The new Fortis Blue Horizon features an appealing color scheme with its bronze-toned dial (that the brand actually prefers to call “Metallic Brown”) nicely matched by a cognac-brown leather strap. Although the blue accents on the timekeeper’s face look a bit ahem controversial, I must admit that this is one of the dressiest “pilot’s chronographs” that the Swiss brand has ever produced. Just don’t forget to get yourself a complementary set of good brown shoes.
Breitling Chronomat 44 Raven Caliber 01
Featuring a sexy combination of deep matte black and bright, almost electric, orange, the Breitling Chronomat 44 Raven Caliber 01 (ref. MB0111C2/BD07-153S) is so far one of the most attractive members of the family. Add to this the same COSC-certified Caliber B01 automatic movement built in their own manufacturing facility, as well as an extremely legible layout of the dial, and you get yourself a winner. The only thing that spoils the fun a little is, as usual for Breitling, the price.
Underwhelmingly Stunning: Breitling Colt Caliber 73 Chronograph
Unlike the much-awaited Apple Watch (we will see it in a matter of hours), the 2014 Breitling Colt Caliber 73 SuperQuartz Chronograph doesn’t need to try to destroy the competition. With its classic massive body, easy-to-grip unidirectional rotating bezel, and traditional high-contrast dial, the new Colt delivers everything you ever wanted from a Breitling but never were quite ready to pull the trigger on their more expensive models. The device won’t stun you with the same level of craftsmanship as an automatic mechanism decorated by a skilled hand of an artisan but instead will offer you an almost unrivaled level of precision and dependability.
Introducing the Edox Geoscope GMT Automatic
Whole 46 millimeters in diameter, the Edox Geoscope GMT (ref. 07002 3 C1) is designed with heroically proportioned people in mind. On the other hand (no pun intended), the timekeeper doesn’t make an impression of a watch whose single purpose is to look big. In fact, its massiveness stems from its function: there is a dial that needs to be large to ensure adequate legibility and so there is a large case to house it. That’s probably the main reason why it doesn’t look stupid: its form follows function.
Big One: Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Supercharged
With its 2014 collection, Maurice Lacroix tries to play against the current “downsizing” trend. While even “sporty” and “bold” chronographs either lose weight or burn their excessive muscle tissue, the Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Supercharged brings you the good old 2013 Pontos S diver in the supersized body. 48 millimeters in diameter, the diving tool is designed for a bodybuilder or a football player, not some sort of skinny hipster.
Mido Multifort Two Crowns Automatic Skin Diver
While Mido is good at producing watches that look anonymous at best, this new stainless steel Mido Multifort Two Crowns (Ref. M005.930.11.060.00) actually looks nice and even recognizable, although even this design always leaves you scratching your head trying to remember if you have already seen this gadget before.
Breitling Celebrates Swiss Air Force with Chronomat GMT
It pays off to be a Swiss air force pilot. While most aerobatics teams barely receive even sporadic attention from major watchmaking brands, Switzerland’s only team of professional pilots gets its name immortalized the third time in less than three years. Back in 2011, Oris and IWC commemorated the 20th anniversary of their current paint scheme and now Breitling, another key watchmaker, celebrates the semicentenary of the team itself. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the new Breitling Chronomat 44 GMT Patroulle Suisse 50th Anniversary automatic chronograph with second time-zone indication.
Casio G-Shock Metal-Twisted (MTG-S1000D-1AJF)
Offered in plain and black ion-plated stainless steel, the new Casio G-Shock Metal-Twisted (MTG-S1000D-1AJF) not only offers their pretty solid Triple G Resist shock protection technology and lots of useful functions, but also packs them in an impressively designed, massive body that makes your normal “sporty” chronograph look like a real pussy near this rugged giant.