Six Exceptional Stainless Steel Watches with Matching Bracelets

Stainless steel is undoubtedly the most popular material for watch cases and bracelets due to several reasons. To begin with, it is strong and durable, and can withstand everyday wear and tear. What’s more, it is also resistant to corrosion, rust, and tarnishing; this makes stainless steel a good choice for watches that will be exposed to such damaging factors as water and sweat. As a material for watches, stainless steel, more affordable than, say, gold or platinum, is suitable for both casual and formal occasions. Watches boasting stainless steel bracelets come in a wide range of styles and price points. Here’s a list of six that will simply take your breath away.

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Zenith DEFY Skyline Tourbillon

A tourbillon is one of those horological marvels that not only exemplify the zenith of watchmaking craftsmanship but also add an unparalleled level of sophistication and allure to a timepiece. The unisex 41 mm stainless steel DEFY Skyline Tourbillon features an octagonal case and a dodecagonal bezel; a screw-down crown is located at 3 o'clock. 

The DEFY Skyline Tourbillon's sunray-patterned metallic dial, featuring an etched starry sky pattern, has been crafted to highlight the high-frequency tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The hour markers are coated with rhodium for the blue-dial model. Powering the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon is the new El Primero 3630 automatic high-frequency manufacture calibre, delivering a power reserve of 60 hours.

Price: INR 55,00,000 (approx.)

Breguet Type XX

Chronographs have significantly impacted the luxury watch industry, both technically and aesthetically. This complexity elevates a watch's status in the eyes of collectors who appreciate mechanical ingenuity. This particular 42 mm stainless steel watch gets two pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock, and a large pear-shaped crown.

The large Arabic numerals on the dial have the same mint green colour as the triangle on the non-engraved fluted bidirectional bezel. The black dial features a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, a 60-second counter at 9 o’clock, and a date window at 4:30. The Type 20 is powered by the in-house self-winding automatic Calibre 7281 that offers a 60-hour power reserve and a frequency of 5Hz.

Price: INR 20,54,000 (approx.)

Breitling Navitimer Chronograph

In 1954, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) named it as their official wristwatch. Thus the "navigation timer" (or Navitimer) was born. This 46 mm stainless steel watch gets two pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock, and a crown at 3 o’clock with two gaskets to wind and set the time on the watch. There is a bidirectional slide-rule bezel with a 60-minute scale.

The black-dial watch also gets AOPA wings to their original position at 12 o’clock, a 60-minute counter at 9 o’clock, a 12-hour counter with an integrated date window at 6 o’clock, and a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. Powering the watch is the Breitling 01 with 70 hours of power reserve. 

Price - INR 8,55,000 (approx.)

Montblanc Ice Sea

Unveiled at the Watches and Wonders 2023, this watch has a 41 mm stainless steel case, a fluted bezel, and a grey glacier pattern dial. The dial has a combination of eight bar-shaped and three Arabic hour markers for 12 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock, and a date window at 3 o’clock.

The dial has been crafted with a special technique called gratté-boisé. Powering the watch with an impressive stainless steel bracelet is an automatic self-winding movement. 

Price: INR 2,90,000 (approx.)

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph

The Solargraph movement eliminates the need to change the watch's battery; it is recharged by sunlight. A two-minute exposure to direct sunshine is sufficient to charge the watch for the entire day. This 34 mm stainless steel watch gets a stainless steel 60-minute unidirectional bezel.

There is a deep blue sunray brushed dial; rhodium plating and white Super-LumiNova® can be found on the hour markers, and hour and minute hands. The dial also gets a polar blue lacquered central hand with blue Super-LumiNova® and a date window at 3 o’clock. Powering the watch is the Calibre TH50-01 movement. The watch is finished on a polished steel three-row bracelet with a steel folding clasp.

Price: INR 1,95,000 (approx.)

Tissot PR516 Mechanical Chronograph

When watch brands delve into their archives for inspiration, it turns out to be a fascinating journey that not only honours heritage but also brings timeless designs back to the forefront of modern horology. With a 41 mm diameter and a thickness of 13.70 mm, the proportions align with those of contemporary sports chronographs.

The pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock, and the crown at 3 o'clock maintain a vintage vibe. The bezel is equipped with a tachymeter and pulsometer scales, printed under a mineral glass insert. The 30-minute chronograph counter rests at 3 o’clock, while the 12-hour counter can be spotted at 6 o’clock and the running seconds at 9 o’clock. Powering the watch is a Swiss manual-winding movement with a 68-hour power reserve. 

 Price: INR 1,74,000 (approx.)‍