Basic Needs

Time, Spreads

Basic Needs

By Yong Wei Jian
April 17, 2019

Time-telling need not be complicated when simple functions serve best.

MARK THE DATE. Calendar functions may be basic, but they are definitely worth the time. Of the diverse displays, the practical Day-Date provides essential information for everyday use. The Breitling Premier Automatic Day & Date 40 highlights each day of the week by spelling it out in full against a clean dial in black or silver and features a modest date aperture for calendrical completion. Inspired by the original models from the 1940s, the 40mm watch in stainless steel makes a stylish statement.

KEEPING COUNT. Chronographs are versatile; they track everything from the length and speed of daily commutes to heart palpitations in the presence of a paramour and the precise four minutes it takes to poach an egg properly. Hublot’s signature Big Bang Unico chronograph is newly downsized to 42mm for easy wearability and comes in all-white as a neutral addition to any wardrobe – think classic Converse and Stan Smith sneakers, or the perennial plain white tee.

DOUBLE TIME. Dual time or GMT watches cover twice the ground by pinpointing time in two destinations, making them a purposeful choice for frequent flyers. The Montblanc Heritage GMT tracks a second time zone through a blue hand and 24-hour scale on its silvery-white domed dial, while matching silver numerals, dot hour markers, and hands display the local time. Flaunting a 40mm polished stainless steel case with curved horns, it is an elegant vintage vision of 1940s and 1950s Minerva wristwatches.

SURFACE BREAK. While a unidirectional bezel is not particularly useful on dry land, dive watches offer another solid advantage: superior resistance. The Longines HydroConquest is built with water resistance to 300m, bolstered by a screw-down crown and case back to shelter against sudden downpours. Waterproofness aside, the latest models are also equipped with coloured ceramic bezel inserts for enhanced scratch resistance to preserve their pristine appearance.

BR03-92-Bi-Compass_03

CLEAR BEARINGS. The Bell & Ross Instruments series has always leveraged on graphic style to enhance legibility, and the latest navigational tool is no exception. The BR 03-92 Bi-Compass uses colour to code the time – blue-green for the hours and off-white for minutes – both against a matt black dial for maximum contrast. The dial is also built in two tiers, with an outer “step” featuring the minute track and a depressed centre indicating the hours through a rotating disc. Its original design promotes quick reading of time.