The Watchlist: up to £250

Graphic designers love Mondaine, which might explain why its latest line is named after the utilitarian Swiss-designed typeface. There are lots of materials, finishes and sizes to choose from.

£255; mondaine.ch

Pulsar's partnership with the M-Sport World Rally Team continues this year with this gold-coated stainless-steel chronograph. It's 47mm, comes on a silicon strap and is water-resistant to 100m.

£145; pulsar-watches.co.uk

It was announced last year as part of Swatch's 30th anniversary celebrations, but the robot-built automatic mechanical watch with 51 parts has only just gone on sale. Of the four colours available, blue is the pick.

£108; swatch.com

The first watches from seaside-inspired UK brand Shore Projects come with stainless-steel cases, sapphire crystal glass over the dials, different straps (£15 a pop) and water resistance to 100m.

£115; shoreprojects.com

These London-based minimalist obsessives' latest offering is a 37mm stainless-steel-cased, rubber-strapped number with a Swiss-made quartz movement. Got to love its orange minute hand, which breaks the form-follows-function mantra.

£170; uniformwares.com

Oxygen is a French brand producing affordable all-rounders, including this 40mm homage to Rolex's iconic Submariner. Obviously, it's not comparable to that, but with water resistance to 100m and a NATO fabric strap, it's a solid piece.

£149; oxygen-watch.uk.com