If you’ve read any of my stories about watches I own, or follow me on socials, you’ll know I have a soft spot for the Crown. Unsurprisingly, my Daytona and I have indeed been inseparable this year, but alongside that, I’ve gravitated towards a couple of other pieces too. My tastes have become a little more eclectic, and perhaps that’s the result of being so exposed to such a diverse range of watches during my tenure at Time+Tide, but above all, I do tend to just buy watches that really speak to me the moment I see them. Those impulses can sometimes lead to regrets later on, but the ones in this list couldn’t be further from that. They’re the ones that have truly seen the most wrist time this year, and I’ve enjoyed talking about most with other collectors.
Seiko Chronograph Speedmaster 7A28-710
I stumbled across this watch on eBay one evening in March of this year, and it was one of those watches that just stopped me in my tracks. It was in Japan, and it had everything I was looking for: a thin, integrated bracelet chronograph with bags of character. A few weeks later, it was in the UK and on my wrist, and it’s barely been off since. This 1983 reference 7A28-7010 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the same designer of the original Seiko Aliens/Ripley watch, and iconic cars such as the BMW M1. I just love the 80s techno vibe, and the microblasted surface is incredibly tactile.
At just 9.7mm thick and 38mm in diameter, it’s a beautifully comfortable watch, and the condition is incredible for its age. Since they weren’t directly available in the UK, they’re pretty hard to come by these days, especially in this condition. Also, it’s quite a notable watch, firstly because it features the world’s first serviceable analogue quartz movement, and secondly because it has the word ‘Speedmaster’ embossed into the bracelet clasp. Something tells me if Seiko tried to pull that one today, they might get in some hot water with a particular Swiss brand…
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 126500LN
Ok, I’m a sucker for a chronograph, and a Rolex, and my journey with my Daytona is well documented, but nevertheless, it’s by far my most-worn watch of the year. It’s insanely comfortable, it goes with everything, and it’s one of those watches that makes you feel good when you wear it. I prefer the black dial version of this model over the white dial, especially since everyone prefers white, and I think it makes it a bit more legible, too. I do have to be careful where I wear it sometimes, which can be a bit of a bummer, but I try not to overthink it too much.
It’s such a versatile watch, it really is suitable for everything. For example, this summer I wore it to Wimbledon, where it felt at home at Michel Roux Jr’s dining room, and later used it in its intended habitat to time my friend racing motorcycles at Donington Park race circuit. It’s not as easy to use as a stopwatch on your phone, but it’s a lot more fun, that’s for sure.
Fleux FLX-004
Again, another watch that I just couldn’t let pass me by. The minimalist look of the Fleux FLX-004 is a conversation starter, and I just love the irony of the watch. At its heart, it’s a skin diver with a 200-meter water resistance rating and a screw-down crown, but the blank rotating bezel is all but useless for diving, and that’s why I love it. The thought of a plain, uncluttered dive watch is quite nonsensical as a tool watch, and for the most part it is, but it plays with the fact that these watches are rarely dived with, and I don’t even think I’ve got this watch even remotely wet.
The black sector dial is deep, and the vintage-style hands look fantastic against it, especially with the pumpkin-yellow lume. Yes, it’s a little thicker than I’d like, but I can live with it; it still looks cool. It looks dangerously good on a Milanese bracelet, but in fact, it looks great on any strap, too, whether it’s a Bark & Jack fabric NATO, or a black sailcloth strap; it’s a bit of a strap monster.