Rolex explorer II 2 carrera 1887 bell and ross br 126 sports her oris air racing edition III 3 best watches outdoors adventure
These seven modern watches that are as classically handsome as they are adventure-worthy.

Whitney Dreier (Photo: Inga Hendrickson)

7 Pretty Tough Adventure Watches

Rolex explorer II 2 carrera 1887 bell and ross br 126 sports her oris air racing edition III 3 best watches outdoors adventure
Inga Hendrickson(Photo)

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These seven modern watches that are as classically handsome as they are adventure-worthy.

Whitney Dreier

Breitling Superocean

Originally engineered to equip professional and military divers, Breitling’s dive watches have been going deep since the 1950s. The limited-edition Superocean ($3,290), which is water-resistant to 5,000 feet and has an automatic pressure valve, takes sturdiness to a new extreme.

breitling superocean speedmaster darkside of the moo tudor pelagos best watches adventure outdoors
Originally engineered to equip professional and military divers, Breitling’s dive watches have been going deep since the 1950s. The limited-edition Superocean ($3,290), which is water-resistant to 5,000 feet and has an automatic pressure valve, takes sturdiness to a new extreme. (Inga Hendrickson)

Omega Speedmaster

In 1968, astronauts on the Apollo 8 spacecraft wore Omega’s Speedmaster on the first journey around the moon. With a zirconium-oxide ceramic dial and blackened subdials, the new limited-edition Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” ($12,000) pays homage to that historic mission.

breitling superocean speedmaster darkside of the moo tudor pelagos best watches adventure outdoors
In 1968, astronauts on the Apollo 8 spacecraft wore Omega's Speedmaster on the first journey around the moon. With a zirconium-oxide ceramic dial and blackened subdials, the new limited-edition Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” ($12,000) pays homage to that historic mission. (Inga Hendrickson)

Tudor Pelagos

Last summer, after a 17-year hiatus, Rolex once again began releasing timepieces from Tudor, its iconic sister company, in the U.S. The Pelagos ($4,125) is the flagship dive watch: it’s waterproof to 500 meters, and the case is constructed of durable, lightweight titanium.

breitling superocean speedmaster darkside of the moo tudor pelagos best watches adventure outdoors
Last summer, after a 17-year hiatus, Rolex once again began releasing timepieces from Tudor, its iconic sister company, in the U.S. The Pelagos ($4,125) is the flagship dive watch: it’s waterproof to 500 meters, and the case is constructed of durable, lightweight titanium. (Inga Hendrickson)

Rolex Exoplorer II

Sir Edmund Hilary took a Rolex Oyster Perpetual to the top of the world in 1953. Today’s version, the Explorer II ($8,100), is even more rugged than the original, thanks to higher-grade steel and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

Rolex explorer II 2 carrera 1887 bell and ross br 126 sports her oris air racing edition III 3 best watches outdoors adventure
Sir Edmund Hilary took a Rolex Oyster Perpetual to the top of the world in 1953. Today’s version, the Explorer II ($8,100), is even more rugged than the original, thanks to higher-grade steel and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. (Inga Hendrickson)

Tag Heuer Carrera 1887

Tag Heuer patented the oscillating pinion, which helps chronographs start
and stop accurately, 137 years ago. As its Carrera 1887 ($5,200) elegantly demonstrates, that mechanism—fine-tuned over decades—remains the industry standard.

Rolex explorer II 2 carrera 1887 bell and ross br 126 sports her oris air racing edition III 3 best watches outdoors adventure
Tag Heuer patented the oscillating pinion, which helps chronographs start and stop accurately, 137 years ago. As its Carrera 1887 ($5,200) elegantly demonstrates, that mechanism—fine-tuned over decades—remains the industry standard. (Inga Hendrickson)

Bell and Ross BR 126 Sports Heritage

The sand-colored hands and numerals on Bell and Ross’s BR 126 Sport Heritage ($4,500) hark back to the 1960s, the golden age of air travel that introduced planes like the Dassault Falcon, one of the world’s first luxury business jets.

Rolex explorer II 2 carrera 1887 bell and ross br 126 sports her oris air racing edition III 3 best watches outdoors adventure
The sand-colored hands and numerals on Bell and Ross’s BR 126 Sport Heritage ($4,500) hark back to the 1960s, the golden age of air travel that introduced planes like the Dassault Falcon, one of the world’s first luxury business jets. (Inga Hendrickson)

Oris Air Racing Edition III

The candy-cane minute hand on Air Racing Edition III ($1,650) isn’t just for show. The design was inspired by an aircraft speed-limit indicator and pays tribute to the Swiss Air Racing Team, whose daredevil pilots count on a watch they can read at a glance.

Rolex explorer II 2 carrera 1887 bell and ross br 126 sports her oris air racing edition III 3 best watches outdoors adventure
The candy-cane minute hand on Air Racing Edition III ($1,650) isn’t just for show. The design was inspired by an aircraft speed-limit indicator and pays tribute to the Swiss Air Racing Team, whose daredevil pilots count on a watch they can read at a glance. (Inga Hendrickson)
Lead Photo: Inga Hendrickson
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