Watches: Wrist candy
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Skyfall
When Daniel Craig returns to the big screen as James Bond this November, Omega will be returning as his wristwatch of choice. In celebration, the brand has created a limited-edition (5,007 pieces) version of the Seamaster Planet Ocean watch that will appear on-screen. Although it doesn’t include a wire garrote, Geiger counter or laser-beam cutting tool (functions found in various Bond watches of the past), it is water-resistant to 2,000 feet, has a green-lighted minute hand and diving bezel dot and a 007 logo at the 7 o’clock position.
Dolce & Gabbana DG7 Gems
Dolce & Gabbana made its first foray into the men’s luxury timepiece arena in 2012, with a debut collection of 52 watches in three styles designed in-house by the Italian fashion brand and made in Switzerland. Available since June 18 exclusively through Dolce & Gabbana boutiques, the line includes the DG7, a classic ‘50s-inspired style; the sporty, button-festooned DS5; and the DG7 Gems collection, which adds a punch of eye-catching color to the polished pieces. Think bright green (thanks to emeralds), red (rubies) or blue (sapphires), with alligator straps in a matching hue.
Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute
On May 24, 1962, when Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter slipped the bonds of Earth, he did so with a Breitling Navitimer strapped onto his wrist, making it one of the earliest wristwatches worn into space (but not the first — that distinction belongs to Yuri Gagarin’s Shturmanskie). This year, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Carpenter’s three Earth orbits, Breitling has released a limited-edition (1,962 pieces) manual-wind Navitimer Cosmonaute with a 24-hour watch face (a feature of the original). On the caseback, it’s engraved with Carpenter’s name and an image of the Aurora 7 capsule.
Patek Philippe Nautilus
One perk to being the country’s only free-standing Patek Philippe boutique is having the floor space to showcase a wider range of the brand’s watches. The 1,250-square-foot Art Deco jewel box that recently opened at 360 N. Rodeo Drive stocks about double the number of Pateks found in a traditional multibrand store. Case in point: On a recent visit, Patek’s Nautilus series, with a distinctive bezel inspired by the shape of a porthole, was available in white gold, rose gold and a sleek-looking stainless steel, the latter of which was briefly available with a silvery-white dial in addition to the traditional blue.
Mougin & Piquard for J. Crew Chronograph
A French watch brand that dates to 1852, Mougin & Piquard has been dormant since the ‘70s. Last year it was revived by Tourneau and launched exclusively at J. Crew. First out of the gate, in November, was the Grande Seconde, inspired by pilot watches of the 1930s. This summer it was followed by the Chronograph, a slightly more involved (and more expensive) timepiece inspired by 1920s Paris. It’s just enough watch to break the ice — without breaking the bank.
Hublot King Power Usain Bolt
This limited-edition (250 pieces) Hublot wristwatch commemorating Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s feats of speed was announced well before the brand ambassador’s latest Olympic achievements and adds Bolt-specific touches to the Swiss watchmaker’s King Power timepiece. Among them, a 12-hour chronograph in the color green (a nod to the Jamaican flag), the silhouetted shape of the athlete’s lightning-bolt pose at the 9 o’clock position and a strap using the same kind of metallic gold synthetic leather used to make his signature track spikes.
