Just taken delivery of your new explorer yacht and planning your first far flung adventure? Then you'll need a watch that stands up to the elements. Luckily there's more than a few to choose from with heritages that have seen them accompany intrepid explorers everywhere from the moon to the South Pole. So whether you're after a great pilot's watch to wear on your helideck or a diving watch fit for the Ross Sea, here's our edit of the top timepieces guaranteed to withstand anything you can throw at them...
Omega Speedmaster 1957 Trilogy (60th anniversary limited edition)
A modern-day tribute to the first Speedmaster, with its distinctive “Broad Arrow” hour hand, and the forerunner of the watch that would accompany every NASA-piloted mission to the moon from 1965 onwards. Limited to 3,557 pieces.
Case: Steel, 41.5mm
Strap: Steel
Movement: Omega calibre 9300
Waterproof: 100 metres
Limited edition: 3,557
Price: £5,360, omegawatches.com
Breitling Colt Skyracer
As worn by Frenchman Mika Brageot, the Breitling Red Bull Air Race pilot who travels at 277mph in his MXS-R Skyracer propeller-powered plane. This ultra sturdy-looking watch is, in fact, incredibly light.
Case: Breitlight, 45mm
Strap: Rubber
Movement: Breitling 74
Waterproof: 100 metres
Price: £1,690, breitling.com
Bremont White Desert
For sale only to those who have stood at the lowest point on earth, this watch brings a whole new meaning to limited availability. To qualify for ownership you must have travelled to the Geographic South Pole, where you can walk “around the world” in a few paces.
Case: Steel
Strap: Leather
Price: From £5,795, bremont.com
Tudor Heritage Black Bay Chrono
In 1955, a watch worn in the Monaco International Trophy for motorbikes survived “merciless vibration” over a 1,000 mile ride. This year, Tudor recreated the test, with three drivers wearing the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Chrono in The Great Mile 1,000 mile rally.
Case: Steel, 41mm
Strap: Steel
Movement: Calibre MT5813
Waterproof: 200 metres
Price: £3,610, tudor.com
Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire
Created entirely from the hardest material in the watchmaking industry - sapphire - the Hublot Big Bang Unico is so tough that only a diamond can scratch it. This 500-piece limited edition also offers water resistance to 100 metres, chronograph functions and, because it's completely transparent, also doubles up as one of the best skeleton watches.
Case: Sapphire crystal, 45mm
Strap: Transparent structured lined strap
Movement: HUB1242 Unico
Waterproof: 100 metres
Limited edition: 500
Price: £48,000, hublot.com
Victorinox Inox
The ultra-tough Inox has allegedly survived being run over by a tank, fallen onto concrete from a great height and being left in a sandstorm. Quartz-powered, it’s also waterproof down to 200 metres, capable of operating in temperatures from minus 51C to +71C and virtually immune to being damaged by regular solvents and chemicals. And for when the going gets really tough, you can fit the wraparound rubber buffer to give extra protection to the case.
Case: Steel, 43mm
Strap: Rubber
Movement: Quartz
Waterproof: 200 metres
Price: £399, victorinox.com
Rolex Explorer II
Rolex introduced the Explorer II in 1971, primarily for use by “speleologists”, otherwise known as cavers. The feature that made the original watch suitable for such a sport was the rotating 24-hour bezel, which, used in conjunction with the prominent, highly luminous secondary hour hand, enabled the wearer to keep track of whether it was night or day while scrambling around in dark caverns. Early orange-hand versions were named after Steve McQueen, who was, erroneously, credited with wearing one while modern versions retain all the sleek simplicity of their predecessors.
Case: Steel, 42mm
Strap: Steel
Movement: Calibre 3187
Waterproof: 100 metres
Price: £6,250, rolex.com
Richard Mille RM 60-01 Regatta Flyback Chronograph
The RM 60-01 is Richard Mille’s first technical watch designed for intrepid adventurers. Powered by the grade-five titanium RMAC2 movement with 55 hours of power reserve, the RM 60-01 adds navigational capabilities with its special rotating bezel indicating the four cardinal points. It has the ability to orientate within the northern and southern hemispheres without additional calculations.
Case: Titanium, 50mm
Strap: Rubber
Movement: Calibre RMAC2 automatic
Waterproof: 100 metres
Price: £116,500, richardmille.com