As the warm autumn continued to the point where I wondered when winter would arrive, The season changed in an instant. The seasonality of watches is often associated with summer. Since it is a time when you encounter water, Such as sudden showers, Swimming pools, Rivers, And the sea, Diver watches with high water resistance are the main choice for summer. On the other hand, Winter watches do not have as deep a connection with the season as diver watches, But as the weather gets colder, People tend to look for watches that feel less cold. Shall we look for a warm watch to wear in winter?

The Coldest Combination

A combination of a stainless steel or gold case, A bracelet made of the same material, And a solid case back is made entirely of metal. If you put on a watch with this combination as soon as you wake up in the morning, You might get goosebumps from the freezing cold. The Rolex Submariner is a representative summer watch, But it is also the epitome of the coldest combination.

Rolex Submariner 116610LV ⓒ enigwatch

If the watch has a see-through case back that shows the movement, The part that touches your wrist is replaced with sapphire crystal, Which can significantly reduce the coldness. However, A solid case back is the ultimate in coldness. Although it is the coldest combination, As you wear it, The warmth from your body is transferred to the watch, Giving it an unexpectedly warm feeling.

Tudor Pelagos 39 ⓒ hodinkee

How about a case, Bracelet, And solid case back made of titanium instead of stainless steel or gold? Since it is still metal, It feels just as cold, But its thermal conductivity is only one-seventh that of steel. This means that even when worn, Heat does not spread as well throughout, Making it feel even colder. Among metals used for watch cases, The coldest combination would be a titanium case, Bracelet, And solid case back. Unlike the lightness of the material, The thermal conductivity gives the opposite impression.

A Cold Combination

In the "coldest combination, " replace the bracelet with a rubber, Leather, NATO, Or fabric strap. By changing the bracelet, Which has the largest area in contact with the skin, To one of these straps, You can greatly reduce the coldness. In summer, Leather straps get damp with sweat, But in winter, They feel dry and even warm.

IWC Pilot Mark XVIII ⓒ bobswatches

Rubber straps score highly for providing a pleasant touch and temperature regardless of the season. The way they fit snugly on the wrist needs no further explanation. NATO or fabric materials are also winter-friendly.

Omega seamaster 300M ⓒ watchswiss

If you choose a see-through case back instead of a solid one, The coldness is further reduced. The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M features a see-through case back, Allowing you to appreciate the dynamic Arabesque-style Geneva wave finishing of the Cal. 8800 as it catches the light. If you pair it with a rubber or NATO strap instead of a bracelet, It is a diver watch that is quite suitable for winter wear.

A Slightly Cold Combination

Looking at the previous combinations, It is clear that the main cause of coldness when touching the skin is metal. Therefore, If you choose a non-metallic material, You can hypothesize that it will not feel cold. The sapphire crystal, Which was hinted at in the see-through case back, Feels cold for a moment when it touches the skin but soon retains body heat. If the case and bracelet are made entirely of sapphire crystal, Wouldn't it be wearable even in winter?

HUBLOT Big Bang Integrated 42mm ⓒ Hublot

With models like the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Sapphire or the Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Full Purple Sapphire, You do not have to worry about shivering from the cold. The high hardness of sapphire crystal means the surface is not easily scratched, And you can also appreciate the structure like a transparent marine creature. However, Due to the difficulty of processing full sapphire cases, Only a few watch companies make them, And the prices are quite high.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire ⓒ hodinkee

A more accessible sapphire crystal watch is the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sapphire. It uses a rubber strap instead of a sapphire crystal bracelet, Making it less expensive than the Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Sapphire, But the absolute price is still high.

IWC PILOT’S CHRONOGRAPH ⓒ IWC

Ceramic is a good material in terms of price compared to sapphire crystal. It has been used as a watch material for a long time and is now quite common. As a non-metallic material, It is characterized by its unique luster and color. It has also been introduced as an alternative because it does not cause allergies from the chromium in stainless steel. The surface is highly resistant to scratches, But if it receives a strong impact, It can break and is difficult to repair. If you wear a watch with a ceramic bracelet, It does not feel very cold, And over time it retains warmth. However, From the perspective of coldness, The downside is that many watches use titanium or other metals for the case back, Which reduces the effect of avoiding coldness. The IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph in ceramic has a case back, Crown, And pushers made of titanium to reinforce the parts that receive force, But as a result, It feels cold.

A Warm(?) Combination

In fact, Unless metal generates heat on its own (which would be dangerous), There is no truly warm combination. It is a relative image that makes it feel warm. The materials closest to a warm combination are carbon or plastic-based materials. Omega x Swatch's bioceramic material can also be included in this category. Bioceramic contains a significant portion of plastic, That is, Polymer material.

(Left) Moonswatch MISSION TO THE MOON </br>(Right)BIOCERAMIC SCUBA FIFTY FATHOMS ⓒ swatch

(Left) Moonswatch MISSION TO THE MOON
(Right)BIOCERAMIC SCUBA FIFTY FATHOMS ⓒ swatch

Thanks to this, When you wear the Omega x Swatch Moonswatch or the Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms, It is hard to feel cold regardless of the temperature.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds </br> Chronograph GMT Large Date
ⓒ Revolution

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds
Chronograph GMT Large Date ⓒ Revolution

Carbon also does not easily transfer low temperatures to the skin. Audemars Piguet was the first in the industry to introduce a forged carbon case, Made by molding carbon filaments under high temperature and pressure, And has applied it to many Royal Oak Offshore models. Each piece has a unique pattern and showcases the strength unique to carbon.

Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT </br>
ⓒ watchesbysjx.com

Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT
ⓒ watchesbysjx.com

The recently released Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date 43mm features a CFT carbon case. CFT carbon, Which looks similar to forged carbon, Has blue marbling in addition to the black color of carbon. When it gets dark, The marbled parts glow, Making it a material that conveys warmth not only by touch but also visually.
The cold winter has just begun. Why not try to get through the winter by finding your own combination that feels a little less cold? Or it might be a good idea to try a new material like carbon that you have not experienced before.