Cheerful and fun watches for the weekend – our best picks

Weekends – the time when many corporate slaves are finally able to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the working world. Here are our picks for 6 of the best weekend watches.

Naturally, as one starts to wind-down, casual is perhaps the way to go for one who tends to seek comfort. This means picking up a short sleeve shirt or t-shirt, pair with bermudas and a pair of deck shoes. Then, we have the watch. What shall one pair with this sort of attire?

Livin’ For The Weekend: Six Of Our Best Picks For A Cheerful And Fun Watches For The Weekend.

We reckon the timepiece should have some element of fun, with a little bold colours, and perhaps priced modestly as well. After all, one also probably does not wish to be burdened by taking care of a neat 5-figure sum timepiece – especially when one wishes to take a break and clear their mind from any unnecessary things.

With that, we have come up with a few watches that we reckon will fit the bill. Here’s our selection:

anOrdain Model 2 mkII

We begin the article with the wildly-popular anOrdain Model 2 mkII.

anOrdain is a relatively newcomer to the scene, but it has already made a strong impact in the horological scene. The Scottish watch manufacturer is known for producing brilliant time-only timepieces, mostly fitted with a vitreous enamel dial (or grand feu, as it is more commonly known) that comes in numerous colour options.

The watch is powered by the manual-winding Sellita SW-210-1, which adds to the old-school charm of this timepiece. We really enjoy the different interesting elements of the watch, right down to its unique pair of syringe hands. The attention to detail is pretty amazing, and for £1,700 (approximately S$2,873), we believe many will be hard pressed to find a timepiece that is as impressive and offers as much value as the anOrdain. The only downside? The current waitlist is unfortunately around 2 years long.

G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World

While we typically tend to focus more on mechanical watches, the new G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World certainly gave us a good reason to take a look at a digital timepiece.

The G-SHOCK 5000 series – which features a full metal case and bracelet – has been a rather successful piece thus far. We like its sturdy looks, as well as the cool-factor that comes along with its full metal suit. This time, G-SHOCK had gone a step further, with the introduction of the geometric black and brown camouflage pattern on its titanium shell and bracelet. The two-tone ionic plating process, in black and brown, definitely offers something unique and different from the usual crowd.

For many, G-SHOCK certainly has a special place in our heart. Many of us have owned a G-SHOCK at some point in our lives, and there is definitely space for a G-SHOCK in any watch collection. If one is contemplating getting a G-SHOCK soon, perhaps this piece – which is priced at S$2,349 – might just be the watch that you are looking for.

NOMOS Glashütte Tetra Petit Four

NOMOS is a rather interesting German watch manufacturer, which offers an eclectic mix of watches at a rather compelling price point. The Tetra Petit Four is one such example.

The Tetra collection is rather intriguing, with its slightly unusual square case and stepped lugs. Combined with the brand’s signature Bauhaus-style design, the Tetra is surely a conversational piece with its unique aesthetics. However, back in 2018, NOMOS went a step further, with the introduction of the Petit Four collection – featuring four different dial options in pastel colours. It was a bold, but clever move by NOMOS.

We really adore this series of Tetra watches, as it offers collectors something rather different back then. In fact, it is one of the brands that has done something like this – Rolex, Omega, and Sinn have only recently caught on to the trend and introduced watches with a series of bright and bold colours. At S$2,950, the 29.5mm watch is actually of good value, considering that this watch is fitted with NOMOS’ in-house Alpha movement and it is extremely well-made overall.

Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein Triptych

In recent years, Louis Erard had made great strides in the horological scene. Suddenly, everyone appears to pay attention to this watch manufacturer, who was unfortunately not on the radar of many in the last decade.

Louis Erard’s popularity can be attributed to the uber-cool watches that they have produced, mainly from the collaborations that they have made over the last three years. The Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein Triptych is perhaps one of the most successful ones thus far – which sees them spawning two more future iterations since the launch of the original variant in 2021.

It is easy to love the Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein Triptych. We like its funky design (thanks to Alain Silberstein), with a rather original looking case and lugs. The combination, together with the various complications featured (think monopusher and regulator), really makes the timepieces desirable. The latest variant, offered with a white dial and features both the day-date and regulator models, is priced at CHF 4,000 (approximately S$5,824).

Bulova Oceanographer 96B350 Men’s Archive Series

Next, we turn to something that is rather loud and bold. Cue the Bulova Oceanographer 96B350.

The 41mm watch is a design tribute of the brand’s acclaimed Oceanographer, made in the 1970s. There are many classic cues with this piece, from the design of the case to the bold and bright orange dial. One interesting element to note is the indices, which have cylindrical sapphire appliqués and are treated with SuperLuminova to have a bright glow in the dark. The overall aesthetics are certainly unusual indeed.

With a retail price of US$750 (approximately S$1,008), the Bulova – fitted with the Miyota 821D-21B movement – is certainly worth a consideration for someone who wants a reliable and sturdy weekend watch. We like the watch’s loud orange colour, and reckon it is certainly a great casual piece to wear on a weekend.

M.A.D. Editions M.A.D. 1 Red

Last, but not least, we have an accessible timepiece from the legendary Max Büsser: M.A.D. Editions M.A.D. 1 Red.

The M.A.D 1 Red is a timepiece that came about after the M.A.D. 1 Edition, which was a modestly-priced watch from Max whose intention was to create an accessible timepiece for partners, friends, and current owners of MB&F. The response was overwhelming, which had led to Max producing a similar piece – albeit in red – to satisfy collectors who were previously not eligible for the original iteration.

The fact that it is a watch by Max Büsser is a reason good enough to justify the coolness of this piece. But beyond that, we love the triple-blade winding rotor at the top, as well as the lateral time indicator. All these, at a price of CHF 2,900 (approximately S$4,222) is a steal. The only issue is that only a few hundred of these watches will be produced, and all have since been allocated via a lottery. Tough luck, but if you are lucky enough to own one, this is surely a great piece to wear and have fun with over the weekends.

Concluding Thoughts

As we have seen from our selection, cool and fun timepieces do not necessarily have to be pricey. In fact, some of the best watches in the list can be purchased for less than S$3,000 – and they can actually hold up against some of the pricier counterparts who may not offer as much too.

There are definitely a few hidden gems on the list as well. The anOrdain offers tremendous value at its price point, which is incredibly rare for a watch that features many handcrafted parts (the enamel dial and hands, for instance). Bulova’s Oceanographer is another compelling piece, and at sub-S$1,000, it probably offers even more value against some of the other microbrands these days. The NOMOS, notably, is also a great pick too with its vibrant colours and in-house developed movement.

So, what are your thoughts on our selection today? What are some of the other watches that deserve a spot in this list? Let us know in the comments section below.