Well, this is it, people: the very last HODINKEE post of 2018. As we do every year, we’ve rounded up the watches that our team has worn the most over the last 12 months. It’s been a big year here at HODINKEE HQ, and you can see here that we’ve added quite a few new people to the team. Enjoy this little annual tradition and thank you for all of your support this year. We promise that 2019 is going to be our biggest year yet and you’re going to love it.
We want to know what your most-worn watch was in 2018 too. Let us know in the comments below or tag us on Instagram. We’ll post some of our favorites on our Instagram stories.
Eneuri Acosta, COO – Rolex GMT-Master II In Oystersteel And Everose Gold
I remember the first time I saw this watch. It was my first Baselworld and I decided to tag along with the editorial team to see Rolex’s novelties (because, of course). I was sitting across from Cara as she got emotional over the infamous Rainbow Daytona and Jack as he analyzed the GMT-Master II “Pepsi,” the undisputed star of the show. I fell for the sleeper Everose gold and steel GMT-Master II “root beer.” A few months later, I casually inquired with an AD if he had one available, which he responded by laughing at me. But lo and behold, a week later he called and said that one had just arrived with my name on it if I wanted it. It has been on my wrist ever since and it wears as awesome as it looks.
Mo Ali, Director Of Strategy – TAG Heuer Carrera CV2115.FC6185
This TAG Heuer Carrera steel chronograph was my first watch purchase as an “adult” back in 2005 and is still, to this date, the watch I connect to the most. As an avid motorsport enthusiast, the chronograph and racing inspired design still speaks to me, and it’s the watch I wear whether I’m on track, instructing driving students, or wrenching on my cars. The big change I made to the appearance of the watch in 2018 was the addition of the HODINKEE Dark Brown Leather Racing Watch Strap. While I thought this would be a good summer strap, I found myself not wanting to go back to the original strap as the racing strap completes the emotional connection I have with this watch’s motorsports heritage.
David Aujero, Associate Digital Producer – Cartier Tank Louis
It’s crazy what can happen in a year, or should I say, six months. I started at HODINKEE in February, got married two weeks later a few blocks away from the office (thanks Will and Grey for crashing my courthouse wedding), went to Baselworld a few days after that instead of going on a honeymoon, and my wife gave birth to our second daughter in July. Ironically, during this time, I didn’t own a watch. It didn’t take me long to be sure of what I wanted: the Tank Louis, in rose gold, with the guilloché dial. I knew I was in full-on HODINKEE mode when I’d leave work and immediately go home and spend hours looking for the watch online. I didn’t want to settle. I finally found it, bought it, and realized that buying a watch is a lot like falling in love – you gotta follow your heart, and as Pusha T said, “If you know, you know.”
Cara Barrett, Manager of Social Media And Special Projects/Editor – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 14540
This year I unexpectedly got a new watch. It happened quickly on a cold February afternoon – the watch was spotted and I knew I had to have it. Cue the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak reference 15450, a 37mm stainless steel sports watch with a whole lot of luxury. At first try I was like “oh wow this is awesome!” and then I wore it for a week and realized that this watch, the bracelet in particular, is a true joy to wear. The way the links wrap around your wrist, the way the hand-brushing shimmers in the sunlight, those polished edges?? Perfection. So perfect (to me at least), it’s barely left my wrist since.
Adam Becker, HODINKEE Shop Associate – Seiko SKX007
The thing I love most about this watch is how many mornings I find myself wanting to put it on. I’m not going to claim that I have a massive collection that forces me to divide my time between watches, but I think that even if I did, I’d have trouble not wearing the SKX007 most days. This year alone, it’s been with me all around NYC, in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, on hiking trails in New York, Connecticut, and Hawaii, and, most importantly, on my wrist during my wedding.
Chelsea Beeler, Office Coordinator – Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675
This Rolex GMT-Master has been in my family since the early 1980s, but I only started wearing it earlier this year as a treat to myself for landing a swanky new job at HODINKEE. I love this watch because it’s simply badass. It made me realize that my one true love, when it comes to watches, is yellow gold! As much as I wish I could rock it on its original Jubilee (which I can’t because my wrist is too small), a black or even brown leather strap perfectly understates it to the point that I feel more than comfortable wearing everyday.
Jon Bues, Senior Editor – Grand Seiko SBGM221
I wore my Grand Seiko GMT on an almost daily basis in 2018, using it not just to track the time on several trips over the course of the year, or during days here at my desk at HODINKEE writing stories, but even when I got married in September. Come to think of it, I don’t know if I’ve ever owned a watch that moved so nimbly between different kinds of events that demanded casual dress on the one hand and formal on the other. It’s a mightily versatile little timepiece, this GS, and every day I wore it, I found myself looking at the elegant reflection of light coming from its diamond-polished hands and indexes. 2018 was a really big year for me, and many of its most important moments in time were recorded with this Grand Seiko on my wrist
Danis Cespedes, HODINKEE Shop Associate – Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601
This piece is actually the newest to my watch collection and although it is not the watch that I have worn the most in 2018, it has been the watch I’ve longed to own. Upon completion of my one year anniversary with HODINKEE in November, I got my hands on this lovely timepiece after seeing similar examples sold time after time in the H Shop. I can’t help but see all the hard work and constant inspiration along the way that came with working at HODINKEE every time I look at this watch. Furthermore, it is also just a classic Rolex to have – its subtle elegance, with the timeless fluted bezel and silvered dial, was so alluring and made me want to have one of my own. I’m sure this watch will be living on my wrist for much more time to come.
Ben Clymer, Founder/CEO – Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 In 18k Yellow Gold
2018 was a year that saw a lot of new watches enter my collection, and just as many make their departure. But the watch I wore most this calendar year is a watch I’ve actually owned before, and as I’ve stated somewhere along the way, is the only watch I actually regret selling – a Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 in yellow gold. I owned an incredible 14k example back in 2014 or so, and I wore it on a corfam style racing strap to dress it down a bit. I sold it in 2016, and have been missing it ever since. I’d put out feelers to all my usual friends in the vintage Rolex game but nothing seemed to pop up. Then, one day, one did! I wasn’t prepared to a buy a solid gold Daytona that day, but when I found out the watch dated to 1982 (my birth year) I figured I had to. This 18k 6263 has never been far from my wrist since.
Aram David, Photographer – Omega Speedmaster
Normally, “I’m a space geek” is all you need to know about why someone would choose this watch, but for me it goes deeper. I was married in one. And when I fell on some hard times, I sold it out of panic. Vowing to one day own a Speedmaster again, I worked harder than I ever have in my life, and when I was back on my feet, and working with HODINKEE, I purchased this Speedmaster to commemorate it.
Eric Eriksson, Designer – Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Ref. 116655
The combination of rose gold (Everose, sorry Rolex) and black has always felt particularly me. The understatedness that the rose hue lends to the otherwise too-gaudy-for-me yellow gold means I can feel comfortable wearing a precious metal watch without broadcasting too much opulence. And those glossy black numerals on the matte black Cerachrome bezel – oh boy, black on black anything makes me weak at the knees. Combine all that with the most comfortable strap I’ve ever worn and this watch is a no-brainer. The fact I’ve yet to meet anyone else wearing it is just icing.
Jack Forster, Editor-In-Chief – Grand Seiko SBGH267
New watches are a relative rarity for me nowadays (two kids and the imminent threat of college tuition can do a lot to dry up one’s innate acquisitive streak). However, this Hi-Beat limited edition became part of my somewhat circumscribed horological life in early 2018 (immediately after it was announced at Baselworld, more or less) and aside from being kicked off my carpals occasionally for A Week On The Wrist or other test-drives, I’ve been wearing it pretty constantly ever since. It’s Grand Seiko at its best – Grand Seiko at its worst is still better than most brands at their best, but this Hi-Beat has such an amazing dial, amazing hands, amazing case, amazing … well, everything, really, that wearing it just never gets old.
Justin Hast, Contributor – Girard-Perregaux 1966 WW.TC Steel
This GP is one that’s close to the heart. Growing up, my uncle/mentor/hero wore an early rose gold WW.TC (that was slightly larger both in thickness and diameter to this guy). I can vividly remember discussing it with him as a youngster and being in awe of its elegance while totally perplexed by the idea of being able to reference the time in multiple cities. Picking one up mid-way through this year was huge for me. From a design perspective, the dial is sublime. It’s subtle, but I love how the silver changes in varying light. And at 40mm, in the thinner 1966 style case with twin crowns, it’s just damn comfortable. There is also something to be said for the simplicity and clarity of the dial layout (often world time complications can be a little busy, I find). GP isn’t a manufacturer that many down the gym or pub are all too familiar with (which I celebrate). And in my opinion, the W.W.TC is to GP, what the Royal Oak, Sub, and Lange One are to AP, Rolex and ALS.
Jason Heaton, Editor-At-Large – Doxa SUB 200 T.Graph Sharkhunter
Easy one: a Doxa SUB 200 T.Graph, sold the year I was born, worn by its owner to dive in lakes near my childhood hometown, and now firmly on my wrist after all a full service. I plan to honor this watch’s 50th anniversary in 2019 by taking it deep once more, albeit not on the badass Bund strap upon which it spent most of 2018 mounted.
Will Holloway, Director of Content – Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical
When we wake up in the morning and don our day’s costume, we choose a watch based on our outfit, our mood, or, most likely, some combination thereof. And some days we just want to keep things nice and simple: a pair of pants solidly on the earth-tone spectrum, a black t-shirt, and a no-nonsense, time-only watch. For me this year, well, this imperfect storm of sartorial and mental “effortlessness” struck quite a bit, and the watch that complemented it the most was the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical. At 38mm, with great legibility and a sub-$500 price point, how can you really go wrong? I threw mine on a green leather strap from the H Shop. Nice and simple.
Ashley Kinder, HODINKEE Shop Manager – Tudor Black Bay 36
Though the Swatch Sistem51s for HODINKEE received substantial wrist time this year, I kept coming back to my Tudor Black Bay 36. From taking it to Australia on a Sea Blue Calfskin Strap in March to wearing it on its bracelet over the summer to pairing it with a Honey Gold Calfskin Strap for H10 in New York earlier this month, this is (in my humble opinion) one of the most versatile and wearable watches around. I have a couple of new additions planned for my collection in 2019, but I don’t see myself getting tired of the BB36 anytime soon.
Greyson Korhonen, Associate Digital Producer – Unimatic U1-EM
To be honest, I was not at all into this watch when I first read about it in James’s review this past summer. The dial design? Contrived. The movement? Unimpressive. And that marker-less black bezel insert? Hard pass. But over time, much like a 7th grade crush, the harder I tried to ignore the U1-EM, the more smitten I became with its subtle charms. The tasteful, yet distinctive minimalism of the dial and bezel. The unadorned, no-nonsense build of the brushed stainless steel case. The sly wink of the “stealth” dial text and muted Unimatic logo. I was in deep. And still am. It’s a watch that says a lot without saying much at all and I’m already looking forward to some more quality wrist time with it in 2019.
Jamie Lottering, Senior Software Engineer – The Seiko Presage Blue Enamel Limited Edition
Before starting at HODINKEE I had never owned a mechanical watch. When I visited the office in December of 2017 I saw this watch in the metal and was taken by the deep blue dial and the hefty, quality feel to it. Unfortunately it was sold out at that point and so when it came back in stock in the H Shop I jumped at the chance. I wear it as a milestone marker of my career and, as cheesy as it sounds, a reminder of my pride in working for HODINKEE.
John Mayer, Contributor – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon
There’s a word I use in my head to refer to something that performs a relatively simple task, but at the highest level of performance. It’s called “a rig.” A Leica M camera with a 35mm lens is a rig. So is a 1940 Martin 000-45 guitar. A vintage Porsche. There’s a kind of twisted logic between the parts and the sum of these designs. The watch I wore the most this year is definitely a rig. All it does is tell the time: the hours and the minutes. But it’s the journey, not the destination that counts here. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak extra thin tourbillon is one of those timepieces that sits perfectly at several intersections: It’s the classic AP Royal Oak design, on a bracelet. With very balanced case dimensions. In rose gold. Add to it the matching gold dial made exclusively for AP boutiques in a limited quantity, and you have a watch that was very hard to switch out this year.A tourbillon is a study in overdelivery. It’s a mechanical “shaggy dog” story; follow the gears and the springs and the cage that rotates on multiple axes like some kind of time machine drawn on parchment, and you get to the punchline: It’s five past three. Does it do anything else? It’s not meant to. It takes the long way through an otherwise short story. In other words, it’s a rig.
Saori Omura, HODINKEE Shop Senior Manager – Cartier Tank Américaine 1741
Cartier has always been a master at great designs and the Tank Américaine model is no different. The exact model was released circa mid-1990s as a modern interpretation of Cartier’s other classic Tank model, Tank Cintrée. The large rectangular Tank Cintrée was introduced during the Art Deco period when rectangular wristwatches were in style along some of the early Patek Philippe and Rolex wristwatches. That’s about a full century ago, and this design still looks as fresh and appealing as ever!
Stephen Pulvirent, Managing Editor – Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016
It was late 2017 when I sold by beloved vintage GMT-Master in order to make this purchase, and since then I’ve probably worn this watch nine out of every 10 days. I’ve long believed that the original Explorer is a near-perfect design and a viable candidate for the best watch of all time (alongside gems like the Patek 2526 and others), and I’ve only grown more confident in these beliefs after spending a year with this example on my wrist. The glossy gilt dial has a ton of depth for something so simple, the 36mm case is just the right size for my wrist, and the stretch Oyster bracelet makes it insanely comfortable, even on long trans-Atlantic flights. I’m not quite a one-watch guy, but this beauty has me pretty close.
Sarah Reid, Business Development Associate – Tudor Black Bay Black
This watch has a funny story, as I won it a couple of years ago after besting a colleague in an oyster eating competition, and it has been my daily-wear ever since. Usually found on its bracelet, I have worn my Black Bay Black hiking, in the ocean, and just about everywhere in between. It’s chunky, easy to read, I don’t have to worry about dinging it – plus it fits in well around the HODINKEE offices. Until I find the perfect dress watch, this Tudor has and will continue to be the highlight of my collection.
Frank Roda, Director Of Business Development – Apple Watch Series 4
Gasp! Did someone from HODINKEE just admit to wearing the Apple Watch the most? Please hear me out before judging. I’ve been a mechanical watch guy for years now, with more than a few in my current collection, but this is the first time that I had a real use case for the Apple Watch: a baby. I wore the new Apple Watch for a solid month after the birth of my son and wow was it useful. Whether to wake me up – and only me – in the middle of the night; whether to ask Siri to set a timer, handsfree; or just to see what the outside world could look like, thanks to a nifty NYC skyline watch face. It never left my wrist. I may always be a mechanical watch guy, but I can say that I’m probably going to own an Apple Watch as well from here on. Kudos Apple, now I own literally everything you make.
Dillon Shoe, HODINKEE Shop Associate – Swatch Sistem51 HODINKEE Vintage 84
This is an easy one for me – I don’t think I wore another watch during the entirety of 2018 other than for four or five special, dress-up occasions. I can do basically anything in this watch and sometimes I forget I even have it on because it sits so well on my wrist. As you can see from the photo, there are plenty of scratches on the crystal due to the consistent wear and the fact that (even though it is a limited edition release), I don’t mind getting it roughed up. It may not be the flashiest watch in the world, but this one is definitely a winner in my book.
Brad Slavin, Advertising Manager – Orient Mako USA II
While not the most well-known brand on this list, when my family pooled together and got me this Orient Mako USA II for the holidays in 2016, I was thrilled. This watch punches way above its weight from a technical and finishing perspective. The thing I love most about this watch, though, is that I beat the hell out of it in 2018, and it shows. Watches don’t become “vintage” unless the live, unless they have battle scars. While far from vintage, this watch is starting to show my life in its scuffs and scrapes, and that means more to me than any spec sheet could.
James Stacey, Senior Writer – Rolex Explorer II Ref. 16570
While I’ve had this watch for a couple of years, it really became part of my life this past year. 2018 was my first full year as a professional writer and photographer, and from shooting watches in Paris to driving supercars in the Austrian Alps to fighting jetlag at home, this is a perfect tool watch for my travel-heavy schedule. It’s a perfect size, easy to read, simple to use, and with this version’s slightly strange “Polar” white dial, it’s a bit less common than your standard Explorer or GMT-Master II. Great on a bracelet and even better on a NATO, it’s really hard to find a strap that doesn’t work for this model and, as you’ll seldom find me in a suit, it never feels out of place regardless of where I go.
Joe Thompson, Editor-At-Large – Revue Thommen Airspeed Altimeter
This year I went back to wearing an old pal from 1998. It’s a tool watch (it indicates the altitude and barometric pressure) that I use mostly as a toy. For years, I took it on every reporting trip I made to Switzerland. When I headed up to the Vallée de Joux (1,013 meters above sea level) or La Chaux-de-Fonds (1,000 meters), I would push in the crown and get a childish delight at watching the orange arrow hand move around the dial, pointing to the altimeter scales on the bezel (0 to 4,500) as the train climbed. (The white inner scale on the dial indicates barometric pressure in hectopascals.) What a mechanical wonder this is, I would think to myself, that it measures both time and space!
Isaac Wingold, Contributor – Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 16600
As someone who’s had an alarming number of vintage and modern watches flow through their collection, I became interested in the concept of really owning a watch, and making it mine this year. No more flipping, no more quick decisions. Save for a few G-Shock slip ups, I’ve worn this early and mint tritium example of the Ref. 16600 (my favorite modern reference) just about every single day, and couldn’t be more pleased. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
Andy Yang, Director of Marketing – Rolex Submariner Ref. 14060M
Of all the watches in my small collection, the Submariner ref. 14060M gets the most wrist time by a great margin. It wears comfortably and offers great legibility, versatility, and reliability. I use the rotating bezel frequently to time everything from grilling to monitoring parking meters. I prefer the look of the pre-Cerachrom Submariners as they offer narrower lugs which tends to fit my skinny wrist better. This watch wears well in suits or jeans. For all the reasons above, I find myself wearing this watch in all settings.
from Best Watches For Men http://bit.ly/2GLFLVq