Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet—these three illustrious companies are known to be some of the best watchmakers in the world. And deservedly so, contributing for centuries to the tapestry of watchmaking, building a rich, illustrious history of mechanical ingenuity and invention. You’ll notice Panerai is not on that list, and that’s because it’s not a proper watchmaker. Here’s why.

The battery in your phone will last you about a day before you need to charge it, same with your smart watch. That energy is depleted through use, as you would expect, and when it runs out, you need to add some more. With a mechanical watch, however, there’s not a volt or amp of electricity to be seen. How is that possible?

This is a Ulysse Nardin Freak, and it is quite simply the single craziest watch ever made. That’s a bold claim because there are a lot of crazy watches, but this one wins the all-time craziest. Today I’m going to review the Ulysse Nardin Freak. I’m going to show you all of its quirks and features and then I’m going to put it on my wrist and wear it.

Have we forgotten to think with our hearts? It seems these days that you can’t talk about watches without talking about investment. Having a solid residual in a watch—in anything—is more than welcome—but is it worth it at the cost of why we chose to pursue our dreams in the first place? The Grand Seiko SBGK005 suggests not.

Whether it’s advancements in CNC machining, increase in small-business investment or quite simply a global dose of a lunacy in the drinking water, micro watch brands are now very much a thing. And whether they’re charging a few hundred pounds or many thousands, there are plenty of micro brands out there willing to take your money. Thing is, most of them aren’t, well—they aren’t very good. Are there any that are?

Rolex is everywhere. It’s a monster. To think that such huge dominance came from such humble beginnings, that such luxury originated from such a simplified ethos. At some point, these two worlds, form and function, luxury and practicality, collided, and it’s brought us to this: the Rolex Sea-Dweller 126603 in steel and gold. Is that a big mistake?

If you’ve been around watches a little while, you’ll know all about Grand Seiko. In fact, even if you’re new, you may have heard talk of this high-end Japanese contender infiltrating our hearts and minds—and indeed, Swiss profits. But that’s relative to its closest competitor, Rolex, with watches around the £5,000 mark. This though, this is ten times that. This is a £50,000 Grand Seiko.

You don’t have to ask around too much to discover that Patek Philippe’s 5170 is considered one of, if not the best chronographs ever made. It’s slick, it’s slim, it’s executed to perfection—but it also costs some £40,000. Just how close can you get for a quarter of the price?

A monochrome watch is safe. It blends in well, goes with anything, never stands out or offends. It’s also a little bit boring. Our eyes are tuned to see over seven million colours, and yet we gravitate towards watches that contain none of them. Well, let’s mix things up a bit and choose something with a bit more life—nature’s favourite colour, green.

If you’re in the market for a sporty, vintage-inspired chronograph for around the £3,000 mark, the default choice is most certainly Tudor’s excellent Heritage Chrono. Well, it was. Now there’s this: the Bell & Ross BR V2-94 Racing Bird.

The watchmaker IWC has had a long affinity with the perpetual calendar. This most righteous of complications, it demonstrates a fundamental understanding of high watchmaking that few companies have been able to master to the same degree as IWC. It’s hallowed, it’s traditional, it’s sacred—and IWC has gone and completely changed it.

Two watches, the Hamilton Valiant and the A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange, both mechanical, both three-handers, both 40mm—but one costs £300 and the other £30,000. Can one really be a hundred times better than the other?

If you’ve tried to get yourself a Rolex Daytona, Patek Philippe Nautilus or Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, you’ll have run into a bit of a problem: there are none. These ultra-limited watches are available only to a rare few people who’ve demonstrated their worth, and if your name’s not on the list, you’re not getting in. Forget those guys and take a look at these instead—three luxury sports watches that you can actually get your hands on.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s something a little crazy going on with the Patek Philippe Nautilus right now. You’re more likely to find aliens in your local Patek Philippe boutique than you are a 5711, and if and when you do happen to see one up for sale, it’s commanding prices some three times its RRP. I mean, by the time this goes out, that might even be a bargain—it’s that out of control. But there’s another option for those with neither the power, influence nor cash to find their way into this enigma, and it’s called the Piaget Polo S.

Let’s say that, ten years ago, you couldn’t afford a Rolex. A Submariner was looking to cost you some £3,000 or so, and so you set yourself a goal; work hard, earn more, get yourself that Submariner. But now, ten years later, you’re staring down the barrel of a six-and-a-half thousand pound price tag and your reality has just been shattered. It seems like the dream is over, but hold on a sec—there might still be hope yet.

Ever heard of the paradox of choice? It’s when you’re presented with so many options that it’s hard to make a decision. Watches can feel like that sometimes; there are so many brands, so many models, so many variations that it can make the whole thing feel a bit daunting. So, whether you’ve already got a collection fit to bursting or you’re just setting out on getting your first, here are three special timepieces to start you on your journey to finding the perfect watch.