Watches

The DS Action Diver was a decision that I toiled over for weeks. I knew that I wanted an elegant and functional Swiss diver, but with my particular taste and limited budget, I struggled to find a watch that ticked all of my boxes. When I found the Certina, I had a moment where I could finally find nothing to nitpick. At this price most makers ask you to accept a compromise somewhere, like using mineral crystal instead of sapphire, a stamped clasp instead of a milled one, or an aluminium bezel that scratches easily. The Certina doesn't make any of those compromises, with sapphire crystal, a ceramic bezel, and a movement that is robust and well known. I bought it because it checked all of my boxes, and yet I was still impressed when it arrived in the mail. If a friend asked me where to start with a Swiss diver, this is where I'd point them.

This is the true jack of all trades when it comes to watches. I usually throw this watch on when I know I'm going to be getting my hands dirty, working out, or going to a dive bar with my friends. For under $50, it almost feels designed to be abused, and I think the number of features it has makes it the perfect watch to wear when I don't know what my day has in store. This watch gives me the confidence to go anywhere and do anything without worrying about having it stolen, broken, or lost. I have also used it on long trips, and actually had the multiple time zones and 10-year battery save me when my phone died and I needed to make a flight while traveling. If I could only pick one watch to wear every day, it would be this one.

A no-frills dress watch that strays from the round dial almost every other watch uses. I picked it for the rectangular case, the simple black leather strap, and even the white dial with black Roman numerals. I usually find Roman numerals a bit gauche, but on a case this shape they look like they were always meant to be there.

This is what I wear to dinner or with a suit, and the slim design flies under the radar and sits flush against the wrist and under a shirt cuff. It will get compliments without ever becoming the center of the conversation, which I think is what makes it work so well. Paired with one of Seiko's reliable quartz movements at around $200, it's almost too reasonable and practical for a watch that makes me feel like James Bond every time I put it on.