10 Of The Best Watches Under £10,000
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Bell & Ross BR V2-92
Yes, you could opt for one of Bell & Ross’s more iconic bevelled-square cases designs but there is something achingly cool about this retro military bit of deliciousness. Once you get beyond the fact that “military beige” sounds like the colour of an old serviceman’s slacks, there’s plenty to get on board with. Whereas the original Bell & Ross designs were an intellectual and witty take on cockpit instruments from a very aesthetic perspective, this is fond, nostalgic homage.
The dial is clean and simple, though some may object to the squeezed-in date; the red-tipped second hand is a nice aviation nod and although there is a steel bracelet option, it’s the canvas that rounds off the whole “smoke me a kipper, I’ll be back for breakfast” feel. Chocks away!
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Bulgari Octo Solo Tempo
Think of watches designed by the legendary Gerald Genta – Patek’s Nautilius, Audemars’s Royal Oak – and you’re going to have to fork out more than £10K to own one. However, there is a tendency to forget that Bulgari is the brand that acquired Gerald Genta, along with all his designs, to boost its fine-watchmaking capabilities. This much more wallet-friendly Octo is one of the results of that purchase.
Bulgari has taken Genta’s original design and softened it by marrying it with round bezel and simple dial. It is also powered by Bulgari’s own in-house time-only movement – the BVL 191. Although there is a 41mm version, the 38mm wears better under a shirt cuff. Or maybe just peeking out from under a nonchalantly rolled white linen shirt sleeve, Italian style.
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IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire
Bronze case with green dial? Tick. Vintage-style lume? Tick. World War II aviation reference in the name? Tick. IWC’s new Automatic Spitfire may be crossing off every single major watch trend for the year, but who cares when it has produced such a cracking watch. It is the perfect everyday pilots watch but with a few luxury flourishes, the most important of which being IWC’s recently developed 32000 calibre, which is entirely new for the brand and its first movement to use silicon.
