If you haven’t noticed, rugged vintage is in and it extends itself to timepieces. The 40mm Flieger Cockpit by Fortis comes in a limited edition black/orange horizon scheme we endorse. Don’t think of it as a vanity watch though. It’s radiation-free super luminova markers and numerals literally shine beneath it’s anti-glare crystal sapphire and he entire Swiss wind-up movement is water resistant to 200 meters.

This piece is limited to a worldwide quantity of 950. Actually make that one less after our order.

What this means to you: Limited edition vintage with modern day movement. It’s hard to argue the benefits.

Cost: $900 @ WorldLux

Also: If you must have stainless steel, then take a look at the Fortis B-42 Cosmonaut series, the official cosmonaut watch for space-grade flights.

When all else fails, stick with simplicity. XEMEX watches embody just that. Their commitment to functionality, readability and comfort never infringe on their uncompromising design. The Offroad series stick with coherent round time pieces while retaining a sporty and robust feel.

• 40mm case
• Brushed Stainless Steel
• Sapphire Crystal
• Screwed back and screw-down crown
• 100m water resistant
• 2894-2 Automatic chronograph
• Luminous hands and markers
• Leather strap

If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard much about the name XEMEX though it rings some familiarity? Well, XEMEX is a new company (10 years, young in the timepiece industry) that’s come into their own setting new levels of design for other companies. Their well-guarded watch making secrets are known to aficionados and collectors alike

What this means to you: If you’re looking for a watch that you can wear urban/suburban outdoor/indoor formal/informal this watch is for you. We ask you don’t waste that new job or raise on celebration - be a man and get a watch, a good one. If not this one, then take a look at others we recommend.

Cost: $4,495 @ Universal Watch

We feature a lot of watches and admittedly many of them cost a sizable amount. That isn’t about to change, but there are fine choices out there that don’t require nearly the same investment. Seiko is one of our favorite timepiece manufacturers (this author has two) - and the Sportura World Timer series is one of their best. Oh, and it had orange detailing.

Features:

• Chronograph
• World Time
• Digital readout for city name, time difference, daylight savings time adjustment, time transfer function
• Hourly time signal
• Fully automatic auto adjusting calendar including leap years through 2050.
• Screwdown caseback
• Sapphire crystal TICN bezel

What this means to you: A watch is a lifetime investment, but that doesn’t mean you need to invest a lifetime’s worth of money.

Cost: $350 @ Chronowatch.com

Defined by their bold aesthetics and sophisticated technical features, the new 1911 BTR models reaffirm Ebel’s expertise at creating watches designed to fulfill contemporary men’s tastes and desires.

Features:

• Brushed and Polished Steel
• Sapphire Crystal Display
• C.O.S.C. Certified Automatic GMT Movement
• 48 Hour Power Reserve
• 44.5 mm

What this means to you: Get onboard the higher echelon of timepieces. Swiss made EBEL watches are aesthetically pleasing and technically superior to many other manufactures. The 1911 BRT has and will continue to be iconic.

Cost: $3,925 @ The Watchery

Based on the ‘Avenger’ Platform, the Skyland is a rugged watch with a sophisticated aesthetic we’ve come to expect from Breitling.

Features:

• Breitling Caliber 13 Self-winding Movement
• Screwlocked Crown
• Glareproof Sapphire Crystal
• Shock Resistant
• Water Resistant to 1000 feet
• Stencil Numerals

What this means to you: We still want to find the limited series “Blacksteel” version of this watch, but until then we’ll make do with waiting for that $30 grand bonus check.

Estimated MSRP: $32,000 @ The Watch Quote

Chanel isn’t just a gift for your girlfriend anymore. The Jacques Helleu designed watch is done in a matte-finish, ultra-light articulated black rubber bracelet and the casing is actually sand-blasted to give it a distinctive black finish. You’ll be seeing a lot more of these ceramic watches in the future - just remember you saw the one that’s starting the trend.

Features:

• Sand blasted watch casing
• Articulated ultra-light black rubber bracelet
• Automatic
• Sapphire glass
• Superluminova phosphorescent hands and indexes
• 41mm dual-counter chronograph
• Water resistant to 200 meters

What this means to you: Ceramic what? What happened to stainless steel? Well, it’s still there and it’s still used on this watch, but you’re buying an early trend here. Have you seen the cost of HD-DVD’s? Yeah… just like that.

Cost: $4500 @ The Watch Quote

The Panerai Flyback Regatta is rare. Rare to the tone of only 500 will be built. For those of you not familiar with Panerai their history is tied with the Italian military as their official watch maker. The result? Italian beauty and extraordinary military level engineering.

The automatic mechanical movement features a Panerai OP XIX calibre, 13¼ lignes, 30 jewels specially created for Panerai.

Features:

• Côtes de Genève decoration on the bridges and oscillating weight, burnished blued screws
• Flyback chronograph with 2 counters, tachymeter scale
• 44 mm diameter
• Polished steel push buttons 2 and 4 o’clock
• See-through sapphire crystal
• Dial features black with luminous hour markers and Arabic numerals
• Paris hobnails
• Minute counter at 3 o’clock
• Small seconds at 9 o’clock
• Central flyback hand
• PANERAI personalised rubber strap and brushed steel adjustable buckle. Supplied with a steel screwdriver and a second interchangeable strap in black calf with carbon fibre pattern.

What this means to you: Undoubtedly laying down 10 large on a watch isn’t going to happen this year, but if this write had it, he’d gladly spend it.

Cost: $10,400 @ Luxury Bazaar

2007 Version Released at Baselworld @ Professional Watches

Tag Heuer prides itself on prestige, performance, avant-garde technology and absolute reliability. They’ve come to characterize the brand and philosophy of the since 1860 when the Edouard Heuer founded the company. Their bold and innovative watches are synonymous with Formula 1 racing, skiing, golf, the Indy 500, America’s Cup and others.

One of our favorites here at GP, we’ve come even more enamored with the Monaco series, and especially the blue faced series… far more watch than’ you’d expect at this price range.

Features:

• 37 Jewels
• Power reserve: roughly 42 hours
• Scratch Resistant Sapphire Crystal
• Sapphire Crystal Exhibition Back
• Brushed with Polished Steel Case
• Black Leather Strap
• Waterproof to 30 Meters / 100 Feet
• Luminescent Hands & Markers

Cost: $1,495 @ StartofTime.com

We love our watches. We love the internet. We love blogs. So by simple deduction we love the wristwatch blog Professional Watches.

Once you’re sufficiently slathered yourself with wristwatch goodness breathe deep and see what accounts you have to pad to get yourself into a GP endorsed watch, Bell & Ross.

Authentic Bell & Ross watches are not available through the internet, so you’ll have to find yourself an authorized dealer. However, we did do some leg work and got you an estimated price quote for the watch.

Of course we’re going to show you the variation in Orange, but if that isn’t to your tastes click here to see variations in classic technical nylon and black rubber.

The BR 01-94 Instrument features:

• Carbon-finished stainless steel
• 46mm case
• Black dial
• Orange alligator strap (available in technical nylon and black rubber as well)
• 3-counter automatic chronograph movement
• Water resistant to 100 meters.

Cost: Estimated $2516 @ Lussori