Watchmaking icons don’t come more distinctive than the Piaget Polo. Since debuting in 1979, it has become a benchmark for luxury sports watches, its roots firmly planted in Mr Yves Piaget’s passion for the equestrian world. This self-winding 42mm Polo Date is all-out refinement, with its structured white guilloché dial that shimmers against a blue alligator strap. Meanwhile, the classic cushion shape remains unchanged, framed by a satin-finished bezel, its silhouette spun in rose gold.

It’s not often a timepiece becomes an instant sensation. Yet, in 1992, Jaeger-LeCoultre managed it with the Master Control, a horological hit that would become the go-to for globetrotters and frequent flyers. This edition has all the qualities of the ultimate travel watch, with day and month windows at the centre of a silvered sunray dial and a moon phase at six o’clock. Plus, its stainless steel case makes for a classic, durable design.

You’re likely to find an abundance of red during your Lunar New Year festivities. Besides being China’s primary celebratory colour, it also signifies prosperity, luck and creativity. So, what better timepiece to mark the festival than NOMOS Glashütte’s Tetra Neomatik 39? It’s the perfect choice for anyone who wants to strike a balance between relaxed and elegant, with its angular case, glossy enamel-like dial and rhodium-plated hands that all nod to the desires of an individualist.

A tasteful reimagining of a watch model launched in 1921, Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques American 1921 is the very embodiment of the Roaring Twenties. Its cushion-shaped case features a white dial with slanted numerals circling its display, while glamorous touches come via warm hues of pink gold and an auburn alligator strap – a splurge-worthy gift if ever we’ve seen one. Whoever receives it is sure to delight in its playful appeal.

If you have a penchant for statement dials, look no further than this crimson-hued edition of Oris’s Big Crown Pointer Date. It has plenty of grail qualities: it has a 38-hour power reserve, a dreamy bronze case, an exposed case back and a lustrous red dial that, apart from getting the blood pumping, will take you from day to night with ease. Let’s just say it’s a surefire route to the heart of any watch lover.

A stellar watch collection isn’t complete without one of IWC Schaffhausen’s most beloved horological heavyweights: the Portofino. Conceived in the late 1970s, the model is inspired by the Lépine pocket watch, reference 5201, with an elegant moon-phase display as its highlight. This edition comes powered by a hand-wound movement with a 192-hour power reserve. At its centre: a beautiful slate-grey dial set against red gold. For those seeking comfort, confidence and practicality, the hunt is over.

Less is more when it comes to Ressence’s clean, pared-down timepieces. Free of decoration, with feather-light architecture, fuss-free aesthetics and a sleek two-tone colour palette, the brand’s roster hits a horological sweet spot. Its Type 8 model is one of its finest with its innovative mechanics (driven by the minute axle of a customised 2892/2 base calibre) and cobalt-blue dial. The result? A watch everyone should have in their rotation.

It may be one of Cartier’s more recent designs, but the Ballon Bleu de Cartier has graced the watchmaking world as a modern-day icon. Its pebble-shaped case is its most defining feature, with this edition boasting a classic silver guilloché dial, set off with blue steel sword-shaped hands and encased in rose gold. You will be hard-pressed to find a prettier, more elegantly understated timepiece to freshen up your watch collection.