Looking for a watch that can weather the elements with you on land or at sea? We suggest steering away from gold and instead looking to some high-tech case materials that are often corrosion-resistant, anti-magnetic and hypoallergenic. Besides, these high-tech watches look great for daytime adventures and sail nicely into evening wear.
[See also: Elite Traveler Reveals Top Watches in the World 2020]
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ceramic
Easily a grail watch for collectors, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore self-winding chronograph (pictured above) is always dynamic, but this new 44mm version is even more powerful thanks to the black ceramic case and contrasting blue ceramic bezel. Audemars Piguet has been a master at creating ceramic and even its own carbon fiber cases in-house. The watch features oversized Arabic numerals with a luminescent coating, and the blue dial boasts the brand’s Méga Tapisserie motif. It offers chronograph and tachymeter scale on the inner flange for measuring distance or speed and is finished with a blue rubber strap with a unique textile motif.
$34,900, audemarspiguet.com
Panerai Luminor Marina Carbotech
Panerai has long been a master of high-tech materials and regularly turns to other walks of life for inspiration. This Luminor Marina Carbotech watch features a case made of a proprietary material whose structure offers high performance but is lightweight. It is a combination of thin sheets of carbon fiber with a high-end polymer referred to as PEEK (polyether ether ketone) that are compressed under high pressure, rendering the material even stronger than regular carbon fiber. The mechanical movement features an Incabloc anti-shock device to protect it.
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$17,400, panerai.com
Richard Mille RM 11-05 Automatic Flyback Chronograph GMT Cermet
Don’t let the look of this Richard Mille RM 11-05 Automatic Flyback Chronograph GMT with pale blue-hued strap fool you. It is crafted using an all-new proprietary material called Cermet that is exclusive to the brand. The high-tech material is as light in weight as titanium but has the same hardness as a diamond. The material gets its charcoal gray color from metallic zirconium and high-performance ceramic that are heated and pressed together. There is a Carbon TPT (Thin Ply Technology) case band, and the watch houses a mechanical movement and offers flyback chronograph, GMT display and annual calendar. Just 140 pieces will be made.
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$215,000, richardmille.com
