If you’re planning to buy your beloved a designer timepiece this year but aren’t sure where to start, our advice would be to go for an indisputable classic. And you can’t go wrong with an Omega Seamaster; one of the luxury brand’s most iconic and popular collections. The Planet Ocean model pays homage to Omega’s dive-watch heritage, and the handsome combination of an orange bezel, black dial and polished-brushed stainless-steel bracelet make for an instant classic.

£8,000; omegawatches.com

Looking to seriously impress the watch aficionado in your life this Christmas? Vacheron Constantin’s limited-edition new release (just 370 pieces have been made) commemorates the maison’s 270th anniversary and will effortlessly convey exceptional taste to those in the know. The new timepiece is from the Traditionnelle line, and employs the traditional Vacheron Constantin aesthetic, history and exquisite attention to detail, including a hand-guilloché Maltese cross pattern on the dial; a symbol of the company since 1880.

POA; vacheron-constantin

To commemorate its 45th anniversary, Andersen Genève – known as the king of worldtimers – has released, you guessed it, a worldtimer. The first thing you’ll notice about this striking timepiece is the central dial map, which depicts different world regions in three 15-piece editions. The dial is made from 21k BlueGold, a cognac-hued metal made by combining gold with iron elements in a design that pays homage to the brand’s very first worldtimer, the Communication, introduced in 1990 by founder Svend Andersen, who is still heavily involved in the business, aged 83. A must for the travel lover with a penchant for the finer things.

POA; andersen-geneve.ch

The eye-catching combination of black and polar white makes for a timepiece that would look at home on the wrist of a graphic designer or architect. But the Supermarine 500m from Bremont is the latest evolution of the brand’s high-performance dive watches, meaning it’s designed for optimum performance in extreme conditions. Perhaps you know someone who fits both categories? Either way, it certainly makes for a memorable gift, with the added bonus of being entirely made in the UK.

£4,100; bremont.com

Tudor is typically known for its traditional tool watches, so collectors were amazed (and delighted) when the brand surprise-dropped its first-ever moonphase watch a couple of months ago. Created in collaboration with musician and brand ambassador Jay Chou, the new 1926 Lunar allows you to track the moon phases as well as the time, thanks to a gold moon indicator on the dial. Buy it for the friend fascinated by the cosmos – or someone who simply enjoys a touch of whimsy.

£2,210; tudorwatch.com

You can’t really go wrong with an Art Deco-inspired watch. But you can go really right by gifting Tissot’s SRV 30MM. SRV stands for Sapphire Rectangle V, a nod to the rectangular sapphire crystal with gem-like faceted edges. It sits over a mother-of-pearl dial, each of which is totally unique. It’s finished with a leather strap that, the brand says, will mould to your wrist over time, resulting in a watch that both looks and feels good – for life.

£385; tissot.com

This showstopper of a watch is perfect for the aesthete with a penchant for luxe materials. Patek’s first perpetual calendar in the Twenty~4 collection, the timepiece is powered by an ultra-thin self-winding 240 Q calibre, making the rose-gold bracelet eminently slender with a satin-brushed dial that appears spun from the finest silk. A watch for the ages.

£102,940; patek.com

Aera’s M-1 Dune field watch may draw inspiration from an SAS desert camouflage scheme, but its Sellita elabora grade movement and 904L stainless-steel case elevates it as a stand-out gift for the discerning collector. A limited run of only 300, its dusty pink dial subtly shifts with natural light, while Super-LumiNova® hands and numerals ensure effortless readability after dark.

£1,600; aera.co

For the traditionalist, the 1815 features many an element that can be traced back to the watchmaker’s founder. A classic timepiece with a 72-hour power reserve and a blue dial crafted of 925 silver, its 18k pink-gold case houses a L152.1 movement for precise timekeeping.

POA; alange-soehne.com

Modern watches come in a veritable rainbow of colours. If your loved one is a fan of non-traditional hues, look no further than Breitling’s elegant “sand”-coloured Avenger B01 Chronograph. With its contemporary aviation design and 300m water resistance, it’s made of strong and highly technical stuff – but you don’t need a pilot’s licence to appreciate it.

£5,550; breitling.com

Car and watch fans tend to run in similar circles. So you’ll kill two birds with one stone this Christmas with TAG Heuer’s graphic Solargraph timepiece. As the official timekeeper of Formula 1, it’s no surprise that the watch is packed with hi-tech features, including a black opalin dial (that really pops contrasted with pink accents) and Super-LumiNova® markers so it can be read day and night. It’s powered by a unique solar-powered TH50-00 calibre that requires just one minute of light exposure to run for a full day.

£1,650; tagheuer.com

If you’re shopping for a design devotee, Split’s MC-5 is an easy win. Its warm brown palette and clean, minimalist lines make it instantly wearable, but the real magic appears with a turn of the wrist – the automatic chronograph movement revealed through the exhibition caseback. There’s thoughtful sentiment, too: the strap can be personalised by hand with a message of your choosing.

£1,800; splitwatches.com

A watch without hands or a dial? It’s certainly an unusual gift, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s the masters of chic at Louis Vuitton. The brand’s homage to old montres à guichet is a mirror-polished, pink-gold piece with two sculpted openings that partially reveal the hour and minute discs. Turn it over and the back is open, so you can see the brand’s new in-house automatic movement ticking away – a clear signal that this is more than a fashion piece.

£32,000; louisvuitton.com

Baltic’s new Prismic is a delight. Drawing inspiration from early 20th-century cocktail watches, it pairs a beautifully compact 36mm case with a soft blue-grey palette, while the brand’s first braided stainless-steel bracelet curves effortlessly to the wrist for understated everyday elegance.

£1,071; shop.timeandtidewatches.com

Vanguart’s new Orb is the perfect gift for the collector who appreciates technical ingenuity. The open-worked movement is a crowd pleaser but the standout feature is a 2mm diamond-set orbital mass that moves along a sloped PVD-coated titanium track – a lovely touch for the holiday season.

POA; vanguart.com

When you’re stuck on what to gift, shoot for the moon. Elegant and ethereal, this Breguet watch is characterised by its dreamy moonphase display and ovoid silhouette. With an automatic calibre 537L2, this chic timepiece features an 18k Breguet gold case, mother-of-pearl dial and a classic alligator strap that secures its celestial appeal.

£49,700; breguet.com

Celestial-inspired timepieces are nothing new, but how about a watch made in collaboration with members of the actual United States Space Force? If your significant other is a military buff, they’ll love this robust 42mm stainless-steel number from Norwegian watchmaker Micromilspec. Founded in 2019, Micromilspec is an innovator of custom, Swiss-made timepieces with military prestige, often designed for special forces and elite units. Space Force is limited to just 25 pieces. At under £1,500, it is one of the more affordable timepieces of its kind on the market and destined to be a future classic.

£1,455; micromilspec.com