Editor’s note: Looking for more on watches by Anish? Check out his article, “25 Iconic Watches for 25 Years of eBay.”
You don’t need the GDP of a small nation to buy somebody in your life a watch this festive season. Don’t get me wrong: If you have it just lying around in your account, then I have a couple of options for you. But otherwise, here’s a great selection for every price point — all available on eBay.
Around $100
Unless the universe decides to really smile on you, you’re not going to pick up a Patek perpetual calendar for 100 bucks. It just ain’t going to happen, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a watch that’ll fill the recipient with joy. I reckon this little number is pretty joyous.
Casio G-Shock Special Edition DW-5610DN-9 Multi-Color
A friend of mine had a G-Shock when I was a kid, and it wasn’t nearly as bright as this one, but it was as indestructible. We threw it out of a window. It survived. So we did it again. And again. Simple pleasures. Hopefully, the recipient of this special edition will show a little more care but no less excitement.
Around $1,000 and Under
For $1,000 and a little time spent searching, you can find a ton of watches that’ll be cherished long after the holidays have receded into memory.
One example of such a timeless treasure is this 47mm Longines. That’s an automatic mechanical watch from a nearly, 200-year-old brand for a pretty approachable total.
Another watch worth considering is the 32mm case on this vintage Zodiac watch, which is quite small by today’s standards. You would need pretty deep pockets to walk into an authorized dealer of fine watches and pick up a mechanical GMT with an enamelled, day-night indicator. Spend a little time on eBay, and you can find an idiosyncratic gem like this. Though it’s at least 60 years old, this watch would make for a unique present for the right person.
Vintage, Original Zodiac Stainless Steel 905 Triple Calendar Wristwatch Calendar 1100
If you’re buying for a person that puts a lot of stock in endorsements, then this Omega Seamaster is a wise buy. The Seamaster is the official watch of James Bond; but if you care more about the choices of people who actually exist, the Seamaster was selected for the dive to the deepest abyss of the Mariana Trench, holding the world record for the deepest dive for a watch.
Zenith watches have always been popular with the aficionado who likes to show that they know more than the average person in the street, often quoting the fact that Zenith used to make movements for Rolex. Zenith timepieces have had a mainstream renaissance in the last few years, so anyone receiving a watch like the Golden Zenith Automatic as a present would find plentiful confirmation that they’d been given a watch of real quality.
At the top end of this category but still a real bang for your buck, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph is conclusive proof that you don’t need to hit the lottery to pick up something quite special.
Around $10,000 and Under
Around this price range, you’ll start to see some more familiar watch names — those that people lovingly collect, catalogue reference numbers and painstakingly search for the rare or classic styles. Perhaps more interestingly though, there are watches that are more niche from big time brands. You’ll also begin seeing some pieces showing up in precious metals.
The white gold Cartier Rotonde is one such example with a trifecta appeal, as it’s a less obvious watch family, from a big name, in a precious metal.
How about this one? Recognize the name? You can never go wrong with a Rolex Submariner.
Here’s one of those watches that comes with a reference number that folks on watch forums will know. The Paneristi, as Panerai’s devotees are known, will warmly welcome the new owner of this Panerai Luminor Submersible into their club.
Another triple threat watch for around $10,000 from a classic brand is the Jaeger Le Coultre Master Compressor Geographic Rose Gold. The watch is a great looking option suited for the world traveler (who isn't able to do much traveling right now). It’s possible to increase and decrease pressure within the case for the purposes of diving, which is pretty smart, but it’s the other complications that come in handy for the permanently jet-lagged. It’s a combination of a dual timer and a world timer. So, by selecting the representative city for each time zone on the rotating subdial, the watch will indicate the time in that location. That might be a little complicated to get one’s head around, but trust me, your worldiest friend or family member is going to love it.
Beyond $10,000
In this price realm, you can pretty much have it all. And if you’re buying these as presents, then you're a great partner/parent/friend/etc., and I think that you and I should be friends.
Imagine the look on your loved one’s face when they tear the wrapping paper off this Vintage Rolex Daytona Cosmograph 6265 Black 37mm 18K Yellow Gold Oyster. This is one heck of a collectible piece of wrist candy. I’m not going to gild the lily on this one, because there’s already enough gold on display.
If you’ve just nailed down a really, healthy Christmas bonus, and you’re wondering how to treat the person in your life that loves enamelling and 15th century Genoese explorers, then look no further: Vacheron Constantin Great Explorers Christopher Columbus Expedition.
When filling the stocking of somebody who’s already bought themself a super yacht, choose this Richard Mille RM005. Richard Mille watches are known for their distinctive tonneau shape and growing list of industry world records. With this RM005 in rose gold, the skeletonized format allows you to see the watchmaking genius.
And finally, this is the watch to buy for the most sophisticated person you know. F.P.Journe may not be a brand that everyone knows, but on the flip side, it’s a brand that not everyone knows. As the saying goes, “If you know, you know.” Beyond its status as a watch for the horological cognoscenti, it’s just a joy to look at. It’s a piece of art that can mechanically measure to 1/100th of a second. Anyone who finds one of these beneath the tree is a very lucky soul.
Check out eBay.com/luxurywatches to explore, and shop more Luxury Watch picks from @WatchAnish and follow @eBay on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. From the casual watch enthusiast to the avid timepiece collector, buyers and sellers can shop and sell with confidence. For more information on Authenticity Guarantee, visit eBay.com/buyauthentic and eBay.com/sellauthentic.