The Best Holiday Gifts for Watch Lovers

Every self-respecting watch wearer should own at least one NATO strap — even if it’s only used to discover that he or she does not, in fact, like NATO straps! The Premium NATO from strap experts Crown & Buckle will likely open the door to a fervent love of NATOs, however: Made from a tight nylon weave with stitched thread construction, it’s available in three sizes (18mm, 20mm and 22mm) and features your choice of polished, brushed, black PVD, or gold-plated stainless steel hardware. Measuring 11” long and approximately 1.25mm thick with 13 laser-cut sizing holes, it’s the best $14 you can spend in watches. 

Though it’s less than a decade old, A Man & His Watch is the book on watch collecting — but perhaps not for the reasons one might think. Rather than a history book or one detailing different types of watches, it’s a set of stories of, well, men and their watches — ones that are deeply personal, and even profound. Sure, there’s Paul Newman’s personal Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, which passed to his daughter Clea. But there’s also a gold Tiffany-dialed watch worn to the Yalta Conference by FDR, a chronograph owned by racing legend Mario Andretti, and even the original Casio G-SHOCK prototype designed by Kikuo Ibe. Pick up a copy for every watch guy in your life!

Representing a partnership between the vintage watch experts at Analog:Shift and the automotive- and horologically-obsessed folks at Standard H, this trucker style hat is perfect for both the car as well as the watch guy. A one-size-fits-all design in black with a subtle, inner hidden tag and a perforated back for breathability and comfort, it features a cool white and green patch illustrating a gear with the words “Wind your watch, shift your gears” stitched in bold black lettering. While we’d recommend rocking it with a mechanical watch while driving your vintage convertible, this cool hat will function every bit as well while on vacation or out and about around town.

Swapping out watch straps is a fact of life for the watch collector, which means that a good spring bar tool is a non-negotiable piece of kit. For the watch guy or gal on the go, a more compact tool such as the Strap Bar Tool from The Strap Tailor is ideal: Measuring just 56mm long with both tool ends stored and 19mm in diameter, it can easily fit in a backpack, bag or pocket. Featuring screw end caps for storing the fork and push-pin tools and to prevent snagging, it also boasts rubber finger guides for easy purchase as well as stainless steel construction. While there are cheaper options on the market, this one is made to last. 

Modeled after a vintage marathon timer, this desktop clock is the perfect gift not just for Seiko fans, but for anyone who desires a bit of horologically-inspired swagger in his or her desktop setup. Machined from stainless steel and measuring 3.7 X 4.1 X 1.8 inches, its compact size and AA-battery operation makes it an ideal travel clock, while its bright LCD screen offers time, countdown timer, stopwatch, automatic alarm stop, alarm with snooze function, calendar and dial light functionality. With optional DC power connectivity and a clean design featuring operational buttons on the back, it’s great for use in an office, garage or other workspace.

Help a new watch collector out with this Essentials Bundle from the good folks behind Worn & Wound and the WindUp Watch Shop. Consisting of the Strap Changing Multi-Tool for quick strap swaps; two microfiber cloths for cleaning crystals or for use as a strap-changing surface; and an EDC Watch Fold made of 1000D nylon and neoprene for carrying all of the above — plus a watch! — this cool bit of kit should be essential gear for every human who owns a treasured timepiece. (Best of all: It’s currently on sale for 20% off, meaning there’s no reason not to nab one for yourself, while you’re at it.)

Sold via Worn & Wound’s WindUp Watch Shop, the Rickshaw Bagworks TimeKeeper 4 is the ideal way to transport up to four watches on the road. (Why on Earth would you need to do this? Because you’re a watch nerd — that’s why!) Crafted from Ultragrid nylon with closed-cell foam padding, available in five colors, and made in the U.S.A, it boasts foam-padded compartments that fit timepieces up to 45mm in diameter. Finished with a paracord zipper pull attached to a YKK #5 zipper, the TimeKeeper 4 is both a technical as well as a handsome solution to your watch transport needs.

For the budding horological scholar eager to learn more about the wide world of timepieces, Watches: A Guide by HODINKEE is the ultimate resource. Published by art book publisher extraordinaire Assouline and featuring 300 pages with over 150 illustrations and photographs, this beautifully produced tome examines the humble watch via dedicated chapters on chronographs, dive watches, high design and horological icons. Penned by HODINKEE’s knowledgeable editors and staff members, it’s not only an incredibly informative read, but also looks the part on a coffee table or book shelf in a dedicated study, office or sitting room.

Every watch lover needs a simple desktop storage solution for a watch and a bit of EDC. Enter the Valet Tray from Veblenist, a Chicago-based strap maker. Featuring a suede interior, a calfskin exterior and matte black snaps, it can be laid flat to use as a convenient strap-changing surface when not in use as a valet. Available in green, brown, grey and blue and measuring 24 cm x 24 cm when flat, it can easily store your watch, keys, wallet and whatever other “pocket litter” you keep on your person when you step out of the house. Simple and elegant, its high-grade materials and handsome design will look great gracing any surface. 

While there are myriad leather two-piece watch straps to choose from, “Bund”-style straps — i.e. those that include a leather pad that sit between the watch head and one’s wrist — are much harder to come by. The Falco Bund Strap from watch experts Bulang and Sons is one of the most thoughtfully designed examples on the market: Available in multiple size and buckle options, it consists of a padded goatskin two-piece strap in olive/grey with a matching patch, orange lining, and white top-stitching. Inspired by German Luftwaffe pilot’s jackets, it can be worn both as a Bund-style as well as a simple two-piece strap without the included patch.

Based upon the packaging of a certain seminal watch release from 1976, the Wolf X Analog:Shift 1976 Collection 8-Pice Cork Watch Box safely (and beautifully!) stories eight of your favorite timepieces. Made of cork and measuring 10.25″ L X 9″ W X 4.25″ H, it features padded watch cushions for eight timepieces as well as handsome steel hardware, a transparent glass top and a subtle “Analog:Shift” badge on the front. For someone who wants to store his or her growing in collection in style — and especially for someone with a love of 1970s luxury sports watches — the 8-Piece Cork Watch Box is an ideal horological gift. 

If you’re a serious strap changer — as all self-respecting watch guys or gals should be — then you owe it to yourself to invest in a solid strap-changing tool. Though you may experience some sticker shock, the ease and joy of swapping out a band or bracelet with the Bergeon 6825 more than justifies the price. Rather than fighting with spring bars using a more compact travel tool, you can quickly and easily remove them using an adjustable, purpose-built device with reversible steel forks whose angles can be changed to deal with different watch models. Made in Switzerland, the 6825 also looks the part — which, in the watch world, is half the battle.

If you happen to live in NYC, then membership in the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is a must. (And even if you don’t, lectures are recorded and can be viewed by members.) Available in different tiers, membership gives access to live meetings, lectures and education classes; subscriptions to various horological magazines; and, depending upon the level, a cool tote bag, a lapel pin, a watch strap and even a jacket designed by The Armoury. For someone on the fence, we’d recommend the Silver Level — at $500, it comes with all the aforementioned events access, plus the tote bag and a special strap made by Jean Rousseau. (Another plus? The dues are potentially tax-deductible.)