The sailors timepiece
Times change and technology evolves in all sectors. While sailing, the watch that we can wear on our wrist has to provide us with much more than the time, chronometers, and time calculations. It is necessary to have the best information for the governance of the ship, whatever the type of vessel and for all nautical environments.
What you will see in what follows is a lineup of watches for sailors, or for lovers of the sea in all its variables. Watches that, apart from fulfilling a functional purpose, keep an aesthetic that anyone would find it easy to associate with the marine world.
Of all the brands of special watches for sailing, we have selected some of the best nautical watches on the market, plus one that does not respond to the concept of the classic watch, but equally deserves to be featured.
BREITLING SUPEROCEAN II 44
The first is the Breitling Superocean, a super-watch that embodies the best in Swiss watchmaking.
Breitling Superocean II 44 represents the top choice for those who are looking for a submersible watch of high quality, with style and prestige. With its sturdy steel case water-resistant to 1,000 m (3,300 ft.), its ultra-legible dial and its high-tech ultra-hard scratch-resistant ceramic rotating bezel, this special series features all the distinguishing characteristics of an authentic professional diving watch.
CX SWISS MILITARY HANOWA NAVY 100ATM
Second, one of the best sailing watches with an excellent price, signed by Swiss Military Hanowa.
Like the Superocean, this watch can be submerged up to 1000 meters, so it is a real diving watch with an undeniable marine aesthetic, also made with ultra-resistant materials such as stainless steel with ionic plating of the box and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lid. It is also a quite large watch, with its 44-millimeter box diameter and its 17 millimeters thick. In addition, the CX Swiss Military Hanowa Navy 1000M watch has chronograph and calendar.
CERTINA DS ACTION DIVER CHRONOGRAPH AUTOMATIC
From the famous Swiss watch brand Certina we find this fantastic model with chronograph and strong buttons in the purest marine style.
It has a box of 45.7 millimeters in diameter by 15 millimeters thick, weighs less than half a kilo, and is made for somewhat more modest dives of 300 meters. With its high-quality steel case and strap, and its sapphire crystal, it is defined as an almost unbreakable watch.
HARDING AQUAPRO HA0301
Each model of Harding watches is based on the highest Swiss quality standards, combining the latest developments with the best modern craftsmanship, generating unique experiences.
The dimensions of the AquaPro HA0301 model are 46.5 millimeters, 13.8 millimeters in height/thickness, and water resistance of 100 meters. Its case is made from brushed steel with black ionic plating, and the crystal is with anti-glare treatment.
ELYSEE YACHTING TIMER 94001
The model Elysee Yachting Timer 94001 has a diameter of 45 millimeters, and the material of its case is satin stainless steel in gray IP, its crystal is anti-reflective sapphire, and has a water resistance of 200 meters.
The Timer 94001 provides an interesting countdown function of up to 10 minutes, which is ideal for participation in races and aquatic competitions. It generates a beep every minute that passes, and another at the end of the countdown. Once reached the end, its stopwatch function is activated automatically, and adjustments and corrections can be made as desired, both in the time measurement, as in the countdown.
OPTIMUM TIME OS SERIES 2JL
This model, specially designed for those with smaller wrists, like women and children, is surprisingly well featured. Despite its compact, lightweight case, it comes with a practically large, single-line display and a strap that allows you to wear it either directly on your wrist or over your sleeves.
Water-resistant to 30 meters, it also comes with some specific sailing functions, like a countdown with elapsed time for handicap races, plus pre-programmed ISAF start sequences with audible warning signals and a one-touch Sync button.
Among the functions that a modern and innovative nautical watch can offer us, is the high performance GPS, a highly accurate electronic compass, altimeter, barometer, air temperature gauges, modern nautical competition applications, sensors for automatic detection of man overboard, special systems for data transmission, etc.
That’s why we could not close our list without referring to an example of digital nautical watch, that also covers a multitude of sports both in regard to the record of activity, such as the control of vital signs (pulse meter, oxygen in blood, etc.), as well as orientation (assisted GPS, 3-axis compass, altimeter, etc.), weather forecasting, and much more.
GARMIN FENIX 3 SAPPHIRE
Of course, the Garmin Fenix 3 Sapphire is a submersible watch, but to call it a watch is almost laughable considering the number of functions it is capable of undertaking, like a real super-gifted on-board computer.
With all this, coupled with its “unbreakable skeleton” steel (case and strap) and its sapphire crystal, we find a whole clock to navigate with all the advantages of 21st-century technology.
In our opinion, these are some of the best options for those looking for a watch that will always accompany you on your adventures in a ship, always keeping the style and distinction that characterizes each of the brands. What is your favorite?
