F
ield watches may signify rugged sophistication today, but their first wearers had rather more pressing concerns. Developed for use in the First World War, field watches helped troops and gun batteries synchronise their operations, lessening the risk of friendly fire during attacks. And it was far quicker for a soldier to check his wrist than to dig out a pocket watch — the timepiece of choice for men at that time. Although form is as important as functionality in modern field watches, the essential properties remain the same — they are durable, easy to read and easy to use.
1. Bremont Terra Nova
Referencing early-20th-century military pocket watches, the Terra Nova is a homage to vintage design. There’s the tonneau case, which was first seen in 1906; the numerals, which have a retro look about them and, in a nod to today’s improved technology, are actually Super-LumiNova blocks; and the railroad track around the outer edge of the dial that recalls field watches past. £2,850; bremont.com
2. Tudor Ranger
