When you choose a watch, it must be one designed to suit your lifestyle; there’s no point investing in a timepiece if it won’t meet your practical requirements, or if it won’t withstand the wear and tear of your regular activities.
If you’re an aficionado of winter sports – whether that may be skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling – then you will naturally need to choose a watch that can withstand the cold and the wet.
In addition, you might look for a darker dial, for easier visibility in the glare of snow and sun. For added comfort you might prefer a rubber or fabric strap, instead of a metal bracelet which would be cold on your wrist or a leather one which might suffer water damage. For functionality, you may look for handy complications such as a chronograph, and for added features like a tachymeter scale.
Naturally, the Swiss watchmaker brands offer plenty of choice in this area – this is, after all, one of the environments that their country is best known for!
The Alpina 44mm Gents Smartwatch has a proven track record in this environment; it is being used by adventurers Børge Ousland and Vincent Colliard in the Alpina & Ice Legacy project. So far, they have used it to track their progress across two of the twenty glaciers in this long-term expedition, including the Skitine Ice Field which is one of the most dangerous and difficult glaciers in Alaska.
Whilst lacking in sports functions, the Alpina smartwatch has a clean black face and a fabric strap, and connects to a practical app to help monitor your activity, which is ideal for longer-term adventures. It is available for just £870, or on finance terms from as little as £19.33 per month.
The Breitling Chronomat Raven 44 presents a practical option for winter sports; the orange on black provides excellent contrast, ideal for split-second visibility, the chronograph function provides easy stop-watch timing and the tachymetre scale helps you to assess speed. The steel PVD case promises durability, whilst the rubber strap offers comfort in any weather. This watch can be yours for £6,690 and is available on finance terms from just £148.67 per month.
The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono 45.5mm Watch is ideal if you’re looking for something a little brighter; the striking orange bezel and strap make this piece stand out in any conditions. Again, you benefit from chronograph functions and a very clear face that makes it easy to see whilst out on the piste, as well as a comfortable rubber strap. This piece is available for £5,010, or on finance terms from just £111.33 per month.
For a more restrained appearance, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 watch offers a subtle yet striking red on black colour scheme. The tachymetre scale around the dial is large and clear, and the piece has a reliable quartz chronograph movement for accurate timing. The case is made from titanium, and is therefore well suited to more rugged pursuits, whilst the rubber bracelet provides a secure and comfortable fit. This piece retails at £1,600, and is available on finance terms from £35.56 per month.
Whatever purpose you need your watch to fulfil, at Banks Lyon our specialist team can help you find the perfect timepiece. Our extensive range includes sought-after brands and models from Swiss-made Omega watches to the British-made Bremont. For more information, or to speak to our team about which watch would work best for you, you can visit us in-store, call us on 01524 381020, or contact us online. You can also keep up to date with our news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.