A Date with Destiny: Day-Date Watches
As our national YouTuber (or should I say international?) is fond of saying, a watch does not just tell the time. Here is a selection of pieces that also display the date and the day of the week: Day-Date watches.
BREGUET – Classique Calendrier 7337
Tradition and modernity. These are truly the key words of the Classique collection, which includes the new Calendrier 7337. The off-centred chapter ring shows the uniqueness of this timeless watch. This is an inherent feature of the Breguet line and a play on iconic and historic guilloché work. The Clous de Paris pattern takes pride of place in the centre of the dial, while the circular “barley grain” pattern adorns the outside.
The master guilloché engravers showcase the day and the date in large apertures at 10 and 2 o’clock respectively, providing excellent legibility. Let us also mention the presence of a moon phase, which is meticulously hammered by hand. A technique that lends realism to this veritable ballet, animated by a remarkable automatic calibre only 2.4 mm thick (the brand’s thinnest). It is also delicately decorated, along with its guilloché white gold oscillating mass. A marvel visible through the watch’s sapphire caseback.
Price: €45,800
Specifications:
39 mm white gold case
Gold dial, guilloché work by hand
Self-winding movement
Moon phases, day of the week, date, off-centred chapter ring
Silicon balance spring
Inverted straight-line lever escapement
Water-resistant up to 30 m (3 bar)
502.3 QSE1 calibre
3 Hz frequency
45-hour power reserve
Navy blue alligator leather strap
BREITLING – Aviator 8 Automatic Day & Date 41
The Breitling Aviator 8 Automatic Day & Date 41 displays the day of the week at 12 o’clock and the date at 6 o’clock. The two apertures are housed in a black dial which is adorned by a railroad minute track, and are powered by a top-flight calibre, certified chronometre by the authoritative COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres). With great chronometric precision, this watch provides a 38-hour power reserve to its lucky owner. Athletic on a steel bracelet or vintage on leather, the watch comes in a blue or black dial.
Price: €4,050
Specifications:
41 mm stainless steel case
Screwed-in caseback
Water-resistant up to 100 m
Bidirectional bezel
Screw-locked, two-gasket crown
Cambered sapphire crystal glass, glareproofed on both sides
Breitling 45 calibre
Self-winding mechanical movement
38-hour power reserve
Day & date aperture calendar
Stainless steel strap
MIDO – Ocean Star Tribute Gradient
Inspired by a 1960s diving watch, the new Ocean Star Tribute Gradient from Mido is a little hidden gem, found by Frank sans C for his video dedicated to Day-Date watches. This sporty model offers great value for money. With its 40.5 mm case, it has all the functionalities of a diving instrument: unidirectional rotating bezel, screwed crown and back, hands and indexes covered with luminescent material for optimal visibility in the dark, and water resistance up to 200 meters.
Here’s an interesting fact that enthusiasts will not miss: Mido uses cork to waterproof its watches. Let me explain: The “Aquadura” system, patented in 1934, means that the stem of the crown (the weak point of a diving watch) runs through a cork component. This allows the watch to remain water-resistant even though the crown is not completely pushed in. Very clever, indeed. Of course, I don’t have to tell you Frank Sans C’s joke about the diver and the taste of cork … The rubber strap with its raised lattice pattern gives the watch a vintage look. The grey dial with a black gradient features a day/date aperture located at 3 o’clock. Small drawback on this edition: the oscillating weight is decorated with Geneva stripes… but remains out of sight. What a pity.
Price: €890
Specifications:
Mido automatic movement, Mido 80 Calibre
HMSD + day of the week functions
80-hour power reserve
40.5 mm steel case
Unidirectional rotating bezel in black aluminium
Sapphire crystal glass
Screw-down crown with relief matte starfish design
Water-resistant up to 200 m (20 bar)
Grey gradient dial
Day/date at 3 o’clock
Superluminova® diamond-encrusted white hands
Black rubber strap
Polished pin buckle with engraved Mido logo
HERBELIN – Newport Carbon Titanium
Now for a step-up: the Newport Carbon Titanium from French watchmaker Herbelin. As the name suggests, it is made of carbon and titanium, high-tech materials known to be light, yet robust and sturdy. The watch was inspired by Herbelin’s brand ambassador, freeride ski and Class40 yacht world champion Aurélien Ducroz. It was launched to celebrate his taking part in the Route du Rhum, a major yacht race that takes place once every four years, on November 6th. This beautiful instrument, with its impressive 46.5 mm diameter, is limited to 500 pieces.
The day and date, at the 3 o’clock position, share with a regatta timer (12 o’clock) a dial which is embossed with a currents map of Saint-Malo, the starting location of this iconic race. Other references: the counters are framed by the GPS coordinates of the famous regatta, 12 o’clock for Saint-Malo and 6 o’clock for Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, the finishing location. Together with a yellow FKM rubber strap inspired by the colours of the skipper’s yacht, the watch is powered by a finely crafted Swiss automatic calibre, providing a power reserve lasting up to 62 hours. Bon voyage!
Price: €3,499 – Limited edition (only 500 pieces available)
Specifications:
46.5 mm carbon fibre and DLC-coated titanium case
Solid carbon bezel
Smoked exhibition caseback, sapphire crystal glass, glareproofed
DLC-coated titanium crown and pushes
Water resistance up to 300 m (30 bar)
Forged carbon dial with engraved the Saint-Malo sea currents
Black studded hands and indices with luminescent material
15-minute regatta timer subdial at 12 o’clock
12-hour timer subdial at 6 o’clock with a 60-second chronometer
Day/date aperture at 3 o’clock
Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, chronograph, countdown timer
High-performance yellow FKM rubber strap
Unfolding clasp with DLC-coated titanium security
Swiss selfwinding movement, a Michel Herbelin exclusive (Sellita 13 ¼ SW501 BV a)
HERBELIN-engraved oscillating mass
62-hour power reserve
ROLEX – Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date is the undisputed icon of Day-Date watches. Our house YouTuber [JP1] recommends the 40mm-diameter version in Everose gold. Instantly recognizable, the curved aperture at 12 o’clock displays the day in full and in 26 languages. Yes, really![JP2] All writing systems are used: Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic, Hebrew and Japanese alphabets, Chinese characters, etc. This watch is universal, cultural, yet ultimately very personal. At 3 o’clock, the date display is magnified by the very distinctive Cyclops lens. Certified as a Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification), it is equipped on a President bracelet fitted with an invisible Crownclasp, which opens with a hinged Rolex crown. The very essence of chic.
See our technical specifications for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 in Everose gold.
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