The Ultimate Gift Guide: Thirteen Watches for a Rollicking Festive Season
Whether you've been naughty or nice this year, we invite you to discover a veritable smorgasbord of watches our editors would love to give and to get this holiday season— pieces that we think deserve a seat at the (Christmas) dinner table.
Welcome back to ‘Buyer’s Guide’: a regular round-up of watches we love, as selected by our editors, Team Wristcheck and the broader #WatchFam community. As the holiday season rolls around, we bring you a specially curated list of watches to gift your loved ones (or yourself!). A merry mix of timepieces that are currently trending and those that have been an integral part of our respective watch journeys so far, here is an eclectic wishlist you can easily put to use this Christmas. Right from some irresistible variations of the world’s most coveted Patek Philippe 5711s to the whimsical Bamford x Revo Joe Cool to horological showstoppers from MB&F and Urwerk, we've got everyone covered.
Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5168G-010
Renowned these last few years as the ‘watch du jour’ of jet-setting cool dudes everywhere, the Ref. 5168G is a super-sized variation of the current gen Aquanaut. When the collection first debuted in 1997, some accused it of insipidly imitating Patek’s more (in)famous Nautilus sports watch. Fortunately, that criticism has diminished with each successive generation; and now, the Aquanaut has definitively acquired its own identity — something that feels especially apparent with this ‘Jumbo’ version.
Practically one of the largest watches (42.2mm) that Patek makes, the 5168 imbues its wearer with some serious on-the-wrist gravitas, owing to the matte green colourway and textured grenade-esque extremities. Attractive once noticed but otherwise clean and unobnoxious, there can be little wonder why it possesses such broad cross-sectional appeal: it’s thin enough to be worn in an office (remember those?); comfortable in most climates; and categorically first-rate in matters of mechanical execution (despite the simple time-and-date display). Of course, the cherry on the cake (read: dial) is the Tiffany & Co. stamp — so really, what more could one ask for?
Simply put, it’s a watch worthy of all sorts of collectors and a mighty present any time of year, though admittedly, the arboreal aesthetic works a treat next to Christmas ferns and mistletoe.
— Randy Lai, Digital Content Specialist
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon
Filed neatly under the category of ‘cool-as-f**k watches I’m too skint to own’, the Ref. 26560IO embodies a significant developmental moment in the (continuing) evolution of the Royal Oak Concept. AP’s testbed for bleeding-edge watchmaking has adopted a number of guises over the years, but this particular GMT Tourbillon has always struck me as the blueprint for how the brand envisions its Concept watches decades into the future. More so than any Concept released prior to 2011, this 26560 is possessed of a kind of architectural purity that is pivotal to our collective understanding of super-watches — and I’m not even talking specifically about those made in Le Brassus.
For buyers keen to get stuck into the nitty gritty, I wrote a fairly exhaustive (if somewhat sermon-y) ‘Editor’s Pick’ about this particular Concept in June. But to reiterate, its biggest virtue stems from how it clarifies the earlier aesthetic and technical codes of the Concept line, in a way that subsequent models have clearly managed to capitalise on. The manner in which the watch’s complications are presented is effortlessly sleek and user-friendly— by no means easy, given the absence of primary colours and the visually kinetic nature of the flying tourbillon and GMT.
— Randy Lai
Patek Philippe 5711 ‘Tiffany’ Trio
I'd like to pick up this Patek Philippe 5711 trio with Tiffany dials as it signifies one of the most important relationships between the retailer and the brand itself. It's significant because it reminds me of what the watch industry was like around 50 years ago. Most brands sold their watches to retailers, who played a vital part in the network and in this case, Tiffany was really important for Patek Philippe as it helped the brand spread its wings in the American market. In fact, Tiffany & Co. was Patek Philippe’s first official retailer in the U.S., and the association of the two giants dates back to 1851. Over the last century, this epic partnership has evolved from just retailing watches to creating special editions stamped with both Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. logos.
This trio is even more special because all three 5711s are from the same owner, which is incredibly rare. It's essentially impossible for one owner to have access to all three watches at retail, so this trio is actually a collectors’ item with great provenance that you could probably never find again! Within this trio there are two 5711s that are now discontinued — the blue one that caused all the frenzy earlier this year, and the white 5711, which is my personal favourite because it's the most modern, young 5711 that appeals to the next generation. So, with this trio, you get the best of all three — the blue dial pays homage to the original 3700, the white one is a rare bird as Patek did very few white dials, and the rose gold is obviously a great collector’s piece.
Considering that the Tiffany-Blue Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 sold for USD 6.5 million, this trio at USD 1.3 million doesn’t seem too bad.
—Austen Chu, founder & CEO, Wristcheck
MB&F HM6 Space Pirate
This is one of those watches that really blew my mind when I had just started out watch collecting and was exploring the independents’ space. It is a testament to Max Büsser's creative genius: the man truly believes in doing exactly what he wants without caring much for what’s trending in the market.
When you put this watch on your wrist, it kind of transports you back to a time when you were a kid, dreaming about flying to space after watching that first episode of Star Wars or Star Trek. In my opinion, it's exactly what independent watchmaking should do — drive emotion. It's definitely not a watch for everyone because it's so unique, but again, this is a watch with an incredible wrist presence — and it does look like a space pirate, as its name suggests!
The flying tourbillon dome with a protective shield in the center of the HM6 just elevates the kinetic nature of this timepiece. I can’t imagine anyone not smiling while having this ultimate Horological Machine on their wrist.
—Austen Chu
Audemars Piguet Queen’s Road Offshore
For my fellow Hong Kongers, this Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ‘Queen’s Road’ should double as a beautiful memento of home on the wrist. As its name suggests, it was released to commemorate the first road built in Hong Kong in the 1800’s — Queen’s Road in Central — which I’m sure most of you will be familiar with. (Coincidentally, this is also where our flagship Wristcheck boutique is located!)
Our Offshore ‘Queen's Road’ comes as a limited edition of 100 pieces — in New Old Stock condition, no less — which is a pretty rare find, considering it was released in 2009. Featuring a 42mm titanium case, this watch comes fitted with matching red hands and Arabic numerals, a red tachymeter inscribed rehaut, and red stitching along its strap. Pretty festive, if you ask me.
With its bold design and striking colourway, this is a functional watch by all accounts — its automatic chronograph function no doubt is the icing on top of the (Christmas) cake. Packing a heavy horological punch, this Offshore is both exclusive and stunning, and has all the makings of a perfect gift this season.
— Jasmine Bastable, Marketing Manager, Wristcheck
Patek Philippe Ladies’ Nautilus ref. 7118
Sporting a colour scheme that falls perfectly in line with the classic Christmas palette, The Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 7118 is probably the perfect watch to go with what I would say is my go-to winter outfit of choice: a fluffy sweater and knee-high boots.
For this Ladies’ reference, Patek have slightly elongated the Nautilus' signature octagonal case, opting for a size of 35.2mm to suit smaller wrists. It’s crafted in stainless steel — which means it should be able to withstand some pretty heavy Christmas partying (a must for myself) — and is powered by Patek’s self-winding Caliber 324 S C, which packs a pretty solid 45 hours of power reserve. A bonus for those of you that are always on the go!
With the addition of a subdued wave pattern to its horizontally embossed white dial, the resulting effect is pretty dynamic — the pattern morphs in shades depending on angle and lighting.
All in all, this is a beautiful stainless steel timepiece that perfectly fits the needs of any active woman. Look no further for a reliable sports watch that doubles as a daily wearer able to withstand some serious wear and tear, all the while exuding timeless class and style.
— Jasmine Bastable
Bamford x Revolution GMT ‘Joe Cool’
Best summed up in a handful of words as “a tonic for our troubled times”, the latest team-up between Bamford and watch media colossus Revolution brings a welcome dose of wit and approachability to the holiday season. The latest in an ongoing series of Snoopy-themed watches, it depicts the eponymous Peanuts character (along with his faithful companion Woodstock) in a roguish, James Dean-esque pose - complete with fully articulated paws in place of the hour and minute hands.
Powered by the ever-faithful Sellita SW300 - an automatic movement, augmented with a GMT hand - the ‘Joe Cool’ is, at its most essential, a celebration of the spark between pop culture and watchmaking. It certainly isn’t the priciest recommendation to crack our Christmas gift list (quite the opposite) but that affordability belies just how fun, thoughtful and dare I even say underrated the complete package is. Aside from ‘Joe cool’ itself —which features a highly wearable, 40mm cushion case in steel — the presentation is what transforms this into a certifiable AAA-grade gift option. Instead of any old watch box, Bamford has crafted packaging that resembles Snoopy’s iconic arrow-roofed dog house. After several hours spent soaking in sunshine, it even becomes fluorescent — perfect for those nighttime #WatchIG shots you’re sure to take once you’ve got the ‘Joe Cool’ strapped on the wrist.
—Randy Lai
De Bethune DB28 Kind Of Blue
At a time when all eyes are riveted to independent watchmaking, it is hard not to be absolutely in awe of De Bethune. One of the most brilliant amongst contemporary watchmakers, De Bethune reflects the genius of its founder Denis Flageollet, who is not just extraordinarily creative but also one of the nicest human beings in the watchmaking world.
Even if you have not been totally tuned to the sci-fi like mechanical wonders from De Bethune, there is no way you could have missed the buzz about the ultimate head-turner from the brand — the DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon. In a market flooded with all kinds of blue (some of them commanding fervent bidding and exceptional prices in the secondary market), De Bethune’s ultra light DB28 in flamed blue titanium is a joy to behold. A true emblem of De Bethune’s horological innovations over the last 19 years, this watch may look too futuristic in its design but believe me, every single element on this timepiece serves a purpose. Be it the large, triangular bridge in titanium — which happens to be the most prominent feature on the dial — or the spring-loaded mobile lugs that ensure optimum comfort and flexibility, the DB28 Kind Of Blue is as cool as it can get in terms of marrying form with function.
Powered with a 30-second tourbillon beating at an ultra-fast five-Hertz frequency, the DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon offers a super easy time display (despite the complex dial) thanks to a beautiful pair of pink gold hands and the 11 hour markers presented on a blued grade 5 satin-polished titanium minute ring.
For me, what makes this the ultimate ‘blue’ watch to go after this festive season is the fact that almost all components here are first mirror-polished before getting individually heat tempered by hand. Now imagine getting that blue treatment done for nearly 300 components! Still not convinced? Check out the caseback for more De Bethune kinda coolness —besides the contrasting pink gold elements and the perlage decoration against the blue backdrop, I love the unique power reserve indicator — as sleek as it can get!
— Neha S. Bajpai, Media Director, Wristcheck
Richard Mille RM07-01 in Rose Gold
Largely known for its hi-tech macho watches often spotted on the wrists of tennis ace Rafael Nadal, sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa and golfer Bubba Watson, Richard Mille has been making some solid haute horology pitches to ladies in recent years. Presented in the brand’s trademark tonneau-shaped cases, the ladies watches come with all sorts of complications presented on a dazzling backdrop adorned with precious stones set on unconventional case materials like ceramic and Carbon TPT.
Although the brand introduced the RM007 - its first watch for ladies - in 2005, over the years we have seen some of the most stunning variations coming through in the RM07-01. In fact, this was Richard Mille’s first few collections to have been upgraded with an all gold strap, which is handcrafted over 65 hours with each link micro-blasted, satin-brushed and polished.
The perfect arm candy for a Christmas outing, the RM 07-01 in rose gold is a must-have for anyone who loves big, bold timepieces dripping with diamonds. The warm tones of gold, a hint of red in the centre and the black skeletonised dial makes the watch look attractive and powerful at the same time. It comes with two strap options — the gold and diamond strap for that ultimate glam look and a rubber strap, just in case you want to keep it a bit subdued.
— Neha S. Bajpai
Patek Philippe Nautilus 3710/1A
The Patek Philippe Nautilus certainly needs no introduction. By far the most sought-after model in the brand’s lineup, this watch has achieved a cult status with prices for the stainless steel models skyrocketing over the last two years. Available in various metal combinations, it is hard to imagine a world without the wide selection of complications offered in the Nautilus lineup. From the simple time and date version to the perpetual calendar and the travel time chronograph, there are many options available for collectors to choose from.
What might be surprising for a lot of people is that for the first couple of decades of the Nautilus’ existence, the watch was only available in a simple time and date option. It wasn’t until 1998 that Patek Philippe introduced another complication to their flagship stainless steel sports watch. This came in the form of the reference 3710, which introduced the power reserve indicator to the Nautilus. The ref. 3710 also marked the Nautilus' return to the 42mm "Jumbo" case design that the original ref. 3700 had pioneered. As the power reserve indicator on this watch was designed in a way reminiscent of a shooting star in the sky, the ref. 3710 earned the nickname "Comet" among collectors. The positioning of the power reserve indicator was such that the Maison moved the brand name down to the 6 o’clock position. Interestingly, the watch was also only produced in one version throughout its eight-year-long life — in stainless steel with a matte black dial and applied Roman numerals.
Not only is the watch a marvel of comfort on the wrist, it is also one of the most interesting Nautilus’ the brand has ever produced. Historically important for Patek Philippe and a real milestone in the Nautilus collection, it is also the point of origin which now links all the complicated Nautilus models in Patek Philippe’s catalogue.
— Kevin Cureau, Watch Specialist, Wristcheck
Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A
Presented as the younger sibling of the mighty Patek Philippe Nautilus, a watch crafted by Gérald Genta, the Aquanaut came at a time in the late 1990’s when collectors were ready to engage with sportier designs in watchmaking, especially from a traditional brand like Patek Philippe. As such, it was the first modern sports watch designed in-house by the historical Genevan Maison. Aimed at a younger, sportier and trendier collector base, the watch was offered on a rubber strap paired with a stainless steel case, which now happen to be the two signature elements of the Aquanaut. Legend has it that the timepiece was originally made on request for a special client, who wanted a rugged wristwatch for military officers.
After the initial launch of the ref. 5060A in 1997, the Aquanaut lived through several other references, such as the 5065 and 5066, before being introduced as the current modern reference 5167 in 2007 on the 10th anniversary of the Aquanaut. This model has emerged as one of Patek Philippe’s most popular and versatile offerings. The watch is robust yet luxurious and looks as good with a suit as with a casual, weekend outfit. Compared to its predecessors, the modern Aquanaut’s design is so perfectly executed that the dial texture looks like it is extending seamlessly onto the black rubber strap.
There is no denying the impact that the Aquanaut had on Patek Philippe’s visibility amongst a younger audience. The watch represents the ideal timepiece for anyone looking to own a watch from a prestigious Maison that can be worn daily without caring about it too much.
— Kevin Cureau
Urwerk UR-100 Fireleg
Talk of a watchmaker’s imagination going wild and this timepiece would fit in right there. Known for its extraterrestrial-inspired watches that get more whimsical with each new variation, Urwerk challenges a watch nerd’s capacity to indulge in super complex timepieces like no one else.
The play of crazy time display and visual drama especially flourishes in the brand’s 100-series. Powered by the self-winding UR 12.01, the UR100 Fireleg indicates the time with the orbital satellite hours that sweep across the minute scale towards the 6 o’clock position on the watch. While a sub-scale at 10 o’clock tracks an approximation of the distance the earth covers as it spins on its axis, another one at 2 o’clock tracks the approximate distance the earth covers in space in 20 minutes as it orbits the sun.
We love the orange accents on the dial that strike a gorgeous contrast against the black PVD-coated steel and titanium case. In fact, this is where the UR-100 FIRELEG gets its name from — the striking colorway that makes it even more funky.
Given the complexity of the watch, it was limited to just 25 pieces at the time of the launch. So if you are someone who digs some serious space s**t, go for it!
—Neha S. Bajpai
H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Concept Blue Lagoon
Minimal yet strikingly beautiful, Moser’s Endeavour Blue Lagoon is a watch for all occasions. The deep blue fumé dial forgoes the logo and other frills from the face of the watch in typical Moser style but the time-only execution presented on a sculpted white gold case makes this watch absolutely charming. Inspired by tropical lagoons, the Blue Lagoon dial is obviously the highlight of this solid timepiece powered by Calibre HMC 200, a self-winding movement that offers 72 hours of power reserve. Each fumé dial at Moser is machined as per the traditional technique and then coloured and hand-finished to achieve that glorious sunburst pattern.
The watch’s sapphire caseback presents an equally elegant sight — a large engraved gold oscillating weight and the hallmark Moser double stripes, polished angles and perlage. The watch comes with its full set of accessories including one extra leather strap.
The Endeavour Concept Blue Lagoon is essentially a classic designed for a young audience looking to indulge in something that’s traditional yet unconventional. A delicious mix of old and new, the Endeavour Blue Lagoon is an ideal celebratory watch for the times — subtle yet uplifting, pure luxury at its minimalist best.
—Neha S. Bajpai
All of the above watches are available at Wristcheck.