DESIGN BUFF

Nomos Glashütte Tangente Neomatik 39 Silvercut $5390 nomos-glashuette.com

Ultra-legible, super-thin and ubercrisp, this German-made watch with a rhodium-plated, horizontally polished silvercut dial exudes Bauhaus style. The snappily sized 38.5-millimetre case is presented on a Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan leather strap, while the in-house automatic calibre keeps everything tidy in the timekeeping department.

Baume Custom Timepiece $US540 baumewatches.com

This watch from Baume, the offspring of venerable brand Baume & Mercier, is only available online but has a neat attraction: it’s priced under $1000 and you can design your own version using the configurator. The basics look good: clean lines, open dials, wire lugs, a choice of colours and straps made from recycled or natural materials such as cotton, linen and cork.

Hermès Carré H $10,080 hermes.com

Created by award-winning French designer Marc Berthier, the Carré H stands out for its square form with rounded edges. The polished and microbead-blasted steel case and guillochéd dial reflect light, accentuating the clarity of the design, while the numerals feature an exclusive font and make use of the zero to visually balance the hour markers. The in-house movement is self-winding.