“It seemed kind of unfair that he’d be spending all this money on a ring for me and wouldn’t be getting anything like that in return — it’s 2016.” This is what my recently engaged colleague told me when I asked why she bought her fiancé a watch — a NOMOS Ludwig — when they got engaged. Why the NOMOS in particular? “He’s an engineer and appreciates clean design — it seemed to match his personality.”
For as much as our ideas of what constitutes a marriage and what befits the ceremony have changed, the engagement present has remained surprisingly stagnant. Lest we forget, the diamond engagement ring is a relatively new tradition. Really, the counterpart or alternative could be anything that fits the man. But if you like the idea of something sophisticated and luxurious that can be worn for decades (which is why diamond rings are the norm), a luxury watch is perfect.
As for what the perfect one is, that’s up for you to decide. But think about the interests and personality of your groom-to-be, and consider something high-end, that can be serviced for decades, and would be fitting as a family heirloom for subsequent generations getting hitched. These six aren’t by any means the de-facto bests, but they’re exemplary of what to look for. They’re certainly what we’d want.
Junghans Meister Hand-Winding
For the Practical Guy: Not every heirloom-quality watch needs to cost thousands. Junghans, which has long made striking timepieces at great prices, is proof of that. Take the Meister Hand-Winding — it’s powered by a Mechanical ETA movement set inside a sleek 7.3mm-thick watch case.
