Stainless steel sporty-chic watches with integrated bracelets are in hot demand. It was back in the 1970s and early 1980s that watch brands first began introducing sporty timepieces in stainless steel with bracelets that were integrated directly into the case/lug format.
Over time, of course, that trend slowed — until recently. Today, integrated stainless steel bracelet watches have become all the rage, and sometimes the prices for the top brands rival those of gold watches. Consequently, certain watch brands are making a concerted effort to offer the look without the hefty price tag — making these watches ideal for weekend wear or adventurous activities.
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Tudor Black Bay Chronograph
[Pictured above] From the little brother of Rolex, this Tudor Black Bay Chronograph watch is an officially certified chronometer, attesting to its robustness. It is water resistant to 200 meters and offers luminescent hands and markers for easy underwater reading. The 41mm watch has a fixed steel bezel with black anodized aluminum and tachymetric scale .
$5,225, tudorwatch.com
Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope
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The Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope watch boasts great vintage design. Inspired by the original chronographs of the 1940s, this 43mm Co-Axial Master Chronometer (certified by The Federal Institute of Metrology) is equipped with a snailshaped spiral telemeter scale and pulsometer scale to measure the pulse. It also features a tachymeter scale on the outer ring to measure speed based on distance. The mechanical Caliber Omega 9908 is visible via a transparent sapphire caseback.
$8,650, omegawatches.com
Patek Philippe Ref. 5905/1A-001
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Patek Philippe’s self-winding Flyback Chronograph with an annual calendar is a prime example of form and function. The calendar and chronograph allow for tracking more than just the hours and minutes, and the olive green sunburst dial is reminiscent of the great outdoors. It is powered by a mechanical self-winding movement.
$59,140, patek.com
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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
Always in high demand, Audemars Piguet was one of the first brands to offer integrated bracelets — half a century ago. Now, the most recent 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph is offered with a striking blue dial and the brand’s beloved Méga-Tapisserie motif inspired by the original 1993 Royal Oak Offshore. The relatively new mechanical caliber boasts an 18-karat gold rotor.
$40,600, audemarspiguet.com
Cartier Santos de Cartier
Move over round watches, Cartier has a stylish solution in the cushion-cornered square Santos de Cartier watch. Powered by the automatic winding Caliber 1847 MC movement, the watch has interchangeable straps and bracelets. The seven-sided crown is set with a synthetic spinel, and the bracelet features the brand’s proprietary SmartLink adjustment system.
$7,450, cartier.com
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This article appears in the 04 Mar 2022 issue of the New Statesman, Spring 2022
