Much to the surprise of avid watch fans, some worry that a watch is too practical to gift to a loved one on Valentine’s Day. In actual fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Watches make for the perfect kind of Valentine’s Day gift. Yes, they’re practical, but they also represent the passage of time and signify the past, the present and the future of an important relationship between two individuals. And Let’s face it; you can only do the generic roses and chocolates for a year or two before it begins to feel like it lacks effort and sentiment. A watch for Valentine’s Day suggests that some significant level of time, effort and thought has gone into choosing something special and unique. And for those who have dreamt of owning their grail watch, now couldn’t be a better time to explore our range of prestigious brands and iconic designs in search of a more affordable alternative than shopping for new. But which brands are the best to invest in when looking for a valuable, thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift this year? Take a look at these top five options.
Of all the brands on this list, Breitling is the one to invest in if your loved one has an affinity for aviation timepieces. The brand has been around since 1884 and has made a name for itself in crafting cockpit tools and evolving the chronograph concept. The brand also played a crucial role in supplying the Royal Air Force with chronographs. With iconic designs like the Navitimer – a watch with its own slide rule bezel, and the Chronomat – a range of designs defined by their legible dials, rider tabs on their bezels and the Rouleaux bracelet – Breitling upholds the acclaimed rigour and precision one would expect of any respectable brand as old as itself.
In addition to premium grade materials and ETA movements, Breitling has also been specialising in manufacturing its own movements since 2009 and guarantees COSC certification in all of its watches. Aside from the brand’s fascinating historical narrative and its connections to the Royal Air Force, the Frecce Tricolori aerobatics team, the Red Arrows, and the pioneering Thunderbirds aerobatics team – it also produces a range of quality dive watches named the Superocean and bases some if its attractive chronograph designs on vintage sports cars from a bygone era.
One of the standout features of any Omega watch is the METAS certification of its movements, which is carried out in-house and guarantees tighter tolerances in accuracy compared to COSC movements. In addition to the Omega Moonwatch and the brand’s association with the space program, Omega has a lot to offer the collector. Take, for example, the ability an Omega watch has to retain its value and fetch a premium. The reasons for this is down to the brand’s compelling history, not just one firmly rooted in the Moonwatch (Omega has become the watch of choice for NASA missions since the 1960s after the Speedmaster became the first watch to land on the lunar surface) but for its appearance in James Bond films and the brand’s role in timing the Olympic Games, too.
Cartier
Cartier is synonymous with luxury and creates timeless designs viewed as statement pieces and long-term investments. Some of the company’s most recognisable designs are the Tank, the Santos and the Ballon Bleu. The latter is an ideal gift for a lady this Valentine’s Day. It oozes elegance and charm and looks relatively different to anything else on the market. In that same vein, the rectangular profile of the Tank watch has stood the test of time and is an icon in and of itself. Inspired by the First World War military tanks, these designs come in many forms, including the Tank Must, the Tank Americaine, and the Tank Francaise – each one defined by its own characteristics. Overall, Cartier watches stand for superb craftsmanship and have an enduring style that can be picked out from across a room. Perfect for those who seek classic watches for their collection, Cartier had to make it to our list of top investment-worthy brands this Valentine’s Day.
TAG Heuer is the brand that appeals to sports watch enthusiasts due to its bursting-at-the-seams catalogue of robust chronographs, racing watches and dive watches. While the Aquaracer is TAG Heuer’s reliable dive watch design, models like the Formula 1 and Carrera do exceptionally well with car enthusiasts, as does the iconic square-shaped Monaco watch, which was stylized on the wrist of actor Steve McQueen during the late 1960s. Fast forward to today, and TAG Heuer is continuing its quest for creating avant-garde designs and has even ventured into the realm of developing its own lab-grown diamonds to add a twist of finesse and opulence to its best-selling sports watches. It is, without a doubt, TAG Heuer’s inextricable links with the sporting world that have garnered the brand such a high level of respect, as well as its collaborative efforts with the legend Aryton Senna and actor Ryan Gosling.
Of course, the king of watches – Rolex. It’s not that Rolex watches boast a complexity that many other brands lack. In fact, it’s quite the contrary. Rolex watches are some of the simplest out there. They’re also the most solid, robust and reliable to wear. Most of the watches produced by this manufacturer deserve their title as icons in the watch world. The Daytona is the motorsport chronograph that most racers wanted on their wrist when it was first spotted on the wrist of Paul Newman. And the Submariner was an industry benchmark-setting dive watch, which the brand has since modified without having compromised at all on its initial design. Similarly, the Datejust and Day-Date are timeless statement pieces built around the brand’s backbone design – the Oyster Perpetual. Indeed, if you want to mark this Valentine’s Day with a watch that can and will be worn and enjoyed every day, Rolex is the brand to do it with.
Seen something you like? Call and speak to a member of our team here at Charles Martin Watch Company today, and we’ll guide you through the next steps on how to make a purchase on sales@charlesmartinwatchcompany.com or call us on 01889 560002
0 comments