mitchell barber
As far back as 1707, a gentleman named Dr. John Froyer, famous for his treatment of asthma (and possibly leeches), developed the first clock with a scale to help measure pulse. Thanks to the pulsometer, Frøyer became the first physician to study heart rhythm in clinical practice. Frøyer did not write about such an invention and did not write his literary work entitled “The Physician’s Pulsemeter, or an Essay on Explaining and Improving with the Help of the Pulsemeter the Old Art of Sensing the Pulse.” That would be Floyer’s responsibility. . the name of something Either way, this book is a sign of the times, and clear evidence that Floyer was a bad guy who invented one of the most practical complications and interesting dial styles in watchmaking. Trust your doctor and keep a perfect record. Below are six of the best pulse monitor watches, according to Froyer.
Boulder Field Medic II
Thanks to Boldr, owning a pulse monitor doesn’t require a huge investment. Despite its $299 price tag, the Mechaquartz-powered Field Medic II is housed in a 200-meter water-resistant titanium case with a diameter of 38 mm, a thickness of 12.2 mm, and a lug-to-lug distance of 44 mm. The dial has the fan-favorite panda style, with black counters and red accents contrasting against the white background. What’s more, Boulder has placed the dial-blend date complication nicely at the symmetrical 6 o’clock position, so even dial purists won’t risk getting sick. Price: US$299, available from T+T Shop
Farlan Mari Nero Sabbia Ref. 1072-A
If you prefer a vintage-style chronograph, Farlan Mari’s Nero Sabbia is the perfect choice. This watch is made with great attention to detail. Check out the fluted pattern on the edges of the chronograph pushers, the intricate engraving on the buckle, and the beautiful sector-style print on the dial. There’s a 60-minute counter at 9, delicate Roman numerals, and the all-important pulsation scale all around. Furlan Mali has done a great job balancing the dial of the Nero Sabbia. Not an easy task considering there’s one off-center subdial. This watch is all about aesthetics, but it also has an interesting movement inside. Powered by a Seiko Mechaquartz, it retains the old-world charm of a mechanical chronograph while benefiting from the precision and reliability of a battery-powered watch. Price: CHF 555 (~US$640), available from T+T shop
Jin EZM 12
Although the term “tool watch” has become romanticized, Sinn is a brand that genuinely makes purpose-driven tool watches for professionals. Designed with aviation medics in mind, the large EZM 12 is clad in reinforced steel. In layman’s terms, this means steel is as scratch resistant as ceramic, but without the risk of shattering. EZM 12 has a diameter of 44mm, a thickness of 14mm and a lug distance of 54mm, with a day and date complication at 9 o’clock, a bidirectional countdown bezel and a countup inner bezel, with a central seconds dial in the middle. Notice the four blades. The white-tipped hand represents the actual running seconds, but the purpose of the other three hands is to keep the PulsRotor scale from 12 to 6 available at all times. Price: $4,180
omega speedmaster chronoscope
There’s certainly no shortage of Speedy variations, but the Speedmaster Chronoscope brings something new with its 2021 release. Although 43mm is a bit large for me, I was fascinated by the various scales on the dial and the beautiful hand-wound movement on the back cover. At first glance, the dial is certainly busy with overlapping tachymeter, telemeter, and pulsometer scales, but the 1940s-inspired spiral-style track pattern is very easy to read. This is what I imagined Dr. Floyer’s dial to look like. Powered by the Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 9900 movement, it is very modern and has a nice finish. Price: From USD 9,100
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar
Fewer and fewer well-known brands list pulsometer watches in their catalogs, at least in regular production. However, it’s up to the watch manufacturer to make sure they have top-of-the-line pulse monitor options available at retail stores. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar features full calendar functions (day, date, month, moon phase) and a chronograph complication combined with a pulsating scale instead of the typical tachymeter. Perhaps it’s the perfectly laid out sunburst blue dial (or its alternative), or the choice of a leather strap instead of a bracelet that matches the case, that gives this watch a certain elegance. Both are easily replaceable. Water resistant to 50 meters, the Master Control measures 40 mm in diameter, 12.05 mm thick and is powered by an in-house automatic movement that lasts for 65 hours. If you don’t mind increasing your budget, definitely take note. Price: US$17,500 (strap), US$19,100 (bracelet)
A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph
The 1815 Chronograph is without a doubt my favorite watch on the planet. I love this one, and it just happens to have a pulsating scale! At 39.5 mm, this watch has near-perfect proportions, a beautifully balanced dial, and a top-notch movement.
Caliber L951.5 has a power reserve of 60 hours and is hand-wound, so nothing can interfere with your view of the perfect finish. Being a German watch, the movement structure is inherently different and its depth is incredible. A completely new experience with German silver bridges. If you have a chance to see it in person, please give it a try. Price: upon request
