Wild about watches

A wristwatch is certainly one of the most versatile gifts you can give a man. There are watches for pretty much every kind of taste, style and budget.

Of course, if you are going to give a watch as a gift, you want it to be something really special.

Look out for brands such as OMEGA, Longines, Montblanc, Breguet Vacheron Constantin, Chaumet, Zenith, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Maurice Lacroix, Rado, Piaget and Baume & Mercier for the best quality and style; you really can’t go wrong. Apart from being amazing gifts, these high-quality luxury watches are a great investment.

If you do go for a watch, it is a good idea to do some ‘homework’ first. For example, you need to choose which kind of watch would suit the requirements of the recipient - some of the most popular timepieces on the market are dive watches (also known as diving watches), elegant/classic, pilot, sport and casual.

You also need to decide which one of four types of movement – quartz, mechanical, automatic and solar powered – to go for (a movement is the mechanism that drives the hands on a watch face

and powers its ‘complications’ such as calendar, chronograph or a dual time zone.)

The watch material, case, bezel, kind of watch glass, watch strap and high-water resistance rating are other key features to look out for.

Is jewellery a good idea?

Throughout the ages, men have always worn jewellery to show off their status and wealth; it is only in fairly recent times, historically, that is has been seen as more of the female’s domain. However, jewellery for men is back with a bang, and is becoming more and more popular with each passing year.

Cufflinks, rings, necklaces, bracelets and bangles are all good ideas if you want to give him something special.

Like a watch, quality jewellery is a great investment. Brands such as Damiani, Recarlo, Al Coro, and Nanis guarantee that you will be buying something which will last - and give pleasure - for a long time.

Keep the character and lifestyle of the person you are buying for in mind when you shop. For example, cufflinks are a fantastic idea for someone who wears suits for work or enjoys really dressing up when they go out. Go for exclusive brands such as Montblanc, Vhernier, Montegrappa and Damiani and you won’t be disappointed (and neither will he).

Other great gifts to consider

For those men who are interested in writing and penmanship, a high-quality pen is always a great gift. To make it unique, you can even get it engraved. For true quality, go for a brand such as Montegrappa.

A wallet is always a necessity, but it can make a great gift too. In this case, it’s not only about how useful it is but also how good it looks. Again, you can personalise it by getting git engraved. Montblanc make excellent leather wallets in different sizes.

Q & A

What is the best gift for a man?

It’s not always easy finding the perfect gift for a man, be it your dad, grandfather, husband, fiancé, boyfriend or simply a male friend. Whether it is his birthday, anniversary, Christmas, New Year’s, Father's Day, or Valentine’s Day, for that special man in your life, men’s accessories such as watches, cufflinks, jewellery, pens and wallets are sure to go down well.

When you do your shopping, it is wise to keep a few things in mind. Such as who this person is to you; what relationship you have. This should give you a good idea of what to get.

Think about his daily routine and think how the gift you are thinking of fits in to it. For instance, it will only make sense to give him a nice pen if he’ll actually use it; if he only uses electronic devices to write, it may not be the best idea. Think about his hobbies and interests, and even what his job is – that will likely help to narrow it down as well. 

What can you give a man who has everything?

Let’s face it, unless the guy is Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk or Richard Branson, the odds are that there will be something that you can find for him! He might have all the latest gadgets and toys, but if you think out of the box and remember that bigger is not always necessarily better, it is not an impossible task.

Surprise him with something cool that he never knew he wanted… as long as the gift is thoughtful and from the heart, it should be well received.

What's a romantic gift for a guy?

It’s not only women who appreciate a romantic gift or gesture. Why not accompany your boyfriend, fiancé or husband’s gift with a bouquet of flowers to brighten up his day? Or get a watch or pen engraved with his name or with a phrase that means something to him, or both of you.

If he has a sweet tooth a small cake or box of chocolates will surely hit the spot! Alternatively, you can treat him to a romantic weekend with champagne and good food. A pampered man is a happy man!