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 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 guilloché pattern overlaid with a brushed sector, with the guilloché 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 three dial colours—green, bluish-grey, and salmon—that you can combine with a mesh stainless steel bracelet or a 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 a utilitarian vibe, it includes a black dial with luminous beige numerals and matching cathedral hands to ensure high legibility.
3. Fears Brunswick 40 Blue
This versatile 1920s-inspired daily wearer keeps your look classy. Its sandwich dial has a micro-guilloché 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. echo/neutra Rivanera Black
The Rivanera from echo/neutra brings cocktail-ready filar in a soft-spoken package—it’s clean, breathable dial keeps things light and effortless.
Don’t let the size fool you: this 27mm, 21g beauty is built from Grade 5 titanium, so it’s light on the wrist, but tough on scratches.
Driven by the Swiss ETA 7001 with a 42-hour reserve, this Art Deco piece proves simplicity can still show off.
6. Beaucroft Signature Midnight Blue
Looking for next-level refinement? The Beaucroft Signature delivers, with a Midnight Blue fumé dial that shimmers like twilight.
Sized just right at 40mm and only 10mm thick, the Beaucroft Signature is hand-assembled in the UK and powered by a regulated Miyota 9039 movement for accuracy with +/- 10 seconds daily.
Tying it all together is a Milanese mesh bracelet that turns up the elegance almost effortlessly.
7. Hamilton American Classic Boulton 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 in gold hues that features a shimmery, white dial with golden Arabic numerals and a matching 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 Street, Melbourne—it's a date. Or not.
