The new year is upon us and for many, the well-meaning and wildly optimistic resolutions we set for ourselves are proving onerous if not impossible. If you're struggling to give up smoking or chocolate, fret not and heed the words of Homer Simpson: 'You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is: never try.' Taking that advice to heart, I've given up on my plan to be more 'active' in 2012 - but I haven't given up on the effort to appear more active. And with the right sports watch, appearances can be satisfyingly deceptive.
For the aerobically challenged or the indolent, walking is exercise enough, and to many, golf is pretty much walking, with the odd bit of swinging your arms around every now and again. A golf watch may at first seem an odd and redundant specialisation for watchmakers given that there is no speed to be measured, but Tag Heuer has managed to find the green with its imaginatively titled Professional Golf Watch (above right). It was first released in partnership with golfing- and now tabloid-phenomenon Tiger Woods. The Tiger angle, which Tag Heuer hasn't pushed as hard in recent years, shouldn't diminish what is a great watch. Made of titanium to keep the weight down to just 55 grams, the Professional Golf Watch is designed to have zero effect on your swing, while also featuring anti-shock technology that protects the watch from violent attempts at escaping bunkers. The black dial is dimpled and features numerals at the 12 and six o'clock positions, with a date window at the three o'clock position. The Tag Heuer Professional Golf Watch is available for the thoroughly tempting price of HK$15,000.
The least aerobic sport around, but definitely a workout for viewers' eyes is motor racing. Oris, aside from its successful collaboration with the Williams F1 team, has an impressive range of racing watches, including the Chronoris Grand Prix 70 Limited Edition (above centre). The Chronoris Grand Prix 70 is inspired by the 1970s - racing's golden age. The colour scheme is the immediate attraction, with fitting use of British racing green and black while white numerals evoke dash- board dials. The large 42.5mm stainless-steel case houses a dial with subdials that include a chronograph, a small seconds dial at the nine o'clock position, and an hour counter at the six o'clock position. The timepiece also features a stopwatch function and a second time-zone hand. The strap is black leather with the obligatory racing-hole design, and the watch comes in a presentation box complete with retro-style racing gloves. Aptly limited to 1,970 pieces, all individually numbered, the Oris Chronoris Grand Prix 70 is available for a bargain HK$28,000.
Swiss watchmaker Hublot has invested a lot of resources in creating watches that carry world-famous names, from composers to architects. In the sports sphere, Hublot hit the jackpot in its collaboration with Manchester United Football Club, an association that produced its third watch last year, the King Power Red Devil (above right). At 48mm, this beast of a watch is sure to be on the wish list of every well-heeled United supporter. The indices of the watch are made from freeze-dried grass from the Old Trafford pitch, and the watch comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by manager Alex Ferguson. The watch is available in two designs: black ceramic, which is limited to 500 pieces, and gold, limited to 250 pieces. Prices are available upon request.
