When you think about it, it’s something of a miracle that the watch industry continues to thrive in 2022 while other primitive technologies have retired to the chapters of history books. This success isn’t by mistake, so if you’re scratching your head thinking of Christmas gifts for watch lovers, here’s why a timepiece could be the perfect gift for them.
While VHS players, fax machines and so many other innovations have ceased to exist in the face of relentless progress, the humble wristwatch hasn’t just survived, but grown in cultural importance since the time-telling mobile phone (or pager) first landed in our pockets. The main reason for this is that timepieces have been elevated from practical everyday objects and turned into meticulously crafted parcels of emotional meaning.
There’s a very good reason the average watch enthusiast is so passionate about their timepieces and it’s almost always tied to the person who gave them their first watch. That’s right, the fire in most collector’s bellies was sparked when a parent, grandparent, spouse or friend gave them a watch to mark a special moment, be it a graduation, birthday or marriage.
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Watches aren’t worn for their accuracy, instead, they’re picked up every day as a reminder of the moment at which they were received or of the person they received it from, as a little totem of the special moments and people that make up our lives. This is why a watch is a great Christmas gift for watch lovers, not because it’ll add more to the recipient’s life than a cookbook or piece of tech, but because every time they wear the watch they’ll think of you and the day you gave it to them.
Depending on the personal style and sensibilities of the person you’re thinking of picking up a watch for, you’ll want to make sure the timepiece is right for them. If they’re a dressy, suit-and-tie kind of person who never misses their fortnightly visit to the barber, a classy chronograph such as the Longines Record ($4,650) might be up their alley.
Alternatively, for a watch you can set and forget, the Seiko SRPJ53K “Eucalyptus” ($895) is a sporty piece with a bit of Australian flair, otherwise, the Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 ($6,390) with the yellow dial is a timepiece that just screams endless summer.
If that’s a little casual and you know they’d prefer a touch of rose gold, Piaget’s new Polo Skeleton ($70,500) oozes sporty chic and looks impeccable with its blue dial and matching alligator leather strap. For the ocean lover, there’s the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date ($14,800) that sparkles like an absolute treat in olive green, boasting bright orange highlights and the twin crowns of a ’60s frogman.
Perhaps they live a more active lifestyle, spending most days in shorts and a t-shirt where the Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic ($7,050) or the Mido Ocean Star GMT Special Edition ($2,100) might be a better fit. For an appreciator of the subtle nuances offered by natural Japanese craftsmanship, they’ll be able to pair their latest bottle of 2022 Hibiki Blossom Harmony with something like Grand Seiko’s SLGH011 ($13,600) with its finely textured forest green dial.
How about something for the person who’s passionate about the environment? Consider either the environmentally friendly Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro eSteel ($16,400) or the cleanly eye-catching IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition “Lake Tahoe” ($15,900) that looks best gleaming under the sun on a bluebird day in the mountains.
If they’re a motoring enthusiast, who can pick out the cry of a 5.2-L quattro valvole Lamborghini Countach engine from three blocks away, the Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph 7741 ($5,795) is a racing watch inspired by the trackside timepieces of the 1970s, with a clean black and white dial and remarkably comfortable bracelet. Speaking of the ’70s, the new Tissot PRX Automatic Chronograph ($2,775) looks like it’s been lifted directly from the history books, with an angular “tonneau” shaped case that merges seamlessly with its integrated bracelet.
Finally, for the watch collector who already has everything, why not surprise them with an accoutrement or two? Perhaps a Tell Your Time Three-Watch Stand ($180) made from native spotted gum, A Collected Man Geneva Six-Watch Folio (~$857) to protect their precious timepieces whilst on the road, or a Wolf Cub Winder ($565) – the latter of which Kennedy will stuff into your proverbial stocking with every watch purchase you make this Christmas. If that doesn’t quite sound right or they already have everything they want on the wrist, then a horological masterpiece for their desk could be in order, such as the technically remarkable Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Transparente ($16,800) that powers itself from changes in ambient air temperature.
This article features a number sponsored inclusions from brands who have supported Boss Hunting throughout 2022.
