Wear

The Casio F-91W has been in production since 1989 and has barely changed in that time. It’s one of the best-selling watches ever made, and it still costs about £15. It weighs 21g, the case and strap are resin, and the battery lasts around seven years. There’s a daily alarm, an hourly chime, a stopwatch that times to a hundredth of a second, and a small light to the left of the screen for reading it in the dark, though it’s not a very bright one. It’s splash resistant rather than waterproof, so it’s fine in the rain and best taken off before a swim.

Marking the first collaboration between Swatch and Omega, their Bioceramic MoonSwatch is a budget friendly take on Omega’s original Speedmaster (which was the first watch to visit the moon, hitching a ride with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 mission in July 1969). Whilst the original houses an automatic movement and is prices in the thousands, the Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch is quartz and priced around £218. Showcased here is the 42mm Mission to the Moon, which is steel grey and finished with a black velcro strap. All the watches are Bioceramic, feature a tachymeter, and use glow-in-the-dark superluminova on the seconds hands and hour markers so you can keep track of your insomnia at night time. The MoonSwatch collection features a total of 11 space-inspired watches which can only officially be bought directly from an IRL Swatch shop. Well worth a buy if you’re lucky enough to find them in stock. Alternatively, you’ll be able to get one through a reseller… but only if you’re happy to pay their premium.

When people hear Braun, they usually think Electric Shavers. Braun has actually designed a trove of products that expertly combine beauty and usability. Their 10 commandments of good design (introduced by Dieter Rams) have influenced designers and companies alike, the most notable being Apple, playing a key part in shaping how their products look and feel today. The Braun Classic Mesh Analogue Watch is a great example of good design. It’s case is stainless steel with a mesh strap, it’s water resistant up to 5 ATM (50 meters), has a quartz powered movement for accurate timekeeping and it’ll also tell you what date it is. Not bad for a hair removal company.

New Balance are often underrated and left unconsidered. Quality, craftsmanship, comfort, and style; re-released from the 80’s and made in the UK, the New Balance 770 Made in UK are back. These kicks are available in 2 colour ways, burgundy and beige, offering unrivalled softness and stability, with perfectly crafted leather, suede and mesh to compliment the comfort and style New Balance are known for.

The Timex IQ+ Move is Timex’s answer to fitness tracking, matching enhanced analogue functionality with expert watchmaking. The smart looking and discrete case has some great technology to keep tabs on your daily activity, like steps, distance, calories burned and sleep metrics. You can check on your progress in the accompanying app or with a quick glance at the sub-dial on the watch face. The Timex IQ+ Move features a traditional watch battery so there’s no charging required, and the interchangeable straps allow for a deeper and more personal customisation while the 50 meter water resistance means you don’t have to worry about taking it into the shower or for a swim in the pool.

The Runwell Moon Phase Watch in Rose Gold by Shinola is a beautiful timepiece running on the Argonite 708.1 movement that’s made from Swiss and other imported parts. The Runwell Moon Phase is delicately put together in Shinola’s Detroit factory by highly skilled craftspeople who are trained to use the utmost precision. Its 41mm case is made from stainless steel with PVD rose gold plating, each laser etched on the back with a unique serial number. The glass is double curve sapphire crystal which is second only to diamond in hardness, and the strap is Genuine Alligator made by Hadley-Roma with American Leather. The most interesting part of this watch, however, is the added moon dial to track all four lunar phases.

If you’re looking for a quality watch with an automatic movement for a great price, look no more. The Seiko 5 Automatic has been a staple in the collection of many watch enthusiasts, and in khaki green this one is perfect for casual everyday wear. Having an automatic movement means no batteries. It charges using the kinetic energy from being on your wrist, and if you’re curious how this works, flip the Seiko over and take a peek through the clear casing on the back. There’s no need to worry about getting it wet either as it’s water-resistant up to 30 meters (3 bar). Featuring a day/date window on the face, if you’re always forgetting what day it is the Seiko 5 Automatic has you covered.

Geek out on the go. Geek out in style. Geek out underwater. The Casio DBC-611G-1D, also known as the Casio Databank 50 Telememo, with its stainless steel band is water resistant up to 30 meters. It has all the added extras you’d expect to find on a watch like this; a stopwatch, alarm, backlight, oh, and of course, a calculator.