Power Play: Six interesting watches that are fit for business executives

When it comes to watches for the business executives to pair with their power suits, the selections are pretty standard.

In this week’s article, we are looking to break the stereotype. While the likes of Rolex and Patek Philippe make excellent watches, there are also many outstanding and interesting options that are worth a serious consideration. Hence, in this week’s article, we are looking at excellent high-end watches that are on the dressier side, and also offer a great wrist presence.

Power Play: Six interesting watches that are fit for business executives

So, without any further ado, here are the watches that we have selected.

Armin Strom Tribute 1

Armin Strom – an independent watchmaking house co-owned by Serge Michel and master watchmaker Claude Greisler – may only be 14 years old, but it is currently punching above its weight with a slew of incredible creations.

The Tribute 1 may be a compact time-only watch, but it is quite a special piece indeed. Here is a 38mm timepiece that is executed brilliantly, with some slight quirks. This includes an off-centre dial, crown at an atypical 2 o’clock position, as well as four interesting angular lugs. The whole concept may sound strange on paper, but the execution is impeccable. Think of it as a refined timepiece but injected with some element of fun.

One of our favourite variants is the Tribute 1 Rose Gold, which we think pairs rather well with the black dial. This particular watch is limited to a production of 100 pieces, with a retail price of CHF 23,900 (approximately S$35,600). The watch is also available in stainless steel, at a relatively reasonable CHF 14,900 (approximately S$22,200). This is surely a great piece for someone who wants to be different from the crowd.

Piaget Altiplano

Piaget, as a brand itself, is similarly not as widely-known within the circle of watch collecting. However, we reckon they do deserve much more attention than they are currently receiving.

The Altiplano is a great example. Touted as one of the thinnest watches in the world, the Altiplano is a testament to Piaget’s commitment to horological excellence. For this particular 38mm timepiece, this is achieved through extremely precision engineering, where every component is produced to be as thin as possible. In addition, for the watch to achieve its 3.65mm thinness, Piaget had to also incorporate the dial and movement onto the same plane altogether.

Priced at S$38,200, the Altiplano is a great timepiece that showcases the prowess of the manufacturer. We love the concept behind the Altiplano, and the entire execution. This is definitely a dress watch that will elevate one’s collection onto the next level.

Chopard L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25

The L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25, from Chopard, is one of our favourite launches from Chopard in recent times. It is not just an interesting piece, but one that is brimming with style and elegance as well.

Undoubtedly, the party piece of the watch lies in the jumping hour complication. This is a first for Chopard, and we like how the manufacturer had fitted the watch with a grand feu enamel dial to make this watch a little even more special. It is also noted that the dial was made in-house, and the negative space also allows us to enjoy the enamel dial in full glory. The manual-winding L.U.C 98.06-L movement is also a force to be reckoned with, boasting four stacked barrels which give it an impressive power reserve of around 190 hours. The finishing, naturally, is quite something as well.

The 40mm watch is priced at S$61,700, and it is available in 18k rose gold. This is a highly sophisticated and magnificent timepiece, and one that surely has more than what meets the eye.

Breguet Tradition 7067

When it comes to Breguet, classy dress watches with beautiful engine-turned guilloché dials are certainly images that would come to mind. However, we think Breguet is much more than that.

The Tradition collection is a timepiece that hopes to change collector’s perception of the brand, with its contemporary take. Featuring an openworked design, the movement – a key element of any Breguet watches – is revealed in full glory. But beyond that, the Tradition also retains the Breguet DNA that makes its watches special – and in this case, the guilloché dial, Breguet-style hands, coin-edged fluting on the band of the case, and the Breguet hairspring. Talk about having the best of both worlds.

One of our favourite pieces from the collection is perhaps the Tradition 7067, which also incidentally features the dual time-zone display. It is a fine timepiece, with great finishing throughout. The Tradition 7067, in precious metal, is priced at S$56,200 onwards, and we reckon this is a sublime watch that showcases Breguet as one of the tour de force in the watchmaking scene.

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1

The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 can be considered as a modern watch icon, and it is not difficult to see why.

Launched in 1994, the Lange 1 had cemented its position as one of the most celebrated pieces with its unusual design and impeccable finishing. The former is certainly very interesting, with a concept that does not sound rather promising on paper. The result, however, is certainly brilliant. We have no exact idea how, but the team at Lange had managed to integrate all the different elements (off-centre dial, power reserve indicator, sub-seconds dial, and big date window) into the timepiece seamlessly. Sublime.

The 38.5mm piece is a classic, and surely a must-have in any collection if you can financially afford it. Our pick is the classic yellow gold variant with champagne dial, and we understand that prices for the Lange 1 begin at S$64,000.

Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222

When it comes to remakes, its reception can always go both ways. It is especially difficult for brands to recreate icons, but Vacheron Constantin appears to have cracked the code with the new Historiques 222.

The 222, notably, was Vacheron Constantin’s answer to the luxury sports watch category, and it is the predecessor to the popular and compelling Overseas collection. This re-issue, at 37mm, is an almost faithful production of the original, with a few minor cosmetic tweaks and an updated movement (in the form of the Calibre 2455/2).

While there is nothing groundbreaking with the Historiques 222, there is certainly a lot of charm with this piece. We like the design of the 222, and how it immediately throws us back to the opulence days of the 1970s (with its yellow gold dial, case, and bracelet). This is the perfect watch for those who adore the classic aesthetics, without having the trouble of maintaining a 45-year old timepiece. All of these come with a premium though, at a cool S$99,000.

Concluding Thoughts

There are many hidden gems within the scene, and we do hope that more collectors will continue to look and consider beyond the usual suspects. The six watches that we have selected cover a good range of timepieces – some are more known (the likes of Lange, Breguet and Vacheron), while on the flip side there are also uncommon timepieces that are only familiar to the connoisseurs or hardcore enthusiasts. But regardless, they are all excellent pieces with great qualities.

So, what are your thoughts on our selection today? Are they suitable for the business executives, or these individuals might be better off with the usual options? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.