1 Hacker by Michael Young for ODM
This is the British-born, Hong Kong-based designer’s second creation for funky Asian watch manufacturer O.D.M. It has a rubber strap and is available in six colours, including black with plating to match. $145.
2 Tambour Diving II by Louis Vuitton
For fashion and fitness devotees, LV’s latest diving model combines luxury with durability. The sporty Tambour II is water resistant up to 300 metres and boasts an 18-karat gold case, external rotating bezel and large luminescent numbers. Seconds are represented on the dive flag motif. $5,950.
3 250 Series by Uniform Wares
Inspired by men’s utilitarian timepieces from the post-World War II era, this London company’s latest line, Series, is actually unisex. Its polished aluminum baton-style hands and hour markers sit under a sapphire crystal lens and are surrounded by a stainless steel case attached to an Italian calf leather strap. $610.
4 True Thinline by Rado
Minimalism to the max, this slim Swiss number is the thinnest high-tech ceramic watch at just five millimetres thick. Though it may appear delicate, it comes with a casual rubber strap. It has a sapphire crystal face and is available in black or white with optional gold detailing and diamonds for extra bling. From $1,800.
5 Iconograph by Werner Aisslinger for Lorenz
Berlin furniture designer Werner Aisslinger (he of the Loftcube) created this timeless timepiece for the Italian watch manufacturer. Twelve cut-out windows frame raised numbers below a stainless steel case attached to a silicone strap. Iconograph comes in nine colourways. $275.
6 O by Tokujin Yoshioka for Issey Miyake
Following in the footsteps of such marquee designers as Yves Béhar, Ross Lovegrove, and Naoto Fukasawa, Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka created this timepiece for the 10th anniversary of Issey Miyake’s watch project. “O,” the phonetic spelling of the French word for water, appears as though it was sculpted from the liquid itself. It is made of a special polymer and available in two shades. From $210.
Pick up Azure‘s November/December 2011 issue, currently on newsstands, for more great holiday ideas.