As timepieces go, we guys don’t just fancy something that merely tells the time but also something that tells people a little about ourselves, our status in life, our sense of history and, yes, our fashion sensibilities. With their recently launched exciting collections, two popular Swiss brands on opposite sides of the watchmaking spectrum have demonstrated why choosing what to wear on our wrists is more than just a matter of taste.

Breitling’s Certified Chronometer chronograph watches have been around since 1884 and are designed mainly for aviation use but over the years have become more of status symbols than practical tools. They are characterized mostly by large faces for better visibility and features like flyback function, split second, moon phase date display and automatic winding mechanisms for certain models.

While Breitling watches have more or less maintained their familiar look and feel for generations, they have also evolved with subtle but significant innovations that have added to the brand’s high-end luxury appeal. These include the addition of the circular slide rule to the bezel of the chronograph for the classic Navitimer model that pilots found very useful during the 1940’s; the incorporation of the a 24-hour dial instead of the normal 12-hour dial in 1961 as requested by an astronaut for a model that would later be known as Cosmonaute Navitime; a radio transmitter for civil aviation use in its Emergency model; a 30-second Chronograph for its Breitling for Bentley Motors and a Diamond Bezel for its 2007 Breitling Super Avenger series.

The current Breitling for Bentley collection consists of three different models. The Bentley Motors Speed has a very sporty appearance and is distinguished by a central hand performing a sweep of the dial in half a minute, instead of the conventional 60 seconds. It comes in a standard steel version or a red gold limited series of only 500 as well as choices of metal, leather, crocodile leather or rubber strap.

The Bentley Motors T Speed, on the other hand, stands out with its bezel that features an original and dynamic engine-turned motif that plays with the light and very reminiscent of Bentley dashboards. Like the Bentley Motors Speed, it also has an exclusive 30-second chronograph mechanism. The Bentley 6.75 Speed, meanwhile, is characterized by a “large aperture calendar” that shows the date in a very readable manner as well as a caseback adorned with a powerful stamped décor that reflects the wheel rim designs of upscale British automobiles.

Breitling also unveils what it describes as “the new name for the mechanical chronograph” in the Chronomat B01. With a unidirectional rotating bezel that’s perfect for both flying and diving, it also has large and very readable engraved numerals. The selfwinding Caliber B01, on the other hand, has an instant date-change calendar that can be adjusted at any time.

While Breitling remains an innovator and trendsetter in the high-end watch maker, Swatch continues to set the pace in the mainstream. Originally intended to re-capture entry level market share lost by Swiss manufacturers during the aggressive growth of Japanese watches like Seiko and Citizen during the 1960s and 1970s, Swatch also managed to revive the popularity of analog watches at a time when digital timepieces were all the rage. Over the years, bold new styling and design that appeals to its largely young market continues to sustain what was initially regarded as a short shelf life for the brand.

In launching its latest Fall/Winter 2009 Collection that includes its new Chrono Plastic and Artist Collections, Swatch has recently enlisted sought after multi-awarded young actor John Lloyd Cruz as its newest image endorser.

Describing his fashion sense as both “adventurous and trendy,” Cruz also says “he appreciates the marriage of art and fashion that he sees in most Swatch watches. The actor also admits that New York is one of his favorite cities and that he loves the same vibrant, fast-paced and constantly evolving character in Swatch.

His current favorite Swatch right now is the SUIM401 Follow The Track model from the Chrono Plastic Collection that features a transparent, dark gray plastic case with solid light blue pushers holding a solid black bezel with a light blue minute ring and light blue Arabic numerals. The solid matte black, plastic strap recalls equipment carried by explorers working the edge of adventure.

Aside from black, the watches in the Chrono Plastic collection for men also come in plastic bracelets of other vibrant colors including orange, yellow, blue and white. Other noteworthy chronograph watches in the Fall/Winter 2009 line include the striking Two Sided model that comes in yellow and black, the Guide Me, the Ice Border and Mental Flame which all comes in varying leather straps and the equally attention-grabbing ThreeSixty Ride from the Artist Collection.