Black
Ops

In 1989, Victorinox Swiss Army introduced the company's first watch. A simple yet rugged timepiece, it had a white analog dial with military markings for time, a water resistant plastic case and a leather-accented mesh strap. It was so fool proof that the design had remained relatively unchanged for nearly a quarter of a century. But this fall, the Swiss made watch—simply dubbed the Original—is getting a shot of modern styling. The case, now in stainless steel, is slightly larger (40mm) and the mesh band has been replaced with a nylon NATO strap. The dial is brushed aluminum with stencil punch outs and the hands have been beefed up, making them easier to read. And it's not just pretty—it's still water resistant up to 330 feet and the hardened mineral crystal is virtually indestructible. The watch comes in four monochromatic colorways, but we're partial to the black on black.

$295, available in September, by Victorinox Swiss Army

• Founded in 1884, Victorinox has used the cross and shield emblem since 1909.

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