Classy timepieces for your dashing groom
Your big day has finally arrived, and you naturally want your groom to look his best when you both say, ‘I do’. Whether he has decided to wear a tuxedo and a bow tie or the classic suit and tie, make sure he doesn’t take for granted the little finishing touches to spice up his look.
Accessories are an important component to complement your groom’s outfit, show off his personality, and reflect his personal style. Besides cufflinks and pocket squares, a wristwatch is essential. A classic timepiece is recommended — no chunky sports watches or over-the-top designs here — to match your groom’s formal or semi-formal attire. Here are eight of our favourite dapper timepieces.
Blancpain Villeret Quantième Perpétuel
The Villeret Quantième Perpétuel is one of the iconic classic Blancpain timepieces that have stood the test of time. Now, the Manufacture has updated it for 2019, with larger proportions and updates to the dial. This boutique-exclusive, limited-edition timepiece comes in a 40mm titanium case with double stepped bezel and slim lugs, but retains the signature dial layout, with day, date and month at 3, 9 and 12 o’clock, and moon phase at 6 o’ clock. The design is enhanced by a sunray-brushed deep blue dial and a matching alligator strap. It has an in-house Calibre 5954 automatic movement with a 72-hour power reserve and a silicon hairspring.
Besides cufflinks and pocket squares, a wristwatch is essential for the groom
Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds
The Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds is an unabashed tribute to the original collection that debuted in 1948. The modern version of the Small Seconds features a 38mm stainless steel case and domed silvered dial. But despite its traditional look, it is powered by the robust Omega Calibre 8804 that is METAS Master Chronometer Certified and anti-magnetic. It includes a small seconds indication at 6 o’clock, as well as leaf-style hour and domed minute hand. The flat sapphire crystal caseback is laser engraved and lacquered by hand with a 70th anniversary logo, a Chris-Craft boat and Gloster Meteor aircraft — the first jet plane used by the Royal Air Force.
Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale Ref 5547
A sportier timepiece but no less elegant is the Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale Ref 5547. The brand’s nautical legacy is celebrated with this collection available in rose gold, gold and titanium. This rose gold version features a hand-guilloche wave pattern engraved on a rose engine. It does not, despite the name, play any music. Instead, it has an alarm complication — the larger subdial at three o’clock — and a second time zone at 9 o’clock. Apertures at 12 and 6 o’clock indicate the alarm’s status and date, while the power reserve is indicated between 9 and 12 o’clock. All these are powered by the self-winding Calibre 519F with 45-hour power reserve.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon Enamel
This is a sophisticated dress watch that will easily slip under the cuff, thanks to its ultra-thin construction. At 39mm in diameter and 10.04mm thick, its in-house automatic movement is an upgraded version of the Calibre 925, where it runs for 70 hours instead of the usual 40 hours. The blue guilloche enamel dial framed by a white gold bezel is a sight to behold, and boasts a moon phase with a polished new moon against a starry sky background, and an engraved date counter.
Cartier Santos-Dumont
It may use a quartz movement, but this means that the Cartier Santos-Dumont is an affordable luxury timepiece that your man can wear daily, and not just at your wedding. The movement, which boasts a long battery life of six years, allows for a slimmer design at just 7mm thick. It is a classic timepiece that pays homage to the original 1904 model, but now updated with elongated Roman numerals and a larger domed cabochon crown. It is available in two sizes, with the larger one at 31.4mm wide, and in three versions: 18K rose gold, gold and steel, or steel. All models come with a leather strap.
Patek Philippe 52121 Calatrava Weekly Calendar
Like the other models in the Calatrava collection, this 40mm timepiece is elegant and timeless. The standout feature is its new complication, the weekly calendar. It is a semi-integrated mechanism displaying the current week number, in addition to the day and date. It also houses a completely new self-winding movement. The silvery opaline dial, housed in a smooth, polished, stainless steel case, features blackened gold applied hour markers and an exclusive font based on handwritten letters and numerals. Completing the retro look is its light brown, hand-stitched calf leather strap.
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59
Code 11.59 is a brand new collection from Audemars Piguet and a bold departure from the signature Royal Oak and Millenary collections. It is modern and contemporary, yet subtly references the company’s traditions. Case in point: the 41mm pink gold case that has an octagonal architecture sandwiched in-between a very thin bezel and caseback. The timepiece has a double curved sapphire crystal over a lacquered white dial with pink gold applied hour markers and hands, and raised 3D Audemars Piguet signature in galvanic growth. The lugs are openworked and welded to the bezel, and it is powered by the new Calibre 4302, featuring a large diameter of 32mm that offers improved reliability and accuracy.
Piaget Altiplano Automatic 40mm with Meteorite Dial
The ultra-thin timepiece is a new version of its best-selling collection, the Altiplano Automatic 40mm, where it features a metallic brown (or grey) meteorite dial. Each of the 300 limited pieces has a unique pattern, so no one is alike. The movement, self-winding Calibre 1203P, is only 3mm thick but provides a good 44 hours of power reserve. It is housed in an 18K pink gold case that is polished for an elegant look. The slim hour indexes and hands, as well as the date display and matching leather strap, add to its refined aesthetic.
