The primary function of a watch, telling time, is something of an afterthought here in 2020, when most of us are rarely far from our smartphones. Its form, however, can easily make it a standout accessory—and Southwest Florida is extremely well stocked with stunning styles.
CORUM GOLDEN BRIDGE
Corum’s home base is in the Swiss town where legendary architect Le Corbusier was born, and architecture is in the DNA of this intricate beauty. Making the timekeeping mechanism—known as the caliber—entirely visible adds an extra layer of visual interest, and while seeing the gears whir might make it feel somehow more delicate, it’s fully water-resistant to 30 meters. Provident Jewelry (Naples), 239.649.7200, providentjewelry.com
CARL F. BUCHERER MANERO TOURBILLON
A tourbillon, from the French for whirlwind, is an augmentation to a watch’s timekeeping mechanism, involving a rotating cage that balances out the effects of gravity in an attempt to increase accuracy. It also looks utterly mesmerizing—GQ noted that “the tourbillon’s greatest advantage isn’t that it keeps time well, but that it does so beautifully.” Housed in 18k rose gold by Swiss manufacturer Carl F. Bucherer, this is an investment worth looking at as often as possible. Provident Jewelry (Fort Myers), 239.274.7777, providentjewelry.com
PATEK PHILIPPE ANNUAL CALENDAR REGULATOR
Far from being problematic, “complication” in the context of watches means an extra feature beyond simply telling time. So it’s definitely a compliment to call this luxurious Patek Philippe model quite complicated: In addition to individual dials for the minute, hour and second hands, it also displays the day of the week, date and month—all in a refined, uncluttered aesthetic enhanced by the 18k rose gold case and highlights. Yamron Jewelers, 239.592.7707, yamron.com
GREUBEL FORSEY GMT EARTH
Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey tout themselves as “sculptors of time” on their website—a bold claim for a company founded in 2004 while other luxury watchmakers have legacies of more than a century, but its designs made an immediate impact via incredible complexity. This model takes that innovative spirit to a whole new level by including a miniature globe within the watch that rotates in real time; a visual feat that’s literally a world apart from anything else. Yamron Jewelers, 239.592.7707, yamron.com
ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL
39 The classics never go out of style, and Rolex remains a household name for a reason. As a Rolex official jeweler, Bigham deals in a range of men’s and women’s options from the durable Submariner to the dazzling diamond-studded Pearlmaster, but the sleek, effortless style of the Oyster Perpetual 39 speaks as well for itself today as when its direct ancestor debuted in 1926. Bigham Jewelers, 239.434.2800, bighamjewelers.com
OMEGA SEAMASTER DIVER
300M Four words: “James Bond wears Omega.” Since 1995’s Goldeneye, first Brosnan and then Craig have sported various Omega Seamasters while performing their stylish heroism, and fans needn’t be in the Royal Navy nor licensed to kill in order to match the superspy’s style via this exemplar of Swiss-crafted excellence. And if you never wear it down to 300 meters underwater, the helium escape valve can remain your secret. Tourneau Waterside Shops, 239.591.1342, tourneau.com
CARTIER BALLON BLEU DE CARTIER
It makes sense that one of the world’s most prestigious jewelers would design an especially ornamental watch—named for the eye-catching, balloon-like cabochon spinel perched on the stem, and whose shade is echoed by the blued-steel hands, this distinctive, graceful timepiece is a clear standout of soigne design. Vive la France! Plus, wearing it will give you something in common with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Tourneau Waterside Shops, 239.591.1342, tourneau.com
