Timewise - is the watch the men's engagement ring?

It's an infinity with time and a treasured piece that can be passed for generations with care. A father passes to his son, who wears it now, older than his years and whether it has a monetary value or not the value it holds in his heart and the timely reminder on his wrist is something money can never buy. 

Photo Chris on his wedding day featured in Issue 8 by Ben Yew Photography

Cartier’s classic Tank which recently celebrated 100 years

How to choose?

So just like when choosing the ring when it come to choosing a watch, it’s always best to select one that appeals to your personal taste and sense of style rather than purely as an investment. That is not to say luxury watch brands can hold their value. So much like a leather jacket or pair of black pumps, 'perfect' is subjective to its bearer and no two designer watches will be the same. It's about finding the one that speaks to you the loudest.

A good guide to follow like with most treasured purchases: invest as much as you can comfortably afford.

These watches were made for wearing!

Automatic or self-winding; their mechanism is still ‘powered’ by your body's natural movements. So the bottom line? It won’t wind if it’s just sitting in your jewellery box.

What's the difference between a men's watch and a women's watch?

It's a legitimate question. But in summary the difference is largely stylistic – women's watches tend to feature thinner straps and a smaller dial, often with slightly less intricate detail but more embellishment by way of diamonds and gemstones. In fact, many luxury watch brands offer their iconic styles for both men and women; Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 'Reverso', for instance, Cartier's iconic 'Tank', and the 'Pilot’s Automatic' by IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN.

How do you get your watch serviced?

There's no doubt about it: figuring out which watch you want to buy is complicated enough, let alone learning the ins and outs of caring for your investment. The good news is that many fine jewellery and watch brands offer a range of enhanced, aftercare services – whether it's a personal message you want engraved, a watch you need resized, or a battery that needs changing: simply tell us what service you're after and we can let you know which specialist to call.

gifts of time

On the morning of their wedding Lavanya suprised Mukesh with his dream watch. “Mukesh has dreamt of an IWC watch since we started dating 13 years ago,” explained Lavanya. A timepiece that will be forever a mark of their wedding day.

photos Lara Hotz Photography