In these days a lot of exclusive timepieces literally tout for the unique place on your wrist or the one of our beloved ones. Buying a watch is something very emotional, personal and also quite irrational.
The Christmas or Holiday Season has just started. Many of you probably will buy a watch, either as a gift for your beloved ones or as a reward for yourself.
In these days also many friends and readers contact me and ask: Alexander, which watch would you recommend?
So, just in case you have a specific question about a watch you may want to buy for Christmas do not hesitate and shoot me an email. I will then try my best to give you the advice you might need.
Nevertheless let me state the following: Buying a watch is something very emotional, personal and also quite irrational. No one needs an expensive mechanical watch, but everyone here I suppose wants to have one. So don´t ask to many questions, let your emotions drive you and only buy a watch if you really like it. Remember you will look at it hundreds of times during a day …
Do please also note that my personal selection reflects only on very recently manufactured wristwatches. I will not mention all-time classics, you all know them much better then I do 🙂
I try to focus on new watches you might not have considered to buy and/or gift yet. So my selection will not be complete and might not be representative for some of you.
Sorry!
Let´s start right away. Get an eyeful of my personal selection… You will first read some personal remarks and the see the price you will have to pay either in Austria or Germany including 20 % VAT or 19 % VAT and the see the picture of the watch.
All models shown here of course do have mechanical movements.
A. Lange & Söhne Grosse Lange 1 Lumen
A must have if you can afford the watch and if you get one. The “Grosse Lange 1 Lumen” in its white gold case is a limited edition of 200 pieces and desired all over the planet. Would be the perfect gift for a Lange & Söhne collector; in-house calibre “L095.2”. Price: 59.000 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Alpina Geneve Alpina Heritage Pilot Chronograph Automatic
A replica in a steel case of an historic chronograph done for the 130th anniversary of the brand, good looking and offering a very good value-for-money ratio; Sellita SW 500 calibre. Price: 2250 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver
The ultimate divers watch waterproof up to 300 meters! This is an understated timepiece since packed in a deep dark ceramic case; in-house calibre “3120”. Price: 17.600 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Baume & Mercier Capeland Automatic Worldtimer
In my eyes a perfect and good looking travellers watch in a steel case with its indications for the local time and the zonetime for the 24 most important time zones on earth. Good value-for-money ratio; Sellita SW 300 calibre plus the IWC Worldtimer-module. Price: 6150 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Bell & Ross Vintage WW1 Argentium Ruthenium Dial
A Bell & Ross watch in a silver case you wouldn´t expect at first view. With its 41 mm diameter an elegant dress watch as well as a cool watch worn to jeans; Eta 7001 calibre. Price: 3999 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet
This is a very classical Blancpain in a white gold case with a simple full calendar that has to be adjusted by hand. The mechanics does not distinguish months with 30 or 31 days, neither knows that February has 28 or 29 days; in-House calibre “6654”. Price: 20.220 Euro including 19 % VAT (in a steel case 11.760 Euro)
Breitling Chronomat 44 GMT
The interesting alternative to every existing GMT watch is now available also in a 44 mm steel case. The chronograph looks just great in that reduced size (before 47 mm!); in-house calibre “B04”. Price: 7310 Euro including 20 % VAT.
Cartier Calibre de Cartier Chronograph
This is one of the most underestimated chronographs in a steel case on the market that looks on the wrist even better. Try it on if you have the opportunity and let me know what you think. Good size, good quality, a good name and a good value-for-money ratio to comparable chronographs; in-house calibre “1904-CH MC”. Price: 9050 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Chopard Superfast Chrono
Like the above-mentioned Cartier this is a very underestimated chronograph in a steel case with an in-house calibre. Chopard has done a lot of interesting developments in the last years and almost no one knows. Why? He people at Chopard wake up and tell the world! I like and recommend this chrono; in-house calibre “”03-05”. Price: 12.480 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Chronoswiss Sirius Triple Date
The brand is setting sails for its big comeback. If you look for a good-looking full calendar watch you might like it. As already described with the Blancpain above you have to set the calendar manually; Eta 2892-A2 calibre with a calendar module added on top. Price: 6350 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Frédérique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture
Guys, this is a stunning good-looking steel watch that offers an extraordinary good value-for-money ratio; in-house calibre “705”. Price: 2450 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Glashütte Original Senator Panorama-Date Moonphase
From Glashütte Saxony/Germany this is a watch offering you a moon phase and big date indication in a steel case. Once you have processed a big date indication you don´t want to miss it any more, since its readability is awesome; in-house calibre “100-03”. Price: 7900 Euro including 19 % VAT.
IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Racer
The “Ingenieur” in a steel case from the actual collection I like the most. Good design and an interesting in-house calibre. The counter at “12 o´clock” indicates the minutes and hours measured with the chronograph like a small watch. As shown on the picture our chronograph would have been running for 10 hours and eight minutes; in-house calibre 89361. Price: 12.700 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Calendar
Another full calendar watch (has to be adjusted manually like the Blancpain and Chronoswiss) in a steel case, but one with a fully in-house developed and manufactured calibre. Yes, that´s what we expect from Jaeger-LeCoultre; in-house calibre “866”. Price: 8450 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Longines Heritage Military 1938 Chronograph
Forget the name of the watch! Honestly I don´t like it. In my eyes it´s better to focus on the pleasant vintage-design, the perfect quality, the impeccable readability and the excellent value-for-money ratio for a steel chronograph; calibre ETA „A07 231“. Price: 1810 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Montblanc TimeWalker Voyager UTC
One of my favorites! This is just a good looking and perfect steel-watch for travelling due to its easy to handle second zonetime indication. Under the grey dial of that steel watch there is an ETA 2893-1 calibre. Price: 3090 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Nomos Ahoi
If you like the understated design of the in Glashütte based manufacture and you always wanted to buy a 100 % waterproof Nomos this is the one you should choose. The new “Ahoi” is waterproof up to 200 meters. The new slogan is: No limits! Equipped with the in-house calibre “Epsilon”. Price: 2800 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra > 15.000 Gauss
My personal watch of the year 2013! I have been featuring its development since almost a year now. Please search for the Seamaster Aqua Terra > 15.000 Gauss here on my blog and discover the full story behind the decent indication > 15.000 Gauss on the dial. Guys, a must-have in every good watch-collection! Equipped with the in-house co-axial calibre “8508”. Price: 4900 Euro including 20 % VAT.
Oris Aquis Depth Gauge
The most intelligent divers watch with a depth gauge on the market. Instead of using a complex mechanic to measure the depth Oris uses the Boyle-Mariotte Law to do the job. The top glass and features a channel milled into the side with an inlet at 12 o’clock. When descending water enters into the milled channel through the inlet of the sapphire crystal. The increasing water pressure compresses the air inside the channel. The water causes the color of the channel to become dark grey. The edge between dark grey (water) and light grey (compressed air) marks the depth on the yellow meter scale on the inside of the sapphire crystal; Sellita SW 200 calibre. Price: 2600 Euro including 20 % VAT.
Panerai Radiomir Composite 3 Days
The watch´s case is made out of an ultra hard, scratch resistant and light composite material. I very much like the extra-cool vintage look of this Radiomir that is equipped with the in-house, hand wound calibre “P.3000”. Price: 8200 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Piaget Altiplano Date
If you look for an ultra-thin, automatic and elegant watch this is the one I do recommend you. Piaget for sure is the master of ultra-thin movements. Less is more! The elegant white gold “Altiplano” is equipped with the in-house calibre “1205P”. Price: 21.800 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Rado HyperChrome Court
We see a cool sport swatch and a Rado for those who don´t like the traditional design of the brand. This is more mainstream of course, but it shows that these “HyperChrome”-chronos (other colors are available) sell like hell. Well-done Rado! In the ceramic ticks a ETA 2894-2. Price: 3800 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Rolex GMT-Master II
Rolex is always a save bet. The new 2013-“GMT Master II” with its special “904L”-steel-case now features a blue and black ceramic turning bezel; equipped with the “3186” in-house calibre. Price: 7200 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Swatch Sistem51
The new Swatch with its innovative automatic calibre consisting of only 51 parts will only be delivered to the Swiss market before Christmas. The last information I have says it will be the 15. December. So if you happen to be in Switzerland go and buy one. This Swatch is going to be CULT! Price: 150 Euro including 20 % VAT or 120 CHF including 8 % VAT.
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 Jack Heuer Edition
The design of this steel chronograph is very much inspired by Jack Heuer the today´s honorary president of TAG Heuer and the former owner and mastermind of the brand. A cool watch indeed! Equipped with the in-house produced calibre 1887 that is based on an old Seiko chronograph calibre. Price: 5800 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Tissot Heritage Navigator 160th Anniversary
This Tissot combines an attractive heritage look and a very useful second zone time indication. It is impossible to find a better value-for-money ratio for such a type of watch; ETA 2893-3 calibre. Price: 1200 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue
This is a stunning cool “It-Watch”. Yes, not an “It-Bag” but an “It-Watch”. I like its design and the fact that sister company Rolex 100% controls the quality of Tudor. in terms of quality you can be sure to get something almost like a Rolex but for much less money and without a Rolex movement; ETA 2892-A2 calibre with a chronograph module. Price: 3450 Euro including 19 % VAT.
Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 410
This is the last full calendar that has to be adjusted by hand I do present here. It is a very special execution though since the construction is based on the legendary “El Primero” chronograph calibre. The 500 pieces limited edition is going to be a collector’s item very soon. So if you like the watch, you can afford it and you have the chance to buy one don´t hesitate; in-house calibre “El Primero 410”. Price: 8100 Euro including 20 % VAT.
Do you have any recommendations for women’s model/styles? Looking for classic/timeless watch.
Can you tell us in what price range you are searching
Great list. I am fortunate enough to have 1 watch from the list (GMT BLNR) and hopefully another one (NOMOS)in the future.
While I would most certainly love to see any of these fine watches waiting for me under the Christmas tree, the one watch I would be hoping to see is missing from your list. A Grand Seiko would fill out your list perfectly 🙂
Thanks God I have your watch of the year already 🙂 The Zenith Pilot Aeronef 20 would have fit here, too. I am not sure about the annual calendar anymore, as the star on the second hand of the chrono covers actually the moon phase.
very very fine selection man
zenith and rolex is not in my collection , and I hope in the future I ‘ll get them. The pam is tickling my sensors but much more the variant with date 504 i think.
Every time when I walked near the swatch shop i asked them when about system 51
no one knew even me did not until you say so. I am very curious about the precision of it???
No Grand Seiko in your selections? I would happily accept a Grand Seiko as a gift any day……would have to be just Christmas Day 🙂
What’s your opinion on the Alpina extreme diver 300
Very nice selections and recommendations. I’d be very happy if any of them were waiting under the tree for me.
However, what they tell me in the USA is the Swatch Sistem 51 won’t be here till January. Will they ever get that watch to market? 🙁
We won’t see the Sistem51 neither in Austria this year. I hope to get one through my contacts in Switzerland.
Hi Alexander, thank you for this phantastic roundup! Needless to say I go with the PAM…:-)
The PAM is a good joys I could not tell you which one I would take… Maybe the Zenith, since the Lange is out if my range. 🙂
Fabulous selection, I must say, especially, the timepieces by Breitling, Chopard, JLC, Omega, Rolex, TAG Hueuer, Tissot and last but not the least Zenith!
Thank you Alexander!
I cannot buy all of these, but I shall certainly get either Breitling or Omega or Rolex or Zenith!
And I would add a great classic now F.P.Journe Chronometre Souverain in 38 or 40 mm in Rose Gold ( 25,000 Euros) or Platiunum (31,000 Euros) a special watch for somebody special!
Great choices, hoping Santa brings me a system 51 .!!
I’ll gladly take any one of these in my Christmas stocking this year! Happy Holidays to one and all!