Awesome Watches

Sure, Jaquet Droz’s Time Writing Machine could be replaced with a $5 watch, but you’d give up bragging rights to owning a $340k machine with 1,200 pieces that prints the time. Slowly.

CVSTOS’ Challenge High Fidelity Chrono may be convoluted both in terms of name and function, but it’s also entertaining with three exposed rotating discs and power indicator.

Israeli Itay Noy’s City Square is a design-centered watch with maps of cities such as New York, Paris and Rome; made with 316L steel and sapphire crystal, each is made to order.

Inspired by the first US airborne assault in North Africa in WWII, the EP Martin Sahara Sand features a 44mm machined case with leather or canvas strap, and optional face guard.

With 13 layers of varnish and alcantara-lined drawers, Erwin Sattler’s Custodia is a watch geek’s wet dream; winding rates can be set via USB while 16 LED lamps illuminate your beauties.

The Tudor Porsche Grantour watch’s flashiest aspect is its geeky numerals; it’s otherwise quite stylish with sapphire crystal, black lacquered steel and a perfed leather strap.

In advance of musical legend Bob Dylan’s latest album, Together Through Life, Oris has released a limited edition Rectangular model; it’s engraved with his portrait on the case back.

DeWitt’s Academia Seconde Retrograde Serenity is ideal for gearheads, with a distinct cog-shaped case and radiator grill patterns; it runs on a mechanical self-winding movement.

Stepping out of wintery monochrome, Nixon’s 4220 PU Chronos get bold blue, violet, yellow and pink colorways; 200m water resistance and rubber bands make these ideal for summer.

With pedal-shaped pushers, Wyler Geneve’s Code S watch targets auto enthusiasts; it also sports a case within a case design that insulates the Swiss movement inside from shocks.

Perrelet’s Double Rotor Turbine Watch sports twelve titanium blades that rotate like a jet engine, which not only looks smokin’ but provides the automatic movement with energy.

Just as its name says, Swiss Military’s 20,000 Feet Diver Watch is the world’s deepest diving mechanical watch; it’s made possible by 10mm thick sapphire crystal and a titanium case.

A departure from Bell & Ross’ utilitarian offerings, the BR 01 Airborne Watch glows in the dark, and features the US Airborne skull emblem encased in a glass bead blasted steel case.

Designed for jetsetters with a taste for supercars, Breitling’s Bentley Motors watch features a highly accurate 30s chronograph and a variable tachometer that measure average speed.

Hamilton’s Khaki BASE Jump watch was made for BASE jumpers; it sports an easy-grip bezel, protected crown, countdown or stopwatch versions, and black or bronze PVD finishes.

Harry Winston’s Opus 9 takes complications to even ritzier heights with parallel chains that tell the time; they’re made with calibrated baguette-cut diamonds and a mandarin garnet.

Other than a single red pusher, Blancpain’s Super Trofeo is a classy, understated watch–the latter of which is remarkable since it’s a collab with the normally flashy Lamborghini.

The iPod dock at the top The Tower seems almost like an afterthought; it’s actually a high-end watch winder for Perrelet’s Maestro Edition watches, which feature musical repeaters.

BaselWorld 2009 is in full-swing, and one of our favorite watches is Tag Heuer’s Monaco 24 Concept; it features a tubular design and shock protection inspired by GT racecar tech.

Ulysse Nardin’s retro-futuristic Chairman is a working phone with a mechanical watch rotor that supplies extra power, a 2.8″ multitouch screen, 5MP camera, Wi-Fi and browser.

Nixon’s Spencer Watch is a minimalist work of art, tastefully blending analog and digital in a 100m stainless steel case and band; it also sports a triple gasket enamel filled crown.

Nubeo and Kobe Bryant team up for the Black Mamba watch, whose DLC-treated case is the most complex ever with 131 pieces; it also packs a Valjoux 7750 calibre and 36 part bezel.

Well-known for their Swiss Army Knives, Wenger’s Aerograph Cockpit Watch is likely just as multi-functional and dependable; it’s a pilot’s watch inspired by flight-deck instruments.