Christmas is the season of joy. To a watch enthusiast, hardly anything in this world brings more joy than his or her dream watches. A watch enthusiast also understands that these watches are often not easily attainable. Nevertheless, here at Deployant, we like to dream a little and then leave the rest to Father Christmas. The watchmaking industry never fails to turn up and this year is no exception. We’ve been blessed with yet another glut of amazing watches, and the best part is that the meta is shifting away from integrated bracelet sports watches to something more diverse. And so, dear Santa, if you’re out there, with a pretty pretty please, these are three watches that I’d really love to find in my socks this Christmas:
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Handwerkskunst
A. Lange Söhne finally returns to the fold, making an overdue appearance in my Christmas wishlist this year. Those of you who know me know that I am a huge Lange fan. But the last time I listed a Lange watch for the Dear Santa series, COVID was a thing and the 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold had made its debut – yes, it’s been four long years. The novelties over the years haven’t been bad – just not “Top 3” material in my opinion. Which is why I am beyond chuffed that the brand has finally come up with something that ticks all the boxes and then some.
The Datograph Handwerkskunst is the crown jewel of Lange’s 25th anniversary Datograph releases. There are three aspects here that combine to create what is my ultimate Lange watch. The first is the ‘Datograph’ – without the Ab/Auf indicator. The original bad boy with Roman numerals and a cleaner dial. This is a historical reference that put the world on its knees, with literally one of the most beautiful movements ever made for a wristwatch. The second aspect that made me fall in love with the Datograph Handwerkskunst is the ‘Handwerkskunst’. I’ve always been a fan of ornate decorative arts in watchmaking, including the tremblage engraving on Lange’s Handwerkskunst pieces. The third and most underappreciated aspect of all is the fact that the piece is executed in yellow gold, my favourite of the classic metals used for watchmaking. Yellow gold may look antiquated and garish to some, but to me, it is historical, it is classy, and it is unabashed. Yellow gold being uncommon (and as unpopular) these days is also a boon to me. Together, these three elements create what is, to me, the most evocative Lange watch of the 2020s so far.


Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001
The Patek Phlippe Golden Ellipse gets the nod from me not so much for its mechanical ingenuity, but purely by merit of incredible product design. The Ref. 5738/1R-001 reminds us of the importance of form and that it is not beneath function in luxury watchmaking. From the flowing full-gold chain bracelet, to the elliptical case and ebony dial, every detail exists in harmony with one another. While the Calibre 240 that drives the watch is both reliable and attractive, it’s not particularly interesting (compared to the rest of the watch). The solid case back here is therefore the superior choice from a design perspective. This is something I wish luxury watch manufacturers would understand: if your movements aren’t pretty or interesting, hide it behind a solid back. It’s time to dial back the sapphire crystal case back trend. But I digress. A wristwatch that looks more like jewelry than a time-telling device isn’t going to be for everyone, but I personally cannot resist its charm. It’s the perfect watch to add a dash of flair to your wardrobe.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Chronograph Moon
Just because I have sung high praises of the immaculate Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, doesn’t mean that I do not appreciate something geeky and less demure. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Chronograph Moon is probably the antithesis of what the Golden Ellipse is, and I love it as much. Make no mistake, it is still a finely crafted watch, but it is also chunky and chaotic (in a nice way).
I’ve always had a thing for the Duometre series of watches. As someone previously in scientific research, I love the sheer number of dials, hands, and spinning gizmos on every Duometre watch. My favourite model before 2024 had been the Quantieme Lunaire, a piece that strikes a good balance between poetry and nitty-gritty utility, between fast and slow complications. At the same time, I also enjoy the Chronographe model’s absurd number of hands moving at various rates relative to one another, as well as all the scales on the dial that measure different passages of time. To see that Jaeger-LeCoultre have now combined the two models in the Chronograph Moon was a pleasant surprise and is a joy. But that’s not all that’s awesome about this watch; it’s new case – inspired by savonette pocket watches – is a massive upgrade in looks and flair compared to the old guard.

Concluding Thoughts
I am fully aware that these timepieces cost a small fortune, but that’s why they’re on a wish list, not a grocery list. Santa would have to sell some of that Arctic oil in his backyard to fund the Deployant team’s dream watches; we all know that – as real as Santa is – it ain’t happening. Nevertheless, it’s nice to hope and dream.
Merry Christmas everybody. May your hopes and dreams come true.
1 Comment
Whoever chose the 2533 for the Santa letter deserves a raise, excellent choice