Watch industry veteran and journalist Shigeru Sugawara picks out the top 5 watches released in 2021 that he'd like to wear himself

This project asks prominent journalists from Japan and around the world to choose their top five watches released in 2021.
The five watches selected by Shigeru Sugawara, a veteran journalist and a leading figure in the watch industry, are brand new models that he would like to wear himself, and have no sense of déjà vu.
All of these watches have a restrained design and a stylish flair, making them look great and inspiring to walk down the street with your back straight.

Hermes "H08"

　The watch is unique in every detail, from the case to the dial, resulting in a masculine sports watch that is unlike any other, yet remains understated. The Hermès movement is also excellent.

Parmigiani Fleurier "Tonda PF Micro-Rotor"

　This model, released to mark the brand's 25th anniversary, exudes a refined aesthetic sense with its minimalist dial that even omits the brand name, and its platinum 950 bezel and stainless steel case and bracelet. It is a masterpiece for connoisseurs.

Bvlgari "Octo Roma Worldtimer"

　In musical terms, it has a city pop feel with a stylish melody line set to a light rhythm. The case, wrapped in smooth lines, and the world time display, which does not exaggerate its functions, are visually pleasing.

Tudor Black Bay Ceramic

　This is the most outstanding model among sporty and elegant divers. Its all-black design is outstanding, and its highly accurate in-house movement, which is COSC-certified chronometer, has passed Master Chronometer testing by METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology), and is also magnetically resistant to 15,000 gauss, making it unrivaled in terms of performance. Its affordable price is also a plus.

Citizen "The Citizen Mechanical Model Caliber 0200"

　This is our recommended Japanese watch for 2021. Featuring a newly designed mechanical movement, co-created by Japan and Switzerland, and a contemporary design that sets it apart from previous Citizen watches, it's perfect as a lifestyle watch for everyday wear.

Comment from Shigeru Sugawara

　The way people view watches has changed in recent years. Aside from a few core enthusiasts and collectors, it seems that simply appealing to technology and design is becoming increasingly difficult to capture the hearts of average users.

　So what is popular is lifestyle-oriented watches. As free work styles and casual fashions are becoming mainstream, there has been a dramatic increase in chronographs and divers' watches that cater to these trends, as well as sporty and elegant watches that add a touch of luxury and can be worn both on and off the job.

　Although the term "lifestyle watch" is generally used, it depends on the individual whether it matches their hobbies, tastes, and lifestyle, or whether they can imagine themselves wearing it.However, here I would like to list my top five models of 2021 that I would like to wear.

　The five watches are the Hermes H08, Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor, Bulgari Octo Roma Worldtimer, Tudor Black Bay Ceramic, and Citizen The Citizen Mechanical Model Caliber 0200.

　All of these watches are sporty and elegant, but what they all have in common is that they are brand new and almost unfamiliar. They also have a restrained design with a stylish flair. They are good-looking watches that make you want to walk around town with your back straight.

Shigeru Sugawara's profile

Born in 1954. Watch journalist. In the 1980s, he covered France and Italy for fashion and jewelry magazines. Since the 1990s, he has focused on watches, covering the annual watch fair held in Switzerland for over 25 years. He has written and published numerous articles for watch magazines such as Chronos Japan and general magazines. In his free time, he enjoys running and mountain climbing.