It is the time of the year again! This is probably one of the occasions when partners decide to splurge for their special one, either with an elaborate date, an expensive (and thoughtful) Valentine’s Day gift, or both.
If your partner happens to be a watch collector (or if he/she is hinting you to buy a timepiece), you might just want to read on. As we have often mentioned, watches are not just devices that tells time. It is much more than that. Watches are definitely a work of art, mechanically and aesthetically speaking. On another note, watches can also represent a person, and they can be a very personal and intimate product as well. It carries stories and emotions – and resulting in us being attached to our watches. That is what makes watches special.
While we might not exactly know what kind of timepieces that your partner prefers, we have come up with a selection of watches which we reckon would be good options for considerations. What have we selected? Let’s find out!
For Her:
Moritz Grossmann TEFNUT Twist
The Moritz Grossmann TEFNUT Twist.
We begin the article with an interesting timepiece from a relatively unknown watch manufacturer from Glashütte: the Moritz Grossmann TEFNUT Twist.
The TEFNUT Twist is a timepiece that was designed with the female clienteles in mind. It was derived after a lady lamented that the process of manually winding a watch is rather difficult with manicured fingers. That was when the engineers had decided to do something different – by incorporating the winding mechanism into the strap at the six o’clock position, which allows the ladies to wind the watch easily without damaging the manicure. While the concept might sound simple, but it took the engineers a fair bit of time and effort to redesign the case and movement for that to happen.
Besides the mechanical ingenuity, the TEFNUT Twist is also a lovely timepiece to behold. The 36mm timepiece is beautifully crafted, and no expense is spared in the finishing of the in-house Caliber 102.2 movement. The watch is available in a variety of variants, with the base TEFNUT Twist Classic model (in white gold) priced at €31,200 (approximately S$50,786). This is certainly a thoughtful and beautiful timepiece, and one that any lady will appreciate greatly.
Jaeger LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Sonatina
The Jaeger LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Sonatina, on the left in white gold, and on the right in pink gold.
The Rendez-Vous collection from Jaeger LeCoultre (JLC) is certainly a bold move from the Le Sentier-based watch manufacturer. While many brands are placing more emphasis on the gentlemen’s watches, JLC had decided to create a collection for the ladies, focusing on craftsmanship and complications. The Sonatina, for instance, is a fine example of a well-made ladies’ watch.
The Sonatina is a watch that is fitted with a chiming reminder function. Although its function is similar to the Memovox, but the Sonatina performs its aural duty much more discreetly – in the form of a single strike on the gong. In addition, the alarm indicator is also represented with an aesthetically-pleasing 8-pointed star, unlike the triangular one that is seen in the Memovox.
Powered by the Calibre 735, the self-winding Sonatina features an additional day/night indicator at the 6 o’clock position. On top of that, the watch also boasts a decent power reserve of around 40 hours. The price of the 35mm timepiece starts at S$42,500 onwards, and we reckon that this will be the perfect gift for any female watch collectors who enjoys fine watchmaking.
Franck Muller Crazy Hours
The Franck Muller Crazy Hours – a whimsical and fun timepiece.
While the Franck Muller Crazy Hours has been around for 15 years, but till this day, the novelty of this watch still has not worn off. It is not just an interesting piece, but one that is certainly mind-boggling and yet still stood the test of time.
At the first glance, the Crazy Hours is seemingly a strange piece. While it looks like any normal tonneau-shaped timepiece, but the “misplaced” numerals would certainly raise many questions in your head. In fact, this is a slightly different way of interpreting time, in which the hour hands will indicate the time based on which numeral it is pointing. For instance, in the above picture, it is approximately 3:35. When the minute hand hits the 60 minutes mark, the hour hand would “jump” to the next hour (in this case, the hand will move to the 4 o’clock position). It is certainly bewitching.
The Reference 5850CH, with a 32mm x 45mm 18k white gold case, retails at S$40,104. If you are looking to buy something unusual for your partner, then perhaps the Franck Muller Crazy Hours might just be the timepiece that you should look at. While it is not necessarily a ladies’ watch per se, but we have seen many ladies pulling off the larger Franck Muller watches rather beautifully with ease.
For Him:
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01 Chronograph with automatic winding, column wheel manufactured movement, and an open work dial.
Ever since Jean-Claude Biver took over the reins of TAG Heuer, we have seen some interesting novelties that are being offered by the brand. This includes the avantgarde Heuer 01 – which aims to attract the young and hipper customers.
The Heuer 01 is a great looking piece. The watch features some interesting cues, such as an open-worked dial, as well as the red accents that are seen at various components of the timepieces. The former is executed brilliantly, as we can see that the multiple layers within the dial creates a rather interesting layered appearance which reinforces the watch’s contemporary nature. The angular lugs add a nice touch to the overall design as well.
The watch is powered by the Calibre 01, which is based on the Calibre 1887. The self-winding movement features a column wheel chronograph, as well as a date indicator at the 3 o’clock position. It beats at 28,800 bph, and boasts a power reserve of around 50 hours. The 45mm watch is priced at S$7,800, and we reckon it will be an excellent choice for someone who likes a sporty timepiece.
Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum
The Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum Pocket Watch 110 years Edition: the CEO’s choice. And the more practical Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum.
For someone who is constantly travelling, a timepiece with the world time function is rather nifty.
In the recent years, there are quite a number of timepieces with such complication. The Montblanc 4810 Orbis Terrarum is one of such watches, but this particular piece stands out for its good looks and exceptional value. The 43mm timepiece features a main sapphire crystal disc displaying the continents as viewed from the North Pole, as well as a ring with the names of 24 cities representing different time zones. Interestingly, there is another layer of dial beneath the cut-out of the continents, with the use of dark blue and yellow-green gradient to signify night and day respectively.
The 4810 Orbis Terrarum is powered by the Calibre MB 29.20, which is based on a Sellita movement. The world time module is made in-house, and it is integrated into the movement (as opposed to fit it as a piggy-back module). The self-winding movement boasts a power reserve of around 42 hours, with a frequency of 28,800 bph. With a retail price of S$9,200, we reckon the 4810 Orbis Terrarum offers a great value proposition – with a useful and stunning interpretation of the word time complication.
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin 37mm
A pair of the new 37mm Saxonia Thin. A discreet, but wonderfully made dress watch.
We round up the article with a personal favourite of ours: the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin 37mm.
While the Saxonia Thin 37mm may be the brand’s entry-level piece, but do not let that fool you. This two-hand, time-only watch, is certainly a very well-made timepiece. The attention to detail is immense as well. For example, the case features multiple forms of polishing – from the immaculately polished bezel, to the satin-brushed case band. This is even more pronounced in the finishing of the movement, in which it features (but not limited to) Glashütte ribbing, gold chatons, blue-heated screws, anglage, and an intricately engraved balance cock. If that does not impress you at all, then we do not know what will.
Priced at S$21,300 for either the white or rose gold version, we reckon this is probably one of the most well-made timepieces that you can get at this price point. While we do admit that it is still quite a bit of money, but this is a piece of art in itself – and quality (as well as craftsmanship) comes at a price.
Concluding Thoughts
The selections that we have picked today are less common than the usual choices. Do not get us wrong – the likes of Omega Constellation, Rolex Datejust (or for that matter, the entire Rolex collection) or Seikos are great choices, but we suppose that these are options that would immediately come to mind. We wanted to choose something different, albeit the price points are admittedly on the higher-end.
Besides the options that we have selected for the ladies, we have also noted that women these days are also leaning towards large watches as well. They have no qualms wearing a men-sized timepiece, and in fact they are able to pull it off quite well. If your partner belongs to the category, we reckon a Panerai (especially the new Due, also in 38m), or a sports Rolex timepiece, are great alternatives too.
So – what are some of the watches that you have received from your loved ones over the years? Or, what are some of the pieces that you wish to receive as a gift this coming Valentine’s Day? Let us know in the comments section below!
