THE CHOSSON’S WATCH

WATCH for THE CHOSSON’S WATCH OUT SUMMER

WATCH Here are our top four picks for the summer of 2021: Tissot PRX While everyone has heard of summer or winter suits, not many people think of watches in seasonal terms. However, people are definitely more apt to buy and wear certain watches in the warmer seasons. A summer watch knows how to have fun — it can be suited for dressing down or occasionally dressing up. It has a focus on flexibility and comfort along with a high level of water resistance. While it is easy to say “buy a Rolex” in every situation, let’s focus on lesser-known alternatives that provide a unique style and value.

BY: ANDREW LOCK

SUMMER

This 2021 release from Tissot sold out instantly and it’s easy to see why. It features an integrated bracelet design that is seeing a tremendous renaissance this year. The PRX brings to mind timeless watches such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Vacheron Constantin Overseas, but it is especially reminiscent of the celebrated Rolex Oyster Quartz. This is certainly fitting for a timepiece with such a reliable and accurate quartz movement. The 40mm case is a great fit for most wrists. It has a combination of polished and brushed surfaces that contribute to its instantly classy look. There are a variety of dial options available, but our first pick is the timeless blue sunray. The dial is protected by a scratchproof sapphire crystal. Fit and finish are top-notch for the price point.

100m water-resistant. $375

Longines Hydroconquest Ceramic

The Longines Hydroconquest presents a unique value proposition in a segment dominated by Rolex and Omega: a handsome diver with all the features one might need for a deep-sea dive, splash in the pool, or while munching on a slice of pizza on Central Avenue. The watch features a scratch-proof green ceramic bezel complemented by a matching dial. The dial’s matte finish differentiates it nicely from the infamous green Rolex Submariner. The

watch can be purchased with a steel bracelet or a rubber strap — our choice is rubber for comfortable summer wear. When it begins to get dark out, the blue Super-LumiNova on the dial positively glows. The timepiece is powered by an automatic movement with a robust 72-hour power reserve.

300m water-resistant. $1600

Oris Carl Brashear Calibre 401 Limited Edition

The Carl Brashear 401 is the third watch from Oris that pays tribute to the inspirational story of US Navy diver Carl Brashear. The timepiece is presented in a moderately sized 40mm brushed bronze case. While it may look like rose gold at the time of purchase, the bronze will develop a patina unique to each watch and the story of its owner. Sitting in the center of the bronze case is a dial of deep blue lacquer. The dial markers and hands are filled with a cream color Super-LumiNova that glows green and blue respectively. The watch is powered by Oris’ newly developed in-house Calibre 401 movement. It provides chronometer-like accuracy and a whopping five-day power reserve. Owners can rest easy thanks to a ten-year warranty and a ten-year service interval for the movement. Rather than a bracelet or a rubber strap, the watch is worn on a moisturewicking nylon parachute strap produced by Erika’s Originals. One would be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable option for humid summer days.

100m water-resistant, 2000 piece limited edition. $4200

These watches and many others can be purchased at David Desso Jewelers.

468 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 516.341.0733. Tell them Andrew sent you.

The Prospex LX line from Seiko is a challenging watch to understand when judging it based on the brand name on the dial. It took long enough for the public to understand the value offered by Grand Seiko but here is a watch that says Seiko — and only Seiko — on the dial and costs more than many fine Swiss watches. Examine each part of the watch, however, and its true and unique value is quickly revealed. It is easy to dismiss the 44.8mm case as oversized, but slip it on your wrist and it wears more comfortably than many smaller watches. The case and bracelet are crafted of titanium, a metal significantly lighter than stainless steel. While titanium is often a dull grey, Seiko uses a bright, high-density titanium that is hard coated for scratch resistance. The case is polished by hand in the Grand Seiko studio for a mirrored “Zaratsu'' finish. The timepiece is powered by a Spring Drive GMT movement. It has a true, sweeping second hand and quartz-like accuracy. While most automatic watches are accurate to within five seconds a day, this spring drive is accurate to within one second a day and fifteen seconds a month. It is also a true GMT movement; the hour hand can be jumped forward or backward in one-hour increments, making it easy to set the watch when landing at a destination. The GMT hand can be set to UTC time or home time, allowing two time zones to be seen at a glance. The gradient sunray dial represents the blue of Earth and the deep black of space. Complementing this dial is a black and blue sapphire bezel insert with a 24-hour scale. Summertime is travel time and this lightweight, feature-packed watch is just what a summertime traveler needs.

100m water-resistant, 400 piece limited edition. $5500

Andrew Lock is the proprietor of Andrew Lock Custom Menswear at 403 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst. His shop offers all manners of custom clothing as well as fine shoes, accessories, wardrobe consulting services, and the best cappuccino in town. Call 516.619.6264 or visit NYbespoke.com to schedule a fitting.