Is there such a thing as a ‘dad watch’? In a way, yes. Although tastes differ, a watch can be nicely summed up by the same qualities that make a great, well, man. They’re reliable, they’re always on time and, most important of all, they won’t embarrass you in public. Ahead of Christmas, read on for five stellar timepieces to gift him for Christmas Day – hand-picked by our in-store experts.
Panerai
Stainless Steel Luminor Tre Giorni 44mm
One of our highlights from this year’s Watches and Wonders Geneva, Panerai’s Luminor Tre Giorni pays tribute to the professional divers’ watches the brand created for the Italian navy in the 1960s. Expect the same vintage case, slimmed down to 44mm for the first time, plus another fresh departure for the brand – a new, deep-brown tobacco palette. Inside, you’ll find a three-day power reserve, a stop-balance wheel for precise synchronisation and water resistance up to 300m – an impressive feat for a vintage-inspired watch.
Bremont
Stainless Steel Terra Nova Jumping Hour 40.5mm
Why stick to a traditional sweeping hour hand? Bremont’s Terra Nova Jumping Hour is powered by an exclusive BC634 Jumping Hour calibre, delivering sharp, precise jumps of the hour disk at 9 o’clock. Its markers, hour number and sweeping seconds hand are also applied with the latest Super-LumiNova technology for legibility in low light, while its 904L stainless steel – originally designed for aerospace and marine use – offers exceptional corrosion and scratch resistance.
Cartier
Extra Large Yellow Gold Santos-Dumont 46.6mm
“Never imitate, always innovate” was Louis Cartier’s motto, and the fruits of that attitude are obvious today. One of watchmaking’s most timeless designs, the Santos-Dumont was named after the Brazilian aviator for whom it was first designed in 1904, making it one of the first ever wristwatches. This modern iteration in yellow gold retains the rounded angles and seamless curves of the famous design, sized up to an extra-large 46.6mm for even greater impact.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Stainless Steel Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar 39mm
In 1903, French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger challenged Swiss watchmakers to create an ultra-thin calibre – resulting in the LeCoultre Calibre 145 movement at just 1.38mm thick. Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre has some of the most prodigious collections of thin calibres in watchmaking history – a heritage that inspires the Master Ultra Thin collection. This perpetual calendar watch is powered by one of the most challenging complications, and won’t need any manual correction until the year 2100.
Piaget
Stainless Steel Polo Chronograph 42mm
“Ever since my first day at Piaget [in 2021], people have been asking me if we’ll ever make another version of the Polo,” Piaget’s CEO Benjamin Comar explained to GQ in 2024. That same year, that wish was granted – and it became the year’s must-have watch. This new iteration features the emblematic gadroon motif on the dial and strap, first introduced in 1971, and also retains the original play of shapes in the cushion dial set within a rounded case. A future classic if ever there was one.
