So you’re just starting out at work, or you would like to reward yourself for a good first half of the year at work. Or perhaps you’re just bored and eagerly waiting for the newest timepieces from BaselWorld to land. We’ve got some great suggestions for you as to what you may want to spend your dollar on. 

For the Retro/Cool Hipster

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We don’t usually recommend mainstream labels to hipsters but this is one collaboration all hipsters would surely want to hinge themselves on. This year marks 40 years since the Raymond Weil label was founded and to commemorate, they’ve welcomed a classic band for a special limited edition piece. The maestro Beatles Limited Edition is not complicated, just a standard three-hand with album names on the dial and a hint of the band at four o’clock, while the band name is printed on a tinted sapphire crystal case back. So if you ever need to reference their work, it’s all on the watch dial you’re wearing. 

P.S. Raymond Weil, we think you ought to create a commemorative edition for Prince as well. He’s another icon who deserves a place on your musical dial of fame. 

For the Super Indie + Patriot

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Stowa is a German label that’s been quietly making aviation timepieces, marine chronometer-style watches and generally retailing directly to its clientele in order to minimise price hikes. In Asia, it’s now repped by Red Army Watches, and the local retailer in fact convinced them to make a special Singapore edition based on the fable of how the Red Hill area came to be. The old tale, which is highlighted in the Sejarah Melayu, is also reflected on the case back with a swordfish engraved on it. The timepiece is driven by an ETA 2824 movement, and like the Stowa Marine Automatic the large Sans Serif numerals, classic blue hands and minute track are all standard. 

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On the case back, a sword fish and details of the limited edition are engraved

It’s only available at Red Army Watches. Don’t miss this special edition. 

If you’re a techie/cool dude

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My colleagues will be the first to tell our readers that I’ve constantly questioned the practicality and usefulness of smart devices like watches ever since the first Pebble emerged. Not that they aren’t great, but I’ve not come across one where I’ve said, “I’d put down money for it” pretty much till I strapped on the TAG Heuer Connected for a week and put it through its paces. 

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But part of why I’d buy a Connected watch is because of the exchange program the company has introduced when the watch is at its end of life after five years. They will rip out its electronic guts and replace it with a mechanical movement for a fixed cost, and that means your watch can continue to live on in your wardrobe. Plus, it’s $2,100 for a titanium case, which is already attractive on its own, and another $2,100 for the later upgrade, which still makes it the cheapest Carrera around ever. 

P.S. The Android Wear watches work much better with an Android phone than an iOS device. Grab one of those while you’re using the Connected watch.