Bring one of these reliable wrist companions with you the next time you head to sea.

The art of watchmaking for seafarers goes back centuries. Breguet, for instance, first started making nautical watches almost two centuries ago for the Royal French Navy. The advent of the digital age has created equipment that are more precise and sturdy, but technology has yet to invent a timekeeper that is as romantic and desirable as a wristwatch. Here are five pieces that are perfect companions for a seafarer, or a seafarer at heart.

Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta

Aside from its eye-catching design, one of the highlights of this Ulysse Nardin watch is the way its chronograph works. On most others, the sailor has to activate the countdown, stop the countdown at the start of the crossing line, and then start the chronograph. The Marine Regatta is designed to automatically stop the countdown at the end and begin the chronograph without human input. This means that competitive sailors can focus on the race and not fiddle with their timekeepers. A brand new model also comes with a 5-year warranty.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II

The Yacht-Master II is one of the most popular luxury timepieces for boating, and not including it in this list would be near heresy. It boasts a complication with 360 parts that took 35,000 hours to develop and has a power reserve of 72 hours. As it is made for regattas, the countdown sequence can go up to 10 minutes, and after that it has a chronograph to keep track of the race. Those keen on bringing it on board should consider one made from Oystersteel, a tougher alloy composite that will be better suited for this exciting life.

Corum Admiral AC One 45 Tides

The Admiral Cup collection of watches are undoubtedly at the core of Corum’s universe. Newest to the collection is the Admiral AC One 45 Tides, which houses a unique complication that calculates the time, strength, and height of tides along with the strength of the currents. It is one of the rarest complications in the vast world of luxury watchmaking. It is also yachting ready, with a titanium case, sapphire crystal, and a vulcanised rubber strap.

Tissot Sailing Touch

Don’t want to bring a luxury timepiece on a yachting trip? The Sailing Touch may be the answer, from a watchmaker with a superb reputation, no less. As with most regatta-ready watches, it features a countdown timer, with the added function of switching over to the race timer automatically. Other features include luminous markers and hands, sapphire crystal, backlighting, and it can also show two time zones.

Aquastar Match Race III

A watchmaker almost unknown to those who are not in the in the world of nautical horology, Aquastar Geneve is actually a preeminent designer of nautical timepieces. The Match Race III is no longer in production, but can still be found in the pre-owned market on rare occasions. It’s the only watch with a digital quartz movement to make it on this list, but due to its affordability and talents, sailors and enthusiasts alike admire the Match Race III. The countdown timer is adjustable to 15 minutes, with the final 5 minutes shown intuitively as 5 black markers on the watch face.

Design and utility must come together in any nautical-themed timepieces. Sure, most pleasure boaters will not use features like regatta-countdowns or even a complication that shows the flow and ebb of the tides. Even so, there’s something remarkably romantic about an instrument that is almost connects modern seafarers to another time, when such tools were indispensable. Check out our other list of nautical watches here if you want more recommendations.