From Pleasingly Affordable To All-Out Luxury: The Best Watches To Gift This Christmas

It’s November, the point in the year when the countdown to Christmas – and finding the perfect present – begins in earnest. This festive season, if you want to offer the gift of time (pardon the pun), then look no further. As a watch editor, I see thousands of timepieces every year and appreciate how overwhelming the choice can be: from quartz watches to chronographs, from sports watches to dress watches, from diamonds to a rainbow of ceramic dials. The good news is, I’ve done the hard work for you, selecting the very best watches around right now – and at every price point.

For the eco-warrior, 2021 has seen a hearteningly wide range of watchmakers turn their attention to the question of how to treat the planet more gently. Skagen’s watch recycles plastic waste from the ocean, while Votch has vegans covered with its cruelty-free – and very convenient – interchangeable straps.

For colourful chic, look no further than Chanel’s Electro collection, which combines rainbows with the maison’s signature motifs, or the relaunch of Cartier’s Tank Must, which could make the dream of owning this watch icon a reality.

Read more: Best Gifts For Her

If you have the cash to spare, an investment piece from the likes of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet or Rolex is the ultimate gift. A luxury timepiece will hold its value, and can be handed down through generations to come. You could opt for the distinctive yet classic good looks of Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques American 1921, or a luxury sports watch like Omega’s Seamaster Aqua Terra, which combines a high performance calibre and water resistance with the luxury of a gold and steel bracelet – wear it to the gym, while diving, or for the fanciest of dinners.

Keep reading to discover a watch that will have your loved one counting the seconds until the next time they see you.