The last thing you want to worry about while enjoying the sun, sea and sand is your watch. Or watches. The key to horological peace of mind is selecting watches with a certain degree of toughness. A tool watch, in other words. Obviously, excellent water-resistance is a must and that is usually shorthand for robustness in all areas. Usually. To take the guess-work out of the equation, we have selected seven tickers that check all the right boxes, especially if you are trying to be low-key. On the other hand, maybe you want to mix it up a little and laugh in the face of danger – we have selected one watch that fulfills that need too. No prizes for guessing which one it is.

Longines Hydroconquest

The HydroConquest line is dedicated high performance combining technical innovation with elegance. The timepiece is water-resistant to 30 bar and the glass is made from a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, with several layers of anti-reflective coating on both sides. The Longines Sport Collection mirrors Longines’ tradition characterising elegance and performance in its timepieces.

Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection Spring Drive 5 Days Diver’s 200m (SLAGAO15)

Grand Seiko is focussed on making beautiful watches and the smooth action of the Spring Drive is undeniable. Grand Seiko did not dissapoint on the beauty front. Inspired by a particular aspect of the oceans that surround the Japanese archipelago, the dial’s colour is deep black and has a strongly patterned surface. The ceramic rotating bezel is crafted with durability in mind, to protect the watch from being scratched while the high-intensity Titanium is intended to be more impervious to scratches and corrosion than stainless steel.

Tudor Ranger

The Tudor Ranger is a tool watch celebrating the spirit of daring adventure, complete with Manufacture Calibre MT5402, a 39-millimetre case and a clasp with rapid adjustment system. The timepiece comes from a tradition of a robust, practical, and affordable instruments. The Ranger model is equipped with Manufacture Calibre MT5402. Its construction has been designed to ensure robustness, longevity, reliability and precision due to its variable-inertia balance, which is held in place by a sturdy traversing bridge with two points of fixation.

Seiko Prospex King Sumo (SPB321J)

Seiko Prospex timepieces are designed to be practical, reliable and durable — meeting the high standards required in extreme environments for sports lovers and adventure seekers alike. The watch’s “substantial and strong” shape has earned it the name “Sumo” because of its size and the 12 o’clock marker. This latest design has been updated with new features, including a ceramic bezel and super hard coating on the case and bracelet for durability. A new three row bracelet has been specifically made for this model, while the clasp has also been modernised. The dial features a fine pressed pattern dial with gradations of blue.

Luminox Pacific Diver Chronograph

Luminox’s strong ties to the Pacific can also be traced back to its origins, where it was founded in the town of San Rafael, California, USA, located along the Pacific Coast. The new Pacific Diver Chronograph Series 3140 comes in nine different configurations, with colours never seen before in prior Luminox watches alongside a uni-directional rotating dive bezel and a water-resistance of 200 metres.

Rado Captain Cook

The Rado Captain Cook is a natural choice for modern explorers. Its vintage details, and up-to-date features make it the perfect sartorial accessory for both men and women. The thin, stylish 43 mm stainless steel case features a polished blue high-tech ceramic inlay on the bezel, complementing the silver-to-blue gradient dial. Inside, the new, thinner R801 automatic movement, with 37 jewels, five hands and 59 hours of power reserve exceeds standard test requirements from three to five positions for higher accuracy.

Franck Muller Vanguard Skeleton Color Dreams

Bright, colourful and fun, the collection shows eight colors of the famous Franck Muller Color Dreams in three different versions. The Vanguard Skeleton Color Dreams is showcased in a black carbon Vanguard case, brush titanium or stainless steel case. To allow a rainbow of colors, the satin bridges have been made in anodized aluminum. They have been designed to accentuate the architecture of the piece, which is very strong. The balanced design of the Vanguard Skeleton Color Dreams illustrates the passion for crafts and art of details, characteristic of the Franck Muller manufacture.

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