6 high-end men’s watches that will be more than just a gift this holiday season

Give the gift of time to a loved one this year, with these historical, philanthropic, and groundbreaking new timepieces.

By Paige Reddinger 21/11/2018

A nice watch can last a lifetime—sometimes even two or three. It can mark a special milestone, become a family heirloom, or become symbolic of a treasured moment. Several of this year’s new releases were not only the kind of classic, clean watches meant to be an everyday style staple, but they also came packed with historical significance, accessible new price points, and philanthropic ties. Some are not only approachable, but collectible.

Whether you opt for an Omega or Breitling under $11,000 or splurge for a limited-edition Blancpain or Montblanc for up to $40,000, the gift of time is always meaningful and lasting. Below are a handful of highlights from 2018 to tick off your holiday gifting list.

Breitling SuperOcean Heritage II B01 Chronograph


The new SuperOcean Heritage II B01 Chronograph, with an in-house movement, Calibre 01

A gift for the environmentally-concerned, Breitling’s new 44 mm SuperOcean Heritage II B01 Chronograph(From $10,330) helps keep the world’s ocean and beaches clean. The watchmaker is donating part of the proceeds of the diver watch to Ocean Conservancy, an NGO dedicated to cleaning up beaches and creating a healthy ocean. Breitling has teamed up with Ocean Conservancy not only to donate proceeds from the watch, but also to play an active role in some of the NGO’s initiatives, such as beach cleanups and recycling collected trash (the organisation has picked up some 230 million pounds of trash to date).

The SuperOcean collection, based on a design originally released in 1957, was introduced last year, but this 2018’s introduction features the calibre B01 movement. That’s big news if your loved one geeks out on watch movements—the calibre was the result of a five-year-long R&D process and was considered a technical feat when it was introduced in 2009. While the B01 movement ups the price, the B01 was also designed to be easy to service, which is to say, this watch should be easy on the wallet in the long run. It’s a gift that keeps on, well, ticking.

Omega 1948 Seamaster Limited Edition


Omega 1948 Seamaster Limited-Edition

For fans of retro-style or WWII-era timepieces, the Omega 1948 Seamaster Limited Edition timepieces introduced this year are the perfect gift and they come with serious historical gravitas. This year marked the 70th anniversary of the Seamaster collection and these two watches—a small seconds version on a brown leather strap ($9000) and a central seconds model ($8275) on a sturgeon navy leather strap—pay tribute to the very first models. Both are limited to 1948 pieces and come in a soft brown collector’s box containing a spare NATO strap in Admiralty grey.

The original Seamaster was born as a commercial take on timepieces developed in partnership with the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) between 1940 and 1945 for use by the Royal Air Force and other branches. Omega introduced the Seamaster to civilians in 1948.

The new timepieces improve on the original with a larger size (enlarged from 34mm to 38mm), a water resistance of up to 200 feet, and a brand new calibre 8804 movement. And in a reference to its historical ties, the sapphire crystal caseback comes engraved with a hand-lacquered Chris-Craft boat—the watchmaker created boat motors and crafted 12,000 small boats for the U.S. military during WWII—and a Gloster Meteor aircraft, the first fighter jet used by the Royal Air Force.

If you’re feeling extra generous this season, you may also spring for the platinum version of the 1948 Seamaster, which was just released this month and retails for CHF 39,500 (around $54,000 at current exchange) for the small seconds model and CHF 39,000 (around $53,000 at current exchange) for the central seconds model.

Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Selfwinding Watch in Steel


Steel self-winding watch from the Fiftysix collection

A Vacheron Constantin priced under $20,000 is a very rare thing, indeed. This year the watchmaker aimed to approach a new customer with a very, at least for this watchmaker, approachable price point. Vacheron Constantin was able to offer a simple steel hours and minutes self-winding watch with a day date ($17,300) in its new FiftySix Collection—complete with all of its esteemed watchmaking expertise—at such an enticing price point, because the watch uses a supplied movement and does not include the Geneva Seal hallmark.

This is an incredible chance to own a Vacheron Constantin at a new price point, and it makes for a pretty impressive gift. But if you’re really looking to up the ante, and still get a great value, you may opt for the rose-gold FiftySix Tourbillon with peripheral rotor ($POA).

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscape

Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms dive watch is an under-the-radar favourite in watch collecting circles. This year’s Bathyscaphe Quantième Annuel introduction, while not exactly easy on the pocket at $38,000 in a steel bracelet and $32,750 on a canvas or NATO strap, comes with some particularly nice bells and whistles. The new 43mm satin-finished steel model houses a new movement, the automatic Calibre 6054.P, based on Blancpain’s in-house twin-barrel 1150. It also features an annual calendar function with the day of the week at 2 o’clock, the day date at 3 o’clock, and the month at 4 o’clock.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms (first used by French Marine Nationale divers on the Cote d’Azure), making it a particularly collectible year for the model. The latest introduction is a tribute to the watchmaker’s best-known model from the late ‘50s (the first commercial Blancpain Fifty Fathoms was launched in 1953). What better way to gift a loved one this holiday season than with a collectible tribute to the original modern dive watch?

Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph

There were some seriously good-looking watches introduced in Montblanc’s 1858 Collection this year, which paid tribute to 168 years of Minerva watches. (In 1997, Montblanc acquired Minerva, a company specialising in mechanical movements dating back to 1858, to broaden its business from writing instruments into timepieces.) The undeniable standout of the collection was the 40mm green Monopusher Chronograph with a forest green dial, cream hour markers, and hands.

The dial’s bi-compax design has a small seconds counter at nine o’clock, a chronograph 30-minute counter at three o’clock, and a tachymeter scale on the outer part of the dial. Its caliber 13.21 is a derivative of the historic Minerva caliber 13.20—a movement first developed in the early ‘20s that was one of the first commercial chronograph calibers available to the public in a wristwatch. The crowning touch on this handsome watch is its green crocodile strap made in Montblanc’s artisan workshop in Florence, Italy.

With just 100 pieces manufactured, the Monopusher Chronograph makes for a very special gift, at $42,990. But if you can’t get your hands on this one, the new line also features a very reasonable 42mm chronograph for $6130 in stainless steel and $7200 in bronze.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris World Timer


The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic WT (World Time), a world timer with a second time zone function, a date and a power reserve indicator.

Although Jaeger-LeCoultre is most recognised by its iconic flip-face Reverso models, the watchmaker has actually been producing sport models as far back as the ‘20s—including pocket watches for the military. They even made a Reverso sports watch, produced in 1931 for British military officers stationed in India, and dive watches were introduced in 1959, around the time the sport was becoming popular with the public. That introduction ultimately led to the creation of the Polaris dive watch in 1963. The Polaris has since become a staple sports watch collection for the brand.

While Jaeger-LeCoultre did introduce a much talked about new dive model to its Polaris collection this year, one of the other highlights was the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Geographic World Timer ($21,400). The 42mm stainless steel timepiece showcases a subtlety striking blue to black ombre dial highlighted by white luminescent numerals. The watch features a subdial for the day date, a subdial for the hour and minutes, a partial subdial for the power reserve, and 24-time zones for a dual-time zone display. Not only is this a true world time complication from Jaeger-LeCoultre with a lot of visual impact, but it also makes for an extra special gift as the piece is limited to just 250.

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Tom Brady Wears a Jacob & Co. Watch Decked in Yellow Sapphires to the Super Bowl

The $740,000 Caviar Tourbillon was an opulent choice for the former NFL star.

By 17/02/2025

Tom Brady was on the field tonight at the 59th annual Super Bowl game, and while the retired NFL hero—a seven-time Super Bowl winner (the most of any footballer in history)—wasn’t playing, he came dressed to impress with a $116,400 Jacob & Co. watch on his wrist.

Brady, who is a notable watch collector, recently sold off several of his timepieces at a Sotheby’s auction called “The GOAT Collection: Watches and Treasures from Tom Brady” this past December. Those timepieces ran the gamut from a Rolex Daytona Ref. 6241 to a unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with his name spelled out in diamonds across the salmon-colored tapisserie dial. His Rolex Daytona sold for over $1.5 million, and, in total, his auction raked in around $7 million. So, he’s well-equipped for a new watch purchase.

Whether or not he owns the six-figure sapphire stunner or it was a paid spot, the watch certainly stood out against his conservative but immaculately fit gray suit. “Tom Brady is the epitome of excellence, both on and off the field,” said Benjamin Arabov, CEO of Jacob & Co, in a press release sent out by the company shortly after Brady’s appearance. “We’re thrilled to see him wearing two of our most prestigious timepieces on the biggest stage in sports. The Billionaire Mini Ashoka and Caviar Tourbillon embody the precision, luxury, and innovation that define Jacob & Co. We’re honored to have him represent the artistry and craftsmanship behind every piece we create.”

Like much of Brady’s wrist candy, his 44 by 15.8 mm Caviar Tourbillon is not easy to come by. It is limited to just 18 pieces. It features hours, minutes, and a one-minute flying tourbillon in the JCAA43 movement with 216 components and 72 hours of power reserve. The movement itself is set with 338 brilliant-cut diamonds, while a total of 337 yellow sapphires adorn the case and dial. The clasp is decorated with another 18 baguette-cut yellow sapphires, and the crown comes with 14 baguette-cut yellow sapphires and one rose-cut yellow sapphire. As far as gem setting goes, this is one extraordinary piece, but it certainly seemed like a surprising choice for Brady, who was otherwise dressed like he just stepped out of a boardroom or a Ralph Lauren catalog.

Benjamin Arabov, son of Jacob & Co. founder Jacob Arabov, is now the CEO of the company. The 32-year-old recently took to Instagram to post that he was looking for a rebranding agency with experience in visual identity and packaging. As far as marketing goes, however, with Tom Brady, he’s golden.

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This Vintage Rolex Day-Date Has an Ultra-Rare and Coveted ‘Bark’ Design

The ultra-cool piece from Wind Vintage also comes in pristine condition with a desirable patina.

By Paige Reddinger 17/02/2025

Over the last four years there has been a resurgence in interest for 18-karat yellow gold watches. Much of that is due to fatigue over the long-running craze for steel tool watches, but it is also in part due to the rising value of gold (which shows no sign of slowing), rendering these once undesirable pieces increasingly worth collecting. Add to that the fact that, in some niche and stylish circles, unusual bracelet treatments, gem-setting, and interesting dials are becoming increasingly appealing and you have a new wave of watch collecting emerging. Steel sports watches are still the bread and butter for most dealers, but as pockets of interest in more unusual timekeepers, often from younger and fashion-forward collectors, continue to rise we’re seeing some really fun pieces pop up on the market. Case in point: This 1980s Rolex Day-Date in 18-karat yellow gold with a sapphire and diamond dial from Wind Vintage currently available exclusively on The Vault.

It wasn’t that long ago that dealers had a hard time unloading an all-gold gem-set piece. Eric Wind, the notable dealer and founder of Wind Vintage, says five years ago he would have sold this piece for around $23,000 to $28,000. The asking price today? $45,000. “It is very rare,” he tells Robb Report. “I think that was all clearly hand-done. Funnily enough, bark watches were not very desirable in the past. You know, even five to 10 years ago, they were very, very hard to sell. But, over the last three to five years, there’s been such an emergence and interest in jewellery and watches and work like that engraving and other kind of artistic forms that the watches took.” The style of engraving he is referring to on this watch can be seen on the bezel and middle links of the bracelet that is referred to as “bark” for its rough tree-like appearance.

“Bark” engraving on the bezel and bracelet of the Wind Vintage 1980s Rolex Day-Date
Courtesy of Wind Vintage

And while the bracelet is certainly a notable feature that will stand out in a sea of Submariners and Daytonas, the dial is also worth bragging about. Its diamond minutes track and sapphire hour markers are executed in what is known as a “string dial” because it looks like a string of pearls. “They’ve become very popular,” says Wind. “They were very expensive back in the 80s, just because of the cost of the stones, and there are just not many that exist on the planet.” Likewise, Wind says the canary yellow matte dial is not something he comes across often, having only seen a couple of others.

An up-close look at the patina and “bark” engraving on this 1980s Day-Date from Wind Vintage.
Courtesy of Wind Vintage

Part of what makes this watch so hard to find on the market is that pieces like this often didn’t survive past their ’80s heyday. “A lot of times these watches were so undesirable that dealers would replace the bezel inserts and put on fluted inserts, or smooth bezels or fluted bezels and melt down the bracelets or polish the center link so they looked like a standard Day-Date. Those dealers should have learned that what goes around, always comes around. Now with these interesting Rolex watches on the rise, they’ll become even harder to find.

A Wind Vintage 1980s Day-Date with “bark” engraving and a gem-set “string dial”
Courtesy of Wind Vintage

If you’re interested in the piece and want to speak to Wind about it IRL, he will be at Robb Report’s House of Robb event in San Francsico today during the NBA All-Star weekend.

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Soccer Star Kylian Mbappé Is Now an Investor in Watch Marketplace Wristcheck

Just like Jay-Z.
Published on February 7, 2025

By Abby Montanez 11/02/2025

Kylian Mbappé just went from brand ambassador to investor.

The celebrated French footballer, who currently plays for Real Madrid, has taken a stake in luxury watch trading platform Wristcheck, Hypebeast reported lat week.

Off the filed, the 26-year-old soccer star is a known timepiece collector and has served as an ambassador for Swiss marque Hublot since 2018. With this new partnership, the forward joins a growing group of influential backers, including Jay-Z. The rapper and business mogul took an equity stake in the Hong Kong-based company last summer as part of a recent funding round of $7.9 million.

“I’m thrilled to join Wristcheck as an investor through Coalition Capital,” Mbappé said in a press statement. “As a Hublot ambassador and someone passionate about watches and innovation, I see Wristcheck as a platform that truly understands the next generation of collectors. They’re reshaping the watch industry with a forward-thinking approach that blends technology, transparency, and creativity.” Mbappé did not immediately respond to Robb Report‘s request for comment on his new business endeavor.

Kylian Mbappé is an investor in online watch shop Wristcheck.
Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Launched in 2020 by renowned horophile and Instagram personality Austen Chu, Wristcheck offers a platform for collectors to buy and sell pre-owned watches that have been authenticated by Swiss-trained watchmakers. Since it was founded, the company has raised more than $21.6 million in funding from investors including the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners GBA, and K3 Ventures.

Mbappé, meanwhile, has achieved remarkable success in his soccer career. He won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, becoming the youngest player to score in a final since Pelé. At PSG, he has secured multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic cups. Individually, Mbappé has earned the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award and regularly features in top European scoring charts. And in 2020, he was ranked the world’s highest-paid player, surpassing rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

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Sotheby’s Will Put on the Largest Auction of Breguet Watches in Decades This Fall

To celebrate the revered watchmaking house’s 250th anniversary, the sale includes rare collectibles belonging to living Breguet family members.

By Paige Reddinger 11/02/2025

Interest in Breguet has experienced a quiet resurgence among savvy collectors who appreciate the brand’s deep-rooted watchmaking heritage. This growing enthusiasm will soon take center stage with an upcoming auction that shines a significant spotlight on the storied Maison.

Founded in Paris 250 years ago, Abraham-Louis Breguet was one of the most influential watchmakers in history, best known for inventing the tourbillon and the automatic winding system—along with many other groundbreaking innovations. His legacy continues to inspire modern masters such as F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour. You can see Breguet’s influence pointedly in pieces like F.P. Journe’s famous Chronomètre à Résonance timepiece, voted one of Robb Report‘s 50 Greatest Watches of All Time.

Now, Sotheby’s has announced “the largest sale of Breguet timepieces in three decades.” Though the auction won’t take place until November, the auction house is already working to build anticipation. In the meantime, it might be wise to brush up on the most coveted Breguet references.

Breguet 1827 Perpétuelle à Tact watch made for King George IV Breguet

What may pique collectors’ interest is the sale is being curated in conjunction with Breguet and Emmanuel Breguet, the vice president and head of patrimony, who happens to be a descendant of the original Monsieur Breguet. So far, the only timekeeper publicly associated (at least visually) with the auction is the 1827 Perpétuelle à Tact watch made for King George IV. Still, it hints at the historic level of pocket watches, wristwatches, and clocks that will be on offer. Abraham-Louis Breguet was a frequent supplier of high-end and state-of-the-art timepieces for royalty, including Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte, and King George III.

Other highlights include an open-faced montre à tact (a watch that replicates the internal hour hand on the cover of the pocket watch via an arrow so that time could be read via touch) with a calendar and moonphase indications that was the inspiration for the Ref. 3330. A pendulette with alarm, perpetual calendar and repeater, and a two-color gold open-faced tourbillon watch is said to be a part of the sale, although no images were provided as of press time. More info on what will be in the sale will come this spring.

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Capella Brands Their Own Caviar to Mark Chinese New Year

Capella Sydney continues its commitment to exceptional luxury experiences, with a high tea and caviar upgrade all part of its 2025 Lunar New Year celebrations to usher in the Year of the Snake.

By Belinda Aucott-christie 07/02/2025

These days caviar bumps are on the menu at all the best seaside restaurants, and now guests checking into a suite at Capella Sydney will be saved the trip to the beach with a tin of caviar conveniently stationed in their mini bar.

Downstairs at the chic lobby café Aperture, caviar is also part of their elegantly indulgent high tea. Expertly crafted by Head Pastry Chef Arthur Carré. This bespoke menu features a delectable selection of delicacies, including Capella Kaluga Caviar, sesame prawn toast, Peking duck pancake roll cornetto, fried pork dumplings, and pandan and mandarin lamingtons. The experience is complemented by the delicate notes of white rabbit jasmine tea from Zensation Tea House, with an optional upgrade to a glass of Louis Roederer Champagne for a truly indulgent experience.

It’s all part of a chic lunar collaboration with Kaluga Caviar (from central China) which supplies 21 of the 26 three Michelin starred restaurants in Paris. Kaluga caviar offers a balance of luxury, flavour, and sustainability. Its rich, creamy texture and large pearls make it a close alternative to Beluga caviar with a lovely walnut aftertaste.

Even if you are a guest just for the day at Capella Sydney you can indulge your palate with a high tea that pairs Oscietra black caviar, from Russian Sturgeon stock, with champagne and traditional accompaniments.

Ask for the Capella Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea when you make you reservation, and take your place at the table. Each set comes with a 10g tin of Capella Sydney x Kaluga Queen Caviar.

Capella Sydney

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