Five Tips For Wearing Your Watches Over The Holiday Season

Well, it looks like I can't deny it anymore – Christmas is very much here, and while I personally prefer my months a little warmer, there is something special about the holiday season. It's a time when the whole family gets together and stops. If you're lucky, your phone doesn't ring, emails stop pinging, and it's the ideal opportunity to reflect on the past twelve months before setting new goals for the imminent ones. Time is already our most precious resource, but it's felt even more at Christmas as we can pull back from the noise of day-to-day life and spend moments with those that matter the most. I don't know about you, but the piece on my wrist I pick to track said time often is wrapped up in plenty of thought.

And with that rather philosophical train of thought in mind, allow me to share some horological seasonal advice to consider this Christmas.

Know when to dress up.

With Christmas comes celebration, and whether your version of celebration is having the extended family round for a feast, spending time with friends, or going to work's yearly do, it's great to have a piece in the collection that evokes emotion. For some, it's a family heirloom, a grail in the collection with the most memories connected to it, or simply the dressiest watch. The above examples make for viable candidates and is the basis for my advice. When it's time to dress up a little and be with those that mean the most, I like to reach for dressier watches that provide discreetness, comfort and eternal style. Making memories with watches is one of the most satisfying sides to ownership. Travel watches evoke a sense of adventure, daily beaters deliver function, and special dress pieces feel intimately personal. Many manufacturers craft pieces in line with this, from Frederique Constant's Classics collection to NOMOS with the Tangente or Tetra, Fears and their Archival 1930, or even Czapek and their achingly refined Quai Des Bergues. 

Conversely, know when to relax.

There seem to be two camps of people at Christmas: those who hit the road to see folks or those who use the end of the year to slow down, take it easy, and relax. While there is no right or wrong way to handle the holidays, there is one thing we can all agree on: comfort is king. When this year's celebrations turn a little more casual, reach for the easiest-wearing watch in your collection. The singular piece of advice here is to simply prioritise comfort. Whether that's a 44mm pilots watch, a 34mm vintage piece, or your most svelte piece, when the feet go up and relaxing is on the cards, my most comfortable watch is the one I'll be wearing. A few pointers for those unsure where to turn: going down in wrist presence is the quickest route to success here. The smaller the watch size, the smaller the footprint, which typically equals the more comfortable wearer. Standout options include NOMOS' Metro, Hamilton's Pilot Pioneer Mechanical, Grand Seiko's SBGX353 or the SBGW303. The metal in question is also something to think about, with the titanium of Grand Seiko's Snowflake being a particular standout for its lightweight construction.

Something Rugged For The Cold

You held off having breakfast in favour of waiting for the ultimate in Christmas dinners, and now it's only fitting to walk off those pigs in blankets a little. We all know this feeling, so when you're wrapping up to brave the best the winter has to throw at you, reach for your most dependable and durable watch. Diving and pilot watches are obvious options with higher resistance ratings and added legibility. Make no mistake, we're firmly in the realm of tool watches. Park the dress watches in the watch box and leave the family heirlooms at home, grab the most hardy piece and brave the conditions so you can enjoy that mulled wine at the Christmas market. Any piece within the DOXA line-up will excel, as does Citizen's Promaster (Tough or Diver specifically). I can't ignore Oris or Mühle Glashütte with the ProPilot X and Aquis or the SAR Rescue-Timer and SAR Flieger, respectively. And then there's the G-Shock. The ultimate in 'tough', the G-Shock has been proven to survive just about anywhere in the 40 years since its inception – so yes, they're more than qualified to keep you company as you leave the warmth of the living room.

Don't Be Afraid Of Some Seasonal Colour

Whether you like it or not, Christmas means Christmas jumpers, and what better way to get in the spirit of the season than with a complementary watch to pair with your go-to OTT jumper. Bold and unapologetically out there is the move here, with nothing off the cards. Essentially, I'm talking about a watch with a playful side; not everything has to be uptight, serious, and considered. Wear the watch in your collection that starts the most conversations, shouts the loudest, and brings innocent enjoyment. G-Shock may be all work on the function front, but when it comes to colours and expressiveness, they can be all play. The 2100 Series in Yellow (colloquially known as the 'CasiOak') and the Frogman 30th Anniversary GW-8230NT stand out for their striking use of colour. 

Similarly, Maurice Lacriox's Tide brings an integrated chunk of colourful joy, while the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Auto, with its icy blue hue and ceramic case, makes everyone smile. If it's nostalgia you're seeking, the creative flare from Ikepod may be more your speed. While elements of this guide are clearly defined and considered, remember to wear something expressive and fun now and then this Christmas. 

Spoilers: You Actually Don't Have To Wear A Watch

Maybe you depend on a watch for work or are a die-hard watch fanatic, and when Christmas rolls around, you want to disconnect, not worry about specifics, and simply enjoy the passage of time. If that's the case, why not assign timekeeping this year to a clock? A great option for the watch-obsessed, clocks can transform a room or desk and make for brilliant gifts. Gifting watches can be a tricky process without knowing the exact tastes of the person receiving it. They're very personal objects that stand as self-reflections for the owner, and to make the right decision, you may have to forgo the element of surprise. Clocks, on the other hand, occupy a different role. In all shapes, sizes, and styles, traditional clocks from Mondaine replicate the railway clocks you'll find in almost every station across Europe, while the MeisterSinger No.1 Desk Clock expresses the brand's singled-handed approach to horology. Another direction to explore is Seiko's Victory Marathon Alarm Clock, which emulates the professional timers you'll find at races. But the most distinctive comes from QlockTwo and their unparalleled blend of horology and design. The seemingly random assortment of letters specifically illuminates to display the time via letters rather than numbers. 

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