Elite Traveler HRS 2022

DISCOVER MEN’S WATCHES

by Roberta Naas

ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

As the world seems to get smaller and smaller, thanks to highly connected social media platforms and the internet, it becomes more important to be aware of exactly what time it is in the world’s 24 main time zones. And for those traveling internationally on business or even much- needed pleasure trips, knowing the time around the globe is key. Thankfully, today’s finest watchmakers have the answer: world time watches. Yes, there are dual and triple time-zone watches that let you track time in one or two zones, but the world timers are a step above those when it comes to complex horology. These watches feature a secondary ring on the dial, or sometimes on the bezel, that depicts the names of 24 cities — one from each of the world’s main time zones. The wearer only needs to set the time indication for the corresponding city, and the rest is easy. Take a glance at the watch and know what time it is in an instant. No calculations necessary.

World time watches are more difficult to make, especially those with the city ring on the dial, because the space between the dial and the ring is so tiny that the watchmakers have to be incredibly exacting so that no friction occurs when changing the city ring or the precision of the watch could suffer. Typically, world time watches retail for about $10,000, with many of the finest selling for upwards of $50,000. Here we look at a selection with prices that range across the board.

BREGUET CLASSIQUE HORA MUNDI 5717 This 43mm 18-karat rose gold Classique Hora Mundi 5717 watch from Breguet is a study in elegance and sophistication. The world cities are on a lower rotating chapter ring that is visible via an aperture at 6:00. At 12 o’clock on the dial is the corresponding date indication for that city via another rotating ring beneath the dial. The self-winding 362-part movement offers an instant-jump time zone with synchronized date, day/night indication and city. The day/night is displayed via the sun/moon disk at 4 o’clock on the dial. The depiction of the map on the dial is created in gold with hand- painted oceans. $78,900, breguet.com

JAEGER-LECOULTRE MASTER CONTROL GEOGRAPHIC

Swiss watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre has long created its Master Control series of precise, technical tool watches. The Master Control Geographic watch is a prime example. Crafted in stainless steel with an automatic self-winding movement, the 40mm world time watch with shimmering blue dial offers date, second time zone, hours, minutes and time in 24 zones. It also offers a secondary chapter ring that displays time in 24-hour indication to differentiate night and day in the different cities. $13,100, jaeger-lecoultre.com