Very few people really need to buy a watch to tell time. They all carry smartphones. However, there are some watches you will find yourself checking even when your phone is right beside you. The latter tend to have a little more going on: a story, an unusual design detail or a movement that makes you want to turn the watch over and take another look. The 5 best watches from Omega, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Bulgari And Tudor bring all of that to the table, with some rather compelling reasons to look beyond the watch dial - space, moonphase, racing and more.
The Speedmaster has been to the Moon and this particular version takes its inspiration from an earlier chapter of its spacefaring story. The First Omega in Space pays tribute to the watch worn by NASA astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra in 1962. Its vintage-inspired lume, flat-link bracelet and handsome blue-grey dial bring a welcome dose of nostalgia to the collection without looking like a watch borrowed from a museum.
Rolex does not introduce an entirely new watch every day, which makes the Perpetual Padellone all the more interesting. The 39mm model combines a moonphase display with an annual calendar, powered by the new Calibre 7190. It is an intriguing addition to the Rolex catalogue, particularly for collectors who like their watches with a little more going on than three hands and a date window.
A racing chronograph with a backstory involving a cult Japanese motorsport team and British customisation specialist George Bamford. TAG Heuer's Carrera collaboration has plenty going for it. The red-and-white colour scheme takes inspiration from Team Ikuzawa's racing liveries, while the watch arrives in a racing toolbox with two additional straps, a travel pouch and Team Ikuzawa charms. A rather good excuse to make room for another chronograph.
Bulgari and MB&F have taken the Serpenti somewhere wonderfully unexpected. This limited-edition collaboration reimagines the familiar snake-inspired design with a futuristic, almost automotive aesthetic. Instead of conventional hands, two rotating domes display the hours and minutes, resembling the eyes of a serpent. Available in titanium, black PVD-coated steel and 18-carat rose gold, each version is limited to 33 pieces. Subtle it is not, but that is rather the point.
Not every interesting watch needs a complicated movement or an extravagant case. Tudor's updated Ranger makes its case with a more compact 36mm size and a sand-toned Dune White dial. Designed as a practical field watch, it combines an outdoors-ready spirit with a nostalgic aesthetic. It is the sort of watch that looks equally at home on a weekend trail and with a casual everyday wardrobe.
These five watches make a persuasive case for wearing something with a little character. And if you're going to glance at your wrist repeatedly through the day, it might as well be something worth looking at and Omega, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Bulgari and Tudor have just done that.