Six great watch recommendations to be stylish in the Wet Weather from Our Archives for Throwback Sundays

For many of our international readers, Singapore is a country that has a reputation for being perpetually warm. This is due to the positioning of our country, where we are situated near the equator. But this year began an exceptional spell of wet weather. Here are 6 recommendations to remain stylish in the wet weather.

However, since the start of 2021, Singapore have enjoyed a rather comforting spell of wet weather. In fact, for the first few days of 2021,we had rain non-stop for the first couple of days (with some very short respite). For many of us, it is both a boon and bane – while we enjoyed the cooler weather, it can also be quite inconvenient having to deal with the wet.

Watch collectors have also faced a dilemma here. It will be rather unwise to wear watches on leather straps (unless it has a layer of rubber lining at the back), as the wet weather could potentially damage the straps with excessive moisture. But what are some of the options that are available, for watches with rubber straps or metal bracelets? Let us find out right now!

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 is one of the novelties in 2020 that had captured the attention of many collectors. This is attributed to the variety of dial colours that are available – with many in vibrant and bright colours.

Cased in a 41mm Oystersteel case, the Oyster Perpetual 41 – or known as the OP41 for short – offers collectors a modern and timeless timepiece with a rather interesting touch with the different dial colours available. It is definitely a welcoming addition, especially when it is coupled with the brand’s prowess in crafting robust and reliable timepieces that can withstand any tough condition that comes along its way.

The OP41 is priced at S$7,910, which is rather reasonably priced for such a well-made timepiece. It is certainly a great addition to any collection, and we reckon it will brighten up days especially when we are under such gloomy weathers in recent days.

Seiko Prospex Diver SLA017

Grand Seiko is probably one of the most talked-about brands in the circle currently, with its great finishing and relatively compelling price point. But for its less illustrious brethren, they do have some timepieces that are worth a double take as well.

Based on the first Seiko diver’s watch, the Prospex Diver SLA017 – also known as the 62MAS Reissue – is certainly a wonderful and clean looking timepiece. The 39.9mm timepiece looks identical to its original version, with a clean and timeless design that had certainly stood the test of time. Interesting characteristics of the timepiece includes the domed sapphire crystal, case shape, as well as the design of the indices. Similarly, they give us a glimpse of the 1960s, and we are pleasantly surprised by how relevant these elements still look today.

The SLA017 is fitted with Seiko’s Caliber 8L35, which is seen on their high-end pieces such as the Marinemaster 300 and the Emperor Tuna series. It is often touted that this is the undecorated version of Grand Seiko’s 9S55. The recommended retail price for this piece is €3,800 (approximately S$6,160), and it is limited to 2,000 pieces. While its price might be slightly steeper than the usual entry-level pieces, but we reckon its finishing and quality makes up for the premium. This is a must-have for any Seiko collectors, and certainly a perfect watch for the wet weather!

Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatique

Even though we have featured the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatique in our last installment of the Throwback Sundays series, we can’t help but to include the watch again today – for good reasons as well.

The 40mm Octo Finissimo Automatique is certainly one of the most highly-regarded timepieces amongst the writers at Deployant. It is not difficult to see why, especially with its good-looking angular case and the comfortable yet stylish integrated metal bracelet. Bvlgari – being a fashion icon – had certainly designed the Octo Finissimo with gusto and passion in mind. And the result really shows in this watch.

Powering the watch is Bvlgari’s Calibre BVL138. This is a self-winding movement that comes with a platinum micro-rotor, and it has a power reserve of around 60 hours. It is also well-finished, although the main selling point certainly lies in its thinness – which comes at 2.23mm and hence allowing the entire watch to deliver its thin case profile.

Finally, this incredible titanium timepiece is available from S$19,900 onwards (with the integrated bracelet option), and we feel that this is excellent value for an ultra-thin luxury sports watch which is constructed beautifully and coupled with excellent finishing.

Czapek & Cie Antarctique Terra Adélie

The genre of luxury sports watches is heating up in recent years, with Czapek & Cie being one of the latest participants joining the incumbents.

Named after an island in Antarctica, the Antarctique Terra Adélie is a tribute to the French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville. That concept was drawn from Xavier de Roquemaurel – one of the brand’s most active shareholders – during his family trip to Antarctica. The idea is to pay homage to the continent, as well as to draw more attention and emphasis to the environmental issues that are faced by nature – where the Antarctica had since become a preeminent symbol of environmental degradation.

The watch is fitted with the Calibre SXH5.01. This is a self-winding movement with a micro-rotor, and it boasts a decent power reserve of around 56 hours. The movement is notably conceived in-house by the Czapek team, and it is a visual treat with reference to how the different elements of the movement were arranged.

With a retail price of CHF 18,000 (approximately S$26,950), the Czapek offers collectors a relatively accessible timepiece from an independent watch manufacturer. It is worth to note that the micro-rotor is produced with recycled gold, which reinforces the brand’s commitment to build awareness on the current environmental issues and promote sustainable practices. Certainly a great watch with a great story to boot!

Vacheron Constantin Overseas 4500V

In 2016, Vacheron Constantin revamped the Overseas collection. It was quite a welcoming change, and the new offerings had certainly impressed many of us in the industry.

One particular piece that had caught our eyes was the Overseas 4500V. The 4500V is the base model in the collection, with only an additional date function. While it may look simple, but that had allowed the timepiece to shine in terms of its finishing and movement construction. The self-winding Calibre 5100, which powers the 4500V, is a very beautiful movement that features a stunning 22k gold rotor and the Hallmark of Geneva – a sign of excellence.

Another interesting aspect of the timepiece is the quick-strap change function. It is done by simply pulling a tab on the caseback, and that released the strap on the watch. In addition, Vacheron Constantin supplies three different strap options with the watch: in leather, rubber, and steel bracelet. This allows the owner to change the looks of his/her Overseas to suit the occasion, mood, or even weather. The watch is priced at S$29,800 for the stainless steel version, and for that you are effectively getting 3 watches for the price of 1. Not a bad deal at all, we would say.

Patek Philippe Aquanaut “Jumbo” Ref. 5168G

The Patek Philippe Sports collection is a highly popular one. In recent years, we have seen how prices have increased dramatically in the used market – a testament to the strong demand. The Patek Philippe Aquanaut “Jumbo” Reference 5186G, launched in 2019, is another timepiece that is greatly sought-after like many of its brethren.

The latest iteration of the Aquanaut “Jumbo” follows hotly on the heels of the 2017 edition. The original variant – which is notably 2.2mm larger than the popular Reference 5167 – was specially produced to commemorate the collection’s 20^th anniversary. The 2017 timepiece was fitted with a brilliant blue dial, but this year Patek Philippe had went a step further by introducing an olive green variant instead. The combination, in our opinion, works rather beautifully. The shade of green is rather mellow, and the matte finishing interestingly provides an intriguing (although unintentional) military touch to the watch.

Powering the Aquanaut is the 213-part, 29-jewel Calibre 324 S C. The self-winding movement has a minimum power reserve of approximately 35 hours, and it incorporates innovations such as the brand’s proprietary Gyromax balance and Spiromax balance spring. The finishing is as per Patek Philippe’s high standards.

The watch retails at S$57,700, and we feel that it is a nice Patek Philippe watch that is a little unusual from the crowd with its green theme. We certainly like how this one turns out.  

Concluding Thoughts

When it comes to watches that are suitable for wet weather (i.e. watches that are originally fitted with rubber strap or metal bracelet), the choices are surprisingly limited. Do not get me wrong – there are certainly many different watch models available, but they are all pretty much limited to the genre of sports or divers’ watches.

Having said that, we are rather heartened that we have brands that went out to do something different. Bvlgari’s Octo Finissimo collection, for example, features an integrated bracelet with an ultra-thin timepiece. This is interesting, and it is certainly not easy to get both the construction and proportions right. The same goes for the Vacheron Constantin Overseas, with its innovative quick strap change mechanism. These are things that we, as watch collectors and enthusiasts, certainly appreciate.

So, we hope that amidst this gloomy weather, you have enjoyed this week’s edition of Throwback Sundays. Let us know your thoughts, as well as some of the themes that you would like us to feature in the future, in the comments section below!