A Selection Of Small Seconds Watches Proving That Simplicity Never Gets Old

One of the most classical displays in watchmaking is the time-only watch with small seconds. Originating from the early days of watchmaking, more specifically pocket watchmaking, this display shows only hours, minutes and seconds. But that doesn’t mean such a watch should be considered boring. Quite the opposite in fact, as there is a real abundance of styles available. Classical Calatrava-styled watches? No problem. Sporty credentials? Yes, that’s possible too. Stone dials? If that’s your thing, why not! These five watches show you that small seconds watches can be just as versatile as far more complex ones.

the sporty one – Nomos club sport neomatik 37

We start things off with one of the latest watches to be presented in this classical layout, with central hour and minute hands and a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. The Nomos Club Sport Neomatik 37 comes (unsurprisingly) in a 37mm stainless steel case with a sporty look and specifications to back it up (200m water resistance, for instance). Seen here with the Petrol Green dial, the Club Sport Neomatik 37 relies on Nomos’ calibre DUW 3001. This can be seen through the back and provides 42 hours of power reserve. It’s worn on a stainless steel bracelet with a deployant clasp and retails for EUR 2,780.

Quick Facts – 37mm x 8.4mm – stainless steel case, polished – sapphire crystal front and back – screw-down crown – 200m water-resistant – Petrol Green or Polar Blue sunray brushed dial – sword-shaped hour and minute hands with Super-LumiNova – white printed indices and markings – recessed small seconds subdial – calibre DUW 3001, automatic – Nomos Swing System – 27 jewels – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – Club Sport stainless steel bracelet with deployant clasp – EUR 2,780

For more information, please visit Nomos-Glashuette.com.

the dressy one – Omega de ville prestige small seconds

Just this week, Omega launched the entirely revised De Ville Prestige collection. Consisting of well over 100 new references, Omega has moved things up a notch, as all mechanical versions now come with a Co-Axial escapement and Master Chronometer certifications. Among the novelties is the very classically styled De Ville Prestige Small Seconds, measuring 41mm in diameter and distinguishable thanks to its crosshair design for the small seconds indication. Ticking away under the sapphire crystal caseback is the calibre 8802. Prices start at CHF 4,600.

Quick Facts – 41mm diameter – steel, yellow gold, rose gold or two-tone cases – domed dial with applied Roman numerals and dotted hour markers – several colours available – slender leaf-shaped hands – printed railroad-type minute track – small seconds subdial with crosshair design – Omega calibre 8802, automatic – 25,200vph – 55h power reserve – Master Chronometer certification – Co-Axial escapement with silicon balance spring – leather strap or steel and two-tone bracelets – priced from CHF 4,600

For more information, please visit OmegaWatches.com.

The stone one – Louis erard excellence petite seconde

The Excellence collection by Louis Erard is home to a set of rather nicely finished, contemporary sized watches, including the Petite Seconde. The brand likes to play around with the model through various fun collaborations but also with not-so-common materials for the dials. The most recent set is a trio that features stone or aventurine dials. Seen here are the ones with malachite and lapis lazuli, which give off very different vibes. The small seconds subdials contrast strongly thanks to their silvery tone and snailed pattern. Power comes courtesy of a Sellita SW 261-1. The watches are limited to 99 pieces each and retail for EUR 2,500.

Quick Facts – 39mm x 12.25mm – stainless steel case, polished – domed sapphire crystal – sapphire crystal caseback – 50m water-resistant – aventurine, malachite or lapis lazuli dial – snailed opaline small seconds subdial – fire tree styled hands – applied numerals and indices – Sellita SW 261-1, élaboré grade automatic – 31 jewels – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – calfskin leather straps matching the dial in colour – limited to 99 pieces each – EUR 2,500

For more information, please visit LouisErard.com.

the vintage one – baltic mr01

The youngest brand to be featured, but one with quite a formidable reputation, is Baltic and its cool Calatrava-styled MR01. Hugely popular since its introduction, each batch released is quickly sold out. And it’s understandable since it oozes massive amounts of cool. At 36mm by 9.9mm, it’s quite petite but has tons of character. The broad bezel, the texture on the dial, the Breguet numerals, the slightly off-centred subdial, and the micro-rotor movement are just some of the elements that have won over many people. At EUR 650, it’s also the most affordable one on the list IF you can get your hands on one. Our advice? Go for the salmon dial!

Quick Facts – 36mm x 9.9mm – stainless steel case, brushed and polished – domed hesalite glass – see-through caseback – salmon, silver or blue dial with grained finish – Breguet numerals – leaf-shaped hands – off-centred small seconds subdial – Hangzhou ELA05MN, micro-rotor automatic – 30 jewels – 28,800vph – 42h power reserve – calfskin leather strap – non-limited but released in batches – EUR 650

For more information, please visit Baltic-Watches.com.

the original one – hamilton railroad pocket watch

With the small seconds look stemming from historical pocket watches, it would be silly not to include one. As luck would have it, Hamilton has just released its limited-edition Railroad Pocket Watch to mark the brand’s historical role in the field of railroad watchmaking. At 50mm, this is by far the largest entry on the list, but one that makes perfect sense. The white dial has a detailed minute track, vintage-styled hands and a large subdial for the seconds. Inside we find a hand-wound ETA 6497 with 50 hours of power reserve. Limited to 917 pieces, it comes on a steel chain and with a leather protective pouch (optional to wear) and retails for EUR 1,495.

Quick Facts – 50mm x 11.95mm – stainless steel case, polished – sapphire crystal – closed decorated caseback – white dial with black printed numerals and red and black minute track – black cathedral hands – small seconds subdial with black scale and hand – ETA 6497, hand-wound – 18,000vph – 17 jewels – 50h power reserve – stainless steel lanyard – limited to 917 pieces – EUR 1,495

For more information, please visit HamiltonWatch.com.