When it comes to watches, fashion is quite understandably the driving force behind most watch choices. However, this summer, why not ask what else your watch can do for you? Watches can enhance your active lifestyle, like the range of Suunto heart rate monitors and the vast selection of dive watches available these days, but also your choice of what to wear on your wrist could have a direct influence on your health and well being. And it’s not that you have to abandon your fashion sensibilities along the way – far from it – but taking a new look at your watch wardrobe could pay dividends. Leading the way when it comes to fashion with additional benefits is Philip Stein. These highly fashionable timepieces include natural frequency technology, which, according to the company, can help promote stress reduction and better sleep. Now although we all know a watch can make you look better, many may view claims that it can make you feel better as just a little bit outlandish. Then again, as the only product to make Oprah’s ‘My favourite things’ list twice, there might just be something to it.

According to Michael Jappert of Island Companies, he was quite a sceptic initially, and needed a pretty big push to even try the technology. However, he readily admits to being a convert.

“It’s recognised not only for the quality of craftsmanship with the timepiece itself, but it provides a better sense of well being for the individuals who wear the watches. It potentially makes people feel more rested and less stressful – I wear mine when travelling because I find it much easier to rest on the plane and when I get to where I’m going I find it easier to go to sleep,” he says.

He is not alone – the company’s website has a long list of customer testimonials from people who have derived benefits from the effects of the watch. There have also been scientific studies conducted on the effect the watch’s natural frequency technology can have on sleep, with some spectacular results – 64 per cent of those using the technology reported waking up more refreshed, 61 per cent reported having more pleasant dreams, 43 per cent reported falling asleep faster, as well as sleeping longer. Certainly some very compelling results.

In fact, the study, which used bracelets either containing the natural frequency technology or without in order to ensure accuracy, was such a success that the company has now launched a version of the bracelet used in the test that contains a more powerful version of the technology than is integrated in the watch.

Even if you are not easily convinced by the potential benefits of the natural frequency technology, the quality and flexibility of the watches should be able to win you over on fashion sense alone.

“There are sport versions, there are chronographs, there are dual time zone versions, diamond versions, you can get the straps so you can have it with crocodile, leather, steel, gold – so it’s an incredibly flexible product as well so you really can adorn your entire watch wardrobe with a single Philip Stein watch because all the bracelets are interchangeable,” says Michael.

It’s really like owning more than one watch. You plug a new strap onto it and it’s a completely different watch. No fiddling with small screws or complicated mechanisms either – it takes under 30 seconds for even the most technically inept to switch from one strap to another. And with everything from pink rubber straps to solid gold diamond encrusted Philip Stein watches, finding just the right style is easy, even though deciding on just one might not be.

The Philip Stein boutique on Cardinal Avenue certainly brings the relaxation message across clearly, with a very Zen-like white and gold interior that makes you feel relaxed before you even think of putting on the watch. Don’t expect immediate results though – it takes around 48 hours for the effect of the natural frequency technology to start kicking in.

Apart from the Philip Stein boutique, the watches can also be found at Island Time in Flagship in George Town, and The Mansion in Camana Bay.

For those looking for something a little more fun than Philip Stein, the company has also launched Fruitz, a range of fun, colourful watches that also integrate natural frequency technology into their design.

“These watches are more to the kin of the young at heart, fun, every day fashion piece –there’s no gold, there’s no diamonds, just fresh style and great looks. If somebody wants to get a quick everyday gift, Fruitz is right in the heart of that and you still get the natural frequencies at an amazing price,” says Michael.

And for those who have always been fans of a fruit salad, Watch.Me offers multiple purchase discounts as well, which means you don’t even have to choose your Fruitz – you can just get one in every flavour and save up to 20 per cent.

When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, being active is a vital part of doing it right. However, activity can be quite difficult to quantify unless you have a good workout partner. Long gone are the days when a stopwatch was all you needed – these days the must-have for any active lifestyle is a heart rate monitor. Although the brand may not be that well known outside of sporting circles yet, Suunto is one of the premier heart rate monitor and dive watch brands out there.

“Suunto is highly accurate, but just as importantly, it looks good – if it doesn’t look good, people won’t want to wear it,” says Michael.

This is certainly more than can be said for many of the other heart rate monitors out there. Of course, all this technology can take some getting used to, but once you are familiar with how to navigate the menus, the watch becomes an essential part of your lifestyle.

“It becomes your workout partner, it becomes your dive partner, because all of a sudden it’s your command centre for whatever you’re doing in that active lifestyle,” says Michael.

Suunto is available from Watch.Me and Island Time, where you will also find the island’s widest selection and collections of dive watches, chronographs and more – whatever your activity or lifestyle, stop by these Island Companies stores to find the perfect partner for your wrist.

And remember, because it is Island Companies you can shop with confidence, as all your purchases are covered by their 90 day global money back guarantee, even covering buyer’s remorse.

Island Time 640-5320 (Camana Bay)
946-2333 (George Town)

Watch.Me 640-5339 (Camana Bay)
946 2507 (George Town)