BEN LOWRY: CWC SBS DIVER ISSUE MKII

While I’ve long been a fan of Britain’s CWC, a brand rooted in producing British Ministry of Defense issue watches, I didn’t really bond with any of them until I reviewed the SBS diver’s watch earlier this year. Built for the shadowy Special Boat Service with a dependable, Swiss-made ETA quartz movement for ease of use and accuracy, black coating for durability and subdued tactical looks, and powerful Super-LumiNova easily read at night and at depth, the CWC became my grab-and-go while working in the commercial diving industry. Easily (and indeed, necessarily) worn on a NATO, the CWC is comfortable, highly legible, and most importantly, stands up to the daily rigors of work above and below the water’s surface. I paid it no special attention and, after dozens of dives in and around submerged steel structures, it still looks practically new. I would have never imagined I’d spend most of the year wearing quartz, but here we are. $850

KENNY YEO: GRAND SEIKO HI-BEAT GMT SBGJ015

The watch that spent the most time on my wrist in the past year was the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT SBGJ015. One of the reasons I love it so much is because it’s a real insider’s watch. It was released around 2015, and it’s limited to just 200 pieces, a rather low production count for a limited-edition Grand Seiko. Even the GPHG-winning Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 GMT SBGJ005 was produced in higher numbers (600 pieces). But back to this reference at hand — it’s an Asia Limited Edition, which means it was sold outside of Japan but only in select markets in Asia. As a result, only the most diehard Grand Seiko collectors know of the existence of this watch. Exclusivity aside, though, it has everything I want in a Grand Seiko watch. It has that sculpted 44GS-style case, a textured white dial with Grand Seiko lion motifs, heat-blued hands, and a hi-beat 9S86 GMT movement. That gold GMT hand is just the icing on the cake.

ROB NUDDS: NOMOS CLUB CAMPUS

I’m not sure what it was that compelled me to recently dig out what had been my least worn Nomos and wear it to a friend’s wedding, but I’m glad I did. I was working for Nomos Glashütte back when the Club Campus was released, and it caused such a buzz among retailers that I couldn’t help but get swept up in the excitement. I bought one immediately but, unlike many of my colleagues, I plumped for the 36mm version. I also opted for a closed caseback, which I duly engraved with the logo of Wallace Allan Jewelers in Ayr, Scotland (to encourage other retailers/customers to do the same). As much as I loved the design and my fancy custom caseback, it took about a year for me to get on board with wearing it with anything other than a brown suit.

My friend’s wedding was in San Francisco. I traveled with hand luggage only (including that brown suit), and so didn’t bother to pack a second watch (for once). That meant the NOMOS CC got more than a week’s continuous wear with pretty much everything I packed (swim shorts and all). The versatility of the solid case body and 100m water resistance, coupled with its slim profile and the elegant silver-plated dial, had a profound effect on me. Since I returned home, it is rarely far from my wrist and must be, when all things are considered, the watch I’ve worn most this year. $1,500

MATT REUDINK: SINN T2B

This was a tough call for me, as most wrist time (outside of watch reviews) was engaged by a Tudor Pelagos in the first half of the year and by a Sinn T2B in the latter half. I’m picking the Sinn because it’s the one I still own. After stupidly selling my T2B a couple of years ago, I was able to find a mint example of this now-discontinued watch, and I hereby vow to never allow it to leave my collection again! The Sinn T2B showcases much of Sinn’s fantastic tech, including a titanium case with tegimented (hardened) bezel, dehumidifying capsule, inert gas case filling, and an impressive and totally unnecessary 2000m of water resistance. Despite the tech, I consider it the least Sinn-like of Sinn’s tool watches — soft lines and sculpted curves echo throughout the case, bezel, dial, and hands, marking a departure from Sinn’s typically sterile, teutonic aesthetic. The Sinn T2B has occupied a majority of my wrist time, first and foremost, because I love the look of the watch. Sure, it’s a bit of a Vegemite watch, but that’s part of its appeal — not everyone will appreciate its looks, but I’m smitten. It doesn’t hurt that the light weight of the titanium case and bracelet and super-short lug-to-lug length (around 45mm) on its 41mm case make it very comfortable to wear all day on my 6.75” wrist. It may not be the most versatile watch, but it’s the first watch I gravitate to, especially if any outdoor adventures are on the horizon.

SEAN LORENTZEN: OMEGA SPEEDMASTER TEUTONIC CAL. 861

2019 has been an eventful year for me as a watch enthusiast and collector. I’ve had the privilege to own and wear a plethora of great timepieces in the last 12 months, but when it comes to my most-worn watch of the year, there’s a clear winner: my vintage OMEGA Speedmaster Teutonic Caliber 861.

The Teutonic was my first-ever Speedy and a major milestone for my collection. Produced only from 1983 to 1985, and exclusively sold in German-speaking markets, it’s a rare bird that tends to fly under the radar of most casual observers and remains almost shockingly affordable in a market full of skyrocketing vintage Speedmaster prices.

This reference, in particular, has gained a reputation as something of a “love it or hate it” design, and it’s a tricky timepiece to capture in photographs. In person, the case and integrated bracelet are a delight. While it’s a far cry from the iconic twisted lugs of the Speedmaster Professional, it is stunning in its own unique way. The overall shape is streamlined and futuristic, fitting for a case design shared with the last of the “evolution” Mark series of Speedmasters, the Mark V. While the ghostly steel bezel steals the show for the case, what isn’t always apparent in photos is the bead-blasted overall finish of the case and bracelet that feels utilitarian and purposeful while providing a unique, satin-esque play of light. It’s also surprisingly svelte, making it one of the best wearing 42mm cases I’ve ever tried. The dial is classic Speedmaster but dressed up with applied gold indices for a touch of class, while inside the case is the same Caliber 861 hand-wound movement that has been a stalwart in the Speedmaster line in various guises for over 50 years.

Although mine is far from a perfect example, this is still a unique vintage-integrated bracelet Swiss sports chronograph, and a hand-wound Omega Speedmaster, one that can be regularly found in good condition for around $2,000 — an impressive value proposition as long as it remains a secret.