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EDITOR’S PICK: LIST – Six forgotten watches of 2015 that you need to know about EDITOR’S PICK: LIST – Six forgotten watches of 2015 that you need to know about

EDITOR’S PICK: LIST – Six forgotten watches of 2015 that you need to know about

Felix Scholz

The story in a second: Six of the best watches you’ve never heard about

Here’s the thing. For every Dark Side of the Moon, there is an even darker place where some of the best watches of Basel and SIHH that you’ve never even heard about hide in the shadows. For every Everose Yacht-Master there’s a What-Master? just waiting to be discovered.

Sometimes this low profile is deliberate – stealth is often the best strategy to snare those wanting less recognisable wristwear and it works for the up-and-coming brands who are boxing clever. Other times it’s less intentional, as the media attention is grabbed by a ‘surprise’, limelight-stealing hit and there’s no oxygen left for the rest of the range. Besides, marketing departments can’t focus on all of their watches all of the time.

We’re as guilty as the rest. This year we have been caught up in the hype of the cheeky-bezeled Globemaster, the hefty Heuer 01, the retro genius of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five. But what of all the other releases? Fair question. Today we strap on a cave-divers light and search for the lesser known lights of 2015.

The Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200m Co-Axial Master Chronometer

Omega-Ploprof-2015

2015 has been yet another big year for Omega. Not only did they release the brand new Globemaster, there were also more new Speedmasters than anyone could ever claim to remember. And understandably these watches received the lion’s share of attention. But, almost as an afterthought, Omega also revamped the entire Ploprof line in a serious way. It’s now rocking the new antimagnetic, METAS certified Master Co-Axial movement that we find in the Globemaster and a sapphire display back (on a 1200m rated watch!). The case has been given a makeover too – gone is the steel case and sapphire bezel – it’s now titanium and ceramic all the way. In any other year this would be major news. As it was, the Ploprof quickly sank from view. Luckily to the kind of depths it can handle. RRP (on mesh) $14,775

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin Moon (in black)

JLC-MUT-Moon

It’s easy to see why this watch didn’t make the press releases. It lacks attention-grabbing features like a tourbillon, deadbeat seconds movement or asteroid dial. In fact it isn’t even a new model. But what it lacks in novelty, the new black dialled version of the Master Ultra-Thin Moon makes up for in pure class and elegance. This is the sort of watch JLC does best, and will sell solidly. No gimmick needed. POA

Rolex Datejust Pearlmaster 39

Rolex-datejust-pearlmaster-39

While it’s hard for a new Rolex to escape notice entirely, the new ladies Pearlmaster certainly received a lot less attention than the new Yacht-Master or Day-Dates. And while bling might not be your thing there’s no denying that Rolex applies the same exacting standards to stones as they do to everything else. Oh, and did we mention the new, next-gen movement (the Calibre 3235) that it’s powered by? Well, we have now. POA

Seiko Marinemaster Professional 1000m

Seiko-Marinemaster-automatic-professionalSeiko has a pretty massive cult following, and this year they didn’t disappoint their faithful – releasing a swathe of heritage-inspired Grand Seikos. They also released a new version of the Marinemaster Professional 1000m, which they recently field-tested by dropping off a continental shelf. It kept ticking as far as 3,000 metres down. If that doesn’t deserve an excited BOOM and fist-bump emoji, what does? EU RRP 3,450 (indicative)

Oris Aquis Small Second, Date

Oris-Aquis-Small-Second

Everyone who saw the Oris 2015 line-up was pretty distracted by the Divers Sixty-Five. Because, well, Jetsons-era perfection. But we were all so distracted that we missed this killer new version of the Aquis, with a stunning midnight blue-black sunburst dial. A genuine bare-knuckle contender to take on the almighty Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller in looks, weight and price, but unfortunately not in depth-rating; this one rolls in the shallows comparatively at 500m deep. RRP $2,700AUD

TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 6

TAG-Heuer-Cal-6

TAG Heuer had a lot of watches to talk about this year. But this simple, three-handed heritage piece wasn’t one of them. It might not be as flashy as the Heuer 01, but that doesn’t make it any less of a great looking watch. After all, in the words of Steve Jobs, simple is harder than complex. And this watch is one we can’t help but keep describing as ‘cute’, a ‘little beauty’ and simply brilliant. RRP $4,400AUD

Original photography by Kristian Dowling/Time+Tide Images.