The best watches to gift this Christmas
Jo Glasbey rounds up the ten most covetable timepieces
The Times Luxury watch editor Jo Glasbey on the best watches to add to your Christmas list this season, from reimagined Brietlings to Tag Heur anniversary editions. Here are her top picks.
Cartier Santos-Dumont XL platinum
In 1904, Louis Cartier created the first wristwatch for his friend, the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, to clock the time safely while flying, naming the watch for him. Still going strong, the latest is this handsome XL platinum version with Roman numerals carved in jasper and a ruby cabochon on the crown. A limited edition of 200 numbered pieces. £22,700; cartier.com
Breitling Premier
Breitling’s original Premier collection launched in 1943. The modern watches feature the distinctive vintage details, but are driven by the very up-to-date in-house calibre B01. This dapper 42mm chronograph has an 18-carat red gold case and leather strap. £16,600; breitling.com
Patek Philippe Ref 5226
The newest member of Patek Philippe’s Calatrava family — now almost 91 years old — is Ref 5226, an 18-carat white-gold paragon of design purity. Decorated with Clous de Paris hobnail pattern guilloched around the caseband, its textured charcoal grey dial and gold applied numerals add beautiful elements to a refined yet dynamic timepiece. £32,380; patek.com
Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet
Deploying a robust case architecture that sandwiches an octagon in a circle, Audemars Piguet’s Code 11.59 white-gold 41mm chronograph offers attention to detail from its busy concentric circled dial to its depth of colour. It’s a characterful, classic piece with unconventional touches and a powerful in-house movement. £31,300; audemarspiguet.com
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Rolex Perpetual 1908
With its slender silhouette, Rolex’s new 39mm 18-carat white gold Perpetual 1908 dials up the opulence in restrained yet punchy style. It’s a tribute to Rolex’s original Oyster Perpetual watches, rocking a slim bezel that is part-domed, part-finely fluted, with high-tech creds. Surely a future classic. £19,600; rolex.com
Longines Mini DolceVita
Inspired by a 1927 archive piece, Longines’s new Mini DolceVita flaunts a dainty rectangular steel case framed with 38 IF-VVS top Wesselton diamonds, while a square dial and small seconds sub-dial add to the deco-style geometry. The collection comes in a range of colour options and configurations, including one with a fluid link metal bracelet. Starting from £3,450; longines.com
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days
Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo range has broken records for its slenderness. The Skeleton 8 Days 40mm design in titanium with its ultra-thin 2.5mm mechanical movement, eight days’ power reserve and stunning openwork dial appears almost two-dimensional. Its astonishing silhouette of credit-card thickness feels featherweight on the wrist. £24,600; bulgari.com
Chanel J12
Chanel’s iconic J12 has been around for almost 24 years, taking many incarnations. Sporty, sophisticated and glamorous, it fuses serious horology and high fashion. The latest is this 38mm version in black or white highly resistant ceramic, with 18-carat yellow-gold detailing and lacquer, powered by the calibre 12.1 mechanical movement. £13,300; chanel.com
Tag Heuer Carrera
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Tag Heuer’s Carrera collection has added a flock of fine new sporty pieces for professional drivers and sports car enthusiasts. One of the standouts is this striking 36mm automatic watch with date in steel and a vibrant pink dial. Wear it to express your personality, and style it with a smile. £2,750; tagheuer.com
Chaumet Hortensia
At a teeny 22.4mm, Chaumet’s steel and diamond Hortensia is a delicate watch, with tiny diamond hydrangea flowers — a house motif — adding graceful detail to the diamond set bezel. It’s also versatile, easily transforming to reset mood or match an outfit by swapping the steel bracelet to a leather or satin strap in a range of colours. £5,480; chaumet.com
