Christmas gift ideas: Watches for the festive season

A wish list of festive timepieces for a very merry Christmas

From Cartier and Chopard to Hublot and Faberge, treat your loved ones to the gift of time with these watches that come with a festive glint.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 7118/1452G-001

About 1,500 brilliant-cut diamonds create a dazzling contrast against 876 red rubies snow-set on a white gold case and bracelet. A show-stopping high jewellery timepiece, it is powered by the automatic 26-330 S calibre which can be admired, complete with its 21k gold winding rotor, on the transparent caseback.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 7118 set with diamonds and red rubies

Above Patek Philippe Nautilus 7118/1452G-001 set with diamonds and red rubies

Richard Mille RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramic

Described by Cécile Guenat, director of creative and development of Richard Mille, as “contemporary, elegant, playful, and extroverted lines into a new form”, the watch is part of a capsule collection inspired by the Memphis design movement in the 1980s. In this watch, an amalgamation of clashing colours appears on ceramic and rubber with a hand-guilloched dial.

Above Richard Mille RM 07-01 Endless Summer

Hublot Takashi Murakami MP-15 Tourbillon Sapphire

MP-15 is the first Hublot watch with a central flying tourbillon, and it is gloriously showcased in Takashi Murakami's flower-shaped watch crafted entirely in sapphire crystal. Endowed with an impressive 150-hour power reserve, it comes with a special stylus that can be placed on the crown to fully wind up the watch through a smooth process of 100 revolutions. Only 50 pieces will be produced.

Above Hublot Takashi Murakami MP-15 Tourbillon Sapphire

Fabergé Compliquée Peacock Emerald

Paying homage to the Fabergé Peacock Egg of 1908, the dial features a handcrafted peacock in gold with its colourful plumage decorated with diamonds and emeralds. Surrounding this beautiful motif is mother-of-pearl where you will find the minute and hour indications.

Above Fabergé Compliquée Peacock Emerald

Chopard Alpine Eagle “Pine Green”

The Swiss maison's Alpine Eagle in ethical 18k rose gold is perfectly matched with a pine green dial inspired by the lush Alpine landscape in the summer.

In case you missed it: Chopard expands the use of eco-friendly Lucent Steel

Above Chopard Alpine Eagle with pine green dial

IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton

Comprising a flying hacking minute tourbillon, a chronograph, and a retrograde date, the new Portugieser created in honour of Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton comes in a 43.5mm platinum case with a teal dial. Production is limited to 44 pieces.

Above IWC Schaffhausen Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph Lewis Hamilton

Les Rééditions de Cartier Tank Cintrée

Launched in 2021, the Les Rééditions line is Cartier's unique way of honouring its rich archive by recreating a historical timepiece as close to its original format as possible. This year's “re-edition” piece is the first known evolution of the Tank Cintrée that appeared in 1921. Presented in platinum with an eggshell dial, it comes with a ruby cabochon crown and is limited to 150 numbered pieces.

Above Les Rééditions de Cartier Tank Cintrée

CVDK Lady Orion Stardust

Powered by an automatic movement, the Lady Orion Stardust employs aventurine glass to recreate the astronomical vision of a star-filled sky. For added pizazz, the rose gold case comes with a bezel set with diamonds.

Above CVDK Lady Orion Stardust

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration

A world timer, the 42mm titanium case frames a glacial ice blue dial, mimicking the barren landscape of Antarctica. The caseback features a 3D rendition of the Aurora Australis. Limited to 1990 pieces, the watch will accompany athlete Simon Messner in the Antarctic Ice Marathon on December 13, 2023.

Above Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration

Above The caseback Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen South Pole Exploration

Longines Mini DolceVita

Crafted in stainless steel set with 38 IF-VVS Top Wesselton diamonds, the new Mini DolceVita is elegant in a rectangular case measuring a slender 21.50mm x 29.00mm. The silver sunray dial features a white matte hour track with Roman numerals and blued steel hands. A redesigned bracelet with 198 links completes the refined appearance.