Why a Watch Is the Ultimate Valentine’s Day Gift

It seems to have become tediously fashionable for many to roll their eyes at the prospect of Valentine’s Day and dismiss the occasion with a cynical sneer. Some people object to its commercialisation of romance, the social pressure it brings, or all the accompanying cliches that invariably come dipped in chocolate and scattered with rose petals.  These Valentine’s Day pessimists can now even buy cards that express their curmudgeonly sentiment. “Happy unimaginative, consumerist and entirely arbitrary, manipulative and shallow interpretation of romance day”, reads one, before ending with a heart-shaped full-stop.

But enough of these dull and joyless complaints. Valentine’s Day may be a manufactured day of romance, but all can agree it is designed to celebrate loving relationships. If you are planning to jump on board the love train, then it’s worth doing it properly. Admittedly, we might be slightly biased here, but we’d advise you to think outside the (chocolate) box and consider a watch as the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Flowers, after all, will wither and die – hardly ideal symbolism in this context – while lingerie tends to be a fraught purchase that, let’s face it, always smacks of self-interest. A watch, however, is a special and meaningful present that’s literally built to stand the test of time. Luxurious yet practical, it will sit next to the warm skin of your paramour to provide a daily reminder of your eternal love.   Here are just a few options that’ll go down considerably better than any soft toy clad in red satin boxer shorts.

Cartier

Sharply rising demand means that Cartier watches are becoming more highly sought-after than ever before. The reason stems from the brand’s highly finessed aesthetic and uniquely shaped cases that convey a sense of stylish refinement for both women and men.

For her: On its sleek bracelet, the Panthère de Cartier walks the line between watch and jewellery with effortless panache. No wonder, the Panthère has become the wristwear of choice for a glittering range of celebrities from Gwyneth Paltrow to Sienna Miller and Kirsten Dunst.

For him: As one of the world’s very first wristwatches – invented at the request of the pilot, Alberto Santos Dumont – the Cartier Santos is a stone-cold classic.  Water-resistant to 100m, it’s a sporty watch that’s built for action. Yet the elongated Roman numerals of the trademark dial give the Santos a dressier edge, making it a watch suitable for any occasion.

Jaeger-LeCoultre

When you’re buying a watch from a brand widely known as “the watchmaker’s watchmaker”, you can be confident that you’re in safe hands. Jaeger-LeCoultre is a discerning brand that wears its technical know-how lightly and is ideal for the horological connoisseur.

For her: The Reverso Classic Medium Duetto adds a little extra pizzazz to this iconic watch case in the form of two neat rows of diamonds that frame the swivel-back case. The result is a two-faced watch that, appropriately, feels both opulent yet tastefully discreet. 

For him: The Master Geographic is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s unique interpretation of the travel watch. This dual-time watch with a city indicator somehow manages to deliver a wide array of functionality without compromising its elegant looks.

IWC Schaffhausen

It’s true that IWC are justly famed for their pilot’s watches. But the Swiss brand’s offering goes way deeper than that. Their Portofino collection is all about classical style and delivering the sort of detail-oriented excellence that will never date.

For her: It’s the little details that make the Portofino Automatic 37 shine. Perched on a beige calfskin strap, the silver-plated dial features golden hour markers encircled by those 12 diamond hour markers for a touch of added sparkle.

For him: The IWC Portofino Chronograph 39 is formal enough for practically any event, but is still imbued with an inherent sportiness thanks to the split-second functionality of those sub-dials. The compact 39mm case meanwhile will also hit the Goldilocks zone for many wrists.

Panerai

Any self-respecting watch lover will immediately clock a Panerai across a crowded room. That’s because the brand is not only one of the most notable dive watch manufacturers, but their distinctive case guards are recognisable at a single glance.  

For her: Panerai expose their feminine side with the Luminor Luna Due. On a white sun-brushed dial, the moonphase complication at 3 o’clock is pleasingly balanced by the small seconds display at 9 o’clock, while the shiny pink alligator leather strap injects a feel-good pop of colour.

For him: Panerai is traditionally viewed as the watch brand for a man’s man as its patronage by the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger would suggest. The beauty of the Luminor Quaranta is that its 40mm case is highly wearable for the rest of us who sadly aren’t blessed with action-hero arms.

Article written by our content contributor Luke Benedictus.

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