Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

Though the U-boat is generally known as a German military submarine, the origins of the U-Boat Flightdeck Titanium (available at registered dealers starting from $4,750) are decidedly Italian (even the name of the brand’s creator, Italo Fontana, speaks for itself).  Nonetheless, there are a couple design elements that the Flightdeck Titanium shares with its namesake vessel—a certain aesthetic stealthiness (best seen in the matte black dial with black hands/markers) partnered with a significant presence (represented by the 50 mm natural titanium case accented by a seriously robust crown).  And with automatic chronograph movement, water resistance up to 100 meters, and your choice of a rubber or alligator strap, the U-Boat Flightdeck Titanium reminds us that above and beyond any comparisons to its maritime handle, it’s also quite the considerable timepiece and personal accessory.

Accessories, Style, Watches

One thing the editors at DS have never quite understood is the logic behind the glow-in-the-dark numerals and hands found on certain high-end watches.  Well, we kind of get it (in that it seems rather unlike a high-end watch to have the ability or necessity to suddenly illuminate).  But for those individuals in professions (or who just happen to regularly find themselves in situations) where every second counts, traser H3 Watches (available at registered dealers starting from $225) ensure immediate and exceptionally clear watch readings, particularly in low or no light environments.  Equipped with small glass tubes treated with phosphorescent material and filled with tritium gas, traser H3 Watches leverage the electrons emitted from the gas to illuminate the watch face with a cold, but brilliant light.  As a self-powered light source, the proprietary trigalight doesn’t rely on an external power source and never requires recharging or even the push of a button to activate.  And with a 20 year trigalight life span, traser H3 Watches will continue to reliably light up in the dark, consistent with their Swiss-made quality and design, just without any high-end sticker shock.

Accessories, Outdoors, Style, Watches

Simplicity has never been more striking than with the Kobold Soarway GMT Tactical (available at Kobold for $5,450).  The single luminous marker stands alone as the one detail that exemplifies the exquisite austerity of the Soarway GMT Tactical’s design.  Sandblasted stainless steel that’s undergone the DLC process gives the Soarway a matte black finish that’s nicely contrasted by numerals in a matte silver finish.  Its uni-directional rotating bezel circumscribes a domed sapphire crystal and the entire watch comes full circle in terms of both its aesthetic and performance with a gray nylon Zulu strap and Swiss automatic movement.

Accessories, Style, Watches

When it comes to buying high-end watches, our general recommendation is to limit your consideration to those brands that produce little else but watches.  And yet, with Cartier being one of the few exceptions to this rule, we can’t help but extol the virtues of the Cartier Santos 100 Carbon Watch (available at Cartier starting from $7,000).  Steel, titanium and leather combine in perfect unison, resulting in an horological trifecta that features automatic Cartier movement, a steel satined case coated with ADLC, a crown set with black rivets, and a beautifully textured toile de voile strap.  Available in multiple iterations, including a chronograph (pictured) and precious metal (e.g. rose gold) version, the Santos 100 Carbon Watch channels the fine jewelry heritage of Cartier while moving forward in a bold, if not outright badass aesthetic direction with the Santos line.

Accessories, Style, Watches

The editors at DS often get asked for a good watch recommendation at a reasonable price.  Though we feel this market continues to be underserved, there are a handful of watch brands that manage to deliver both quality and design without becoming the one outlier of a credit card charge on your billing statement.  We’ve always been fans of Timex with their history of producing durable and dependable watches, and with the launch of the TX line in particular, they’ve further enhanced the styling and engineering behind their timepieces without unreasonably elevating their price point.  And with the two Timex watches below, you could probably buy one with the cash in your pocket, while the other would be on par with the cost of your bar tab from a couple weekend’s worth of shenanigans.

Item A.

Timex Camper (available at Timex for $35): with a nylon strap, luminescent hands/markers and water resistance up to 30 meters, the Timex Camper is direct, rugged, takes a licking, and keeps on…you get the picture.

Item B.

TX 730 Series Classic Fly-Back Chronograph (available at Timex for $550): on somewhat of the opposite end of the design spectrum, the TX 730 Series features multifunctional movement with a compass, tachymeter, date and four-hour fly-back chronograph functionality, housed in a slick aviation-inspired case (and the fact that it’s blacked out certainly doesn’t hurt either). 

Adventure, Gear, Outdoors, Watches

We’re pretty sure we’re not going diving anytime soon (let alone in Arctic conditions).  But on the off chance we found ourselves in that type of situation, we’d feel a lot more secure being equipped with the Kobold Arctic Diver Swiss Tactical (available at Kobold for $5,250).  The Arctic Diver has a black DLC-coated stainless steel case and features Swiss automatic movement.  The dial is deliberately spartan for high visibility underwater and an extra-thick sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside further ensures clarity under all types of conditions.  And with your choice of a black nylon Zulu strap or natural rubber strap (both included with this limited production watch), you can swap them out interchangeably using a set of two screwdrivers that Kobold provides for your DIY pleasure.

Related Item:
Kobold Phantom Tactical Chronograph

Accessories, Style, Watches

The hat trick.  The trifecta.  The trinity.  There’s always been something sublime and utterly complete about things that come in threes.  With the Suunto Elementum (price TBA), you’re able to choose from three separate watch lines that equip you to handle the elements while exploring: Aqua (for diving), Terra (for outdoor expedition) and Ventus (for sailing).  All three share a ruggedly modern aesthetic and a bevy of features specifically designed to ensure your safety and survival, whether measuring dive depth, reading barometric pressure and trend, or providing 3D compass directions.  In addition, every Elementum is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel and has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating, while being water resistant from 100m to 200m, depending on the model.  You can also choose from steel, leather, and rubber straps in various colors, allowing you to personalize your Elementum to fit your sense of style while roughing it in the great outdoors.

Adventure, Gear, Outdoors, Watches

They say you always bet on black—and with the detailed yet resolute design of the Nixon Magnacon (available at Nixon for $600), you couldn’t bet against it.  Made of titanium carbide coated stainless steel, the Nixon Magnacon features Swiss-made chronograph movement with a custom developed ballistic nylon band, double gasket screw crown and scratch resistant sapphire crystal.  The black on black colorway is accented with red and white hashmarks and hands, resulting in a striking mash-up between an aviation and covert ops aesthetic.  And though we’d hesitate to call the Magnacon inexpensive, it’s one of the few watches we love with both substance and style coming in under the four digit price point.

Accessories, Style, Watches

Concepts.  Whether we’re talking about concept vehicles or products, they invariably represent the most forward thinking in technology and design, capturing our attention and imagination while often instilling in us the hope of seeing these visions realized on a larger scale, and the Tag Heuer MONACO Twenty Four Concept Chronograph is no exception.  Unveiled at BASELWORLD 2009, this concept MONACO continues the storied tradition of embodying Steve McQueen’s exceptionally singular spirit in what has always been our favorite line of Tag Heuer watches (it was the first serious time piece we purchased).

Inspired by the legendary race cars of the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as McQueen’s 1970 classic film, Le Mans, this MONACO features an oversize “24″ and signature Gulf Oil blue and orange stripes on the dial.  The polished black PVD-coated case is sleek, striking and houses a floating, “see-through” dial (with two semi sub-counters at 9 at 3) powered by Tag Heuer’s 36 Calibre Movement.  And these precise inner workings are protected by a unique shock absorption system, insulated by an aerospace industry “composite filter” material, and cradled in steel-tube housing.  With these myriad technological advances and exceptionally slick aesthetic, we can only hope the Tag Heuer MONACO Twenty Four Concept Chronograph represents the future design direction of the MONACO in both the near and long-term.

Accessories, Style, Watches

Appearing as if it was exquisitely formed from the aftermath of a violent explosion of onyx and concrete, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph (available at certified Audemars Piguet retailers for $25,800) is a timepiece that elevates even our own idealized conception of what a watch should be.  The Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph has a compelling boldness that draws your attention to the symphony of visual textures in the black forged carbon body.  Its dappled beauty is sealed down and framed with a sleek black ceramic bezel which is accented by Audemars Piguet’s signature steel screws and gorgeously contrasted with a vivid yellow tachometric scale, numerals and stitching on a black saddle-cut crocodile leather strap.  And with a Calibre 3126/3840 self-winding movement, 60 hour power reserve and water resistance of up to 100 meters, the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph delivers not only a substantially high level of performance, but also a striking aggressiveness worthy of the Audemars Piguet namesake.

Accessories, Style, Watches