6 of the best watches for photography nerds

Jamie Weiss

Photography and watches are kindred spirits. Both are art forms that are deeply rooted in a past age, yet have kept up with technology and remained essential. Admirers of both generally love it when vintage models are honoured, yet are also happy when they’ve been updated for modern convenience. The debates eternally rage between mechanical versus quartz and film versus digital, but all sides can relate to their enjoyment of the hobby. If you want to combine your love of photography and watches, here are some you should think about.

Casio G-Shock G-Lide GBX100-1D

If you’re a landscape or nature photographer, you’ll need to be prepared for some pretty rough terrain and conditions in search of the perfect shot. The best watch for the job in that scenario will almost always be a G-Shock, because you need something reliable and basically invincible. Realistically, any G-Shock can handle the rigours of adventure, but I’ve chosen the G-Lide GBX100-1D for its beautifully laid-out tide graph. If you’re looking to snap some photos of the roaring waves or get some crisp macro shots of crabs among the rock pools, that is a genuinely useful feature. Price: US$160

Nodus Obscura

Designed in collaboration with photography meet-up community Beers & Cameras (B&C, whose logo you can see adorning its dial), the Nodus Obscura might appear to be a dive watch at first glance, but that’s not a timing bezel – that’s actually an exposure calculating bezel. It works using the Sunny 16 Rule, a clever and time-tested method for determining proper exposure without the need for a light meter developed by B&C founder Juan Martinez. Basically, the idea goes that is an ISO 100 film shot at f/16 requires a shutter speed of 1/125s on a sunny day – great to keep in mind if you don’t have a light meter or automatic exposure. You turn the bezel to match your camera’s lens aperture with the corresponding value on the chapter ring, then find the correct ISO marker on the chapter ring based on the film speed – the ISO indicator will point to the corresponding shutter speed on the second half of the bezel. Neat, huh? Otherwise, the Obscura is based on the Nodus Sector II, offering 100m of water resistance and a Seiko NH38 movement in a 38mm case. Price (pre-order): US$650

Yes WorldWatch V7

Unless you’ve stumbled across the Yes WorldWatch V7 before, you’ve probably never seen anything quite like it. Although this watch is thoroughly modern, it has its roots in ancient cultures. Time as an arbitrary measurement is a relatively recent development in human society, whereas the things that used to matter were based on the position of the sun. For photographers, knowing exactly when to chase the perfect lighting is a dream come true. Whether you’re trying to capture the feeling of a golden dawn or the soft light of a full moon, the Yes WorldWatch V7 can let you know exactly when to be ready at a glance. In addition to a digital time display, it shows the times for sunrise, sunset, high noon, true midnight, as well as dividing the day up in visible segments of daylight and nighttime hours. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of its functionality. The 46mm x 16mm measurements may scare off a few people, but for such a unique and charming watch, I think the potential comfort sacrifice is worth it. Price: US$695

Rado DiaStar Original Skeleton

If you’re into watches and photography, there’s a pretty high likelihood you’re going to be taking lots of watch photos. It’s tougher than it sounds, because watches are incredibly complex subjects to shoot. Not only are they relatively small, but they have a variety of surfaces, depths, and focal points to consider. The Radio DiaStar Original Skeleton may not have any tricks to help your photography, but it makes for a great photographic challenge. Its vast cushion case with steep slopes is topped with their special Ceramos material, which ushers in a lot of difficult reflections. Then, you have the skeletonised dial, which has multiple planes that need to look crisp,  cementing the watch’s dimensionality. When you reach the point of making this watch look good in any lighting conditions and environment, you’ll know you’ve got some serious skills. Price: US$2,150

Horage Lensman 2

The Horage Lensman 2 was the main inspiration for this series of articles, as we on the Time+Tide team had never seen another watch so perfectly link with a hobby. Not only is it an ode to photography, but it’s also a useful tool and a great-looking watch in its own right. The design, with its boxy-square case and ridged bezel, is clearly inspired by vintage cameras. It also has GMT functionality, which is just an added bonus. The real spectacle here is the exposure calculator built into the bezel, similar to the Nodus also featured in this article. You can line up your ISO with whatever lighting conditions you’re in, and the watch will display what the ideal f-stop should be. The back of the watch is also a gorgeous view, with a display caseback showing off the black-coated Horage K2 with an automatic micro-rotor. Price: US$6,820

Time+Tide Timeless Pick: Leica ZM 1 Monochrom

For photography fans, Leica needs no introduction. What may come as a surprise, though, is that such a lofty camera company has actually been producing luxury watches for several years. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Both disciplines require precise micro-machining and zero tolerance for shortcuts. While the aesthetics may be simple, everything is derived from their expertise in making cameras, and there are plenty of symbolic links too. There’s a power reserve which looks like a shutter, the pusher for advancing the date has the same feeling as a shutter button, and there’s also a shutter button on the crown. That button hacks the movement, representing how time is frozen when a photograph is taken. This monochromatic limited edition takes things further by being a homage to the Leica M Monochrom, the world’s only camera with a dedicated black-and-white sensor, as well as black-and-white photography more broadly. It’s now sold out, but there are other versions of the ZM 1 available, such as this green fumé dial version. Price: US$12,305