Looking for some ideas on gifts for watch lovers? Perfect. We’ve got some great options right here.
Watch enthusiasts are a particular breed of people. In fact, I’ve always said that finding good gifts for watch lovers is tricky. Many are super specific. Some prefer a small number of brands (auction-goers mostly stick to Rolex or Patek). Meanwhile, some prefer just automatic watches or just quartzes even.
Sometimes, trying to buy the perfect gift for a watch lover is like trying to find the right movie to take a film snob to. You kind of just want to leave it to them.
Here’s the secret to buying presents for a watch nerd. You can stick to watch accessories instead of actual watches. Or, if you’re going to buy an actual watch, find something with some novelty.
Here’s what I mean.
Best Gifts for Watch Lovers: Non-Watch Ideas
Watch-related gifts are a great option for several reasons. Again, many watch collectors are picky about what watches they want in their collection. Moreover, it’s possible that they want watch accessories but would rather spend their hard-earned money on actual watches.
Here are some great gifts to consider!
Luxury Watch Displays
If you really love the person you’re gifting (a spouse or parent, maybe), you might consider a luxury watch display. Don’t worry; we’ve got more reasonably priced options coming up.
Here are two great options.
There’s this modern, scientific-looking model from The Watch Stand, which also serves as a watch winder. This Stockholm-based company makes truly epic stands, and I don’t use that word lightly.
This double-axis winder is complex and sits on an Italian marble base. It’s an aesthetic that would appeal to gents who love a skeleton dial, chronograph, or even a slide rule bezel.
A more classic, but not musty, option is the Rapport Formula Black stand. This will make his watch look like it’s displayed at some high-end art gallery. And from a practicality perspective, it’s just a better way to store a watch than bulky boxes or the back of some drawer.
London-based Rapport is known for their handcrafted accessories for jewelry and watches. The lush leather and stately base on this stand is a perfect example.
Budget Watch Displays
You don’t have to break the bank to find a great watch display. In fact, I highly recommend searching Amazon, and you’ll find a range of different styles and prices.
I recommend two completely different displays here, starting with this SONGMICS Watch Box. It’s a straightforward design that can be used for storage or presentation. And you can even travel with it.
The velvet seats for each watch are soft and conveniently removable. Sometimes simple is best!
Or, you can go with this Ikee wooden jewelry stand. It has a woodsier aesthetic that can be incorporated into outdoorsy styles or even a clean, natural Scandinavian minimalism situation. Plus, you can also put bracelets and other accessories on it.
It comes in different wood grains and colors and serves as a perfect background for field watches or raw leather straps.
Timegrapher
This is the first of a few recommendations that are perfect for vintage watch lovers. A timegrapher measures your watch’s beat rate, among several other signs of its functionality and overall health.
A lot of people who are doing their best to keep their old beloved watches alive often have a scheduled regiment. See, they need to make sure their old stored watches are occasionally getting used.
The old adage of “if you’re resting, you’re rusting” is completely true of mechanical watches. Or they have scheduled servicing every few years.
This machine will help them know where each model stands instead of just guessing or always having to go to a professional.
And hey, once they have their own timegrapher, maybe they’ll become the professional in their watch circle. Possible entrepreneurial potential with this gadget!
Original Brand Watch Boxes
Here’s a gift that feels luxurious but doesn’t actually have to cost that much. If he bought his brand-name watch off of the gray market, or even just inherited it, he may not have the original box it comes with. Not only is this a cool thing to have, but it helps maintain the watch’s value.
It’s so easy to get on eBay and search for these boxes.
You can find an original Rolex box at a range of prices. You can also find Patek or, Omega, or even Jaeger LeCoultre. Having that branding on the gift just makes it seem more leveled up.
If you really want to impress, see if you can find a branded shopping bag to put the gift in. He’ll think you have someone at the brand searching for vintage boxes for you.
Silica Gel Packets
Okay, so this is a little too practical to give as a present alone. It’s almost like putting a bow on a cleaning spray and giving that as a present.
But, if you add it to a more substantial present, it’ll show a sense of thoughtfulness. Especially if you’re giving them one of the original brand boxes mentioned above! Adding these will make him feel like you did your research and considered a very important need, particularly of vintage watch collectors.
See, moisture can destroy watches from the inside out, especially with older watches that don’t have water resistance. Most vintage watch collectors know to store their pieces with these packets, and if your person doesn’t, they’ll be grateful you looked into it!
QWATCHBRANDS Watch Roll
If your person travels a lot or simply can’t be away from his core collection, he needs a watch roll. They’re the safest way to transport watches.
This watch roll on Amazon features an anti-roll hexagonal construction made from full-grain Napa leather with a velvet interior. It’s secure on the outside but soft and gentle on the inside.
It’s also stylish and modern-looking enough that it can be a makeshift presentation stand if need be.
Barton Canvas Watch Roll
The Barton Canvas Watch Roll is the canvas waxed jacket of watch rolls. It’s simple yet effective, rugged yet elegant, and undeniably attractive.
It lacks hard structure, which makes it easy to store in any bag, but is built to protect and secure. It’s waterproof on the outside, with a leather wrap-around cord to keep everything together. Even more, you can fit five watches in there as big as 46 millimeters.
A Man & His Watch Coffee Table Book
A Man & His Watch isn’t just an essential for watch lovers but a ubiquitous part of the general style lover’s library. By the way, here are a few more style books we love.
Why do we love watches so much? It has to do with the stories and history behind them. Often, in choosing a watch, we’re trying to tell the world who we are — or who we’d like to become!
This beautifully bound book explores watches through the men who loved and wore them. A few include Paul Newman, Winston Churchill, and FDR. It’ll make a perfect addition to one’s library or, since it’s a slick design object on top of being an informative tome, to his coffee table.
Horology Illustrated Book
While A Man & His Watch goes deep into stories and lore the way an epic movie does, Horology Illustrated is like a detailed documentary. But it’s not a dry read at all. Of course, part of this has to do with the excellent visuals in there. Call me a child, but I think all books should have pictures.
It combines the history, science, art, and philosophy that goes into watches and the watch industry overall. It proves that watchmaking is interdisciplinary and can appeal to any watch lover regardless of how and why they became one.
Watch Straps
And, of course, you can always find your person a nice watch strap. The great thing about this present is it can help them find new life in some of their old pieces. Sometimes, a change of a strap can make your watch feel like a brand new, completely different model.
Of course, we have excellent round-ups that you can consult. Check out our best Nato straps edit, then check out our best leather watch straps piece.
Feel free to bone up on watch straps with our guide to the different types!
And, of course, make sure you’re going for a strap that will fit his watch or watches.
Best Gifts for Watch Lovers: Actual Watches
Okay, so I know I spent a good amount of time here scaring you into not buying actual watches as a present. However, there are some universally loved pieces out there and ones that are true icons.
Here are a few of those.
As always, though, make sure you know him well enough that he’d really enjoy the piece in question.
Timex Marlin Mechanical
This is one of my very favorite watches to recommend. It’s low risk and high reward. The Timex Mechanical is a charming, memorable, and much-loved model that you can easily find anywhere between $100 and $150.
It’s a swanky, vintage-looking timepiece with tons of character and historical importance. Even those who only collect high-end Swiss hard-hitters can’t deny how high-value this watch is. The era-authentic 34-millimeter size also makes it easy to wear for us small-wristed folks.
- Dimensions: 34mm diameter, 10mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Water resistance: 30m
Even more, I think that the mechanical movement provides tactility and engagement that just makes this watch as fun to wear as it is to look at.
Timex Sports Team Watches
Another one of my go-to recommendations Timex makes watches branded with NFL and NHL teams. It’s a fun, toy-like present that’s affordable but still practical and unique.
This is a clever partnership since there’s a ton of undeniable overlap between watch lovers and sports fans. And, since Timex is a trusted American heritage brand, it’s more than just a piece of merchandise.
- Dimensions: 40mm diameter, 10mm thickness (NFL watches). 38mm diameter, 9mm thickness (NHL)
- Case Material: Resin (NFL), Stainless steel (NHL)
- Water resistance: 50m (NFL), 30m (NHL)
Just make sure you’re choosing the right team. You don’t want to accidentally give a Giants fan an Eagles watch.
Seiko SKX007
The Seiko SKX007, these days, can cost a lot more than what it offers functionally. But let’s be real. That’s a sign of a true collectible. It has a historic and pop culture cache since it’s the descendant of the Seiko 6105, which US soldiers wore, including a fictional one played by Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now.
Still, no one would ever sleep on its topnotch style and functionality. They’re one of the most iconic entry-level, horologically-inclined watches in history. They’re versatile iconic, and none of their descendants have really truly fully lived up to them since their retirement.
- Dimensions: 42mm diameter, 13mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Water resistance: 200m
It’s a good, honest watch that runs on Seiko’s heritage automatic Caliber 7S26. And while these watches have been slowly climbing in price, they’re still really easy to find — a pro when it comes to gift shopping!
Hamilton PSR
There are three kinds of watch enthusiasts who would love a Hamilton PSR. There are those who love a retro-futuristic look, those who are James Bond fans, and comprehensive collectors who want to ensure their collection checks off all of the boxes.
This sci-fi looking icon is unlike any other watch, with a remarkable all-metal digital composition. It’s as if a spaceship reconfigured itself into a timepiece. It’s a descendant of an 007 watch from Live and Let Die too.
- Dimensions: 40mm x 34.7mm diameter, 13.5mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Water resistance: 100m
It comes in brushed gold or silver stainless steel or with a PVD-coating. So, as eye-catching as it is, it’s a pragmatic timekeeper as well.
Rolex Domino’s Air-King
Remember when I said that watch collectors tend to love novelty? Well, here’s the perfect example. Like the MilSub, the Rolex Domino’s Air-King was never sold commercially. They were given as gifts to Domino’s franchise owners who met certain sales goals.
It’s a weird flex that combines humor and strangeness with classic cache. Think about how watch face misspellings can sometimes turn a watch into a high-end collectible. Even if this isn’t his style, he’ll appreciate the portfolio addition. There’s a lot a watch collector can do with this.
Plus, in the age of anti-fashion fashion, these have become more relevant than ever.
- Dimensions: 34mm diameter, 11.5mm thickness
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Water resistance: 100m
And, of course, this oddity is a luxury present reserved for really special people. Still, it comes in a wide range of price tags, from as low as $5,000 all the way towards $20,000.
Conclusion: The Ideal Gift
When someone is an enthusiast, it gives you a starting point of where to start looking for a present. Still, navigating from this starting point to the actual present can be confusing.
Hopefully, one of these gift ideas will either work or lead you in the right direction!
Are you a watch lover? If so, what kinds of gifts do you like and not like that’s watch related? Let us know!
