The most recent addition to Bell & Ross’ urbane BR05 collection, this 40mm stainless-steel watch stands out for its copper-coloured dial, finished with an eye-catching sunburst effect. The characterful colour makes it the perfect watch for anyone who likes to stand out, but – with 100m water resistance and a no-nonsense steel bracelet – still wants a watch that can handle a bit of everyday wear and tear.

Last year, as part of MR PORTER’s 10th anniversary celebrations, we worked with IWC Schaffhausen on an exclusive Pilot’s Chronograph. The question had to be: where do you go from there? Sticking with the look that was defined by last year’s collaboration, we are proud to announce the IWC Big Pilot 43 MR PORTER Edition 1, in bronze and Alcantara. The luxurious, textured feel of this 500-piece edition favours all-round wearability and versatility, and in a nod to the highly legible aviation roots of the design, the “1” numeral is picked out in blue SuperLumiNova to match the hands and cardinal points.

The third generation of Montblanc’s Summit smart watch comes in a 42mm titanium case with an interchangeable strap system, and the Geosphere digital dial is so convincing at a glance you might take it for a mechanical watch – especially with the traditional crown and pushers reconfigured for the smartwatch age. Powered by Google’s Wear OS 3.0, it has a full suite of health apps, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC payment connectivity.

It’s got a five-day power reserve, a smart new in-house movement, an unusual date display (the eponymous “pointer date”) and a really luscious, deep, glossy blue dial. Is it any wonder we keep recommending Oris’ Big Crown Pointer Date as one of the less-heralded hits of 2022? It’s almost hard to extol its virtues when they amount, largely, to just being the kind of watch you could wear day-in, day-out, with any outfit, and be completely satisfied. The crown isn’t actually that big, either, in case you were worried.

Whisper it, but even the most die-hard connoisseurs of haute horlogerie will admit to having a soft spot for Timex’s heritage-inspired models. It’s not hard to see why: the dive bezel, simple dial and slinky mesh bracelet offer an easy route to 1970s style, with a brand name that’s got genuine credibility in its field. Whether you’re seeing it as an entry into watch appreciation or something to wear while the Vacheron’s being serviced, everyone should have one of these.

As we head, hopefully, into the first full year of post-pandemic travel and activity, watches with a travel time complication deserve another look. A full world timer is usually an expensive proposition, but as is its practice, Frederique Constant offers the Highlife Worldtimer for a shade over £3,000 – practically unheard of for a watch with an in-house Swiss movement. The tapered steel case is still well suited to today’s tastes – collectors show little sign of falling out of love with that late-1970s look.

Don’t be fooled by the bright lustre of the Argonaut’s bronze case – absolutely, it’s a handsome watch fresh out of the box, but this is a watch that will come into its own when it’s seen a bit of adventure, as befits its military connections. (The Argonaut is one of three Bremont designs officially endorsed by the Royal Navy, RAF and British Army.) The 42mm design has two crowns, one for setting the time and one to operate the internally mounted rotating dive bezel.

Respectably discreet on the outside, this Scatola del Tempo four-watch box is upholstered on the interior with every watch geek’s favourite shade of turquoise – AKA Tiffany Blue – both in soft calf leather. Handmade in Italy, it’s a playful, contemporary take on the age-old need of every watch collector: there are always more watches than places to safely keep them.