Be it a diving watch or black-tie timepiece, the mark of a really good watch is the ability to pass it down through the generations. Simon de Burton rounds up the best white gold watches offering the style and durability to do just that...
Rolex Day-Date
Launched in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date was the first watch to display the date and the day of the week in full – and it is available in 26 languages. Waterproof to a depth of 100 metres, the Day-Date is also supremely resilient thanks to its anti-magnetic Parachrom hairspring and patented Paraflex shock absorbing system.
£27,650, rolex.com
Patek Philippe Reference 5930G
Patek Philippe’s World Time watches use a system invented in 1931 by horologist Louis Cottier that simultaneously shows the hour in 24 cities by means of a rotating disc synchronised with the main home time indication. This white gold model also incorporates a chronograph.
£53,500, patek.com
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Perpetual Calendar
Limited to 200 examples, this masterpiece features an eight day, hand-wound movement with perpetual calendar, phases of the moon and power reserve indication. The skeletonised dial is surrounded by a hand-enamelled border.
POA, jaegerlecoultre.com
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Moon Phase
The off-centre display and extra large date windows on this 38.5mm diameter watch are typical signatures of the high-end German brand. So long as the hand-wound, 438 part movement is kept running, the exquisite moon phase display will remain accurate for 122.6 years.
£32,500, alange-soehne.com
Breguet Tradition 7077 Independent Chronograph
The “Independent” in the name of this watch refers to the fact that its beautifully executed mechanism actually comprises two movements in one – the one on the right governing the time, the one on the left for the chronograph. Classic Breguet finishes include “blued” steel hands.
£59,900, breguet.com
De Grisogono New Retro N04
The New Retro dress watch from jeweller to the stars Fawaz Gruosi’s brand features a smooth, 50x40mm oblong case, top-mounted crown and applied hour markers that create a perfect 1950s vibe. For the more adventurous, the N01 combines a pink gold case and vintage green dial.
£23,300, degrisogono.com