With the world reeling from the news that George Clooney is available once more, it is time to speculate how he will fare on the singles market. Will it be an awkward reintroduction into the world of dating? Will Gorgeous George look for love online? Or will he revert to the old faithful: slip on a razor sharp suit, a classically styled dress watch and let his winning personality and charm shine through? Something tells me Clooney will not struggle to get female attention but, sometimes, even the best of us can do with a little help in the sophistication department, and a dress watch is the ultimate style accessory. So what makes a great dress watch? Well opinions vary but, generally, such a timepiece should be slim and unobtrusive, allowing a shirt cuff to slip easily over it, contain a mechanical movement and a rarefied leather strap, and have simple and classical styling.
The foremost purveyor of the dress watch is Jaeger-LeCoultre, and the brand's watchmaking skill is abundantly illustrated by the 2011 edition of the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Italico (near right). Made to celebrate two occasions - the 80th anniversary of the legendary Reverso and the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy - the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Italico continues the exalted tradition of this line of wristwatches with yet another piece that will leave you marvelling at the ultra-thin movement. At an astonishing 2.94mm, it is Jaeger-LeCoultre's thinnest ever, meaning the distinctive and gorgeously made case is as unobtrusive on the wrist as any luxury watch available today. The most distinctive design feature is the red letter 'R' at the eight o'clock position, a playful nod to Roman numeral shorthand from the Middle Ages, which used the letter to depict the number 80. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Italico is limited to 150 pieces for the steel version and 50 pieces in rose gold, and is yet to be priced for the Hong Kong market.
Patek Philippe, a brand that makes all well-dressed men go weak at the knees, has released yet another delightful dress watch: the 5216R Minute Repeater (above right), which is a deceptively uninspiring name for what is a fantastic watch. The 5216R is, strictly speaking, a bit on the large side to be a purist's dress watch, with a 39.5mm case, but the sleekness of design and the Patek Philippe name is a worthy accompaniment to any suit. With a case made of 18-carat rose gold and a brown alligator leather strap, the timepiece is mind bogglingly feature-packed, making this the fourth most complicated Patek Philippe wristwatch on the market. The 5216R features, among other things, a minute repeater, a tourbillon and a perpetual calendar with retrograde date and moon phases. Prices for the Patek Philippe 5216R Minute Repeater are available upon request, but don't expect something this complicated and wonderfully made to come cheap.
If you're looking for a more affordable luxury dress watch, look no further than the Frederique Constant Carree Quartz Gents watch (right) - or the FC-220MC4C26 to give it its full unwieldy reference number. The black leather strap and stainless-steel square case complement the subtle and classic aesthetics of the face. The case is a satisfyingly thin 5mm, with a date complication at the six o'clock position and refined Roman numerals. Once again, the FC-220MC4C26 watch isn't a purist's dress watch as it contains a quartz movement, rather than a mechanical one. However, as it's priced at an extremely tempting HK$5,500 and has great design, so who cares?