6 of the best nautical watches for Father's Day

Looking for the perfect luxury gift for Father's Day? Guaranteed to last for decades, a great nautical watch is the ideal present sea-faring father's can treasure forever. Here's our edit of the best to buy now...

Patek Philippe 5390G World Time Chronograph

For the frequent flyer no watch is quite so useful as one of the best worldtimers and this timepiece from Patek Philippe boasts a simple dual-direction crown mechanism and easy-to-read dial offering 24-hour and day/night indication for all 24 time zones. Launched in 2016 it was also the first model in the current Patek collection to double up as a high-performance self-winding chronograph making a gift we guarantee won't get buried at the back of a drawer.

Case: White gold, 39.5mm
Strap: Alligator
Movement: Calibre CH 28-520 HU self-winding
Waterproof: 30 metres
Price: £56,430, patek.com

Retaining the same chic vintage aesthetic as its predecessors in the 1950 range, Panerai's Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Titanio is the ultimate combination of substance and style. Beneath its large 47mm titanium case, this timepiece packs in a huge three-day power reserve, 100 metre water resistance and regatta countdown feature.

Case: Titanium, 47mm
Strap: Caoutchouc
Movement: Calibre P.9100/R
Waterproof: 100 metres
Price: £14,500, panerai.com

If bold and beautiful is your father's style then you could do much worse than picking up Audemars Piguet's cheerful but technically excellent limited edition Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph this Father's Day. Water resistant to 300 metres with small seconds and 30 minute counter subdials, this self-winding automatic timepiece comes in a variety of bright colours for perfect visibility underwater.

Case: Stainless steel, 42mm
Strap: Rubber
Movement: Calibre 3124/3841 self-winding
Waterproof: 300 metres
Price: $27,900, audemarspiguet.com

Despite all the wearable tech and smart gadgetry now available for your wrist, there are few men who will deny that there isn’t something just a little special about wearing a classic luxury watch. With its unique regatta chronograph specially designed for the experienced sailor, waterproof case up to 100 metres and choice of four sleek metal finishes, the Rolex Yacht-Master II is the perfect combination of form and function.

Case: Steel and rose gold, 44mm
Strap: Steel and rose gold
Movement: Calibre 4161 self-winding
Waterproof: 100 metres
Price: £18,500, rolex.com

Every man should have at least one luxury watch in his collection but if your dad tends to spend his days swimming in the on board pool or water skiing from the back of the tender, wearing thousands of pounds of sophisticated timepiece can seem a little impractical. Shore Projects has answered this problem with a range of waterproof straps that will fit any of their stylishly minimal watch faces. Created from hard-wearing rubber, they won’t damage a boat’s paintwork and come in four colourful shades perfect for pairing with summer swim shorts.

Case: Brushed silver-plated steel, 39mm
Strap: Silicone
Movement: Miyota quartz
Waterproof: 100 metres
Price: From £115, extra waterproof straps, £25 each, shoreprojects.com

If there’s one thing that should be at the top of any superyacht owner’s wardrobe wish list it should be a beautiful diving watch. With almost every fine watchmaker now offering one it can be difficult to choose but with its 300 metre water resistance, wide 42mm face, robust steel case and hard-wearing rubber strap, the Calibre de Cartier Diver watch gets our vote.

Case: Steel, 42mm
Strap: Calfskin
Movement: Calibre 1904-PS MC self-winding
Waterproof: 300 metres
Price: £6,800, cartier.co.uk