Best watches to buy in 2012

From luxury sports timepieces to designer brands and high-tech wrist watches, these are the best watches to buy in 2012

One in seven Britons might be replacing watches with new technology, but we still believe a quality time piece is an essential executive accoutrement. Serving two purposes, it makes a statement about your style and standing and it also tells you what the time is.

So, whether you flex a rugged, tech-heavy chronograph or a classic, slimline piece designed to compliment your suits, your choice of watch says a lot about you, which is why we've taken care to pick out the best watches of 2011.

1. Breitling Navitimer

Breitling's first ever timepiece, still going strong today (albeit no longer restricted to the wrists of pilots). Launched in 1952, Breitling say its circular slide rule allows its wearer to perform "all airborne navigation calculations" - don't worry, it tells the time, too.

Price: £4,500

Link: Breitling Watches

2. Omega Seamaster

What's cooler, astronauts or James Bond? It's the stuff playground arguments are made of, but when it's a toss up between Omega's Speedmaster moonwatch or the timepiece flaunted by Britain's sheckshiest shecret agent, we reckon its an even match. Features a sapphire crystal face for scratch resistance and a body waterproof to 600m. Does not feature a laser or remote detonator.

Price: £1500

Link: Omega Watches

3. Graham Mercedes GP Trackmaster

Launched for the British Grand Prix earlier this year to celebrate the partnership between Graham and the Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team, with the colours of the watch and team logos complimenting each other, the GP Trackmaster features a rubber tyre-detail strap, is water resistant to 100m, has an automatic movement, fixed bezel and delightfully chunky start/stop lever and reset buttons. An exquisite watch from centuries-old English watchmakers.

Price: £4,500

Link: Graham London

4. Breitling for Bentley

What's the point of splashing out on the car if no-one you meet knows about it? Breitling's joint venture with Bentley solves the problem of how to spot a Bentley owner out and about without their wheels. Bringing all of Breitling's horological know-how together with Bentley's designers, the Breitling for Bentley range is every bit as luxurious - and, ahem, pricey - as you'd expect.

Price: £5,000

Link: Breitling for Bentley

5. Breitling Superocean

The original incarnations of the Superocean were launched by Swiss watchmakers par excellence Breitling in 1957. Now, over half a century later, Breitling has again revamped their ultra tough maritime showpiece. Water resistant to 1,500 meters (a bends-inducing 5,000ft), the watch features sapphire crystal glare-proof casing and is available with black, silver, blue, red or yellow dials, either with the 'diver pro' rubber strap or 'ocean racer' steel.

Price: £2,000 (rubber); £2,300

Link: Breitling

6. Diagono Chrono Watch

Designed with Italian style and put together with clinical Swiss engineering, the polished stainless steel folding buckle strap and elegant stainless steel case make this watch a great choice for black tie shindigs. Offering the choice of mechanical (with 42 hour power reserve) or automatic winding, the Diagono features the Roman numeral inspired 'BVLGARI' logo embossed around the 40mm dial.

Price: £4,450

Link: Bulgari

7. Arnold and Son True Moon

When keeping track of the moon is as important as keeping track of your schedule, look no further than the Arnold and Son True Moon. With a separate movement tracking the moon's 29 day month, the moon's phases are displayed through 18 revolving moon-shaped discs at the bottom of the face - we don't know how we lived without this.

Price: £16,000

Link: Arnold and Son

8. Omega Speedmaster

If you're popping off for a weekend jaunt into space, best be punctual about it. The Omega Speedmaster was the first watch on the moon, sported by the crew of Apollo 11 and of every NASA space flight since. In its fifty year career its had only minimal updates from the original steel-bodied Speedmaster, making this about as close as you're likely to get to your own small step for man.

Price: £2,000

Link: Omega Watches

9. CWC British Army Quartz General Service Watch

With ownership generally restricted to members of HM armed forces, civvies wanting to sign up for a tour with the British Army's official timepiece have to go through its lone authorised retailer, Silvermans. As you'd expect from a watch that's seen action from Bosnia to Baghdad, it's pretty hardy, with an acrylic face, a steel body and a Swiss-made quartz movement.

Price: £115

Link: Cabot Watch Company

10. Graham Swordfish Booster

If you're just a sucker for all things massive, look no further than the Swordfish Booster. Those over-sized dials on the front count 30 minutes and twelve hours separately from the main face, which is protected by steel and sapphire crystal, and the whole thing is held in place on the wrist by a rubber or crocodile leather strap.

Price: £7,150

Link: Graham London

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