12 Great Gifts for Women Who Collect Watches, From Cartier to Louis Vuitton
What do you get for the watch lover who has everything? Another watch, of course, because one can never have too many. We suggest a classic dress watch that does the job from day to night, and is either set with diamonds or enhanced with a special sparkly finish on the gold (like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini). There has been a return to smaller dress watches lately for both women and men and the Harry Winston Emerald is another great option, while the Cartier Tank Louis Cartier is slightly bigger but still slim and elegant. Alternatively, a watch-related gift is just as thoughtful. For a woman that has too many watches to handle, try Buben & Zorweg’s ultra-chic safe or for a more reasonable gift—watch-themed art and books to jigsaw puzzles are creative options that should do the trick. Here are a few gift ideas from jaw-droppers to “stocking stuffers.”
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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini
Well, ladies, we’ve been asking for it, and here it is: smaller versions of watches that are classically men’s. The RO Mini is a 23 mm interpretation of the mighty icon. It was inspired by a 20mm mini Royal Oak launched in 1997, just as the watch industry was entering a renaissance of sorts. The new one is quartz, which has been trending lately in luxury watches, particularly gold dress watches (presumably to counteract the skyrocketing price of the precious metal). The RO Mini is in frosted 18-karat gold only—white, yellow, or rose—on a bracelet. Each has a petite tapisserie dial matching the gold case and bracelet. $34,400
Harry Winston Emerald Green
Harry Winston, who founded the eponymous brand in 1932, at the height of the Art Deco era, loved the geometry and symmetry of emerald-cut emeralds and the gem’s color. The shape became his company logo and is pervasive throughout many of the collections even today, including the Emerald watch, which was launched in 2016. This version, with a double-tour strap and 18k rose gold case, is set with 53 diamonds on the lugs and bezel. Prices start at $13,600 for the collection, which includes several colors, bracelet options, and diamond treatments.
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A Dictionary of Wonders: Van Cleef & Arpels
This coffee table tome is no ordinary book about watches and jewelry. Instead of a long chronology on brand history, it gets right down to the magic of it with an alphabetical guide to the themes and codes of the famous maison. It’s like a reference guide, with archival information and gorgeous photography of emblematic jewels, precision watchmaking and jewelry-making techniques, along with artistic collaborations. Written by French luxury editor Fabienne Reybaud.
Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001
The Ellipse, originally launched in 1968, is one of the many shaped watches that emerged in that era. Patek relaunched it this year with a new, bracelet (the model is known for its distinctive chain bracelets) that was 15 years in development, with links assembled and finished by hand in a woven braid-like pattern. The dial is ebony-black sunburst, like the original. It contains the caliber 240 ultra-thin automatic movement, which means it is now slimmest watch in the Patek Philippe catalogue. $60,097
Bulgari Bulgari Bracelet
Sometimes, the best accessory is one that accessorizes your watch. Wearing a gold bracelet with a gold watch has long been a style statement, one that distinguishes an elegant woman’s timepiece from its more utilitarian tool-watch counterparts. This Bulgari Bulgari chain bracelet in 18k rose gold is designed with mother-of-pearl and onyx on round disks that echo the shape of a classic round dress watch. $4,500
Cartier Tank Louis Cartier
You can never, ever go wrong with a Cartier Tank on any occasion. This is the original Tank design created by Louis Cartier in 1917, with its distinctive flat vertical brancards, railroad track chapter ring, and Roman numerals. It has since inspired countless variations and sub-collections and is still one of the world’s most classic watch. This version, set with diamonds in rose gold on a red strap, seems made for the holidays. $24,800
Watches and Wonders 2025 VIP Pass
If there is a watch lover on your Christmas gift list with a wish list beyond your scope, you can get the next best thing with the Watches and Wonders VIP Pass. Think of it as a ticket to the watchmaking circus of the year, the Eras tour of watchmaking. It’s available for pre-sale (www.watchesandwonders.com) from December 3 to 20 only, and includes priority access, a dedicated VIP Lounge with complimentary lunch and refreshments, private small-group guided tours, exclusive product presentations and a commemorative gift. CHF 550 or about $620.
Julie Kraulis Custom Watch Illustration
A passion for watches can take many forms. For artist Julie Kraulis, it involves making detailed, true-to-life renderings of iconic models and movements. Kraulis’s collection of graphite drawings, called Making Time, was inspired by an article on iconic timepieces she saw in a magazine. “I discovered a fascinating world of soul, story, and craftsmanship,” she says. Kraulis has since worked with brands, auction houses, leading editorial publications, and individual collectors. Price upon request
Buben & Zorweg Katherina Safe
This combination jewelry-cabinet/watch-winder/high-security safe is named after a customer who asked Buben & Zorweg to create a custom luxury mirrored cabinet as a housewarming gift for her daughter (Wouldn’t you love to see the house?). The company thought it was such a good idea now, you can have one too, for €349,000 (about $366,000). Materials include eucalyptus inlaid wood, Nappa leather, and gold. There are 16 watch winders, eight drawers for jewelry, two safes, and an integrated flying tourbillon with a moon phase indication.
L’Epée + Louis Vuitton Decorative Clock
When LVMH acquired L’ Epée, the luxury Swiss clock maker, last June, it seemed at first like an offbeat addition to its stable of watch and jewelry brands. It makes sense, though, when you consider that L’ Epée is at the luxury end of the clock world. Now, LVMH puts the company to work for its Louis Vuitton brand, with the Montgolfière Aéro, a hot-air-balloon-themed table clock that represents Louis Vuitton’s connection to travel and its signature trunks – the base of the clock is a small, hand-made trunk that houses the winder for the clockworks and serves as the basket for the hot air balloon. It’s a limited edition of eight pieces.
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Piatnik Timepiece Puzzle
Putting together this 1,000-piece puzzle will not only be fun, but might correspond to the time it takes to put together a complicated watch movement. The watches in the puzzle are unbranded, but the composition includes a fascinating and true-to-life assortment of mostly pocket watches with complications and decorative pieces, including a wonderful example of the many hand styles.
