1: IWC Big Pilot's Watch
Even if you are not big or a pilot, this still makes a great mechanical watch.
Introduced during wartime in 1940, its 51111 calibre is one of the largest automatic movements in the world - packing a seven day power reserve with a single watch barrel (the source of power to run a timepiece). It is also scratch-resistant and has anti-reflective sapphire glass and a soft iron inner-case for screening against magnetic fields.
It has been the flagship model for the Swiss brand since 2002. In stainless steel, it is $21,400.
2: Patek Philippe Nautilus
When the Swiss house's Nautilus was launched in 1976, it created a new category of casually elegant watches.
It was one of the first luxury watches in a steel case. The Nautilus has an octagonal bezel, with hour markers in white or rose gold and a porthole-inspired design.
It has since been relaunched for men in 2006 and for women last year. The men's Ref5711 in stainless steel is $33,700 and the women's Ref 7010 in rose or white gold with diamonds is $52,700.
3: Omega Seamaster
The Swiss brand's Seamaster models have gleamed on the wrists of two hot James Bonds - Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig - but the appeal of this watch goes beyond arm candy.
The Seamaster 600 was introduced in 1970 to withstand the crushing ocean pressures of up to 600m endured by professional divers.
Omega brought in an updated version last year - the Ploprof 1200M is water-resistant to 1,200m and has a unique watch casing. Its screwed-in crown is at 9o'clock under a protective buffer, instead of at 6 o'clock, for freer wrist movement.
It comes either with a brushed metal mesh bracelet for $12,000 or a rubber strap in black or orange for $11,700.
4: Panerai Luminor
Panerai may have been founded in 1860 in Florence, but it needed Rocky to punch it to popularity.
It ticked along in relative obscurity until a certain Sylvester Stallone bought a Luminor - the brand's top seller today - in Rome in 1995 to wear during shooting of the film Daylight.
The actor ordered a small batch of the oversized dials to hand out to friends such as Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The latest model is the Luminor 1950 3Days GMT which boasts a three-day power reserve and retails for $11,850.
5: Citizen Eco-Drive
In 1924, the Mayor of Tokyo gave Japanese watch company Citizen its name in the hope that the company's watches would become accessible to citizens all over the world.
In 1995, its new Eco-Drive technology gave the world the first analog watch to be powered by a light source which eliminated the need for battery replacement.
The Eco-Drive Chronograph is available in a stainless steel bracelet or classic black calfskin leather strap. Prices range from $400 to $1,000.
6: Rado Ceramica
The Rado is to the traditional Swiss watch what heavy metal is to classical music. In fact, it is heavy metal - the brand's focus is on using high-tech, ultra-modern materials such as tungsten and titanium-carbide.
Rado also spearheaded the use of ceramic in 1986 and is famous for its glossy, satin or matte finishes.
It has just released the r5.5, a square-dial ceramic timepiece which fuses its bracelet and links so that they look like they are one.
The new model is $3,820 for the glossy ceramic bracelet and $3,980 for the matte one.
7: Adidas Originals Candy
The unisex digital Candy collection represents the fusion of German sport brand Adidas' athletic heritage with playful, metropolitan style.
The Candy range comes in over 100 yummy colours and variations - there is also a mid-sized version to suit smaller wrists.
Priced at an affordable $108 to $118 yet packing functions such as dual time zones, 10-lap memory and chronograph, more than 35,000 Candy watches were sold within a year after it was launched in 2006.
8: ODM Filmatic
The first Hong Kong brand to take part in annual watch and jewellery trade show Baselworld in 2003. The letters that make up the brand's name stand for original designs, dynamic functions and minimal artificiality.
It launched the super-curved and sleek Filmatic in 2007. It was the first timepiece to incorporate a bendable electronic paper display.
The latest version, Filmatic III, was launched last year, integrating the lightweight timepiece with a colour tinted lens. It retails for $299.
9: Rolex GMT Master
The creme de la creme of watches.
The GMT Master is the pride of Swiss horologer Rolex and was developed in 1954 at the request of Pan-American World Airways to assist its pilots with the problem of crossing multiple time-zones during transcontinental flights.
It was the world's first wristwatch to show two time zones at once. In 2005, it was re-issued as the Rolex GMT Master II, with the time in three time zones.
The updated version also boasts increased shock resistance. Prices on request.
10: Santos de Cartier
Louis Cartier (yes, the same Cartier behind the haute French jewellery house) designed the first Santos de Cartier in 1904 for his friend, Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to know the time without losing control of his flying machine.
It marked a departure from the classic round watch and was re-released as the Santos 100 in 2004.
Prices range from $7,000 for a steel version to $50,000 for a fine jewellery piece.
11: Swatch Originals
The launch of this fantastic plastic brand in 1983 gave Swiss watches a new face.
The limited-edition quartz timepieces with designer graphics showed a fun, affordable side to all that cuckoo-clock efficiency.
In 1991, at the height of the craze for collecting Swatches, one of 120 limited-edition pieces of Kiki, designed by French artist Kiki Picasso, sold for £25,000.
Prices of Swatch Originals start from $69.
12: Casio G-shock
Japanese electronic device manufacturer Casio started up in 1946 and was first noticed for its electric calculator. These days, it is famous for another electronic offering - the G-shock.
Launched in 1983, the G-shock shattered early notions that a watch is a fragile piece of jewellery.
Over 30 versions of the G-shock have since been launched. The brand's latest is the G-shock G-lide, which is made with glossy enamel leather and designed for low temperature resistance of up to -20 deg C. The model is priced at $147.
13: Fossil Big Tic
In 1998, American watch company Fossil developed the Big Tic - a part analog, part digital watch that quickly became the company's signature designs.
Today, Big Tic includes a patented motion technology from Fossil.
Know exactly which second it is with this analog and digital mix - the ever-changing dial is juxtaposed with a thick cuff leather strap for a serious statement.
Prices range from $175 to $195.
14: Audemars Piguet Royal OakOffshore
One of the pioneers in the sports luxury steel-watch market, Swiss horologer Audemars Piguet launched its iconic Royal Oak in 1972.
Its signature octagonal shape and prominent hexagonal screws were inspired by the British navy's Royal Oak battleships.
The Royal Oak Offshore is a modified version introduced in 1992 for extreme sports. It features oversized cases and push-pieces protected by rubber guards.
Prices start from $32,800.
15: Tag Heuer Monaco
This classic released in 1969 was the first automatic chronograph and the first square-cased one. Plus, American movie star Steve McQueen wore one in the 1970 race car film Le Mans.
To mark the 40th anniversary of McQueen's endorsement, a new limited-edition design of the Vintage chronograph was launched here last month by the Swiss brand.
It features an alligator strap and a sapphire crystal front and back. The 5,000-piece limited edition is priced at $8,300 each.
16: Bell & Ross Instrument
Swiss watch company Bell & Ross' red-hot BR Instrument, which paved the way for oversized square dials, is young in horological terms at only five years old.
The brand, set up only in 1992, was aimed at 'pilots, divers, astronauts and bomb disposal experts facing extreme situations'.
The timepieces start from $3,900. The brand's latest Carbon Fiber is priced at $14,800 and the Carbon Fiber Chrono at $17,900.
17: Piaget Altiplano
In fashion, thin will always be in. With watches, nothing comes thinner than the skinny Altiplano range by Swiss jewellery house Piaget, launched in 1998.
The range's latest addition, the Calibre 1208P has a movement mechanism of only 2.35mm thick with a watch case that is a wafer-thin 5.25mm, making it the world's thinnest mechanical self-winding watch.
The 1208P will be available in Singapore later this year. Prices of current Altiplano models start from $17,360.
18: Chanel J12
We could tell you about its 48 high-tech ceramic links that are scratch- and stain-resistant.
Or that the French house's first J12 was produced in black in 2000. Or that the launch of the J12 White in 2003 sparked a whole new trend for white watches.
Just know this: It is a classic, an icon, The One.
Its latest incarnation is the to-die-for Noir Intense, which marries black ceramic with white gold. It retails for $496,700.
Now breathe out - prices of the most basic J12 watches start from $6,700.
19: Franck Muller Crazy Hours
When Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller began creating these in 2003, their convention-busting features made them a must-have.
Celebrities such as actress Demi Moore and singer Elton John are fans.
The numerals are not arranged in order but the hour hand jumps in the correct numerological sequence.
Franck's whimsy certainly created a masterpiece. Prices start from $76,056.
20: Seiko Spring Drive
The idea of Spring Drive was conceived in 1977 by an engineer at Seiko's Suwa plant in Japan. When it was finally launched in 2005, it became one of the most important movements ever created by the Japanese firm.
The watch is the first and only to use glide motion hands. Unlike conventional ticking hands, this motion is more stable and precise.
A modified version designed for space explorers, the Spring Drive Spacewalk, will be launched later this year. Prices are still being determined at press time.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.
