10 Expert Tips for Christmas Shoppers Gifting Luxury Watches

Luxury watches aren’t just sophisticated accessories and status symbols but are also valuable investments. Timepieces can be sentimental assets, with many owners passing their collection down to the next generation. With all these qualities in mind, luxury watches make stellar Christmas presents. During last year’s festive shopping period, online searches for ‘men’s designer watches’ and ‘designer watches for women’ both surged by 50%.

However, with the high cost and maintenance needs, luxury watches shouldn’t be given to anyone lightly. Before committing to this lavish purchase for a loved one, ensure the present is suitable and will be fully appreciated.

Nicholas Hickey, Managing Director at Luxe Watches, has shared his expertise with 10 top considerations Christmas shoppers should contemplate before buying a luxury watch as a gift.

Is a luxury watch an appropriate gift for your recipient?

Before splurging on a timepiece, ask yourself the following questions to determine whether a luxury watch is the right choice.

1) Is the giftee at a suitable age?

A luxury watch is a big responsibility and may not be suitable for young adults. It’s worth assessing whether they’re mature enough to understand a luxury watch’s monetary and sentimental value or whether they would appreciate it more in a few years. If they’re not quite ready, it’s unlikely they’ll care for the item properly and may risk damaging or breaking it by wearing the timepiece in unsuitable conditions.

If you’re confident they’ll maintain the watch carefully, it can be a significant and wonderful moment to buy somebody their first luxury watch for Christmas. Alternatively, if you have your own collection, you could pass a luxury watch down as a family heirloom for more meaning.

As well as a recipient being too young, older age can also impact the suitability of a luxury watch. For example, an elderly person might struggle to adjust the settings of and regularly maintain a luxury watch. However, certain features can make a watch more suitable for an elderly person, such as larger numbers making it easier to read, a durable strap for less maintenance and a simpler function that requires fewer setting changes.

2) Are they comfortable with luxury purchases?

The ideal luxury watch owner will regularly wear and enjoy the timepiece rather than storing it away in a safe or sock drawer. A recipient who doesn’t own other luxury items may feel nervous about breaking or losing something so valuable. If an expensive timepiece is more likely to cause them stress than joy, the giftee would probably appreciate something more low-key.

Additionally, if the recipient doesn’t value more expensive items, they’ll likely not be impressed with a luxury timepiece. Some might also take it as an insult or feel embarrassed if they’re unable to provide gifts at the same price.

3) Are they already an avid watch collector?

If the recipient is already a watch enthusiast, they’ll likely appreciate the value of a luxury timepiece and the gesture. However, watch lovers may have higher standards when it comes to the watches they bring into their collection. It’s important to check for any gaps in their collection to avoid doubling up on an item they already own and for the level of luxury that they usually choose.

A collector with watches in the highest luxury bracket may not be interested in an entry-level watch. Collectors can also be quite selective and want to choose the timepieces personally.

4) Will they be able to maintain a luxury watch?

As already mentioned, if the recipient can’t regularly maintain a luxury watch due to age or mobility, then it’s likely not a suitable gift. It’s also important to consider the ongoing maintenance costs of a timepiece.

While you would be making the generous upfront payment of an expensive timepiece, there are various long-term fees to consider, including professional services, repairs, and insurance. If the giftee isn’t able or willing to pay for these expenses, the present may feel more like a burden, and the watch will likely lose its quality and value unless you’re willing to foot the ongoing bill yourself.

5) How well do you know the recipient?

Due to the high cost, most would only buy luxury watches as a special gift for a family member, romantic partner or close friend. However, if money is no object, some might simply consider it a generous present.

If the recipient is an acquaintance, someone you haven’t known for very long or aren’t particularly close to, a luxury watch may seem excessive and inappropriate.

Luxury watches can also be considered symbolic and sentimental, which may not match the nature of your relationship.

Considerations for gifting the best-suited luxury watch

If you’re confident that a luxury watch is the right present for your recipient, factor in the following points to find the most fitting timepiece.

1) The giftees’ existing jewellery and watches

If buying someone a luxury watch, you want the item to complement their style, meet their preferences, and fit well. So, before making the purchase, check the size and design of any watches the recipient already owns.

If the giftee doesn’t own watches, look for any jewellery they own to find the metals they prefer, get an idea of their taste and if they like maximalist or minimalist designs.

Cartier produces great minimal watches, such as the Tank. For an eccentric but still subtle model, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 with a turquoise blue Celebration motif dial is an excellent choice.

Also, look for common colours in their collection to factor into your choice, such as if they often wear all rose gold jewellery, a rose gold watch would be well suited.

2) The recipients’ profession and lifestyle

The giftee’s day-to-day activities, profession and lifestyle can dictate the type of watch and features you choose. For example, pilots may prefer a pilot watch by IWC or a Rolex GMT because the GMT function allows the wearer to track multiple time zones.

If the recipient is a tradesperson, they likely won’t wear a luxury watch daily to prevent damage and instead save it for special occasions, and therefore, a dinner watch may be best suited.

Perhaps the recipient values practicality and wants a watch they can wear every day without worrying. This person would likely appreciate a high water resistance, so they don’t need to take the watch off when exposed to sudden rain or hand washing.

It’s also important to consider whether there are any religious and cultural factors for the giftee, such as men in Islam are traditionally discouraged from wearing gold. Watches can also carry certain connotations across different cultures that you should be mindful of. In China, gifting somebody a watch or any type of clock can offend as it’s associated with death, suggesting the recipient is running out of time.

3) The best-suited luxury watch brand

When choosing between luxury watch brands, consider how familiar the recipient is with owning timepieces. If you’re purchasing the giftee’s first luxury watch, you may want to choose an entry-level watch from brands like TAG Heuer and Omega, which are sold at a more affordable price with more durable materials.

Alternatively, if the recipient is already a collector, you may want to invest in a more top-end watch brand such as Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet if it’s within your price range.

Generally, we always recommend Rolex and Cartier as they’re both iconic brands offering well-made and popular timepieces with a strong retention in value.

4) Engraving the watch

Having the watch engraved can add more meaning to a timepiece — a previous study found more than two-thirds of Brits preferred more personal gifts. However, there are also some negative implications to keep in mind before engraving the watch, such as:

• It can reduce the luxury watch’s resale value.
• It might not suit the recipient’s style if they prefer a clean and classic aesthetic.
• A change in circumstance can make the message less meaningful or inappropriate.
• It’s a permanent alteration you can’t undo if you don’t like the result.

However, if you’re confident engraving the watch will please the recipient, we recommend:

• Using a classic and timeless font that complements the watch’s style.
• Double-checking the grammar and spelling.
• Choosing a meaningful message that’s personal to your relationship rather than something trend-based or cliche.

It’s also important to allow for the extra time that engravings can take (often between three and eight working days) to avoid the gift being ready late.

5) Buy from authorised and reputable watch sellers

Most importantly, before purchasing a luxury watch, whether as a gift for yourself, ensure it’s from a reputable source. While buying second-hand on auction sites can often provide more affordable prices, it’s much easier to get taken advantage of if not vigilant.

Tell-tale signs a watch is fake include the below:

• The brand name is misspelt.
• The font and style of the lettering are different to the original model.
• The serial number doesn’t match the model and year of manufacture on the manufacturer’s site.
• The weight is featherlight.

You can also use services like The Watch Register to check whether the watch is listed as stolen and take the watch to an appraiser to double-check its legitimacy. Ideally, a used watch would also come with its original box and papers, but this isn’t always the case.

It’s also important to ensure a second-hand watch is well maintained and doesn’t show signs of poor maintenance, such as excessive scratching, rust, and cracked glass. Before purchasing, ensure you’ve seen photographs of the watch and ask to see it in person.

However, buying from an authorised watch dealer is the most effective way of ensuring a watch is legitimate. To verify a watch retailer’s trustworthiness, look for business credentials, check online reviews, and ask for recommendations from trusted watch buyers.

A luxury watch is an extremely thoughtful and generous gift, but it’s also a valuable investment piece that requires regular maintenance and careful use. Factoring in these 10 considerations will help you determine if your recipient is a suitable watch owner and how to find the perfect timepiece for them.