High Life Shop Boutique

WATCHES

W A T C H E S With style writer Jamie Millar

A C T I O N H E R O E S EDIT

NEW

SET AND MATCH These coordinated watch and accessory sets are raising the wristwear game

BOHO BEAUTIES Full of charm and perfect for spring, this bee-detail watch with floral tie is a match made in a heavenly English garden. NEW Olivia Burton Bee Watch & Tie, £95, page 93

Sports watches are packed with features designed to help you stay in shape. Here are three that will make an impact on your life – and wrist THE CONTENDER Created for an active urban lifestyle, with a shock-resistant carbon-reinforced casing and a rugged resin strap, there’s isn’t much you can’t throw at the hardwearing NEW Casio G-Shock Steel . It boasts all the features a sports enthusiast in the city might need, from timer and stopwatch for competitive types, to an LED light for jogging after dark. £105, right

TREND

When less is more There’s something to be said for a watch that simply tells the time and looks good on the wrist – we look at the enduring appeal of a clean dial

FASHION FRIENDS The pared-back style of the mesh strap contrasts beautifully with the watch’s petal strewn face and makes a stunning duo when worn with the bracelet. NEW Radley Mesh Watch & Bracelet, £99, page 92

THE VOYAGER For a style-conscious globetrotter, the Aviator Smartwatch really looks the part. But this handsome watch is also perfect for the traveller with one eye forever on their exercise regime, as it diligently records every move, monitoring heart rate, sleep and more – then sends the stats to your smartphone. £159, page 98 THE TRACKER It’s no secret that having goals to work towards boosts motivation. The Aquarius Fitness Tracker monitors performance and intensity across 14 different activities, counting each step you take and every calorie you burn – and you can sync it to your smartphone for a full overview of your fitness journey. £69, page 107

onitor heart rate, track sleep, deliver Brexit: in this brave newworld, smart watches can do (almost) anything

The clever features? It tells time rather than sucking it, with a discreet flick rather than a conspicuous pull-out. It doesn’t have to be replenished every night or replaced every year. It combines function and form: there’s beauty in simplicity. It doesn’t just tell the time: it also reveals your style, personality and maybe the date. And the killer USP? It doesn’t beep or buzz when you don’t want it to. The only attention it grabs is other people’s.

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smartphones can – albeit more simply and on a smaller screen. If you remember to charge them, that is. Simplicity is a virtue, as demonstrated by the growing market for ‘dumb’ phones that only do voice and maybe SMS, or digital-detox retreats that provide a rare and precious

NEW CASIO G-SHOCK GA-2000 Steel Watch

GLAMOUR GIRLS Double up on the sparkle with this statement-making Swarovski-trim Edge watch and co-ordinating

A revolutionary leap forward in G-Shock design, this is a men’s watch made for urban outdoor enthusiasts. The timepiece is super-hardwearing, thanks to its Carbon Core Guard construction, but this solid shock-resistant core comes in an astonishingly light package – 64 grams – with an outer bezel and strap made from resin. Sports fans will love the 24-hour stopwatch and a timer that can be set down to the second, with easy-to-access buttons, while frequent flyers have five daily alarms and a world-time function. £105 SAVE £14 (RRP £1 19) WM348

opportunity to unplug. Modern technology is a wonder, but in an attention economy it pays tominimise distractions – and a simple, traditional or even dumb watch, far frombeing obsolete, remains a smart investment.

Find a range of fuss-free watches in our collection,

necklace. Guaranteed to brighten any outfit. NEW Seksy Edge Watch & Necklace, £124, page 94

including: Hugo Boss, £129, page 96; Larsson & Jennings, £135, above and page 92; Sekonda, £29, left and page 94

B I R D WA T C H E R

Going from parachute jumping over the North Pole to launching a watch brand might seem a leap. But Danish adventurer René Gross Kaerskov, whose 2008 feat inspired half a mi l l ion in his homeland to switch off their l ights for energy-saving movement Earth Hour, was struck by the Arctic ice-scape’s crystal-clear beauty. Named after another intrepid Dane, P O L E S T A R S

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Watch and jewellery designer Sara Miller’s passion for travel, particularly India with its vast palaces and lush gardens, has heavily influenced her work. Capturing the magic of the Londoner’s adventures, and her love of exotic flora and fauna, is the Chelsea range, adorned with her signature Green Birds print. From £65, pre-order only

Vitus Bering, the explorer who gave his name to the strait between North America and Russia that he sai led in 1728 (as wel l as the time zone), the brand has donated over $250,000 to polar bear conservation. Powered by any l ight, the Sl im Solar watch encapsulates its minimal ist aesthetic and sustainable ethos – around the clock. Find Bering solar watches, pages 95-97

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