Sporting time: The best timepieces for all your pursuits

published 12 September 2017

While the British watchmaker's identity is indelibly intertwined with aviation, its expertise in precision instruments extends far beyond the skies. Its first marine watch, the Supermarine S500, drew on Bremont signatures such as its unique 'Trip-Tick' three-piece case construction and hardening technology to create a robust timepiece just as suited to the rigours of the seas. This year sees an evolution of this model, slimmed down to an eminently wearable 40mm. It still packs in all the essential features you'd expect from a practical diving watch, from screw-down crown and uni-directional bezel to water resistance to 300 metres.

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Whether an experienced sailor or looking for a watch that will survive a leisurely day on deck, Rolex's Yacht-Master II should be one of the first port of calls. This year's version has stayed true to the much-loved timepiece, with aesthetic updates to further enhance its practicality. A triangular marker at 12 o'clock and rectangular marker at 6 o'clock add further legibility to the dial, alongside the hour hand clearly distinguished with a large luminescent disc.

Taking its name from the Carrera Panamericana, once one of the world's most dangerous races, Tag Heuer's Carrera has serious on-road credentials. This is doubly true for this special edition, created to celebrate 30 years since legendary driver Ayrton Senna won the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time. The timepiece features the brand's Heuer-01 proprietary movement and is stylishly decked out with red highlights in a nod to the spirit of high-speed racing.

A good pilot's watch needs to be robust and reliable but, most of all, precise – and when it comes to the latter it's often worth looking beyond just mechanical options. You can put your trust in this latest addition to Breitling's Colt line, which is powered by a thermocompensated Super Quartz movement that is ten times more accurate than standard quartz and has undergone rigorous testing to achieve chronometer status. Its exterior is just as high-tech, constructed from Breitlight, a material lighter than both titanium and steel, yet significantly harder.

Over the decades Tudor's watches have survived sub-zero temperatures, accompanied the para rescue teams of the US Air Force and endured extreme underwater conditions on the wrists of the frogmen of the French Navy. Today, each of its timepieces is rigorously tested to ensure the precision and robustness on which it built its name. This model brings together the best features of its vintage pieces in a versatile and practical 41mm case size.

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