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2019 Christmas Gift Guide – The Horologist
By Mark Jessen - Guide Published: , Last Updated:
How does the average novice distinguish a great deal from a great swindle? Enter our Christmas gift guide, which features a full slate of quality timepieces and collections, along with some choice tools and accessories. Expect to see names like IWC, Blancpain, Omega, and others, all of whom are guaranteed to please the watch lover in your life. From the affordable to the luxurious, we present a Christmas gift guide straight out of a horologist’s wildest fantasies.
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2019 Christmas Gift Guide – Luxury Lover
Nordgreen Philosopher Watch Bundle
In Partnership with Nordgreen
While having a cracking watch to slap on your wrist every morning is a beautiful thing, nobody rocks the same look day in day out, so why should your timepiece? Nordgreen’s Philosopher Watch Bundle is the perfect way to mix up your style without needing a drawer full of different watches for each occasion. Nordgreen’s watches are designed by the world-renowned designer, Jakob Wagner, who has previously designed products for brands like Bang & Olufsen and has an exhibition at MoMa in New York City.
The classic, conical shape and two-piece dial is elegant and understated, while the ability to easily switch between brown leather, black leather and mesh for the bracelet is the perfect way to keep your outfit fresh and coordinated.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
Rossling & Co Hydromatic C.01
Now more than ever, you can score a premium watch at a low price through various crowd-funding platforms. The Hydromatic C.01 is one of those premium watches. It comes to us from Germany’s Rossling & Co, a family-owned company with six successful Kickstarter campaigns already under its belt. Featuring Swiss-made ETA automatic movement and a high-end design, the new diver’s watch strikes a perfect balance between form and functionality. Pre-order it today for the best deal.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun
When it comes to classic pilot’s watches, IWC remains one of the best names in the game. Take a mere glance at the Chronograph Top Gun and you’ll know why. Entirely made in Switzerland, it combines a 44.5 mm ceramic case with a screw-in crown, stunning black dial (with luminescence), three subdials, chronograph and small hacking seconds complications, day and date display, and an anti-magnetic inner case of soft iron. Over the top is sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating and under the skin is IWC-manufactured calibre 69380. Put it all together and throw in a black textile strap and you get a sleek and sturdy watch that no horologist can refuse.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
Blancpain
What was once touted as the first modern diver’s watch is still one of the best timepieces you can buy. With over 60 years of history behind it, the Fifty Fathoms Automatique is truly the stuff of legend. Powered by caliber 1315, it places an iconic dial face and unidirectional sapphire bezel over a case of sturdy titanium. True to form, this stunning piece is water resistant to 300 metres and secured by way of a sail-canvas strap. Get one for your favourite watch lover and prepare for him to shriek with delight.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Chronograph 42mm
An Omega Speedmaster was worn during the first American space walk, first American moon walk, and every major American lunar mission thereafter. With the brand’s latest Moonwatch Professional Chronograph, that incredible built-in heritage can belong to you or your favourite watch lover. Under a dome of hesalite crystal is a signature black dial with small seconds sub-dial, 30-minute recorder, 12-hour recorder, and central chronograph hand. Flanking the dial is a black bezel with tachymetric scale and then a 42 mm case of stainless steel with matching bracelet. The calibre 1861 at the heart of this watch has been to the moon and back, meaning it can definitely handle whatever adventures you throw its way. As an ideal holiday gift, this one’s a no-brainer.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
Glashutte Original Sea Q Panorama Date
Glashütte Original hails from its namesake town in Germany, which happens to be one of the world’s foremost watchmaking hubs. Amongst the brand’s slate of veritable stunners is the SeaQ Panorama Date, a quintessential diver’s watch if there ever was one. First catching the eye is the galvanic blue dial with sunray finish, with Super-LumiNova on the numerals, indexes, and hands. That’s joined by a satin-brushed and polished case of stainless steel, rotating bezel, and centrally screwed sapphire caseback. Bursting with quality, the watch is waterproof to a full 30 bar.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
TAG Heuer Autavia
One of TAG Heuer’s most iconic models—which debuted as a dashboard instrument all the way back in 1933—is sharper and more versatile than ever before. Reimagined for the modern explorer, it flaunts a smokey blue dial with rhodium-plated luminescent indexes. Also featured are a bi-directional rotating ceramic bezel, polished steel case, automatic Swiss-made movement, and calf-skin leather strap. Bold and stylish, this breathtaking beauty is what horological dreams are made of.
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Longines Avigation Big Eye
Coming straight out of the Heritage Collection, the Longines Avigation Big Eye combines vintage design and modern mechanics to superb effect. Features include a stainless steel case, screw-down caseback, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, three chronograph sub-dials, painted Arabic numerals on the black dial, and silvered sandy hands. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour is self-winding mechanical movement, which delivers a power reserve of 54 hours. The horologist in your life will love this thing because who wouldn’t?
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Bell & Ross BR05
As the new collection from Bell & Ross, BR05 duly continues a trend of signature design and top-shelf precision. Putting a circle inside a square, the iconic case performs a deft balancing act between retro aesthetic and modern allure. Choose from amongst a handful of case materials and dial displays, but expect qualitative mainstays such as crystal sapphire with anti-reflective coating, applique indices with Super-LumiNova, and water-resistance to 100 metres. Under the skin is the brand’s own automatic mechanical movement, better known as calibre BR-CAL.321. Like a number of models before it, this one’s an instant legend.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
G-SHOCK GMWB5000D
If the horologist in your life also happens to be a thrill-seeker, then we have just the watch for him. Brimming with durability, functionality, and style, the G-SHOCK 35th Anniversary Limited Edition harkens back to the brand’s original debut model. Look beyond the full metal colour and digital interface to discover a full host of modern features, including Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in phone finder. The watch is also solar powered, shock-resistant, and water-resistant to 200 metres. Of course, we’re just skirting the surface in terms of what this piece has in store. Get one before they’re all gone.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
Undone Cali
Amongst affordable watch brands, Undone is a personal favourite and with good reason. Each retro model punches well above its weight class (i.e. price point) and the Cali is no exception. Measuring in at 40 mm, this eye-catching tool watch delivers a signature California dial with Roman numerals at the top and Arabic ones down below. Get it in either classic black or khaki green and you’ll soon discover why it comes backed by so many five-star reviews.
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Vincero Kairos Collection
Speaking of affordable stunners, you could do far worse than the Kairos Series from Vincero. Priced to move and dressed to impress, each one brings classical style to life with impeccable precision. There’s a lot to choose from here and we won’t steer you in one direction over the other. No matter what you land on, you’ll be getting a sweet watch at an unbeatable price.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
Zelos Horizons GMT
Powered by Swiss ETA movement—which is visible through the sapphire caseback—each ‘Horizons’ GMT from Zelos is as durable as it is fashionable. That makes it the perfect watch for modern-day professionals, who play it straight during business hours before going wild on the weekends. With its 40 mm case and 12 mm thickness, this brilliant piece packs big things into a small package. Sealing the deal are a textured dial and highly legible GMT hand and bezel. Peruse the collection and act fast because these watches are selling out quickly.
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Rapport London ‘Perpetua III’ watch winder
Let’s be honest: there’s a good chance that your favourite watch lover either has the models he already wants or wants the models you can’t afford. In that scenario, you might be better off grabbing him a high-quality product like this vintage winder, which was re-imagined for modern decors. Carved from hand-lacquered ebony and equipped with a touchscreen LED panel, it adjusts to straps of all sizes and enables seamless control over rotation direction and speed. A perfect gift.
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Tom Ford Full-Grain Leather Watch Case
Made from premium full-grain leather, Tom Ford’s handsome travel case uses smartly placed dividers and elasticated straps to safely store up to six watches at a time. Stamped with the designer’s emblem and presented in a distinguished box, this product guarantees an elevated tier of style and sophistication. Of course, you knew that as soon as you saw the name Tom Ford.
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The Book of Rolex
What do watch lovers do when not shopping for the latest and greatest model? Read about watches, naturally. Meanwhile, Rolex is one of the world’s best Swiss luxury brands. That brings us to this downright epic book, which provides for endless hours of information and entertainment. Whether you’re brushing up on vintage releases, scoping new collections, or trying to spot Rolex knock-offs like a pro, this exhaustive book will be your guide.
Buy it here (AUS) Buy it here (US)
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