Engagement watches are the new engagement rings

Modern couples and forward-thinking individuals are setting the trend for engagement watches – breaking the mould of traditional engagement gifts.

Not unbeknownst to any watch aficionado, gifting a fine watch, especially to men, have long been a sentiment and symbolism to reflect a person’s taste, lifestyle and class. Timeless, versatile and meaningful in every form, it’s little wonder why engagement watches are on the rise. But as modern society would have it, women too, have taken a keen interests in the practicality of wearing chronographs over jewellery.  

Thankfully, watches today range drastically for both genders, from dress watches with classic vintage straps to high-jewellery timepieces for with diamond-set dials, each matching the unique personality and style of its owners. But which one makes for the perfect engagement watch to say “Yes” to and cement the kind of love worth celebrating? Here are a few of our recommendations…

FOR A CLASSIC SWISS 

For her: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust 
28mm, 18ct yellow gold set with a white mother-of-pearl dial, and diamond-set hour-markers and bezel; Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown, a scratch-resistant sapphire, Cyclops lens over the date and a semi-circular three-piece links President bracelet. Powered by a Bidirectional self-winding movement calibre 2236 with a power reserve of 55 hours and is waterproof up to 100 meters.

For him: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36
36mm, 18ct white gold dial set with baguette-cut diamonds on the hour markers, Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown, featuring a fluted bezel with scratch-resistant sapphire, Cyclops lens over the date on a semi-circular three-piece links President bracelet. Bidirectional self-winding movement calibre 3255 with a 70-hour power reserve and is waterproof up to 100 meters.

FOR THE ADVENTEROUS TYPE

For Her: Omega Constellation Co-Axial Master Chronometer 29mm 
29mm, 18k Sedna gold, diamond-paved bezel, sun-brushed blue dial with diamond hour markers and a date window at 6 o’clock within a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal case. The bracelet, hands, OMEGA logo, Constellation star and diamond holders are also in 18K Sedna™ gold. Powered by OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8701 visible through the domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

For Him: Omega Constellation Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm
39mm, 18K Sedna gold on leather strap, engraved bezel with Roman numerals, silk-embossed blue dial and a date window at 6 o’clock. The hands, OMEGA logo, Constellation star and indexes are all in 18K Sedna™ gold. Powered by OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8801 visible through the domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

Also Read: How to choose the perfect engagement ring for your bride-to-be

FOR A STATEMENT PIECE

For her: Audemar Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie
42mm, salmon dial with  with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating; Titanium case, glareproofed sapphire crystal, screw-locked crown with Titanium bracelet with AP folding clasp. Hand-Wound Minute repeater Supersonnerie, hours, minutes and small seconds with a 72-hour power reserve.

For him: Audemar Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie
42mm, Black dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating; 950 platinum case, glareproofed sapphire crystal, screw-locked crown, hand-stitched “large square scale” black alligator strap with 950 platinum AP folding clasp. Hand-Wound Minute repeater Supersonnerie, hours, minutes and small seconds with a 72-hour power reserve

FOR A POLO WATCH

For Her: Piaget Polo Date High Jewellery watch
36mm, 18k white gold case set with 80 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.22 ct), 352 brilliant-cut (1.21 ct) diamond-paved-set dial,  crown set with 9 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.02 ct) and bracelet in 18K white gold set with 1315 brilliant-cut diamonds (5.69 cts). Powered by a Manufacture Piaget 500P1 self-winding mechanical movement, visible through its sapphire crystal case back. 

For Him: Piaget Polo Chronograph watch
42mm, 18K white gold case set with 178 brilliant-cut diamonds (2.70 cts), 286 brilliant-cut diamond pave (1.0 ct) set dial with blue counters, crown set with a brilliant-cut diamond (0.10 ct), buckle set with 15 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.10 ct) on an interchangeable strap. Powered by Manufacture Piaget 1160P self-winding mechanical movement with chronograph and date on Blue-coloured oscillating weight. 

FOR AN ICONIC TIMEPIECE

For Her: Cartier Tank Louis 
30mm, case in 18K white gold set with 254-brilliant-cut diamonds (2.20 ct), beaded crown in 18K white gold-set with brilliant-cut diamond (0.12 ct). Sword-shaped hands in blue steel on a skeleton sapphire dial on fuchsia or burgundy alligator skin and 18K diamond-set white gold double adjustable folding bucket (0.42 ct). Water resistant of up to 30 meters. Calibre 9616 MC, hand-wound mechanical movement with a power reserve of up to approximately three days. Complication fully visible under sapphire crystal and case back. 

For Him: Cartier Tank Asymétrique 
47.15 mm, platinum case on navy blue or black alligator skinstraps. Buckle and crown set with 251 brilliant-cut diamonds (2.21 ct). Blue-steel sword-shaped hands and Arabic numerals on the hour-markers on skeletonised dial. Manufacture hand-wound mechanical movement with manual winding, calibre 9623 MC (112 parts, 22 jewels) and 48-hour power reserve.

FOR A CLASSIC MATCH

For Her: Longines the record collection
26mm, 18k pink gold, white mother-of-pearl dial with pink hands, 12 Top Wesselton VS-SI diamond-set (o.034 ct) hour-markers, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass and case back on brown alligator strap. COSC self-winding mechanical movement with a power reserve of 45-hours. Water resistant up to 30 meters.

For Him: Longines Master Collection
40mm, 18 rose gold, anti-wear synthetic sapphier glass and case back, sukver “wheat grain” decoration with blue steel hands and lacquered Arabic numerals on brown alligator strap, L888 self-winding mechanical movement with a power reserve of 72-hours

Also Read: Create bespoke wedding moments in Hong Kong

FOR A BEDAZZLING NUMBER

For Her: Patek Philippe Twenty~4 7300/1450R
36mm, Rose gold Haute Joaillerie model. 384 diamonds are set on the dial “snow setting” while its bezel, crown and rose gold bracelet are paved with diamonds. Sitting underneath its rose gold case and sapphire-crystal case back is a self-winding movement Calibre 324 S.

For Him: Patek Philippe Calatrava 4978/400G-001
36.5mm, Diamond Ribbon Joaillerie model. 679 diamonds of graduated size forming a spiral is embellished on the dial, while the bezel, crown and bracelet are paved with diamonds. Featuring a white gold case and sapphire-crystal case back that encloses its ultra-thin self-winding mechanical movement Caliber 240.

FOR THE SOPHISTICATED PAIR

For Her: Jager LeCoultre Reverso Classic Duetto pink gold
21mm, Pink gold, silvered grey dial with vertical satin-brushed and guilloché, black transferred numerals and Bâton hands on the front and frosted numerls with Dauphones hands and frosted numerals on the back dial, finished with diamond settings on the top and bottom edges. Manual-winding movement Jaeger LeCoultre Calibre 844 (223 parts, 19 jewels).

For Him: Jager LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Moon
29.9mm, Stainless Steel with leather strap, silverd grey dial with appliqued hour-markers and dauphones hands with a moon phase and date indicator at 6 o’clock at the front; and dauphoines hands, appliqued hour-marker on Blue, guilloché, velvety Clous de Paris dial at the back. Manual winding movement, Jaeger LeCoultre Calibre 853A (100 parts, 18 jewels).

FOR SOMETHING WITH HISTORY

For Her: Tiffany & Co. Tiffany Cocktail 2-Hand
25.6mm, 18k rose gold, White guilloché dial, black satin strap with a diamond buckle, case set with round brilliant cut diamonds (1.53 ct), Quartz movement. Water resistant up to 30 meters.

For Him: Tiffany & Co. Tiffany 1837 Makers 27mm Square Watch
27mm, 18k rose gold with a rose gold soleil dial, limited edition applied gray Arabic numerals, gray alligator strap, hand-wound mechanical movement with power reserve of 42 hours. Water resistant up to 50 meters.

Also Read: Asia’s most stylish traditional wedding gowns