How to Choose a Watch for Your Loved One This Holiday Season

A watch can deliver a perfectly gift-wrapped masterstroke of a Christmas present – the sort of thing that’d earn you a congratulatory high-five from Santa Claus himself. It’s not just that a watch tends to a very considered purchase that shows you’ve invested some genuine thought and effort. Or that it’s likely to be a fairly pricey gift that shows what a generous soul you are. No, what makes a watch such a special gift is that a timepiece is such an intimate possession. Think about it for a second. A watch will spend its life nestled against your loved one’s warm skin, ticking against their pulse, a constant companion that accompanies them through the ups and downs of daily life. Treated with a modicum of care, it will last for decades, too, and so offers a fitting symbol of your eternal love.

The only problem, of course, is that buying someone a watch is also incredibly complicated. Not only is a timepiece a very personal choice, but there are innumerable options to choose from. In addition, if you’re new to the watch world, it can feel confusingly impenetrable, too. But don’t worry, this watch-giving guide will help you to navigate the process with ease.

Get Nosey

Unsure what type of watch will float your partner’s horological boat? We wouldn’t normally advocate snooping through their things (you never know what harrowing evidence you might find).  But in this instance you’re fully justified. Inspecting their existing collection of cufflinks or jewellery, for example, can tell you whether they naturally gravitate towards silver or gold.

If your partner already owns a few different watches, this can be the best clue of all. First up, it will give you a clear guide to the style and size that they prefer. Men, in particular, are often creatures of habits and rather than purposely deviate from their formula, use it to your gift-buying advantage. If, for example, your partner already owns a couple of diving watches, then offer something similar with a twist. This might be in terms of a different dial colour – like this Longines HydroConquest in green, for example. Or you might consider a slightly different style of diver like the Panerai Submersible Blu Notte with its distinctive crown guard.

Get Imaginative

Even if your partner doesn’t own many watches, their broader tastes can still inform your watch-buying decision.  Consider their general style of clothing. If you’re buying a watch for a man who hardly ever wears a collared shirt, then a refined dress watch many not be the most fitting choice. Reflect on your partner’s broader likes and interests, too. If, for example, your beloved got wildly overexcited by the last Top Gun movie, then you might decide something like this IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph could prove the ultimate co-pilot for their wrist.   

Get Personal

There’s one easy way to up the ante and turn the watch you’re giving into an even more romantic gesture. Getting a watch engraved can add a new level of personalisation that will turn the watch into a true one-off. Less is more when it comes to engravings – think initials, a few shorts words or a key date that means a lot to you both. But if you like the idea of engraving, then you’ll also need to consider the type of watch you’re giving because some models are more suitable than others. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is an ideal candidate because its unique swivel-back case provides the perfect canvas for your heart-felt inscription. Just make sure you spell your message right.

Get Networking

Still struggling to choose? Sometimes it’s wise to call in the reinforcements. Does your wife have a best friend who she’s spoken to on a daily basis since the age of six? Well, this BFF probably knows her tastes better than you ever will (and the fact that your wife been secretly eyeballing this Cartier Panthère ever since she saw Gwyneth Paltrow wearing one in the ‘90s). Capitalise on this insider know how. Once you’ve narrowed down your hit-list to a handful of watches, give her friend a buzz and get her advice.

This is probably even more important if you’re buying for the sort of watch geek who spends hours browsing Hodinkee on a daily basis. If your partner has a likeminded friend who shares his passion then enlist them as your watch-buying consultant to guide your purchase decision. He’ll know that your better half quietly hankers after the Piaget Polo as a modern interpretation of late ‘70s jet-set chic. Remember: knowledge is power.

Get Direct

Admittedly, this last option isn’t very romantic. But I must confess to doing it myself. A few years ago my wife – who is always late for everything – had a significant birthday looming. I decided to buy her a watch. I did my research, I whittled down my choices, but I then proceeded to agonise for weeks. The potential outlay was not insignificant and, frankly, I didn’t want to pick the wrong one. In the end, after curating the options down to three, I simply asked my wife to pick her favourite.

Before you criticise my timidity and abject failure to read my wife’s mind, please consider this. Men today are often recommended to propose with a bare rock rather than kneel down with a complete ring. That way, the lucky lady can ensure she’ll get an engagement ring she genuinely adores, rather than endure something unsightly for the rest of her life.  Some believe watches should follow similar logic.

At any rate, I invited my wife to choose her watch (she picked a vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre if you must know). And you know what? She absolutely loves that watch to bits. It’s just a pity that she’s still always late…

Article written by our content contributor Luke Benedictus.

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