Three Gift Ideas For A Watch Nerd – Part #1
We know it’s early, but before you know we’re in the Holiday season and then you’re too late ordering gifts. If you don’t have the nerve to wait until the very last shipping placement day, get ready. We have some ideas on how to please a watch nerd.
Upholding the strict definition of the word gift, you have to make it a surprise, right? Letting the subject choose their own present is a bit… well… lazy. However, trying to please the watch nerd friend or family member is not easy (and often not cheap). If lives do end up being spared, your wallet won’t be. That’s why we decided to put together a safe list of presents that might soothe a watch collector’s soul.
Image source: airandspace.si.edu, etsy.com, adpatina.com
Three Excellent Watch Nerd Gifts
Most collectors struggle with the ONE IN, ONE OUT watch collecting rule, as there is always a never-ending list of other watches that you want to own. That being said, there is close to zero room for breaking the budget on other stuff. Plus, most collectors don’t “waste” time on googling other stuff, barely having enough time to search for the next grail on their list. So, let’s look at the other interesting watch memorabilia out there.
1. Vintage Print Ad
Whatever watch brand you name (or find in the beloved person’s collection), there are tons of full-page vintage ads (here are a few Rolex examples) from old magazines available online. Find one you like from a brand that he or she likes, and you will cause huge smiles. Buy an advertisement that promotes a specific watch model in their collection and you might see some tears running down their cheeks. Remember, the bigger, the better. Be careful, some of them might look big but will actually be a quarter of the typical size (I learned this the hard way).
“Imagine this in a frame of your choice, on a nightstand or desk right next a picture of you.”
The advertisement dimensions are indicated most of the time, so check it out properly before you hit the “buy now” button. To avoid any misunderstanding or faux pas we suggest not buying a Rolex advertisement from the latest editions of Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. On websites like eBay, you will find plenty of these print advertisements. You can find ones in different quality, colors or periods, ranging from $5 USD to crazy hundreds for big poster-formats ads available only for brand boutiques.
Image source: www.adpatina.com
2. Cufflinks with an old movement
If we didn’t manage to sell you in on the first idea, perhaps because your beloved doesn’t collect vintage watches or you don’t fancy old papers hanging in your bedroom, we have something else for you. Cufflinks made of old broken movements. Again, there is large selection out there, so we recommend looking into it sooner than later. If you are wondering about my preference, which you are probably not, I like cufflinks whose movements are not framed in something reminding me of a watch case. Or any other sort of can it sits in. With just a super exposed movement attached and nothing else around, the cufflink looks more majestic. And the idea is to show the movement, so I consider any other casing redundant.
www.etsy.com, JFoxCufflinks
A couple of other things to take into consideration before the purchase: Decide if you want to have cufflinks with a crown sticking out, which is a matter of personal taste. There are some cufflinks with the movement sunk in silicone, adding a distinct flare. Some watch cufflinks I found were even hidden by a crystal, making it look like a proper transparent watch case back. If you work the territory, you will find big-budget cufflinks for thousands of dollars too. But if your watch nerd friend is just a colleague that might not be as beloved and wears a shirt only twice a year, an AliExpress offering will do the job too.
Rolex Petite Round Jeweled Watch Cufflinks – $2495.00, www.watch-cufflinks.com.
3. A trip to a watch museum
This one is more of a challenging nut to crack. It requires a lot of sacrifice and dedication and an unlimited amount of sheer love. A decent variation may be a solo trip for your watch nerd friend or having him (or her) be accompanied by a friend suffering from the same collector’s urge. However, if you manage to persuade yourself to enjoy the experience by their side, you will make them immeasurably happy. Here are our destination tips:
1. National Air and Space Museum
Not exactly a watch museum, but we know our Speedmaster fans. Owning a Speedmaster without ever having visited, one cannot feel whole. It’s still on my wish list. Getting there from Europe can make it quite the gift, but it is what it is. Don’t wait for the museum to move to Paris, as it probably won’t happen in this or your next lifetime. More info here.
2. Omega Museum in Bienne
Another holy trip for the Speedmaster fan. Reopened in July 2019 and orchestrated by the Omega’s Brand Heritage Manager Petros Protopapas. He is an amazing person with a huge spirit and lots of passion. I am happy I had the chance to meet him in person. More info here.
3. MIH – The Musée international d’Horlogerie
Image source: www.wikipedia.com
Home to one of the world’s largest collections of watches and clocks. A perfect gift for a wide-focused collector that would love to see a big variety of brands. Open six days a week except for Monday. More info here.
In Germany, the watch museum in Glashütte is definitely worth a trip as well. Many brands have their own museum, like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, TAG Heuer (No, Rolex doesn’t) and Seiko (in Japan).
Not enough? As there are a lot of collectors celebrating every day of the year out there, we will dig up gift inspirations for you every month from now on.
