Fratello’s Top 5 Modern Sports Watches With Integrated Bracelets Of The First Half Of 2024
Another Friday, another list! We’re slowly coming to the end of our series of lists that highlight the best of the first half of 2024. This week, we picked our favorite modern luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets. The category that was started by Gérald Genta’s Royal Oak has really taken off in the past couple of years. Quite a few brands have added their version of a sports watch with an integrated bracelet and it’s a style that is definitely here to stay. So, let’s find out which new introductions caught our attention in the first six months of this year.
Before we jump in, just a few words about how we picked our watches. Obviously, we looked at a lot of different options. And it would make sense to pick more than five watches because there are so many watches to choose from. As you would expect, we once again saw some amazing variations of the classics in this category. On top of that, the list of newcomers is also impressive. As a result, we easily could have made this a list of ten watches. But in the end, it’s all about making choices, and that’s what we did. So, without further ado, these are our five picks that fit the realm of modern sports watches with integrated bracelets.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date
We kick this list off with a release that I had the pleasure of trying out not too long ago. The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date Golden Siena is the first version of the 40mm Tonda PF without a date. It’s a small change compared to its predecessors but one with great impact. As I explained in my review, the date window on the Tonda PF models that came before is located at 6 o’clock.
It’s not my favorite place for a date window, so I was super happy to see a version that does away with it altogether. After wearing the watch for a couple of days, I was seriously impressed by the Tonda PF all over again. We knew how good it was in all its variations, but this dateless version with its Golden Siena dial instantly became my favorite in the line-up.
The watch features a 40mm stainless steel case that is 45.6mm in length and 7.8mm thick. The round slim case, combined with the characteristic platinum knurled bezel and teardrop lugs, gives the watch its distinct character. The Golden Sienna dial is a beautiful color and features a barley-grain guilloché finish and applied rhodium-plated indices.
It’s probably our favorite dial of the Tonda PF line because it adds warmth where most dials support a monochromatic look. Hovering above the minimalist dial that only features the PF logo are the delta-shaped rhodium-plated gold central hour and minute hands that show the time without any visual distractions.
The beautiful PF703 micro-rotor movement
If you turn the watch around, you are greeted by the brilliant in-house PF703 caliber. Parmiagiani’s ultra-slim micro-rotor movement features a platinum oscillating weight to provide enough mass. The caliber operates at 21,600vph, offers 48 hours of power reserve, and is finished meticulously.
The intricate details complement the dial perfectly, and the micro-rotor features a finish similar to that of the dial. This shows that Parmigiani Fleurier has thought out every detail for this new Tonda PF. It’s those subtle touches have led to the best release of the line-up, which is available at €26,400.
Credor Locomotive
You know we love to bend the rules for these lists. This week is no exception. Technically the Credor Locomotive does not have an integrated bracelet. But it is very much part of the realm of watches that we are discussing today. On top of that, it’s a Gérald Genta creation that fits the style that he developed with the Royal Oak, Nautilus, and Ingenieur. The watch is the missing link in Genta’s exploration of symmetrical shapes.
He went from hexagonal with the Royal Oak to square with the Nautilus to round with the Ingenieur to hexagonal with this Locomotive. En passant, Genta also decided not to integrate the bracelet. The result is a design that did not become a commercial success and is divisive in its nature.
It’s also why the reactions were strong when the watch was announced to celebrate Credor’s 50th anniversary. The brand decided to bring back the watch in titanium and switch from a quartz to a mechanical movement. The Locomotive features a 38.8mm × 41.7mm × 8.9mm case in High-Intensity titanium. Its design has all the hallmarks of a Genta design with a slim profile, large bezel screws and. a very straightforward dial design that reminds us of the dials of his more well-known creations.
The intricacies of the dial pattern, with 1,600 radial lines, are spectacular and balance the otherwise simple design. The case is combined with a brilliant bracelet that is clearly inspired by the Royal Oak bracelet. Genta slightly changed the design of the links to be more in line with the case design, but it’s clear what it was based on.
A watch that takes getting used to
Inside the case, Credor equips the Locomotive with a newly developed Credor CR01 movement. This automatic caliber operates at 28,800vph, has a 45-hour power reserve, and is accurate to +15/-10 seconds per day. Watch fans were not impressed by those accuracy numbers, and it probably adds more fuel to the fire if you are not a fan of its design. But we love this quirky Genta creation.
It might take a bit of getting used to, but in the end, it feels a lot more logical than its looks might have you think. In my review, I highlighted that the watch looks like an absolute charm thanks to its size, weight, and incredible bracelet. And once on the wrist, I warmed up quickly to the quirky looks, making it one of my favorite releases this year. I wish I could be one of the 300 lucky people who will own this €14,000 Credor Locomotive.
Piaget Polo 79
Talk about statements! If the Credor Locomotive is the quirky design statement, the revived Piaget Polo 79 is the ultimate flashy statement. The glorious return of this late-seventies classic is a glorious celebration of the extravagant days of luxury watchmaking. The original Piaget Polo models combined an extravagant style with precious metals and quartz movements, making the watches the ultimate luxury statement of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
When a reissue of the original Polo was announced, we were both surprised and excited. Okay, maybe not all of us, but most of us. Because not everyone likes a grandiose statement of opulence like this gold Polo 79.
Just like Credor, Piaget opted for a mechanical movement in the full gold Polo 79. It’s a change that the very low number of modern-day watch fans who will be able to get their hands on one will appreciate. In order to get one, you would have to pay a retail price of €81,500. For the money, you will get a full 18K gold watch that weighs almost 200 grams.
The case measures 38mm in diameter and is only 7.45mm thick. The watch’s design is characterized by the brushed gold parts combined with polished gold gadroons. It’s this feature that makes the Piaget Polo watches instantly recognizable.
A switch from a quartz to a mechanical movement
Inside the case, the brand uses the ultra-thin micro-rotor caliber 1200P1, which is only 2.25mm thick and offers 44 hours of power reserve. It gives the watch even more current-day relevance as mechanical is often favored over quartz movements. It’s not something we necessarily agree with because both the Locomotive and the Polo 79 would also be brilliant with a quartz movement. It would tell the original story and lose nothing of its visual impact. Either way, the Piaget Polo 79 was an easy third pick for this list.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Green Dial
Could a new dial in combination with a precious metal be enough to make the list? It actually can! During Watches and Wonders this year, Vacheron Constantin introduced four new Overseas models executed in pink gold with beautiful green dials. For me, Vacheron Constantin is the brand that understands colors the best out of all the brands.
They almost always choose the right shade of a color and combine it with the right material. This series of green dial versions is no different. The Overseas Self-Winding is obviously not a new model, but it feels like one. The new aesthetic, with the green lacquered dial with a sunburst finish, is simply breathtaking.
The watch comes with a 41mm 18K pink gold case that is 10.69mm thick and is water resistant up to 150 meters. The case is paired with a pink gold bracelet and matching green rubber and leather straps. For maximum impact, the bracelet option is the only way to go, and that’s also what we prefer. Inside the case, Vacheron Constantin equips the watch with its self-winding caliber 5100, which features a 22K pink gold oscillating weight to match the look of the case and bracelet.
What has the most impact, though, is that dial. The combination of the green color with the subtle pink gold elements and the seemingly simple but intricate dial design give the Overseas a stunning look that feels classy, stylish, and new at €67,000.
Citizen Super Titanium Automatic Small Seconds
We want to close this list of modern sports watches with integrated bracelets with an affordable option. Over the last few years, we have seen many more affordable options like the Tissot PRX, Yema Urban Traveller, Nivada Grenchen F77, and Christopher Ward’s The Twelve. All of them are great options. But maybe the most surprising release of the year’s first half was the series of Citizen Super Titanium Automatic Small Seconds models.
We obviously know and love Citizen’s Tsuyosa models, which have been a great success for the Japanese brand. But these four new NJ0180 models offer something different and even better. The four watches have a titanium case that measures 40.5mm in diameter, 46mm from lug to lug, and 11mm thick. You have the choice of four different textured dials that give the watches their character.
The blue and green dials have a black outer ring on the periphery of the dial, whereas the white and light green (turquoise) dials have that same ring in the same color as the center part. It gives the two last options a bit more room to breathe and why we feel those are the ones to go for.
Due to the dial design, the other two options also feel more retro in their overall look and feel. All four dials feature a small seconds located between 4 and 5 o’clock and a date window at 3 o’clock.
A great option at €429
The titanium cases are matched with a super comfortable titanium bracelet with a folding clasp and push-button release. Both the case and bracelet feature a Duratect TIC coating to prevent scratching. Inside the case, you will find the straightforward Citizen caliber 8213.
This automatic movement operates at 21,600vph and offers a 40-hour power reserve. What stood out most during my review is how incredibly comfortable these watches are and how much character they have. I especially loved the white dial version, which I could easily make one of my daily wearers. We think Citizen has another winning series of watches with the NJ180 models. And the best thing is that you can get them at the very affordable price of €429.
Honorable mentions
Some other great options didn’t make the list but definitely deserve a mention. Let’s start with the first gold versions of the much-beloved Czapek Antarctique. Before Watches and Wonders, the brand introduced the Antarctique Mount Erebus in rose gold and yellow gold. Both showed that this Fratello favorite works well in precious metals.
A completely new addition to the Hermes collection is the much-praised Cut. The watch is marketed as unisex with a nice cushion-shaped 36mm case. Our favorite is the stainless steel model with a beautiful opaline white dial and beautiful numerals. The watch gets a super sporty feel thanks to the super comfortable H-link bracelet. But if you like it better on a rubber strap, the quick-change system allows you to change the watch’s look in a flash. At €5,900 on the bracelet, this could easily be the next hit for Hermes.
Our last honorable mention is a Royal Oak. How could it not be? We have seen some amazing pieces from the brands that could all be on this list. I picked the pink gold Royal Oak Self-Winding Flying Tourbillon with the stunning sandblasted ivory and grey dial. While the flying tourbillon is spectacular, the dial makes this stand out for me. While we all love the classic Royal tapisserie dials, it is nice to see something else. This beautiful dial shows the great potential of a different dial in the regular Royal Oak models. Put this style dial in a “Jumbo,” and I will start saving cash immediately. For now, it is only available in this spectacular version that costs a whopping CHF 180,600 (ex. VAT).
Final thoughts on our favorite integrated bracelet modern sports watches of the first half of 2024
As always, this list is too short to include all the right picks. As I said, plenty more picks could be part of this list. And because of that, I would love to ask you a question. What are your favorite recently released modern sports watches with integrated bracelets? Let me know in the comments below. Finally, as always, we will see you next week for another list.
