Stuart Danker (SD): We’re in the final month of the year, and I have to say, this has been a great year for watches. In fact, this alone has been feeling like a gift. Watches like the Grand Seiko U.F.A managed to make me feel like a child on Christmas day! And we had a steady stream of good releases throughout the year, too, like the Zenith USM collaboration.
Asaph Low (AL): Another year comes to a close in the blink of an eye, and given we’re indirectly in the business of timekeeping, you wonder where all that time went. I agree with you that this year’s releases have been nothing short of stellar from LVMH Watch Week 2025 right up till November as we write this.
SD: Anyway, since this month’s theme is about giving, let us entertain the thought of gifting watches to our friends and loved ones. Let’s start with the most obvious. What would you give your spouse?
AL: Is money a factor here? It’d be the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar 38mm in 18k pink gold and bracelet if it’s a no. There’s something about women wearing a gold watch on a gold bracelet. If money is a factor, then I’m not taking part in this conversation any more!
SD: That’s nice! For me, it’d have to be the Reflection de Cartier, since she’s such a fan of the brand and this watch feels like something she’d enjoy.
AL: Are we talking about unlimited money from now on?
SD: Yes, let’s assume we have enough money to gift our friends as well. What would your choice be for your closest friend? I’ll go first: the Tudor Black Bay 54. None of my friends is into watches, so this Tudor maintains a fancy look, while still being fairly middle-ground in terms of size and design. Meaning it won’t make them too self-conscious to wear it.
AL: I like where you’re going with the Tudor for someone not into watches. It checks almost every box possible, and it’s a versatile piece to strap on. You know what? Since you mentioned Grand Seiko at the start, I’d actually pick the Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A. SLGB005 for the person I have in mind. That violet dial is really something Grand Seiko nailed.
SD: Of course, when speaking of gifting, we cannot ignore our parents. So what are your choices here?
AL: My father doesn’t wear watches, and it isn’t easy to convince him to. As for my mother, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 28 will add youthful energy to her get-up.
SD: My dad is probably the reason why I got into watches. He used to admire the Breitling Navitimer and the IWC Portugieser, so it’ll be either one of those. If I had to choose one? Probably the IWC Portuguiser, because I think it fits his vibe more. My mum isn’t around any more, but if I had to choose one for her, it’d be the Piaget Sixtie.
AL: Any love for the rest of the Men’s Folio team? I think the Cartier Tank in various sizes will be ideal given their fashion interest and disposition.
SD: It depends, because each member of our team has styles that differ wildly. None of them is as into watches as we are, so I would go with the TAG Heuer F1 Solargraph. They’re low-maintenance watches (even among quartz), fun, and anyone on our team can pull them off without making major changes to their style.
SD: Speaking of which, are you privy to the superstition that we shouldn’t give people clocks?
AL: Yes, I’m privy to it. It’s the way it sounds because “giving a clock” (sòng zhōng) sounds identical to “attending a funeral” (sòng zhōng).
SD: Well, if it were the Patek Philippe table clock, I think that’s a rule that we can break. I seldom pay attention to clocks, but the technology in this piece — from its crazy-long power reserve to its constant escapement — just had me marvelling at how far we can push it if we set our minds to something.
AL: And what about the Rolex Submariner Desk Clock that was making its rounds on the Internet watch sphere in recent weeks? That’s an interesting piece given the circumstances surrounding it.
SD: Ok, last but not least, now we have to talk about the watches that we would gift ourselves. If the sky were the limit, what watch would constitute the best gift you could give yourself?
AL: The Patek Philippe Calatrava 6196P-001. I remember strapping it on while in Geneva during Watches & Wonders, and time stood still for that brief moment when I admired the watch. If perfection existed, then that’d be my standout watch of this year. And yourself?
SD: Wow, that’s a nice pick indeed. I think for me, if I had a Vacheron Constantin 222, I would never need any other watch again. So there.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our December/January 2026 issue.