Zeppelin men's watch with chronograph, LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin

Some watches wear their history on the dial, and the Zeppelin 7678-5 is one of them. It belongs to the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin line, a nod to the golden age of airship travel, and the champagne dial with arabic numerals gives it a slightly vintage character without feeling costume-like. Two smaller chronograph counters sit symmetrically below the centre, and blue chronograph hands break up the warm dial colour with a sharp contrast. This is a watch for a man who wants a bit of story on his wrist but still needs something he can wear to work on a Tuesday and out to dinner on a Friday. It reads dressy enough for a jacket, relaxed enough for jeans.

The case is stainless steel, 42mm across and 12mm thick, big enough to feel present without tipping into oversized. Inside sits a Miyota quartz movement running the chronograph, which means accurate timekeeping and very little fuss when it comes to maintenance. Zeppelin fitted mineral glass over the dial, tougher against everyday knocks than standard glass, and rated the case to 5 ATM, so a splash from the sink or a walk in the rain will not cause you any trouble. A date window sits at 6 o'clock for practical daily use. The strap is black leather with a crocodile-style embossing and white stitching, a detail that lifts the whole watch and ties the black chronograph subdials together with the steel case and pale dial. It is the kind of combination that looks considered rather than loud.

Specifications

• Model: LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin, reference 7678-5
• Case: stainless steel, 42mm diameter, 12mm thick
• Dial: champagne with black and silver-toned details
• Strap: black leather, crocodile embossing, white stitching
• Movement: Miyota quartz with chronograph function
• Glass and water resistance: mineral glass, 5 ATM

If you want a watch with some personality that still behaves itself in daily life, the Zeppelin 7678-5 fits that gap nicely. The steel case and quartz movement mean you can wear it without thinking twice, while the dial and strap keep it looking sharp from one season to the next. It moves easily between the office and the evening, no strap change required.