Ah, the holidays. The season of giving is finally upon us. There’s family and friends. Holiday parties. Maybe a few quiet nights and some time decorating the house. And of course, there’s shopping. Lots of shopping to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. Did you feel that little twitch of tension when you read that last sentence? I sure did when I wrote it. 

My plan for this year is to start early. I swear I’m going to do it. 2022 is not going to be like 2021 when my gift selections were mostly dictated by what was left in the stores that were still open at 4:00 on the last possible day. While I’m sure everyone who is still harvesting fresh herbs from their nearly one-year-old Mr. T Chia Pet thinks that I could never top that thoughtful gift, I’ve got the inside track on a bounty of remarkable gift ideas for budgets of all sizes. So get comfortable, grab a handful of alfalfa sprouts from Mr. T and read on.

Gifts For a $300 or Less

You may think this is a tough budget for luxury gifts, but this is where thinking about the outside of the watch really helps. Here are four affordable luxury gifts for under $300 at King Jewelers:

1. A New Strap or Bracelet

King Jewelers has a wide variety of straps for just about any watch. It is amazing how changing a well-worn strap makes a favorite timepiece seem brand new. It’s the same way painting a room in your house transforms it into a whole new space. Bracelets may push your budget a little but that will seem like a complete remodeling.

2. A Watch Case or Watch Roll

A nice watch case for travel or storage is always appreciated. You’ll find great options from Wolf Designs in-store and online. Explore single watch winders starting at just $160.

3. Watch Service

If your favorite watch lover has a watch in need of repair or restoration, our certified watchmakers have the skills to restart time. Bring the watch in and we’ll let you know what’s needed.

4. Affordable Luxury Watches

Value-priced watches from G-SHOCK, Seiko, and Zeroo Time. These are all inexpensive watches, not cheap watches. Just check out the Zeroo Time C2 and you’ll understand the difference. This watch has all of the timepiece complications you’re looking for (moon phase, date, day of the week) for only $299.

Gifts for $1,000 or Less

There are lots of great options including watch winders and watches in the $500-$1,000 price range. My four top picks in this category are:

1. Watch Winder

A watch winder like the very slick red Wolf Memento Mori Double Cub ($749) or the beautiful Honey Leather single watch winder from SwissKubik ($970). Either of these will make your watch lover’s life a little bit easier, especially if there is a perpetual calendar or moon phase in the collection.

2. Raymond Weil Ladies Freelancer

The Ladies Freelancer Quartz watch from Raymond Weil. The stunning mother-of-pearl dial on this watch provides a beautiful backdrop for the diamond hour markers. At 34mm, the Freelancer is a great everyday watch that’s highly legible and the jubilee bracelet makes it easy to dress up, too.  Normally retailing for $1,250.00, this watch is only $937.50 during our Retirement Sale.

3. Mido Ocean Star Tribute

The green dial/green fabric strap combo on the Mido Ocean Star Tribute ($950) gives this watch an outdoorsy look that almost smells like a pine forest. It’s a very capable diver that’s ready to go deep (200 meters) but I picture wearing it on a crisp winter hike.

4. Casio G-SHOCK Watch

Casio G-SHOCK watches are some of the world’s toughest watches. They’re loaded with features and designed to withstand just about anything you can imagine. The rose gold-plated full metal solar-powered GMWB5000GD-4 has the classic style you might remember from the mid-1970s when digital watches changed the way most people told time. This one is not an artifact from that era, though. It syncs with your smartphone and has world time, a stopwatch, and multiple alarm functions. 

Gifts for under $5,000

With $5,000, you can open watch cases for brands like Tag Heuer, Tudor, Oris, Bell & Ross, and Norqain. And believe it or not, you can also wrap up a full skeleton tourbillion in your choice of colors. 

1. Zeroo Time T4 The Archer Watch

The Zeroo Time T4 Archer full skeleton tourbillion is one of the coolest watches in the store. With glass on all sides, you can see every angle of the movement and get a view of the tourbillion as it rotates. With a variety of dial/rubber strap combos, the T4 can be as attention-grabbing as you want. 

2. Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Watch

I visit the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight with a blue dial and blue strap every time I’m in the store. It’s got all the Tudor hallmarks in a very wearable 39mm stainless steel case. You can also get it with a steel bracelet and then add the strap later.

3. Longines DolceVita Ladies Watch

A ladies’ tank-style watch is a classic design that’s inspired watchmakers since Cartier introduced it in 1917. Longines has a lovely take on the tank with the affordable DolceVita. It features a striking silver flinqué textured dial, a small seconds dial, blued hands, and a contoured case. The watch is also available with diamonds on a beige leather strap. Oris also offers a rectangular watch that is available with a grey, blue, yellow, or red dial and strap.

4. NORQAIN Adventure Sport Chrono Day/Date

Norqain has a special connection to Nashville – Roman Josi, all-star defenseman for the Predators is one of the luxury Swiss brand’s owners. The company’s watches are rugged, stylish and designed for adventure. A standout is the Adventure Sport Chrono Day/Date. This three register chrono has a 41mm steel case, black dial and black rubber strap. There’s also a blue version that’s available with either a blue rubber or a Nordura fabric strap.

About the Author

Bobby Frank is a freelance writer and musician based in Nashville. He’s been an avid watch collector since discovering a sample case full of early digital watches at his father’s office in the late 1970s. Current favorites include the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight, Glashütte Original PanoMaticLunar and Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Skelet One. A timekeeper to his core, Bobby plays the drums in several bands that perform across the Southeast including Tennessee Dead, a Grateful Dead tribute band.