The £10,000 question
Robin Swithinbank
Calibre magazine
In the one-watch game, IWC is never far from front of mind and nor, particularly, is the blue Portuguese Automatic (£9,250). Powered by an in-house movement with a seven-day power reserve, it’s understated, stylish but above the whims of flash-in-the-pan fashion, and cooler than an Eskimo’s freezer.
Maria Doulton
TheJewelleryEditor.com
I like the shape of the Ralph Lauren Stirrup, and in rose gold a small-size model on a leather strap (left) is £9,100 – though I’d prefer the larger size on a purple strap. Alternatively, Hermes’ new Dressage in steel (£7,050) is a man’s watch but so beautifully designed it looks lovely on a woman’s wrist.
Andrew Carrier
TheProdigalGuide.com
I’m going to push the budget a bit by chosing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Automatic (£11,100) – it’s the modern version of the most important sports watch ever made, and it’s 40 years old this year. The Royal Oak single-handely created the market for luxury steel sports watches and has remained virtually unchanged since legendary watch designer Gerald Genta first sketched it 40 years ago.
Laura McCreddie
Retail Jeweller magazine
I’d start with a Jaeger-LeCoultre Grand Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931 (£5,350) because it’s just so damn sophisticated. Then I’d spend the rest on a Bremont ALT1-C (£3,945) with the cream dial – I have one Bremont, but one isn’t enough.
Timothy Barber
0024 WatchWorld magazine and City AM London Time
I’m going to split the money up. My first purchase is a Zenith El Primero Striking 10th (£7,400) a superb upgrading of one of the best and most famous chronographs ever made. That leaves me with room for a charismatic one-hand piece from ingenious German brand Meistersinger – I’ll take the Perigraph with date (far left, £1,480) – and a California dial Incursore III from Glycine (£740).