With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you may be thinking of dinner, candy, flowers, a show… but why give a gift that doesn’t last? Think timeless, think forever: think watches. Giving the gift of a watch to someone shows you cared enough to think about their likes and dislikes, their hobbies, their interests and more.
Depending on the person you are buying for this Valentine’s Day, you can spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few hundred thousand dollars (OK, can I be your girl?). But, before you go out and spend your hard-earned money on pretty heart-motif watches, we have something else for you to take a look at for the love of your life (or even for your mom).
Don’t get me wrong, a heart-motif watch – if done right – can be pretty impressive, and today there are heart-shaped dials, cases and decorative motifs (but that’s another story – coming up soon). However, is she really going to wear a heart watch with that leopard-skin dress? Is there enough versatility there for her to wear it winter, spring, summer and fall? Instead, why not be unconventional and take a look at a few not-so-typical Valentine’s Day watches. Here we suggest five “Not your typical Valentine’s Day watches” that will have her forgetting all about hearts and flowers.
Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye
Every woman loves to be thought of as mysterious and intriguing. For this reason, many watch brands name their collections for the big cats such as leopards and panthers to underscore the sleek yet wild beauty. Girard-Perregaux is no exception. Look to its stunning Cat’s Eye collection of highly distinctive oval-shaped watches if the woman in your life loves sleek, sophisticated and sparkling. Even better, take a look at its Celestial series that not only combines oval shapes and diamonds accents, but also includes the romantic moon-phase indication. Particularly appealing is the new version with Aventurine dial and diamonds – all powered by a 240-part mechanical movement.
Bulgari Serpenti
Looking for a big-name brand that will surprise your designer-conscious woman and yet won’t break the bank? Think Garden of Eden and take a look at the newest two-tone Bulgari Serpenti bracelet watches. They are sleek and elegant, while at the same time highly wearable and easily go from day to night. The serpent-head-shaped watch case is a nod to the serpent in the famed garden who encouraged Eve to eat the forbidden apple. Besides, who wouldn’t want a Bulgari watch?
Corum Golden Bridge
For the woman who loves a rainbow, but also has a passion for mechanical prowess, the Corum Golden Bridge is a great choice. The vertical in-line mechanical hand-wind movement is visible via the sapphire case front and back. The 18-karat gold gemstone-adorned tonneau-shaped case is set with a rainbow of 45 baguette-cut sapphires and 16 baguette-cut tsavorites for a total carat weight of 4.23 carats of stones. What’s not to love? Change the alligator strap to white and you’ve got a sure-fire winner.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
If the woman in your life loves a classic look, you can’t go wrong with the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch. Originally conceived of in 1931, the watch is a two-sided case that slides out from the holder and can be reversed by the wearer. The original ones were designed for polo players who wanted to protect their watches during play (why not just take them off?). Those had full metal back cases. Today, you can get the beloved rectangular (and square) Reverso with two different dials on either side, or with a metal back open for engraving. Consider the highly affordable Reverso Classic in steel that retails for just about $4,000. Its sleek proportions and clean dial are classically timeless.
Omega Speedmaster 38
For the active woman on the go, and because every other watch we mentioned here had a differently shaped case, it makes sense to suggest what many call a “safer” bet: a round case. Additionally, this warm Cappuccino-colored Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronometer with sporty chic appeal will capture hearts as well as eyes. The Sedna gold bezel is set with diamonds, while the stainless steel case offers the perfect amount of casual. Equipped with chronograph for measuring laps or other events, the watch also has a tachymeter to measure speeds. She’ll thank you for offering sporty yet stylish -- and highly functional -- time.
