4 chronographs that don’t look too chrono

When you are not a watch collector, you want the few timepieces you have to do more than one thing. These four fellows do - they are dress watches and crafty chronographs.

1. For corporate takeovers: Girard Perregaux’s Laureato Chronograph

Photo: @GirardPerregaux / Instagram

When Girard Perregaux says 2018 is the year of its Laureato - known for its distinctive octagonal-shaped bezel and cool elegance - it means it. The Swiss brand has launched two of them, and this one, the second, is the first chrono in the range. It’s powered by a self-winding chronograph movement with a 46-hour power reserve. In either 38mm or 42mm steel or pink gold, with a steel bracelet or alligator strap, and three dial colours - silver, black, or dark blue. $19,200-$41,700.

2. For mixing business and pleasure: Hublot’s Classic Fusion Chronograph Berluti

Photo: @hublot / Instagram

The Swiss watch brand brings its technical know-how, and the Italian fashion brand its leather expertise, for one sexy collab. Berluti first engraves its signature Venezia Scritto calf leather with writing inspired by 18th-century calligraphy, then the leather is mineral-and-vegetable-tanned, just like its shoes. To ensure that the leather for the dial doesn’t oxidise (read: it won’t ever spoil), a “complex and delicate process” is employed to neutralise humidity. The chrono comes in two colourways - burgundy strap with Hublot’s proprietary King Gold case, $52,200; and blue strap with titanium, $22,300.

3. For collectors: Patek Philippe's Ref. 5270P-001

Photo: @patekaholic / Instagram

First launched in 2011 in white gold (rose gold came later, in 2015), the Ref. 5270P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph now has an upgraded platinum edition with a vintage-style, salmon coloured dial (previously only for custom or limited-edition models) with blackened gold numerals, for $246,400.

4. For Every Day: Sinn’s 936

Photo: @sinn_spezialuhren / Instagram

Of the four timepieces featured here, the German brand’s chrono is the one that’s designed for optimal readability; white indices on black, which - along with the hour and minute hands - are luminous. Other features that make the 936 reliable: Tegiment technology for increased scratch resistance, and magnetic field protection for precise timekeeping. $5,730.

This story was first published in the July 2018 issue of Her World.