The Best Gift Ideas For Watch Enthusiasts — 2024 Edition

The holiday season is upon us, dear Fratelli, and what better time to spoil the watch enthusiast in your life? It has become a long-running tradition for the team to come together and bring you some of our favorite gift ideas for watch enthusiasts every holiday season, and 2024 is no different. Whether they’re seasoned collectors or budding watch aficionados, there’s likely a gift in our guide that they’d be thrilled to receive.

Fratello Holiday Gift Guide 2024 — The best gift ideas for watch enthusiasts

While watches often top the wish lists, a range of watch-adjacent accessories and other interesting gifts can elevate the horological experience. We’ve curated a selection of thoughtful gifts inspired by the Fratello team’s preferences. This guide truly has something for everyone. Whether it’s a luxurious watch strap, a stylish accessory, a perfect leather pouch, or a captivating book, these gifts are sure to impress and inspire. So, as the holidays draw near, allow yourself to be inspired by our suggestions and spoil yourself or your watch-enthusiast loved one with an unforgettable present.

Nacho’s picks: A cross-body bag from Bellroy, an Atelier Romane watch roll, The Watch Annual, Arroway Modular Bracelets’ best-in-class aftermarket mesh bracelet, and a Pelagos FXD-friendly strap

It’s my turn to share some gift ideas, and this year, I’ve got a long list for you all. As always, I’ve tried to keep them varied in price and style. But what ties all of these together is the fact that I have sought them out, tried, and tested them myself. That’s why recommending them comes easy.

Image: Bellroy

My first pick is the Bellroy Venture Sling 6L. During the colder months, jackets provide a handy way to carry everything you need. In the hotter months, though, this sometimes becomes a challenge. This versatile cross-body bag has proven to be a perfect solution. Its main compartment fits my camera, smartphone, wallet, and sunglasses comfortably, with my keys and other smaller accessories fitting well in the side compartment. So far, it has come with me to Spain, Japan, and Greece, but it has seen plenty of use on my home turf too.

The bag is nicely unobtrusive and has a unique design that allows it to compress to a slimmer size when less full and expand to fit more items. Bellroy is a brand that thinks of all the ways someone will interact with its products and carefully adapts its bags to be as user-friendly as possible. And this small but mighty bag is ideal for keeping everything safely in one place and your pockets empty. The Venture Sling 6L is available via the Bellroy website for €139.

Atelier Romane × Fratello two-watch roll

Speaking of handy ways of transporting your precious possessions, let’s talk watch rolls. These days, there are many options out there. One of my recent favorites, though, is the two-watch roll from Atelier Romane, available in the Fratello Shop for €129. Why has it become my go-to? Well, not only does it look great (especially in green), but it also strikes a perfect balance with its form. I find that some rolls can err on the side of being rather bulky.

This can be particularly annoying if you’re just looking to take one watch with you. Thanks to the lovely, supple leather and lack of bulky hardware, the roll folds nice and flat, even when full. The Atelier Romane roll fits two watches and has extra room for a spring-bar tool. Realistically, I’ll only take two extra watches on any trip, and this roll is the ideal solution for me!

The Watch Annual and Arroway Modular Bracelets’ AMB-001 Milanese mesh

My third pick is one I’ve mentioned before. It’s a little more affordable than my other picks but equally relevant to all watch enthusiasts. I’m talking about The Watch Annual. A self-described “book for watch lovers, by watch lovers,” it’s a compilation of some of the year’s most exciting releases. It also includes a number of interesting CEO letters. As in previous years, £2 of every book sold is given to charity. The 2024 edition is out now and can be had for €30.95 plus shipping.

My fourth gift recommendation is the strong debut product from Arroway Modular Bracelets. The AMB-001 Milanese mesh bracelet is a USA-designed, German-made steel mesh bracelet with a 20/16mm width and a solid milled clasp with plenty of micro-adjustment settings. The folks behind the company have clearly put a lot of time and thought into its design. Since I’d never been able to find a mesh bracelet that ticked all the boxes (good taper, matte brushed, solid clasp, no removable links, solid end-link tubes), the sudden appearance of this bracelet seemed too good to be true.

But after testing mine for several weeks on my watches, I can confidently say that it’s everything you could want from a non-OEM option for high-end watches. It’s currently available in 19mm and 20mm widths (with 21mm and 22mm coming soon) and in three different lengths. The bracelet is available for pre-order now at €460.95. Yes, it’s the priciest of my picks but well worth it for those looking for a brilliant aftermarket mesh bracelet for their favorite watch.

A must-have for (but not limited to) Tudor FXD Owners: the Glomar Explorer strap

My final pick is the Glomar Explorer strap from Watches of Espionage. Its name comes from a deep-sea drillship platform built for the CIA’s Special Activities Division’s covert 1974 effort to recover the sunken Soviet submarine K-129. There’s not much to say here other than that it’s the best non-OEM alternative hook-and-loop strap for the Pelagos FXD. That said, it’s not just for that watch. The Glomar Explorer strap comes in 20mm and 22mm widths and will work with most watches with properly spaced lugs. The strap is made of hard-wearing woven nylon and comes in three great colors (black, gray, and khaki green). It’ll set you back €45.95 plus shipping, but it’s money well spent on a great strap.

Thomas’s picks: A Fontenille-Pataud knife, a Stetson newsboy cap, and a Uniqlo bodywarmer

I am taking some liberties here. My gift ideas aren’t watch-centric. Instead, I imagine someone who loves watches might also enjoy these other objects for similar reasons. My first pick, for instance, is a pocket knife from Fontenille-Pataud. I included one last year too, but you can consider this a good alternative. I own the Corsican L’Antò knife, but I find it on the large side for daily carrying. So my pick today is the more subtle Pradel. It looks less stabby than the L’Antò too, which is nice for an everyday carry knife. These knives are beautifully crafted by hand. They are pricey, and the ironwood version pictured is €238, but they feel like true heirloom products. If you are vain like me, get your initials engraved. The way FP manually chisels your initials in the spring is absolutely awesome.

Next, any watch lover needs to keep his/her noggin warm during the cold winter months. Why not with a Stetson? The brand may not be best known for its newsboy caps, but I love them. Mine is a Hatteras Hoback Virgin Wool. The cap is beautifully soft and very warm, and it has that old-school, oversized, balloon-like shape. Stick a razorblade between the crown and the visor, and your €139 turns you into an instant Peaky Blinder. Just don’t go out blinding people. That’s not very Christmas-spirity, now is it?

You have to wear it with an uninterested, distant gaze

My last pick is a Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Bodywarmer. Uniqlo is great at some things and not so good at others. This is where the brand shines, in my book. A simple lightweight down bodywarmer is such a useful piece of apparel for any style. Even if bodywarmers aren’t your thing, having this one in its tiny storage pouch in your bag is a great backup. At €49, it doesn’t break the bank either.

Lex’s pick: The Millennium Watch Book 2024 — This volume focuses on travel watches

It’s time to slow down and leave the relentless pace of the digital world behind with a book — that’s a gift tip for you and any dear fellow watch fan you care about. May I suggest The Millennium Watch Book 2024? After all, having a break from the internet doesn’t mean you also need to take a break from watches. Go on and travel the world in the right time zone from the comforts of your lazy chair while Mariah Carey sings about whatever she sings about. The 2024 edition of The Millennium Watch Book (CHF 190) offers you 50 essential travel watches described by 12 experts and on 200 pages with 1,000 pictures to enjoy.

The latest edition is dedicated to travel watches that display multiple time zones. On the cover, shining bright like the North Star, is the Holy Grail of travel watches, the Patek Philippe Universal Time 5330. The 49 other watches in the book are worth your while too. Travel watches are a little less popular than chronographs, but they arguably see more live and functional action. In the 15 chapters of the book, you’ll get an insight into the two categories of travel watches (GMT watches and worldtimers), why they look the way they look, creative reinterpretations, why Patek Philippe is synonymous with travel watches, which references are auction stars, why a time zone for the Moon might be necessary, etc.

If you think just one book about GMT watches and worldtimers doesn’t cut it, you can also order one about chronographs (2023), dive watches (2022), tourbillons (2021), and Haute Horlogerie (2020) at the-watch-book.com to complete the ongoing collection. It’s also good to know that the entire collection is available in both French and English.

RJ’s picks: Another fountain pen, Bergeon Spring Bar Pliers, the Leica Q3, and some Dutch chocolate from Johnny Doodle

Every year, I pick a fountain pen that I like. This Nakaya Dorsal Fin ver. 2 Aka-Temenuri fountain pen is made of ebonite and features lovely Wajima urushi (lacquer). It has been on my wishlist for quite a while, but I feel I need to convince myself to buy it sooner than later. The shape of the pen is stunning and should remind you of a sword. The pen shouldn’t be capped, but it’s slightly long anyway. It comes with a 14K gold nib, and most of these are made to order (with a 3–6-month wait), so it’s not easy to find them in stock. If you’re unfamiliar with Japanese fountain pens, the nibs are a bit different from the European ones, so it’s wise to choose a Medium if your Montblancs nibs are Fine, for example. The price for this pen is €1,735 (excluding VAT), and it’s available here.

Bergeon Spring Bar Plier tool

I don’t change my straps as maniacally as some of my colleagues do, but once in a while, I like to swap a bracelet for a strap or vice versa. Removing a bracelet without scratching the lugs is what you want, so make sure to use proper tools. Bergeon is the Swiss producer of one of the best tools, and with this Spring Bar Plier tool, it’s a piece of cake to remove the bracelet from the watch head. And it’s black and signed by Fratello. You’ll be the star at the watch GTG. It’s not cheap, but it’s “buy once, cry once.” You can cry here.

Leica Q3

The most expensive gift on this list costs just as much as a decent watch, but I assume you already have one. It’s the Leica Q3 (28mm) camera. My former colleague Morgan made me move to the dark side (after trying his Q2) and shell out a lot of money on a German camera. The Leica Q3 (28mm, though a 43mm version also appeared on the market) has been a trustworthy companion on my trips to watch brands, but it also enables me to take wrist shots from up close in its macro mode when I am home or in the office. The 28mm lens is simply stunning and works like a charm for street photography. As a photography novice, the Leica does not need me to do any post-processing, unlike the Nikon and Sony gear I used in the past.

The Leica Q3 has a retail price of €6,250, and you can spend a crazy amount on extra batteries and accessories. However, this camera made me want to take it everywhere (unlike previous cameras I owned) and brought back the fun of shooting pictures. I am pretty sure a Sony A7 or Fuji X-series camera could ultimately give me the same results, but it’s not the same experience.

Johnny Doodle

Last year, one of our readers sent us a box of chocolate from Johnny Doodle. I later had the opportunity to visit the Johnny Doodle factory with my daughter, which was a great experience. The folks there are passionate about chocolate, and even more importantly, their chocolate is insanely good. I prefer it over that other Dutch chocolate brand, Tony Chocolonely. Johnny Doodle is available at various supermarkets in the Netherlands, but the good news is that the company will “send your order to any address, excluding PO boxes.” The Fratello favorite is the “Milk salted Peanut & Caramel,” just so you know. Johnny Doodle’s assortment is amazing. Check it out here.

More important than any gift, though, is being kind to others, being thankful when you are healthy, and trying to support those who are not. I donate some money to the KWF Dutch Cancer Society every month, but you can also make a one-time donation here.

Gerard’s secret tip for fountain-pen-writing watch lovers: the Waterman Carène

Like many of Fratello’s writers, I’m an avid user (and, unfortunately, collector) of fountain pens. RJ, Nacho, Jorg, and Daan are all club members, and most have different favorites. There’s a difference between admiring a fountain pen for its appearance and for its writing characteristics. Part of my collection is determined by design, while the writing characteristics of a fountain pen determine the other part. My tip concerns the latter criteria.

Fountain pens’ writing characteristics are determined by various factors, including their design and materials. Furthermore, external elements, such as the type of ink and paper, influence writing comfort. I assume you’d use the right ink and paper and focus on the fountain pen’s characteristics. First, the pen’s size, weight, and balance affect comfort and control. A heavier pen may feel more stable but can cause fatigue during extended writing. Then, there’s the feed. The feed is responsible for delivering ink from the reservoir to the nib. A well-designed feed ensures consistent ink flow, preventing skipping or blotting.

In the end, though, the nib determines the interaction between you, your fountain pen, and the paper you’re writing on. Nibs are often made from stainless steel, gold, or titanium. Gold nibs tend to be softer and more flexible, while steel nibs are firmer and more affordable. A softer and more flexible nib offers more comfort when writing, so a gold nib is generally preferable. We distinguish 14K and 18K nibs within the league of gold nibs, with 18K being the softest and most flexible. Unfortunately, though, these nibs are also the most expensive.

Waterman Carène to the rescue! If you want to surprise one of your loved ones with a fountain pen with an 18K nib for Christmas but don’t want to break the bank, look no further. The Waterman Carène is a classic but somewhat peculiar fountain pen. It is an average pen in size and weight, but its iconic silhouette, inspired by the design of luxury boats, is charismatic. The Carène comes in various colors and executions, but they all have a beautiful and soft 18K gold nib. The official list price of a standard Carène version starts at just less than €300, but my secret tip is to check out Amazon as you can regularly find extremely good deals.

Jorg’s picks: A series of Honbonichi Techo planners, a Uniqlo × White Mountaineering jacket, and a mechanical keyboard from Lofree

Let me start with a suggestion I also put on my list last year. Like every year, I can’t wait to see what the planners from different brands look like. After a year of trying out many planners from different brands, I used two Hobonichi planners in 2024.  The Japanese brand excels at creating the best overengineered planners, and they are nothing short of amazing in terms of design details. Additionally, the Hobonichi Techo planners use Tomoe River paper, which is perfect for different kinds of pens, specifically fountain pens.

For 2025, Hobonichi worked with Kyoto-based publisher Unsodo on a series of special covers for planners of different sizes and formats. They found inspiration in a special design catalog created 100 years ago called Bijutsukai. The catalog was created during the Meiji era when Japanese crafts became increasingly valued after the arrival of Western culture in Japan. Good examples are the Nishijin-ori textiles used for kimonos and ceramics, such as Kiyomizu ware.

Japanese painter Sekka Kamisaka took the lead in creating new designs and put them in a book to send out to kimono shops and pottery artisans to serve as a design reference. That’s how the phenomenon of Bijutsukai started. Because the artisans needed many new designs, it became a monthly publication. Hobonichi and Unsodo picked some of the best prints to be featured as the cover for the planners. They make for perfect creative gifts that go well with the fountain pens that Robert-Jan and Gerard suggested.

Uniqlo × White Mountaineering hybrid down jacket

Another recurring entry on this list is a collaborative effort by Uniqlo and fellow Japanese brand White Mountaineering. Their ongoing partnership has resulted in a series of lightweight down jackets and super warm fleece jackets. I own a down jacket and a fleece jacket from previous seasons, and I have fallen in love with both. White Mountaineering is a high-end brand, and the designs created for Uniqlo have the brand’s signature style, which is uncomplicated but full of clever and brilliant details. It sets them apart from the regular Uniqlo lineup, which is already great value for money.

This latest hybrid down jacket is available in three colors. A nice burgundy version accompanies the standard black and olive-green ones. A standout detail of the White Mountaineering jackets from the different seasons is the stitched pattern, which is slightly different every time. Additionally, they all have chest pockets that, as I can say from experience, are brilliant in daily use. These lightweight jackets are also warm, making for the perfect everyday jacket when it’s not too wintery and cold. Get one for yourself or someone you love for a fair €89.90, and it will be a guaranteed hit!

Lofree Flow Lite mechanical keyboard

One of my latest purchases is a mechanical keyboard from Taiwanese brand Lofree. I still have to receive it, but I can’t wait to use it. Lofree started an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign for the Flow Lite that brought in well over €1 million from almost 10,000 backers. I took part in the pre-sale, which offered me the latest addition to the brand’s lineup of keyboards at a good price. It will be my first time trying a mechanical keyboard, and it can’t arrive quickly enough!

I have been using the same Apple MacBook Pro since 2019, and it still works well enough. However, a widely known nuisance regarding this generation of MacBook Pro is that the paint on several keys wears off. On top of that, some of the keys have become a little wonky over time, so it’s time for a new Macbook. But when working at home, a screen and a keyboard make for a great additional home-office kit. The new Lofree Flow Lite is an affordable-for-all keyboard that features smooth POM switches for easier typing.

It is available in both the standard 84-key version and the 100-key version with an added numeric keyboard. You can also choose from three colors and buy additional key sets with different colors and characteristics. While the Kickstarter campaign has ended, you can still get yours at Indiegogo at the regular price of US$89 for the Flow Lite84 or US$99 for the Flow Lite100. Either will make for a great home-office gift.

Image: RunRepeat

Daan’s picks: On running shoes, Chibuntu bracelets, the Insta360 Flow Pro stabilizer, and the Bellroy Venture Sling 10L (Camera Edition)

In 2022, I decided to improve my overall fitness. I was already doing some indoor rowing classes, but I also added some running into my routine. I didn’t have a lot of experience with running and looked for a comfortable pair of shoes to start with. After having watched many YouTube reviews, I tried on some pairs at a local shop and decided to go for the On Cloudsurfer. Now, about 1.5 years later, I’m still very happy I went with these because they’re so comfortable. I also added a pair of the Adidas Boston 12 for quicker sessions, but they’re a lot less comfortable to run in. On is known for being quite an expensive brand, and the Cloudsurfer shoes sell for €170. But the great thing is that new models come out once in a while, and the older ones go on sale quite quickly.

Chibuntu bracelets

I don’t wear any other bracelets right next to my watch, but my other arm did feel a little naked sometimes. That’s why I tried out several different bracelets on my non-watch wrist. There are so many options out there, but in the end, I went for the minimalistic bracelets from a company called Chibuntu. Its bracelets aren’t as big and bulky as some of the other ones out there. I especially like the Gemstone bracelets, which cost €35. The gemstones have (only) a 4mm diameter, which looks great and wears very comfortably. But there are also many other braided bracelets available, including some that come with small silver or gold-plated details. I also love the packs Chibuntu sells. These allow you to get several options at once, including some that you might not have considered wearing before.

Insta360 Flow Pro — AI tracking stabilizer for iPhone

Just before this year’s summer holiday, I bought a gimble for my iPhone. I decided to go with the Flow Pro from Insta360 as it looked superior to all the other ones on the market, and its €159 price seemed quite fair. I’ll admit, I haven’t used it that much apart from during those summer months with the family, but it works great. It has too many features to name them all here. But the setup, in particular, is a breeze. You just tap your iPhone on the device, and it’s paired. It also comes with a built-in selfie stick, a tripod, and a battery pack, and it can track you (and any other person or object, for that matter). It’s also great that you don’t necessarily have to use Insta360’s app. You can also use its features in many other iPhone apps, like the native camera app.

Bonus: Bellroy Venture Sling 10L (Camera Edition)

Nacho started this gift guide with his 6L Bellroy Venture Sling. I also have one of Bellroy’s sling bags, but I went with the 10L Camera Edition. It has extra padding and comes with two very flexible dividers. It’s a great bag for my Fujifilm X-T5 camera and a few lenses while I’m on a press trip or vacation. Its €195 price is quite hefty, but mine gets a lot of use, and I’m very happy with how convenient it is.

Mike’s picks: A go-to jacket, the comfiest kicks, the best polish in the business, and my favorite new tool

This year, I’m choosing practical gifts for our guide. Folks, I own a lot of jackets, but 99% of the time, I choose my black Barbour Chelsea Sportsquilt. I’ve owned it for the better part of a decade, and it has been everywhere with me. The jacket works with every type of clothing, handles rain, and keeps me warm in all but the coldest weather. However, it’s not so heavy or large that it’s difficult to carry or pack. The two large snap pockets are perfect for my hands or a couple of watch pouches. A single zippered pocket keeps valuables secure. I know that hipster nation favors a waxed cotton jacket, but the Sportsquilt requires no maintenance and doesn’t feel funky or clammy. Best of all, it’s just £149.

New Balance Made in USA 990

Weirdly, I bought my New Balance Made in USA 990’s last year for Christmas. Twelve months later, the same pair is still going strong, which says something about their quality considering the wear and tear that a city like London inflicts on a pair of shoes. New Balance makes loads of models, so others may be more tempting. Still, these funky green, yellow, and white retro running shoes are the best when I’m going to be on my feet for hours on end. Plus, the suede is not hard to maintain with a bit of aerosol waterproofing spray. At £190, these shoes aren’t cheap, but I have a friend who wears New Balance at a tough, labor-filled job, and he swears that the “Made In” collection holds up better than the less expensive models.

Image: Amazon.co.uk

Iosso polishing cream

I’m a die-hard vintage watch collector. Often, when watches arrive, they come with badly scratched crystals. I’ve tried many different polishes made specifically for watch crystals. I’ve also used toothpaste. All of these solutions work, but they take an insane amount of time, some are expensive, and the results are often mediocre. One day, when I posed a question in a small private chat group about how to revive a badly scratched crystal, someone enlightened me about Iosso. This multisurface polish comes from Italy but has an American flag on the tube. Curious! Apparently, it’s great on a boat’s fiberglass clearcoat. On an acrylic crystal with a cotton ball, it’s insanely good and fast! Plus, it comes in a large tube and is cheap! At roughly £7 on Amazon, it’s fantastic!

The Fratello × Bergeon Mini Tool

I won’t lie; I don’t own the Fratello × Bergeon Mini Tool, but I own the same model. Ming was kind enough to hand one out during Geneva Watch Days 2024, and it’s fantastic. Then, I found out we were carrying the same model, and I had to mention it here. This tool contains everything most watch collectors need in a small, easy-to-carry package. A spring-bar tool, flat-head screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, and push pin are included. Three of the tools are stored in one end of the tool, while the fourth is set into the using end. Everything feels solid and nicely built, just like a product from Bergeon should. Plus, for just €49, it’s a steal.

Happy Holidays, Fratelli!

We hope that this selection of perfect presents and stunning stocking stuffers has inspired you to get your watch-loving loved ones (or yourself) something truly special this holiday season. Be sure to have a look back at our 2021, 2022, and 2023 Holiday Gift Guides for more inspiration.

From the whole team here at Fratello, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.