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Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

Here at aBlogtoWatch, we have covered our fair share of chronograph watches, and oftentimes they can be bunched into the “sportier” side of life. This isn’t to say that there aren’t chronographs out there that can be seen as dressy; in fact, with so many brands evolving their lines to include new materials and classier touches, the range of options have grown vastly to broaden the role that a chronograph can serve.

Whether it be a cleaner, uncluttered dial or a gold case, a chronograph can be just as much at home in a suit as it can with jeans and a t-shirt. Foregoing any loud color choices, styling, and general “sportiness,” these dressy chronographs are subtle without coming off stuffy or too formal – classy with something of an edge, you could say. The goal when looking for one is to find what works best for you, and we have compiled a list that should serve as a great “starting point” to your personal collection. With these things in mind, let’s take a look at just a few of your options.

Bulgari Octo Velocissimo Ultranero Chronograph

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

For all-around watch nerdiness, both are compelling timepieces but clearly different. Both also share a fondness for silicon – which Zenith is backing in a big way these days. Silicon is what makes movements like the ZO 342 even possible. Replacing metal with silicon is how these parts are able to move quickly and reliably. Unlike metal, silicon isn’t affected by temperature or magnetism, and because it has much lower friction, it doesn’t require lubrication. More so, the ability to cut very small, very precise parts allows for mechanisms not previously available when metal was more or less the only material option. These manufacturing options combined with computer modeling software have allowed for a new generation of mechanical watch movements such as the ZO 342 that combine traditional concepts of how a small machine tells the time, with a lot of modern know-how.

With its octagonal case, dressed up to shine thanks to a total of over 100 facets, polished and applied indices and a deep black dial, this Bulgari Octo Velocissimo strikes a rare balance between masculine, sporty design, and powerful restraint. Bulgari offers several variants in the Octo collection, so you can go from this all steel version all the way to the even more serious-looking version with a combination of a black DLC case and an 18k gold bezel, hands and indices.

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

It is not easy to successfully mix timeless, elegant design with unique treats. Thanks to this powerful mixture of curves and hard angles, shining bright and brushed surfaces, and a relatively small 41mm wide case, the Bulgari Octo Velocissimo does manage to tick a lot of boxes. The movement is a Zenith El Primero-based BVL328 that is stunning to view through the sapphire crystal back. Pricing starts $9,900 for the steel cased version on the black leather strap.

A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

It would be hard to make a list like this without including the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph. One of Germany’s finest watchmakers, Lange has never really been about large watches – and we have all forgotten about that experimental Lange 31 that was 46mm wide, right? The 1815, with its sleek white gold case, thin lugs and discreet, rectangular pushers is as classic in its look as they get. Chronographs of today do tend to be too bulky for the sake of being bulky, but at 39.5mm, this watch is ideally sized to suit its reserved wrist-presence.

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

Powered by the exquisite Caliber L951.5, the 1815 has a healthy power reserve of 60 hours. This particular A Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph Boutique Edition is professional-looking even with the added pulsometer on the flange ring and, with a dark-blue leather strap, should have no trouble to be matched to whatever you put on for your suit-up day. It won’t be on every other wrist either with a price of 49,000 Euros.

Cartier Rotonde Chronograph

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

Dressy elegance and Cartier are a match made in heaven. With this Rotonde de Cartier Chronograph (Reference CRWSRO0002), Cartier succeeded in designing a timepiece that truly embodies the exquisite finishing and classic styling the brand is known for. Some could argue that the dial is a bit busy, and though it might be, the large hands and trademark Cartier Roman numerals all make for above-average-legibility.

The stainless steel case is pictured here, but Cartier also offers the Rotonde in 18k white or pink gold – and even with the steel you, of course, also get the added touch of the blue spinel cabochon. . Consider this piece is powered by the in-house caliber 1904-CH MC and you have not only a beautiful watch, but also the added bragging rights of a proprietary movement. Priced at $9,050, the Rotonde de Cartier Chronograph is a true classic – albeit arguably not one with the most competitive price.

Vacheron Constantin Historique Cornes De Vache 1955 Chronograph

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

The Vacheron Constantin Historiques Cornes De Vache 1955 revives vintage chronograph vibes like hardly anything else released in recent years. At 38.5mm, this platinum reinterpretation of Vacheron’s Reference 6087 wears a little smaller than your average chronograph, and the famed “cow-horn” lugs add to the vintage-inspired touch. Its white dial is elegant and straight-forward and its thin baton hands are just the right length.

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

The in-house Calibre 1142 is the epitome of classic mechanical chronograph movement design, and the case’s sapphire crystal back permits an excellent view. The modest size of the Cornes De Vache, again a plus here, allows it to fit nicely under shirt cuffs and the dark alligator strap is smart and safe choice. Price, even with the platinum case and the remarkable movement, is up there at $75,000.

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

Patek Philippe 5170R-010

The Patek Philippe 5170R-010 has a rather similar dial layout to the Cartier and the Lange we have looked at above – and yet, the 5170R ends up being an incomparably different watch. Its dauphine hands, applied Breguet numerals and (relatively speaking) generously sized, 39.4 millimeter-wide rose gold case all make for a more powerful, and yet more classical look.

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

Patek Philippe does offer the 5170 in a few different versions, but it really is the rose gold (with either a white or black dial) that combines traditional with contemporary. Run by Patek’s hand-wound CH 29-535 PS, this is yet another look at the highest levels of traditional chronograph movement architecture. All this magnificence and the Patek name do come with a matching price: the Patek Philippe 5170R-010 is priced at $81,000. 

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph

Starting Point: Best Dressy Chronograph Watches ABTW Editors' Lists

Given the nature of this list, I would be remiss if I left out the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph. This watch makes the list for several reasons, first of which is its ability to blend in or stand out depending on your attire. The trademark AP “grande tapisserie” dial is available in a number of colors and is paired with either stainless steel or 18k gold case variants. The famous avant-garde styling of the Royal Oak lends itself well to a dressier nature and the stunning link band makes for a perfect combination.

You can change the vibe of the Royal Oak Chronograph easily by simply matching it to either a rubber strap, black or brown alligator options, or AP’s amazing bracelets – which are, of course, available in gold or steel. The movement cannot measure up to those offered by AP and VC, but the solid 2385 automatic caliber has sure been around long enough to be tried and proven by now. In gold, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph is priced at $38,500.

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Best Zenith Other Brands

Cheapest All You Need to Know About the Tudor MT5813 Chronograph Movement Japanese Movement Replica


Zenith Watches Event @ Topper In Burlingame, CA, December 4, 2015 Shows & Events

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We at Topper Fine Jewelers are very excited to host one of Zenith’s watchmakers in-store on Friday afternoon, December 4th in Burlingame, California. It will provide a great opportunity to learn more about the famous El Primero movement, as their watchmaker performs assembly and disassembly of an El Primero caliber in the store. So that our guests can appreciate her work, we will project the process up on a big screen as she narrates. That’s not all…

We also invite aBlogtoWatch readers to join us and visit the store in Burlingame, California between between 1:00 – 5:30 PM.  It will also be an opportunity to see new Zenith watches worth it Replica novelties, such as the Zenith 6150 with 100-hour power reserve, Elite Chronograph Classic, and the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Bronze. This Bronze Pilot watch was one of Ariel’s 10 best watches from Baselworld this year. We will be giving away Zenith-related prizes, and offering a Hennessey gift set with the purchase of a Zenith Watch. We hope to see you there!

The “Celebrate Zenith Watches at Topper Fine Jewelers” event will take place on Friday December 4th, 2015 from 1:00pm – 5:30pm at the Topper Fine Jewelers store located at 1315 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame, CA 94010. topperjewelers.com

For those who cannot attend, but find the subject interesting, we will do a livestream at 3PM PST on December 4th, that you can access here.

Sponsored Posts are a form of advertising that allows sponsors to share useful news, messages, and offers to aBlogtoWatch readers in a way traditional display advertising is often not best suited to. All Sponsored Posts are subject to editorial guidelines with the intent that they offer readers useful news, promotions, or stories. The viewpoints and opinions expressed in Sponsored Posts are those of the advertiser and not necessarily those of aBlogtoWatch or its writers. 

With that said, I am among a large population of mechanical watch lovers who do care about accuracy. That there is still development in the traditional watch industry to make systems that actually pioneer new achievements in accuracy will be something that pretty much any watch collector can stand behind. I know that not everyone will be a fan of the aesthetic design of the Defy Lab, or the Defy El Primero 21 for that matter, but I think they will want the technology for sure. Zenith and LVMH now take a leading role in the pursuit of accuracy, how will the others respond? Attached to the case of the Defy Lab is a rubber strap with an alligator exterior lining and a titanium buckle. Price for the 10 piece unique Zenith Defy Lab reference 27.9000.342/78.R582 is 29,900 CHF each.

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Best Zenith Other Brands

Cheapest All You Need to Know About the Tudor MT5813 Chronograph Movement Japanese Movement Replica


BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 12, 2014 ABTW Round-Ups

It’s been a long time coming, but it is finally here. Well, almost – it will actually go on sale only next year. Just days ago, Apple finally lifted the veil off its new smart watch, which is simply called the Apple Watch. Now, and even before it was unveiled, many are calling it the game changer, believing that it will have a profound and massive impact on the wearable technology industry. They are probably right; the watch is well made, looks relatively stylish, and has some good functionality. But what does it mean for the rest of the watch industry? Well, our Editor-in-Chief and founder Ariel weighs in with his thoughts.

Apart from the Apple Watch, we also check out another “smart” watch, albeit a more traditional one, in the form of Casio’s MRG-G1000. Find out why it is called the ultimate G-Shock in our hands-on article. Other new watches we checked out recently include Zenith’s very vintage-looking Pilot Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 GMT 1903, Cartier’s new Calibre Diver, and a personal favorite of mine, the Audemars Piguet “Jumbo” Ref. 15202. We also take a look at three interesting watches from independent brands Sarpaneva, Speake-Marin, and Habring2. Finally, we end off by looking at how American watch buyers’ tastes and buying habits have changed over the past two decades

1. Casio G-Shock MR-G Comes To America With Titanium Case & GPS, Is $3,000

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 12, 2014 ABTW Round-Ups

If Switzerland is home to the most complicated mechanical watches, Japan could arguably be said to be home to the most complicated digital or quartz watches. The new G-Shock MRG-G1000 from Casio is possibly the ultimate G-Shock. Like all G-Shocks, it is extremely shock resistant, hardy and tough, featuring Tough Solar power regeneration and also Tough Movement. What’s more, it features a GPS atomic function, which means that it can detect your location via GPS and then sync the time accordingly – not unlike the new Seiko Astron. If you appreciate high-end quartz watches, few come with as many features and gizmos as the new MRG-G1000.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

2. Zenith watches south africa Replica Pilot Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 GMT 1903 Watch Hands-On

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 12, 2014 ABTW Round-Ups

I have always been fascinated by Zenith’s Pilot Type 20 watches. What started as a limited edition 57.5mm watch in 2012 slowly grew into something of a sub-collection within Zenith’s Pilot collection of watches. And one of the new Pilot Type 20 watches this year that is based on that original limited edition watch from two years ago is the Pilot Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 GMT 1903 – a mouthful, I know. This watch, which commemorates the Wright Brothers’ first flight, is more reasonably sized at 48mm, but what is unique about it is its aged look. From the specially selected bund strap down to the aged lume, this watch looks as if it was really from 1903.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

3. 10 Interesting Facts About Marc Newson’s Watch Design Work At Ikepod

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 12, 2014 ABTW Round-Ups

If you need any more proof that Apple is serious about wearables, the company has just hired another luminary from the fashion and luxury business, Marc Newson. Of course, Newson’s work is not just limited exclusively to fashion – he has designed furniture as well – but he is arguably (at least among horological circles like ours) most famous for his work on the watch brand Ikepod. Needless to say, it is very likely that the design of future Apple wearables will be heavily influenced by Newson. Here are 10 interesting facts about Newson’s design work at Ikepod.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

4. Cartier Calibre Diver Watch Review

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 12, 2014 ABTW Round-Ups

Cartier has been making some really impressively complicated watches lately, but one of its stars this year is actually a relatively simple watch that tells only the time and date. I’m talking about the Cartier Calibre Diver watch. Despite its simple looks, it is actually an ISO 6425-certified dive watch. I’m not going to go into specifics, but it takes a lot more than just a diver’s bezel and 300 meter of water resistance to be ISO 6425 certified. And apart from being durable, Cartier also wanted its dive watch to be slim and classy enough for owners to take it from the beach to boardroom. All in all, I hope you can appreciate the strict criteria that the Calibre Diver watch has to meet.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

5. Your Feedback Is Requested In Regard To The Future Of Watch Media

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 12, 2014 ABTW Round-Ups

As Ariel puts it, managing a media business like ours that thrives on providing content to well-educated readers can be tricky. One of the tricky aspects is balancing growth while maintaining editorial integrity. And to do that we are seeking your opinion. Please, if you love reading our articles and care for the future of this site, I urge you to spend a few minutes to read what Ariel has to say and leave some comments below in the article. All opinions are welcomed.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

6. How Screwed Is The Watch Industry Thanks To The Apple Watch?

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 12, 2014 ABTW Round-Ups

Just a few days ago, Apple announced its smart watch. Called simply the Apple Watch, it is capable of displaying notifications from your iPhone and it also has some built-in functions such as a fitness and health tracker and a heart rate monitor. Prior to the launch, many have been hyping and raving about the watch, with some people even claiming that it will herald the end of the Swiss watch industry. But now that we know more, just how “screwed” is the rest of the watch industry? Ariel shares his thoughts.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

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I want to also mention that it is a huge deal that Zenith watches el primero chronomaster Replica even went so far as to make a claim about accuracy performance in their press release. I’ve read over a thousand wristwatch press releases and aside from Seiko (who routinely under-reports their wristwatches’ accuracy performance – for reasons again outside the scope of the conversation), Zenith is among a very small number of brands who actually make a specific claim about accuracy performance in their documentation. For Zenith and LVMH it is about increasing transparency according to Jean-Claude Biver (who is the head of watchmaking at the group).By Zenith indicating the average accuracy (performance varies under different wearing conditions) of the Defy Lab’s movement, they more or less put other brands at notice that if they want to boast about a watch “designed for high accuracy,” they actually need go the distance and make a specific claim about accuracy. This is a good time to discuss mechanisms like a tourbillon and how watch makers typically deal with such features. While a tourbillon was originally designed to increase the accuracy of a mechanical watch or clock movement, it doesn’t actually do that in many real world wristwatch applications. Thus, watch brands often rode a thin line by not actually commenting on a watch’s performance, while trying to bolster the story about what the mechanism was originally designed for. I have to applaud Jean-Claude Biver along with Zenith’s management and communication teams for going the distance and not only promoting an accurate watch, but actually telling people the type of performance that they can expect.