Think all that glitters is just for the girls? Think again. While watches have always been a firm favourite when it comes to Christmas gifts for men, a recent explosion in men’s jewellery brands has also sent all manner of bracelets, necklaces and signet rings to the top of his wishlist.
But, of course, if you’re going to drop some serious cash you best make sure the gift you’re putting beneath the tree is something he’s truly going to treasure. Allow us to point you in the right direction with our edit of the best watch and jewellery gift for men for Christmas 2022.
JEWELLERY FOR HIM
Alighieri
It might never have occurred to you to turn to your favourite jewellery brands for gifts for the men in your life but, invest in the right pieces, and you might find their magpie tendencies are just as strong as yours. Alighieri, with its natural forms and less pristine and polished style, is a brilliant introductory brand for a man who might not be ready for serious bling just yet. With their textured finish and dark stones, these signet-inspired rings show personality without being over the top.
The Clandestine Hero ring, £388, farfetch.com; The Fire in his Eyes ring, £280, selfridges.com
Foundrae
American jewellery brand Foundrae, meanwhile, takes a more personal approach to fine jewellery, presenting its pieces as modern heirlooms designed to transcend trends and be layered and stacked as their wearer invests in the symbols and talismans that resound with them. The designs are subtle, utilising quietly bold materials, such as lapis lazuli and enamel, set in 18 carat yellow gold. Think of this as the upgrade to that St Christopher he’s been wearing since he was a teenager.
Foundrae 18ct yellow gold Course Correction necklace, £2,105, brownsfashion.com; 18ct yellow gold and lapis lazuli Ram Resilience bracelet, £2,090, brownsfashion.com
Tateossian
If you’re buying for a man who’s more of a traditionalist, cufflinks are always a crowd-pleaser – especially when they’re as unique as Tatossian’s dallasite jasper designs. Inspired by the road in Vancouver Island where the stone was first discovered, they feature a pair of marbled stones featuring the evocative grey, white and green colour palette of the Pacific Northwest set in rhodium-plated sterling silver. Absolute show-stoppers.
Tateossian dallasite jasper cufflinks, £395, harrods.com
WATCHES FOR HIM
Audemars Piguet
A thoroughly contemporary update to a classic, Audemars Piguet’s newest Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar has been given a cobalt blue ceramic makeover with a Grande Tapisserie dial and subdials to match. Underneath, there’s a calibre 5134 self-winding movement powering complications including day, date, moon phase, month and leap years. Truly the watch for the man who has everything.
Royal Oak Perpetual Calender in blue ceramic, POA, audemarspiguet.com
Speake-Marin
Buying for a man who knows his moon phase from his minute repeater? If there is anything guaranteed to impress a true watch aficionado it’s an openworked dial. So-called for the absence of a dial plate, which allows the wearer (and admiring onlookers) the chance to observe the movement up close, combine an openworked dial with a tourbillon complication and you’ve got one of the most coveted pairings in watchmaking. Speake-Marin’s Openworked Tourbillon is also unique for the placement of the flying tourbillon – the brand is the only one to offer it in the prime 1.30 position.
Perhaps, however, the style of an openworked dial with the practicality of a dual time function would better cater to his needs? Ideal for frequent flyers who need a watch suitable for everything from important business meetings to black tie events, Speake-Marin’s red gold Openworked Dual Time more than fits the bill. Simpler still, but every bit as impressive, is the Openworked HMS. Standing for Hours Minutes Seconds, this elegant piece from Speake-Marin’s One&Two collection takes its design cues from modern architecture and keep things fuss-free with an openworked dial, blue hour and minutes hands and a small seconds subdial. A brilliant addition to any man’s collection.
One&Two Openworked Tourbillon Red Gold watch, approx £72,000, watchesofswitzerland.com; Openworked Dual Time Titanium watch, £37,990, watchesofswitzerland.co.uk; One&Two Openworked HMS V3 watch, £29,050, watchesofswitzerland.co.uk
Tag Heuer
If he loves the aesthetics of a mechanical timepiece but can’t bear to go without the high-tech statistics afforded by a smartwatch, the clever folks over at Tag Heuer have created the perfect middle ground. Available in numerous iterations, some practically identical to its chronograph timepieces and others offering a sportier take, the Tag Heuer Connected smartwatch looks the part while still recording health and wellness stats and sports insights for everything from golf and running to swimming and cycling.
Connected smartwatch, from £1,500, tagheuer.com
Chopard
Whether it’s to celebrate a promotion, a landmark birthday or just a very special Christmas, there is no gift quite so memorable as a man’s first mechanical watch. And, when it comes to a timepiece guaranteed to stand the test of time, Chopard’s Alpine Eagle is about as classic as they come. With a hard-wearing steel case and clean black sunburst dial, regardless of whether they wear it every day or save it for special occasions, this is a watch they’ll always be pleased to have in their collection.
Chopard Alpine Eagle Large automatic 41mm steel watch, £12,100, mrporter.com
Read more: The best watch and jewellery gifts for women
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