I am one of a dwindling number who went to public school. And if you attended such institutions in the 60s or 70s, make no mistake, you were regularly caned. A minor infringement meant a 3 mile cross country run at 6 o’ clock in the morning. Talking in class was punishable by kneeling in the quadrangle supporting industrial sized bibles with outstretched arms, the House Master watching from his study window, just praying he would have another chance to beat you if you dropped a book. It was a tough life, all done in the interests of instilling in you the necessary discipline to go forth and run the world.
The Careers Master, on the other hand, had an easy life. Rarely did he have to look beyond the letter ‘B’ to set a boy on his lifelong career. Accountancy, Architect, Army, Banking, Barrister – these were the five professions the vast majority of boys pursued – or family tradition dictated that they would pursue. Many of them are still working in these professions to this day.
And so, in our occasional series on which watch to wear for various walks of life, we now contemplate suitable watches for a barrister.
Time is incredibly important to barristers. Not only do they charge by the hour, but they need to be constantly aware of the time of court hearings, client meetings, and train times, because they travel frequently to put in an appearance at Magistrates Courts across the country. Clerks in chambers deal with the high pressure of arranging up to 80 diaries at a time, but the barrister needs to be an expert in time juggling as cases are dropped into and out of lists and papers have to be passed between advocates and prepared for hearings at extremely short notice.
And naturally, the choice of watch to control this organised mayhem must also send out a message of quiet confidence to the client. ‘He must be good because he’s wearing an expensive watch.’ You know you’re going to do time if your ‘brief’ comes to represent you wearing a Sekonda.
Here then, is our list of suitably confidence inspiring watches for a barrister, whether at the top, or on the way up.
Patek Philippe Calatrava
We call our first witness. In the world of luxury watches and in terms of outlay of huge wads of hard, cold cash, there is no other brand that strikes fear into the hearts of prosecutors and joy into the hearts of clients like Patek Philippe. This tells the world you are an assured defendant of errant corporate raiders and money laundering bankers. Patek’s signature model is the ultra-thin, nothing short of iconic Calatrava in white gold. This sleek, automatic watch is as clean as it gets and features a legendary “hobnail” bezel. To complete the look, it comes with a white lacquered dial and alligator strap. Destined to impress even the most discerning white collar criminal.
Frederique Constant Classics Manufacture
Skeleton arguments, schedules, admissions, defence statements, for the busy barrister on the way up, Frederique Constant released its Classics Manufacture this year, with a price tag that even an intern could afford. The 26-jewel decorated movement is visible through the display caseback and little touches such as Roman numeral markers, Breguet-style hands and a pointer date display lend the watch interest. Rose gold-plating keeps the price down without compromising on its understated elegance.
A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia
Sober as a judge and twice as clear and incisive, the movement of a Saxonia is endowed with all of the traditional elements that have been developed since F. A. Lange’s time to assure superior rate accuracy without any compromise as regards to the ultimate in aesthetic harmony. The dials of even the most complicated Saxonia models are splendid examples of German clarity and legibility. Allow this watch to appear from under a crisp double cuff and your client will know the case is already won.
Girard Perregaux 1966 Equation of Time
In the 1960s, Girard-Perregaux was one of the very few watchmaking Manufactures to have its own Research & Development team. In 1966, it launched the first High Frequency movement, which would provide exceptional accuracy performance. So much so, that 73% of the chronometer certificates awarded by the Neuchatel Observatory in 1967 were issued to Girard-Perregaux. As both time and a strong sense of style are important when defending, or for that matter prosecuting, an important case, a barrister can have full confidence in this elegant, extra thin model with an excellent in-house automatic movement.
Christopher Ward C900 Single Pusher Chronograph
With 11 lever arch files of paperwork to be assimilated and acted upon within the next 48 hours, the barrister’s watch needs to be a thing of style and simplicity. This automatic chronograph from Anglo Swiss watchmakers Christopher Ward can be started, stopped and reset with a single ‘pusher’, or button, the highly modified Unitas 6497 movement was designed by two master Swiss watchmakers using a combination of traditional Swiss watchmaking skills and up to the minute design. For the brief who doesn’t yet have a bankers bonus budget, at £2,450, the C900 brings the world of complications and the upper end of watchmaking within reach. Case closed.
