The Watchlist: up to £2K

Instead of selling tat, like most fashion houses, CK has fitted this beauty with a Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph.

£1,550; calvinklein.com

With day/date, three subdials and - by using a rotating inner bezel - it'll convert distances, weight and liquid measures.

£1,300; hamiltonwatch.com

A classy, traditional automatic from the classic Swiss brand, in a contemporary stainless steel case. Stark white dial features elegant Roman numerals.

£1,570; thewatchgallery.co.uk

Sleek and ultra-modern, this 42mm Oris is a fresh take on a classic formula. The bezel rotates for elapsed time, while the day and date appear in windows above the six numeral.

£1,280; oris.ch

B&R understands ‘retro' better than most. What makes this automatic BR 123 special is the modern mix of blacks and greys set in a traditional form.

£1,950; bellross.com

Carving a niche among modern sports watches, veteran brand Alpina has given this automatic a huge bunch of features.

£1,070; alpina-watches.com

The elegant Tetra has an in-house manual movement that's bound to upset watch snobs when they learn you paid less than £2k for it...

£1,720; nomos-glashuette.com

Sinn makes no-nonsense watches for the German military. This one's anti-magnetic with a second time zone and a comfy case.
£1,625; sinnwatches.com

This re-edition of a functional but smart military watch marks 180 years of Longines. It's the sort of thing a plummy WWII officer would have worn.

£1,110; thewatchgallery.co.uk