There's a certain elegance that comes with the simplicity of a time-only watch, especially if the dial demands attention (particularly if it's a stone dial). Here are 7 of our favourite time-only watches.
1. Baltic Prismic Green - Black Leather Strap
Channel retro cool with this 1920s-inspired 36mm cocktail watch running an ETA-based movement, the 42-hour Peseux 7001 calibre.
The dial has a radial guilloche pattern overlaid with a brushed sector, with the guilloche peeking through at the centre and against the rehaut. Polished indices appear on the brushed sector and a neat seconds sub-dial takes up residence at 6 o'clock. The latter has a sandblasted texture and is outlined with a brushed ring.
You have a choice of four dial colours—green, purple, bluish-grey, and salmon—that you can combine with a braided stainless steel bracelet or a black or brown leather strap.
2. Hamilton Khaki Field Murph Auto Bracelet 38mm
Add drama to your style with this movie-famous timepiece simply known as "The Murph." The diameter of the original (42mm) was eventually slashed to 38mm (as seen here) with great success.
With an 80-hour power reserve driven by the H-10 movement and water resistance of 100m provided by a push-pull crown, the watch is sufficiently "fieldy." Building on the field watch vibe, it adds a black dial with luminous beige numerals and matching cathedral hands to ensure high legibility.
If you prefer a dark-on-light look, a grained white dial is also an option. Regardless of your choice of dial colour, you can pair it with a stainless steel bracelet or a leather strap.
3. Fears Brunswick 40 Blue
This versatile 1920s-inspired daily wearer keeps your look classy. Its sandwich dial has a micro-guilloche pattern enclosed in a ring with a hand-brushed finish. The ring showcases rhodium-plated numerals in the "Edwin" typeface designed specially for Fears. We like the deep blue dial shown here, but the white, pink, and copper salmon editions are just as attractive.
A Swiss-made automatic movement, the ETA 2824-2 calibre, brings the Brunswick 40 to life, and a custom screw-down crown grants a depth rating of 150m.
In keeping with Fears' tradition, each piece comes with a unique number engraved between the lugs at 12 o'clock. What's more, the packaging is as luxurious as the watch itself.
4. Nivada Grenchen F77 Lapis Lazuli
The F77 is a safe bet if you want to exude a sporty chic vibe. Nivada Grenchen has stayed faithful to the design of the '70s classic that inspired this reissue.
The watch, driven by a 38-hour automatic Swiss movement, has an octagonal, almost-round bezel encased in a 37mm case with a screw-down crown that adds water resistance of 100m.
Stone dial options, such as the bright lapis lazuli one shown here, give the F77 a snazzier look. Standard basket-weave dials are also an option and so is a titanium bracelet with certain dials. A few dials include a date window too.
5. Zodiac Olympos STP 1-11 Swiss Automatic Three-Hand Brown Leather Watch
With its "manta ray" shape, crown at two o'clock, and a field-watch-worthy dial, the Olympos is an eye-catching dress watch in more ways than one. It runs on the Swiss automatic movement STP 1-11, which carries a power reserve of 44 hours and has a hacking seconds function.
The textured dial and luminous handset are enclosed in a 40mm stainless steel case with a depth rating of 200m and attached to a leather strap.
In the variant shown here, the dial is grey and the strap is a dark brown. You can swap it for an olive dial with a tan strap—a combination that looks just as amazing. There's a third option too, but with totally different specs and a dressier feel. It's a black-and-gold affair with a date window.
6. Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic 3.6.9 Tropical
Recreated from a vintage timepiece in response to fan feedback, the modern (38mm) version of the trendsetting Nivada Grenchen Antarctic runs on the 38-hour SOPROD P024 movement. Its fauxtina-ed dial is the perfect background for the Super-LumiNova-accented numerals and handset, which have been similarly aged to capture the vintage aesthetic.
With water resistance of 100m, the Super Antarctic 3.6.9 is sturdy enough to go swimming with you. We have picked the "Cadran Tropical" dial that swings from deep plum to a rich caramel depending on the light, but you can forgo that for a classic black dial. You're spoilt for choice with the strap options.
7. Hamilton American Classic Boulton Small Second Quartz
The Boulton has been drawing fans for 80-odd years. If you want an American classic on your wrist, this Art Deco reissue has your name on it.
The watch has a slender (27.3mm), distinctive almost-tonneau case that features a shimmery, silvery dial with Roman numerals and a blued-steel handset. We love the azurage-finished small seconds sub-register recessed into the dial at 6 o'clock. It adds a dash of something extra and balances the Hamilton signature at 12 o'clock.
Powering this high-quality piece is the ETA 980.163, a silent 15-jewel quartz movement.
Do you prefer the clean look of a time-only watch? Come and try them on at our Watch Discovery Studio on Collins St - it's a date. Or not.
