THE JOURNAL
All we want for Christmas is a luxury timepiece.
A great watch isn’t just for Christmas, but that doesn’t mean the festive season isn’t the perfect time to receive one. With that in mind, we asked some of the team at MR PORTER which watches they’re hoping Santa will leave in their stockings this year. Let’s hope they’ve been good.
This classic and collectable Zenith has been on my Wish List for a long time. Aside from the fact that the El Primero has been hailed as having one of the world’s best and most accurate movements ever since it launched in 1969, the design of the El Primero has held its own, too. I especially like the contrast of the functional stainless steel with the more luxurious-feeling brown crocodile strap.
I have had the Formula 1 Quartz Chronograph on my Wish List ever since we launched TAG Heuer on MR PORTER. This stainless steel watch has a cool black dial and with its 43mm diameter is perfect for my large wrist. Its look and sturdiness are versatile enough for a day at work and a training session in the gym.
I would choose the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Retrograde Moon Phase in rose gold. I love this watch because it’s simple, modern, elegant and has some unique features – such as being able to adjust the moon phase via the crown, which is handy if you leave the watch to cease running. If you don’t, then the moon phase will be accurate for the next 122 years, so lunar-speaking, I’m pretty well covered for a while. I also love the retrograde date indicator partly because it’s unusual as a method of display, but also because it turns an otherwise classic dial into something entirely more interesting.
My father was in the air force, I fly a lot and I like a watch that I can wear every day with anything, so this Big Pilot’s watch from IWC Schaffhausen is a no-brainer for me. At 46mm, it will be the biggest in my collection, but its pared-back, stylish design means it’s not a show-off.
Vacheron Constantin makes some of the world’s most elegant and classic watches, and this Patrimony timepiece leads the way. I love its unassuming nature and design. It’s perfect for those dressier evening occasions during the holiday season.
A gift for oneself is always in order after a strenuous build-up to Christmas. The Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 has every technical sensibility you need from a luxury timepiece. Forget that, though. It looks fantastic and will fit perfectly in my stocking.