Holiday Gift Guide: 9 Best Luxury Watches for Men & Women
21st Dec 2021
As the holiday season approaches, finding the perfect holiday gift for your loved one is important. Whether your special someone is a luxury watch connoisseur or you simply want to give them a meaningful, stylish accessory, a high-end watch is an ideal gift. To help you find the perfect timepiece, use this holiday gift guide to discover the nine best luxury watches for men and women. The most popular gift options include sleek, elegant watches from Patek Philippe, classic, vintage-inspired Panerai models, women’s diamond-studded Cartier timepieces, and modern, innovative watches from Hublot.
1. A Classic Luxury Watch
A classic luxury watch is the safest option when it comes to choosing a timepiece for your loved one. Classic watches are elegant and stylish in a subdued, long-established sense. They are appreciated by watch aficionados and newbies alike, so a classic model is a good choice for anyone on your list.
For men, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 126200LIJ is the perfect classic timepiece. The Oyster Perpetual features a stainless steel case and bezel, which complements the rich blue dial. This piece highlights everything that makes a Rolex a Rolex; classic Oyster Case design, 904L steel, perpetual movement, and date complication.
For women, the Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Classic Small 2618140 is a stunning classically styled timepiece. The Reverso features a throwback angular design that mimics the 1930s Art Deco era when the model was first created. A stainless steel interlocking bracelet and white dial allow the Reverso to work with any ensemble. A bonus feature is its reversible case, a design innovation that has made the Reverso iconic in the world of luxury watches.
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2. An Elegant Dress Watch
Dress watches are ideal for those looking to add a touch of understated elegance to their professional or black-tie ensembles. If your loved one works in a high-end industry or likes to dress up when attending important events, a dress watch is an excellent choice for a holiday gift.
One of the best dress watches for women is the Patek Philippe Nautilus Womens 7010R-011. At 32mm, the case for this dress watch is a perfect size — not too big or too small — to wear with a suit or dress. The gorgeous 18K diamond-set rose gold bezel and case offer a gentle splash of metallic color without looking tacky or flashy. The beige leather strap blends perfectly with the rose gold to create a champagne-hued luxury dress watch, perfect for every skin tone.
The Blancpain Villeret 6651-1143-55B is a non-traditional dress watch to give the stylish man in your life a unique twist on his usual ensemble. The ultrathin 40mm case houses an elegant monochrome checkerboard dial that uses a combination of Roman numerals and indices to mark the hours. The black alligator leather strap features a slim folding clasp for the perfect piece to accessorize a black tie ensemble.
3. A Sports Enthusiast Timepiece
For the active person, a high-end sports watch is a great addition to their watch collection. Sports watches combine form and function with durable and stylish designs to give watch lovers pieces they can wear on various occasions.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Womens 26231ST.ZZ.D010CA.01 mixes luxury with endurance to create a stunning timepiece. This model is water-resistant up to 50 meters and features a self-winding chronograph complication. The three subdials use a sporty dark blue to contrast with the softer white main dial and stainless steel case. The rubber bracelet complements the sporty design and gives the watch a durable, action-centered feel.
For most men, there is no better sports watch than the Rolex Explorer. The Explorer model came out of the push for Rolex to be the first luxury watch brand to operate in extreme conditions on the summit of Mount Everest. The Rolex Explorer II 226570 White, also known as the Polar version, is the perfect gift for your adventurer. With its large, durable Oyster Case, bright white dial, 24-hour bezel, and 3187 caliber movement, the Rolex Explorer is the ultimate sports watch.
4. A Vintage-Inspired Watch
Vintage luxury watches are in a class all their own. For watch collectors, vintage or vintage-inspired pieces are among the most coveted luxury watches. While vintage watches can be challenging to obtain, vintage-inspired designs are the perfect gift for someone who enjoys the rugged, simple look of old-fashioned timepieces.
Of all of the most prestigious luxury watch brands, nobody does the vintage look quite like Panerai. The Panerai Luminor 44mm PAM01086 embodies the past with its intentional vintage design. The piece features a large 44 mm steel case, black dial, and large Arabic numerals on the face. While this alone gives it a vintage look, the addition of a stitched brown leather strap completes its old-time appeal.
For women, a great vintage option is the Cartier Tank Francaise Womens WGTA0031. The Cartier Tank series draws inspiration from the shape and design of WWI tanks on the French battlefield. Crafted from 18K yellow gold, the Tank Francaise uses this precious metal to harken back to gold jewelry from the 20th century. The angular roman numerals give the dial a classic look, perfect for any woman who enjoys vintage accessories.
5. A Watch with Impressive Complications
For horologists, a watch with complications is an impressive piece of craftsmanship that showcases the precision and artistry of watchmaking. If your loved one marvels at the wonders of a well-made timepiece with multiple functions, choose a watch with multiple complications.
The Patek Philippe Complications 7130R-013 is a masterful example of possible complications in a men’s luxury watch. This piece is self-winding and boasts the ability to show 24 different world time zones and indicate day and night for 24 time zones, along with telling time for wherever the wearer is in the present moment. The ivy opaline dial is crafted by hand using the guilloché technique and features gold-applied hour markers. The bezel and prong buckle is set with a combined total of over one carat of diamonds, making this a highly complicated piece with a gorgeous visual aesthetic.
In women’s watch complications, the Rolex Yacht-Master Everose 37mm Black 268621 is an iconic model with classic, trustworthy complications. Not only does this model feature a unique visual with its stainless steel and rose gold two-tone strap, case, and bezel, but it also features day-date and chronometer complications. The day-date window shows the day’s date and automatically switches at midnight. The chronometer designation allows it to function as a stopwatch to measure elapsed time.
6. A Modern Timepiece
Although many people enjoy vintage-inspired timepieces, some appreciate a more futuristic, modern look. The perfect gift for those who love clean, crisp, futuristic pieces is found by looking at brands like Hublot and Rolex, which both feature modern design elements and materials in their creations.
The Hublot Classic Fusion 542.NX.7170.LR is the perfect example of a modern luxury timepiece for men. Rather than using stainless steel, Hublot uses titanium to build this model’s 42-mm case and bezel. The combination of titanium and dark, futuristic blue on the dial and bracelet gives this watch a machine-like look. The simple dash markings, rather than numerals to tell time, enhance this aesthetic — small, industrial-like pins placed around the bezel and case complete the modern look.
Rolex offers the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 31mm 277200Y, a fun play on modern simplicity and color rather than a futuristic design for women who are trendsetters. The focal point of this model is the bright yellow dial, which is also available in pink, green, blue, and red varieties. An otherwise monochromatic silver-gray color scheme supports the sunshine dial. This watch features a stainless steel bezel and case and a stainless steel bracelet. The steel dashes further the modern look, avoiding overcrowding the dial with their simplistic visual.
7. A Diamond-Studded Creation
Diamonds are the most popular gemstone on the planet, so choosing a luxury timepiece outfitted with diamonds makes an elegant, thoughtful holiday gift. You can select from diamond-studded bezels to watches that feature diamonds in the numerals on the dial. Whatever diamond-centered piece you choose, your loved one will cherish it forever.
The Cartier Baignoire Mini Womens WB520027 is a simple watch that allows the diamonds on its bezel to shine. The toile brossee fabric bracelet provides an unassuming strap for this lovely piece. It holds a unique, oval-shaped case of white gold with a white dial and bold black roman numerals. This simple design highlights the gorgeous shine of the 41 brilliant-cut diamonds that adorn the crown and bezel. The diamonds on the Baignoire add up to .50 carats — a worthwhile accessory for any woman’s collection.
Men love diamonds, too, so consider giving a piece like the Rolex Datejust 36mm Two-Tone 126283MOPDO for the holidays. This piece combines several elements to achieve a unique, diamond-studded look that glistens in the proper lighting. The stainless steel and 18K yellow gold two-tone combination work well with the diamond-encrusted gold bezel, but what sets this piece apart are its square non-numerals which are inlaid with additional diamonds in a mother of pearl dial. A man who enjoys precious gemstones is sure to appreciate this diamond Rolex piece.
8. An Ultra High-End Watch
If you are looking for a timepiece that offers the ultimate luxury, you’ll want to up your price point to attain a high-end watch. The Rolex Rose Gold President Day-Date 40 228345GR features a 40mm 18K rose gold case, diamond-studded bezel, and bold roman numerals against a green dial. At over $80,000, this piece is a one-of-a-kind addition to any man’s luxury Rolex watch collection and makes a stunning heirloom piece.
At a price point of $225,000, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 26574BA.OO.1220BA.01 is a much-coveted luxury timepiece. The 41mm, 18K yellow gold case is matched by an 18K yellow gold bezel and wristband. The four subdials on this fantastic piece tell the wearer the date, day, time, and month, and the patterned blue dial gives the watch a genuinely exquisite finished look.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15451OR.ZZ.1256OR.01 is a valuable women’s model from the same brand. Coming in at $89,995, this piece features an 18K pink gold case, a diamond inlaid bezel, and a silver dial with an intricate Grand Tapisserie pattern. This watch makes an excellent gift for any woman who appreciates horological craftsmanship.
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9. A Timepiece with Fun and Unique Designs
While many luxury watches use a simple color scheme and understated design, several models feature fun, unique elements that make the piece stand out. These watches are perfect for your loved one who enjoys a bold accessory that draws looks of admiration and sparks conversion wherever they go.
One of the unique models is the red Jaeger LeCoultre Rendezvous Womens 3532490, along with its blue variation, the Jaeger LeCoultre Rendezvous Womens 3523490. This model boasts several desirable features, from its deep, red velvet color scheme and matching red satin bracelet to its whimsical night-sky design. The partial mother-of-pearl dial resembles a crescent moon in two separate places, and the tiny gemstone constellations further the mystical style. This watch also uses curvy arabic numerals in a non-standard layout to set it apart from the rest.
The opposite of whimsical, the Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu 45mm 415.HX.2027.VR.MXM19 plays up a futuristic, mechanical look that is truly something to behold. This piece’s 45mm ceramic case holds a white dial with innovative, geometric hands that point to its various horological capabilities. Tiny steel screws add to the clean, industrial aesthetic, and geometric stitching on the matching white band makes this timepiece a definite conversation starter.
Find the Perfect Luxury Timepiece for the Holidays
No matter what style, brand, complication, or price range you are looking for, Luxury of Watches has the gift ideas you need for the holidays. We carry a wide selection of top luxury watch brands, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Hublot, IWC, Panerai, Jaeger LeCoultre, Cartier, and more.
All our watches come with a Certificate of Authenticity and a 5-year warranty, making them the perfect gift for your special someone. View our luxury watch collections to select the ideal gift for someone special on your list.
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