The 11 best men’s watches to gift this Christmas

 

It’s that time of year again. The tree is up, mince pies are open, and the frantic search for gifts has begun. It can only mean one thing—Christmas, of course.

If you’ve a special man in your life you want to spoil this year, Christmas watches are a great place to start looking. A watch is one of the most commonly gifted items to men at Christmas time.

Visit any pub on Boxing Day, and you’ll see some fresh bling adorning the wrists at the bar.

They’re a staple item in men’s fashion, old and young, but we know that Christmas shopping can be a minefield, and buying a watch is not easy.

After all, they can be very expensive, and you want to make sure you make the right choice. We’ve here to help—whatever your budget. Here are 11 of the best Christmas watches to gift the lucky man in your life.

 

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Men's Watch

RRP: £1,550

Key features

• Brushed stainless steel bracelet
• Scratch-resistant
• Date window

Watches and race cars might not be the most obvious link at first, but these watches prove it works.

In a sport where every fraction of a second counts, time is of utmost importance. This line of watches echoes this sentiment perfectly, marrying these two worlds together as part of TAG Heuer’s unique collaboration with Formula 1.

But regardless of whether you’re a Formula 1 fan or not, these watches have something for everyone. With sleek detailing and sapphire crystal class on a backdrop of striking colour, this watch epitomises work hard, play hard.

A little on the pricey side, but they’re a statement purchase and a long-term investment for sure.

 

Orient Bambino Watch

RRP: £260

Key features

• 40-hour power reserve
• Water resistant to 30m
• Domed mineral crystal

At the slightly cheaper end of the spectrum is this sleek, classic watch with a leather strap for optimum style and comfort on the wrist every time.

Japanese brand Orient’s Bambino range is distinctive for two things: its domed mineral crystal and domed dial. Coupled with a premium quality leather strap, the Bambino is perfect for any occasion, casual or formal.

Orient watches are built to last and can withstand the wear and tear of everyday life (to an extent, of course!)

 

Emporio Armani Black Men's Watch

RRP: £139

Key features

• Baton hour markers
• Black leather strap
• Water resistant to 30m

If the person you’re buying a watch for has a penchant for designer brands, you can bet they’ll probably know a thing or two about Emporio Armani.

This striking all-black watch oozes cool, urban vibes ideal for daily wear and smarter occasions, too.

The date window positioned at six o’clock is another sophisticated touch. In fact, you probably won’t find many other Christmas watches better than this one for as little as £139.

 

Mondaine Essence Grey Sustainable Watch

RRP: £189

Key features

• Strap made from recycled materials
• Ronda 513 quartz movement
• Hardened mineral crystal

Swiss watchmakers Mondaine are all about heritage and sustainability—two things that are certainly well reflected in the Essence watch collection.

The watch range is made with renewable raw materials such as castor oil, wool and cork, and the Essence straps are made fully from recycled material. What’s more, the packaging the watch comes in when delivered is, too.

Mondaine is immensely proud of its Swiss roots, and the dial on this particular watch is actually modelled on the famous Swiss railway clock, first designed in the 1940s.

The Essence is both modern and traditional—and at £189, is an absolute steal as far as Christmas watches go.

 

BOSS Allure Gold-Ion Plated Chronography Watch

RRP: £379

Key features

• Gold ion-plated bracelet
• Date window
• Gold baton hour markers

For those that like a bit of gold, the Gold Ion Plated Chronograph Watch from Hugo Boss is definitely worth a look.

This watch combines a stainless steel case, a gold-plated stainless steel bracelet, and a push-button deployment clasp. The green dial stands out gorgeously against its gold outer shell and the plated hands which spin quaintly around it.

You’ll also notice the tachymeter scale inscribed on the bezel, protected beneath a layer of mineral crystal glass. The scale is used to measure the speed of travel, so this is far from your bog-standard timepiece.

 

Tissot T-Classic Dream Men's Watch

RRP: £215

Key features

• Brown leather strap
• Scratch-resistant
• Roman numeral hour markers

As the name suggests, the Tissot T-Classic Dream is indeed a classic-looking watch that adds a sophisticated touch to your day-to-day look—whatever that may be.

The premium leather strap matches any outfit, day or night, with the Roman numeral hour markers bringing an extra touch of elegance to proceedings too.

The Dream range is available in a range of alternate colours, all of which help you live your style dreams.

 

Breitling Endurance Pro Chronometer Watch

RRP: £2,750

Key features

• Rubber Diver Pro III strap
• Water resistant to 100m
• Three chronograph sub-dials

Now we delve into the more expensive end of Christmas watches. After all, you might be feeling especially generous this year.

Watches don’t come much more decadent than Breitling’s Endurance Pro, available in various colours from vibrant orange to classic black.

The strap is made from branded rubber for improved comfort and flexibility, while the intricate detailing on the dial exudes suave style and innovation.

Go on, treat him.

 

Seiko Prospex Alpinist Watch

RRP: £600

Key features

• Water resistant to 200m
• Sapphire crystal glass
• Leather strap

Seiko’s Prospex Alpinist Watch was first launched in Japan in the late 1950s for the ‘Yama-otoko’ (mountain men), designed to be reliable in testing conditions and on treacherous terrain.

The same ethos continues today, and this watch is a perfect, practical gift for adventure seekers and sports lovers.

Powered by Automatic 6R movement, the watch is highly visible in any light thanks to a delicate coating of fluorescent LumiBrite paint on the dial and hands. Super-stylish yet practical and reliable, the Prospex Alpinist ticks every box.

 

Garmin Venu 2S GPS Smartwatch

RRP: £400

Key features

• Interchangeable straps
• Sleep monitoring
• Touch-screen functionality

The phrase ‘more than just a [insert thing]’ gets thrown about a lot nowadays, but it’s certainly warranted here. Garmin’s Venu 2S GPS Smartwatch is more than just a watch.

With touch-screen functionality on an LED screen, advanced health monitoring and a plethora of other fitness features, this watch helps you live and maintain a healthy, balanced life.

From sleep monitoring and hydration tracking to animated on-screen fitness workouts, this watch does it all and then some.

We’d be here all day listing everything, so we’ll spare you the ins and outs for now—but do check them out. As Christmas watches go, there aren’t many better in this price bracket to give as a gift.

 

Citizen Men's Sport Green Dial Watch

RRP: £229

Key features

• Stainless steel casing
• Eco-Drive technology
• Date window

Citizen’s redesigned Men’s Sport Watch forms part of its Vintage collection, with distinguished features that are sure to catch the eye.

This super-stylish watch has a stainless steel casing with a piercing pine green dial and bezel for a cool, almost festive-looking contrast. Can you see why we’ve included it in a round-up of Christmas watches?

What’s more—it’s ‘up there’ in terms of innovation, too. The watch features Citizen’s unique Eco-Drive technology, meaning it is powered solely by light (of any kind), so you’ll never need batteries for this model.

 

MVMT Voyager Men's Watch

RRP: £150

Key features

• Dual time zone sub-dial
• 5-hand Miyota Quartz movement
• Stainless steel casing

This modern minimalist classic is the perfect watch to conclude our list.

MVMT’s Voyager Watch will be with you no matter where life takes you. Its clever dual time zone sub-dial feature lets you keep track of the time back home while you’re abroad—particularly useful when working overseas.

The watch is exceptionally durable and weatherproof despite appearing so delicate. With a total of five clock hands ticking calmly around the dial in sync, it’s a mesmerising addition to your look.

 

Specialist watch insurance with Ripe Valuables

If you’re splashing out on a watch for him this Christmas, you might also want to consider taking out insurance for an added layer of protection and peace of mind.

Specialist watch insurance with Ripe Valuables covers your watch against theft, loss and damage both in the UK and worldwide. Plus, you can tailor your policy to your specific needs, so you’ll never pay for what you don’t need.

All policies are also underpinned by the Ripe Guarantee, which promises you great cover and service to match at the best possible market price.

Get an online quote today and see how Ripe can help you.

 

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