From timeless date-only designs to ultra-slim watch movements, these minimalist timepieces are perfect for any occasion. Here's three of the very best:
Patek Philippe Calatrava 5153G-010, £26,480
It may come as a surprise to learn that fifty percent of all Patek Philippes sold in the UK belong to its Calatrava collection, as opposed to the more iconic Nautilus. Then again, when you look at the elegant-but-approachable Bauhaus design on display on the Reference 5153G, this begins to make a little more sense. Its 38mm white gold ‘Officer’s case’ is a classic shape that suits any size wrist, while the hand guilloché detailing and white gold applied hour markers bring the vintage-looking opaline dial to life. As a nod to pocket watches of old, the case has the rare feature of a rear dust cover that opens to expose the self-winding 324SC movement inside.
For more info, see patek.com
Piaget Altiplano G0A42050, £23,300
Piaget’s Altiplano collection celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2017 – and the watch brand, famed for its ultra-slim timepieces, was keen to celebrate. This particular model adds an automatic movement (the 1203 calibre) and a date function to its iconic slim case, and the result is a watch that is only 3mm in width – an incredible feat that helps make this watch as wearable as it is. Its fine indices and clean dial are, of course, a draw for both vintage watch lovers and advocates of minimalism. Here shown in white gold with a grey-brown dial, this is a watch that hides neatly underneath your shirt cuff, but deserves to be shown off.
For more info, see piaget.com
Grand Seiko SBGR305, £7,000
If you haven’t heard yet, Grand Seiko became an independent brand in 2017 – a signal of intent from parent company Seiko that they’re pushing their luxury proposition forward. Its first contemporary release since then is the SBGR305. While it echoes the classic date-only watches of vintage Grand Seikos, this timepiece has a number of modern touches that drags it into the 21st century. The case is made from what Grand Seiko calls ‘Brilliant Hard Titanium’ – a proprietary titanium alloy that is twice as hard as stainless steel, but also much lighter and more corrosion resistant – while the caliber 9S68, self-winding movement has a very convenient 72-hour power reserve. Add to this a really pleasing textured dial, mirror-finished hands and a blued steel seconds hand and you have one heck of a watch.
For more info, see grand-seiko.com
