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Do you remember when a maritime watch essentially meant a diver’s
watch? As long as it could thwart occasional blasts of spindrift with superior water resistance,
it was considered "up to the job." But like nearly every other lifestyle or avocation, competitive
sailing has given rise to a whole category of accoutrements, specifically styled, designed and tested
to meet the needs its participants. What would a sailor do without his topsiders, polarized sunglasses
(secured with a spandex sunglass strap), waterproof sunscreen, and lightweight cap?
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Now we
can add maritime watches to that list. Quartz or mechanical, tide gauge or regatta timer,
the maritime watch has emerged as the newest musthave timepiece for those who get their
excitement racing on the high seas.
The trend
has been bolstered by the popularity of the America’s Cup, sailing’s holy grail, and the
attendant marketing opportunities watch companies have clamored to seize
(See "The Show Before the Showdown," page 132, in this issue).
This
guide to "maritimers" includes timepieces by many of the watch companies that have found
seafaring associations among this year’s field of America’s Cup teams, and also many that have
not. If your inner sailor is calling out for a new must-have gadget, you’ve found the right place.
Check out our "Contact Index," on page 176, to see how you can get in touch with the company
that manufactures or distributes the watches in these pages.
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