Patek Philippe ref 5970

History, pedigree and mystique - Patek Philippe has it all. One of its most recognised watches, the magnificent reference 5970 is an astonishingly complex wristwatch containing both a column wheel chronograph as well as a perpetual calendar (meaning the calendar never needs adjustment as it takes into account leap years). Not only is the reference 5970 a technical masterpiece, its movement is also superbly hand-finished. Because of this, it is hallmarked with the Poincon de Geneve, a seal of quality awarded by the Canton of Geneva to watch movements that achieve high standards of component finishing and quality. The reference 5970 is traditional Swiss watchmaking at its very best. RRP: $168,200 in white or rose gold

Rolex GMT-Master II

Fifty years ago, the iconic Rolex GMT-Master was born. Arguably the most famous dual time-zone watch in the world, the GMT-Master recently received its first major facelift in many years. The new model sports a heftier case and an improved bracelet, two features that collectors have long wanted. Another significant improvement is the replacement of the aluminium bezel with a ceramic one. Unlike aluminium, ceramic never fades. With these updates, Rolex has taken care of the most cited shortcomings of the GMT-Master II, thus extending the life for this icon for another couple of decades. RRP: $9,555 in stainless steel  

Audemars Piguet Team Alinghi

One of the hottest timepieces this year is the Audemars Piguet Team Alinghi chronograph in forged carbon. Named after the yacht Alinghi, winner of the 2007 America's Cup, this watch is cased in carbon fibre, resulting in a feather-light yet extremely durable piece, ideal for sailors. There is also a regatta countdown function that enables the wearer to time the start of a boat race. Only 1,300 of these forged carbon timepieces will be made, and even before production is complete, word has it that demand has far exceeded supply. RRP: $39,900

F.P. Journe Chronometre a Resonance

Francois-Paul Journe is undoubtedly  one of the most brilliant horologists of this age. His most famous creation is the Chronometre a Resonance, a timepiece containing two independent movements that beat in perfect synchrony as a result of resonance, which occurs when two oscillating objects vibrate in sync as a response to the other. This concept was applied to pendulum clocks centuries before but Journe was the first to execute it in a wristwatch. This is no mean feat as painstaking adjustment is required to achieve resonance. Journe's Chronometre a Resonance is one of the most extraordinary timepieces of the last 10 years. RRP: $119,198 in platinum

Patek Philippe ref 5970		Rolex GMT-Master II
Audemars Piguet Team Alinghi		F.P. Journe Chronometre a Resonance