Give The Gift of Time This Holiday Season with a Watch

Time; it’s something that seems to become more and more fleeting as the year’s pass, and that’s especially true around the holiday season. This year, December crept up on me so suddenly that before I could even acknowledge it’s arrival the stores were blasting Christmas music, the streets were filled with cars and people busily making their ways to parties and gatherings, and my list of people to shop for became a mile long.

And while I’ve always considered myself a master in gift-giving, this year I simply haven’t the time to search out the perfect gift for those in my life. So instead, while shopping for presents this holiday season I’ll resort to the ‘classics’—you know, those gifts that work for literally anyone on your holiday shopping list. Think candles, mugs, gloves, blankets … the list continues, but of them, my absolute favourite gift to give is a timepiece. Whether you’re shopping for a sister, friend, or colleague there’s sure to be a watch that will fit both their wardrobe and lifestyle.

Finding The Perfect Watch For Everyone On Your List

Time Classics: Watches For Him & Her
Ah, the classics. They’re the watches that will suit any wrist and they make for a great gift this holiday season. But when it comes to classic watches there are so many different styles that come to mind it can be hard for some to narrow it down. I like to think of them as two separate styles: traditional and modern.

Traditional watches tend to be styles that are simplistic, yet refined. The most infamous, and a personal favourite of mine, are those featuring a white face and leather band, however, there are hundreds of colour and material combinations to choose from. The Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield Watch in Black, which has been featured in countless magazines and is worn by influencers throughout Instagram, is one of the most-wanted gifts this year and will be topping the wish lists of women around the world. And no wonder, with its timeless design and reasonable price point, it even makes for a great gift idea for someone who is difficult to shop for. And for men, there’s the handsome, and sturdy, Bulova Classic 38mm, featuring brown leather.

With regards to modern watch styles, the most common designs feature a stainless steel band with a multi-faceted face—they are often analog, however, more recently, we’re seeing a rise in digital and smartwatch offerings. But no matter the method it uses to tell time, these styles tend to look dressier than the traditional options, and therefore are more commonly associated with the workplace or a night out. Topping my list of must-have modern watches for women are the Seiko Gold/White watch and the Bulova Diamond Maiden in Silver—both are extremely stylish and perfect for day and night wear. While the Bulova Automatic Watch in Silver/Black and the Hugo Boss Aeroline Chronograph are two impeccable styles for the businessman on your holiday shopping list.

Fashionably Late: Watches For The Fashionista

We all have that friend who is fashionable, and always seen wearing a watch, but is ironically never on time for an event or meet-up. *Ahem* me—I swear, it’s because I can’t read analog watches. And while you could always purchase the person like this in your life a digital or smartwatch in hopes that they’ll better manage their time, they’re more likely to appreciate a stylish new analog watch for the holidays. And a word to the wise: not every fashionista is female!
But, when it comes to the female fashionista, one thing is for sure, this timepiece must make a statement. A few of my favourite statement-making watch designs include the Gucci Marina Chain (pictured to the left) and the Bulova Womens Classic 18.2mm, which, while bold in design is extremely sleek and therefore the perfect watch for the minimalist in your life.

And for all the fashion-savvy men out there, what’s more fashion-forward and handsome than a black watch? Check out the Timex Intelligent Quartz Watch. Or, if the man on your shopping list is more rebellious with fashion, why not opt for a camoed option, like the super trendy Timex Expedition Scout, which features a stylish camo face.

Time For Sports: Watches For The Athlete

Nowadays, there’s bound to be someone on your list who’s not only into fitness but actively tries to involve you in their healthy shenanigans. Ha, nice try, I’d prefer to support your dedication to health from afar thank you very much. Which is precisely why I’ll be gifting a smartwatch to the athletes on my list this holiday season.

As I eluded above, I am not one to workout, but what I hear from the mumblings of my friends who do is that if you’re an athlete, especially if you’re a runner, the Apple Watch Nike+ is an absolute must. Not only is it compatible with your iPhone, making the Nike app completely accessible from your wrist, the Apple Watch Nike+ is also water resistant up to 50m, and contains a heart rate sensor and GPS. Although it may be one of the pricier watches on the market it’s sure to bring a smile to the face of anyone lucky enough to receive it this holiday season.

Smart and Stylish: The New-Age of Watches

Last, but certainly not least there is the future of watches, smartwatches. While we are all well aware of the innovator of this style, the Apple Watch, there’s a new breed of smartwatch designers that are bringing the trend from tech to runway. With a handful of styles designed by Michael Kors and Fossil in varying colours and sizes, it’s never been more exciting, or stylish to own a smartwatch.

I’ve personally fallen for the Michael Kors Access Bradshaw in Rose Gold, which is slightly less expensive than the Apple Watch, and much more fashion-minded. This smartwatch is compatible with both Androids and iPhones and has a variety of features, which include: a built-in fitness tracker via GoogleFit, customizable watch faces to fit every outfit—swoon—Google Music, an interchangeable strap to create a variety of looks, and more. I’m almost hoping I’ll find it under the Christmas tree labelled for me.

With so many stylish and functional watch styles and designs available from Best Buy, you’re sure to find an option that suits the needs of everyone on your list.

Let me know which watch will find it’s way to your wish list this holiday season in the comment section!