Unless it's someone like Elon Musk or Jack Ma, shopping for men is probably the easiest thing to do on earth. Primarily because there isn’t a lot to get into. A pair of posh cuff links, or a nice new shirt… Leather accessories are always welcome. Fragrances, why not? But while these are by all accounts great gifts, nothing piques a man’s interest more than beautiful timepieces. Doesn’t matter what brand, as long as it’s well designed, well finished, and not awfully predictable. And with Father’s Day right around the corner, shop the Esquire Singapore timepieces edit curated specially for the world’s best dads.
Longines Ultra-Chron
Two things to know about the Longines Ultra-Chron: It has a high-frequency 36,000 vph movement (5 hertz ticking 10 times per second) and it is certified by TIMELAB, an independent testing lab in Geneva, to be even more accurate than an industry standard COSC chronometer.
This is not Longines’ first rodeo with high precision calibres as the manufacture had in fact gone into high-beat movements as early as in 1959 and released the Ultra-Chron Diver in 1968. The 2022 model gets its design inspiration from the 60s piece, which is why you’re seeing a round dial on a tonneau shaped case and quirky baton shaped hands and indexes.
Price: $5,250 on leather strap, $5,570 on bracelet (both delivered with a complimentary black NATO strap)
Le Régulateur Louis Erard X Massena LAB
After a much-needed image overhaul, Louis Erard has become one of the hottest affordable-luxe brands to keep an eye on. With collaborations coming in hard and fast, this design-obsessed watch firm’s latest project spotlights its Le Régulateur timepiece as imagined by creative horological studio, Massena LAB.
The watch took inspiration from 19th century marine chronometers but thankfully only in spirit as its design cannot be more modern. Look how they’ve implemented a twin-tiered dial, with contrasting finishes (circular satin for the sub-dials and a grained finish for the lower plate).
Price: $5,190 in stainless steel (178-piece limited edition)
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Radiocompass
It’s a watch, it’s a compass, it’s the Bell & Ross BR03-92 Radiocompass. Toeing the line between flight instrument and luxury timepiece, this sporty number incorporates into the dial the core aesthetics of a radionavigation tool known as a radiocompass, whose job it is to define the position and direction of an aircraft via beacons on the ground.
With extended neon hands (marked H for hour and M for minutes) working in tandem with three concentric sets of numerals and indexes, you get optimal readability under all lighting conditions, whether at night, in fog, or rain. Which is all very good but truth be told we are just in it for those awesome colours that actually glow green, orange, and yellow in the dark.
Price: $5,700 in matte black ceramic (999-piece limited edition)
Luminox Bear Grylls Survival Master #tide Chronograph Series
For all the ultra-practical dads out there, Luminox has designed the perfect watch that’s made to survive every possible storm. Created in partnership with the British adventurer, the Bear Grylls series has always prided itself on functionality and durability. Now with the new #tide material cases and straps made of recycled ocean plastic, it can add sustainability to its glowing core values. Choose from three sporty colourways: yellow, green, and blue.
Price: $1,350 (before GST)
Norqain Freedom 60 GMT Bronze
Sometimes nice watches can come from the most unexpected places. Norqain is one of those under-the-radar brands producing thoughtfully-crafted, well-finished timepieces for modern watch aficionados. This young rising star has just brought back its popular Freedom 60 GMT Bronze model, but this time with a midnight blue dial. Inside, the watch ticks with a robust Kenissi movement made exclusively for Norqain, with GMT function and 70-hour power reserve offering excellent price to quality ratio.
A final note about Norqain for the uninitiated: The brand might sound unfamiliar, and yes it is indeed young, but it's got the backing and support of one of the most legendary figures in modern watchmaking, Jean-Claude Biver.
Price: From CHF3,790 in bronze (300-piece limited edition)
Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole
Definitely one of the most useful complications in a wristwatch, the worldtimer brings one of Rado’s best sellers back to the fabulous Sixties, when the possibility of international travel inspired rock music, books, and of course watchmakers too. The Captain Cook Over-Pole balances vintage inspiration with modern conveniences. Old-school aesthetics such as the 37mm case and box-shaped sapphire crystal commingle with high-tech elements including ceramic insert on the bezel with laser engraving and 80-hour power reserve movement oscillating on a Nivachron antimagnetic hairspring.
Price: $3,600 in stainless steel (1,962-piece limited edition delivered with two strap options: brown vintage leather and stainless steel rice grain bracelet)
TAG Heuer Monaco
It may be only June right now and the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix is still three months away but what’s stopping you from into the mood for high octane racing? Especially when TAG Heuer has released this special edition Monaco that calls to mind one of its 70s classics known affectionaly by collectors as the “Dark Lord.”
This time the company uses black DLC treated grade 2 titanium for the case along with a grained sandblasted dial contrasting with a circular satinated middle area. Another throwback to the 70s are those rose gold coloured hands, while on the inside, the Heuer 02 movement keeps everything running and is visible through the sapphire back.
Price: $11,550 in DLC-treated grade 2 titanium
