Displaying time and date, its automatic PF331 is COSC certified.
Quick facts: 40.8mm pink gold case – automatic movement calibre PF331 with hours, minutes, small seconds and date. Alligator leather strap with pin buckle – EUR 16,900 – For more information, please visit www.parmigiani.com
H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds Automatic
The Endeavour Centre Seconds automatic is a refined, distinctive three-hander, hitting the right balance between dressy and casual, formal and cool. It is the first Moser dress watch to be fitted with an automatic movement manufactured in-house (including the hairspring made with sister company Precision Engineering AG). The HMC200 boasts three days of power reserve and it is finished to the brand’s ambitious standards.
Quick facts: 40mm gold case – automatic movement calibre HMC200 with hours, minutes and seconds. Alligator or Kudu leather strap with pin buckle – CHF 19,900 – For more information, please visit www.h-moser.com
10 responses
Why so much of a swiss bias? Pretty much anything from grand seiko would best the watches in this list. Both in terms of absolute quality and craftsmenship, and in value.
So bias from “Jo” regarding Grand Seiko. Does really a GS best a H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour?
@jo it is a two-part article – expect some seiko and German watches for part 2 tomorrow
Glashutte original senator excellence, als saxonia 37 of course
Don’t forget Alfred.
Holiday season? Why so PC? Surely you are referring to Christmas?
Great selection!
Yes,as a matter of fact, I’d say the GS easily beats the Moser on practical counts like water resistance, durability, accuracy ( if the GS is a Spring Drive model ) and price. The H.Moser & Cie wins on elegant design, precious metals used and a fancy ‘desirable’ brand name that will make you feel more special. Both are very nice watches.
H.Moser & Cie is an awesome watch, so we aren’t talking about any beating. But some Credors and GS are comparable IMO.
Surprised no-one mentioned the Habring2 ‘Felix’? Surely, one of the purest dress watches around IMO.