The kind of watch a Victorian adventurer might have strapped on before setting out to conquer the unknown, or at least before impressing the Royal Geographical Society with tales of far-flung expeditions. Montblanc launched its 1858 Geosphere in 2018 as part of a wider range of watches aimed at bringing the urbane, sophisticated brand – still best known for its long history in producing the finest pens – a touch of outdoorsy competence.

Some people – you know who you are – say men are difficult to buy for. But, speaking as certified watchaholics, we can tell you nothing could be further from the truth. The only difficulty is which watch to buy for which particular occasion. We do realise that a proper watch is a gift worth waiting (and saving) for, so you probably want to hold out for the traditional Major Life Milestones. (The rest of the time, there are always watch straps, watch cases, watch winders, books about watches… You get the idea.) Here is your one-stop guide to picking a perfect timepiece that he’ll truly appreciate for any given celebration.

A chronometer is not to be confused with a chronograph – that’s any watch with a stopwatch function for measuring time. A chronometer watch is essentially a fine-tuned watch that keeps better time than most. This is confusing on both counts when you dissect the Greek root. Chronograph means “time writer” and chronometer means “time measurer”, which is what every watch does.

The kind of watch a Victorian adventurer might have strapped on before setting out to conquer the unknown, or at least before impressing the Royal Geographical Society with tales of far-flung expeditions. Montblanc launched its 1858 Geosphere in 2018 as part of a wider range of watches aimed at bringing the urbane, sophisticated brand – still best known for its long history in producing the finest pens – a touch of outdoorsy competence.

Some people – you know who you are – say men are difficult to buy for. But, speaking as certified watchaholics, we can tell you nothing could be further from the truth. The only difficulty is which watch to buy for which particular occasion. We do realise that a proper watch is a gift worth waiting (and saving) for, so you probably want to hold out for the traditional Major Life Milestones. (The rest of the time, there are always watch straps, watch cases, watch winders, books about watches… You get the idea.) Here is your one-stop guide to picking a perfect timepiece that he’ll truly appreciate for any given celebration.