Jingle fever
It's November, so, of course, it's time to think about Christmas presents. Actually, judging by the yuletide muzak and Christmas decorations, holiday shopping started just before Halloween. The perennial problem with Christmas, aside from the outrageous commercialism and weight gain, is what to get your nearest and dearest. A watch seems like a no-brainer and really it is, unless you get something awful, such as a Harley-Davidson watch. To help you decide, or if you want to drop hints to your partner, wife or girlfriend, here are three particularly fetching watches for the season.
The safe but decidedly expensive option is a Rolex. The Cosmograph Daytona (above left) is difficult to dislike, and only the most fussy of men would be less than thrilled to receive it. The watch is in Rolex's Oyster Perpetual series and, at 40mm, the case is on just the right side of large. The timepiece is 18-carat rose gold, which plays well with the black bezel, black alligator-leather strap and the highlight of this watch: the chocolate-brown dial. The certified chronograph dominates the dial and features a small seconds counter at the six o'clock position, and 30-minute and 12-hour totalisers at the three o'clock position and nine o'clock position, respectively. With this being a Rolex, you can expect outstanding build quality. The Cosmograph Daytona is water resistant up to 100 metres and also features an impressive 72-hour power reserve. Prices are available upon request.
If you are more of a chancer, then Roger Dubuis wants you to take a gamble on its La Monegasque collection. The Roger Dubuis Chronograph La Monegasque Big Number (left) is a big name for a big watch, with its large 44mm, rose-gold case encompassing a red, black and green dial echoing the roulette tables of Monte Carlo. Limited to 128 pieces, the chronograph watch has a 30-minute totaliser at the three o'clock position, a small seconds counter at the nine o'clock position and large push buttons on either side of the crown. The black titanium bezel is coated in PVD (physical vapour deposition) and the strap is hand-stitched black alligator leather. The watch is also water resistant to 50 metres and has a power reserve of 48 hours. Priced at HK$335,000, the Chronograph La Monegasque Big Number might clean out the giver, but it's going to leave the receiver with a winning hand and wrist.
Last but never least is the Calibre de Cartier (above right). Cartier men's watches fall between reassuringly safe and surprisingly unexpected, and the Calibre de Cartier is no different. The collection has a sporty edge while retaining classic styling, all for an unbelievable price of HK$88,000. The stainless-steel 42mm case is big but not overbearing, allowing room for a playful dial that features typical Cartier touches, such as Roman numerals and, in particular, the oversized 'XII'. Another classic Cartier touch is the crown, set with a blue stone, synthetic in this case. The Calibre de Cartier features a date window at the three o'clock position and a small seconds counter at the six o'clock position. The bezel is 18-carat rose gold, with rose-gold links in the steel bracelet, too. With the sporty design, the Cartier name and the criminal price, the Calibre de Cartier is something all men would love to find in their stockings.
