When a company makes diving watches, surely it’s only natural that it should care about the marine environment, which is plagued by pollution. A number of firms have indeed decided to do their bit, just to show that ecology is everyone’s business. And possibly promote their core values at the same time, with tailor-made products into the bargain.

Diving watches are in demand not only for their subaquatic virtues, as watchmakers are well aware. For the man on the beach, their sporting style and robust design are more convincing arguments. Exactly the motivation firms need to go on "loading" models which, stripped to the bare essentials, would resemble nothing more than, well, a diving watch. And when it comes to pulling out all the stops, watchmakers can be trusted to put their expertise to good use with all manner of complications.

What better time than summer to sport a diving watch, and preferably the tan line that goes with it. Yet only a handful of these aficionados have ever probed the ocean’s depths. No matter, as these models have risen to the surface of exceptional technical and sports watches in their own right.

As a decorative feature of more and more contemporary homes, clocks are inspiring designers of every ilk. As for the clockmakers themselves, some are perpetuating a tradition while others venture into new territory.

Even with the global economy in the grip of a slowdown, watchmaking is still struggling to recruit in certain specialist fields. The Centre de Formation dans le domaine de l’Horlogerie, set up by two professionals in the sector, aims to bridge this gap.

Just as brands are developing new systems to authenticate their watches, so counterfeiters are stepping up a gear too.