December 20, 2018
Still looking for the perfect gift? Concerned you’ve left it a little late? According to research, as much as 30 per cent of our Christmas shopping is last minute. But it’s not too late – here’s Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons’ perfect gift guide.
The twist on this version of Tudor’s global superstar watch the Black Bay is that its 41mm steel case is coated in matt black PVD, hence the name – Tudor Black Bay Dark. That gives it a stealthy, military look that’s bang on trend. Inside it is Tudor’s in-house calibre, a bulletproof unit offering a chunky 70-hour power reserve that’s independently chronometer-certified for accuracy. This model comes on an aged leather strap with a folding clasp that’s also coated in matt black PVD.
Confidence flows through Hublot’s veins – its collection is full of statement pieces with bold designs and striking material combinations. Take this pair of automatics as examples. On the left is the 100-piece limited edition Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Berluti Scritto Bordeaux, a 45mm watch cast in Hublot’s 18-carat King Gold and set on a Bordeaux strap made by iconic Italian leather specialists Berluti. Alongside it is the 39mm, tonneau-shaped (or barrel-shaped) Hublot Spirit of Big Bang King Gold White Diamonds. It fuses the same King Gold with 50 diamonds set into the bezel and a white rubber strap.
Travelling businessmen and women will appreciate the value of a good timepiece, not only because it helps them keep track of time zone changes, but also because of the sophisticated message it communicates to international associates. The pictured version of Aerowatch’s Renaissance displays the time in seven of the world’s major cities simultaneously via its central hands and six subdials; Genevan watch house Frederique Constant’s Manufacture Worldtimer ups that with a clever display that shows 24 time zones at once; while Louis Erard’s Heritage Sport is a hugely versatile bi-colour piece with diamond-set hour markers that will speak volumes no matter where you are in the world.
Bulgari’s collection of women’s timepieces reads like a design icon Bible. The Serpenti, pictured middle and right here, is inspired by the mythological serpent, a symbol of good and evil, wisdom, life and eternity. The Bulgari signature design first appeared in the 1940s as a bracelet and then in the Swinging Sixties as a watch. Even when it morphs into a timekeeper, its wrap-around bracelet makes it as much as piece of jewellery as horology. For its part, the automatic Lucea, pictured left, is also a sculptural design, here layering the glamour with 11 diamond-set hour markers, a pink cabochon-cut stone set into the crown and a shimmering brown dial inspired by the light – ‘luce’ is Italian for light – cast by a sundial.
They say the art of letter writing is dying – which would be a great shame if true. Where’s the romance in an email? There are few greater incentives to put pen to paper than a finely crafted writing instrument. Those crafted by Chopard, one of the most poetic of brands, are the perfect fillip. This Ice Cube Ballpoint Pen is moulded in green resin with a gold-plated cap decorated with the ‘ice cube’ motif, and is the perfect example. Should the occasion prompt it, the perfect complement is one of Chopard’s Happy Heart bangles, seen here with a combination of either mother-of-pearl and diamond (left) or opal and diamond.
The Norse god of mischief was Loki, who was often depicted as a jester or clown figure, as we would recognise it now. His spirit is often invoked by designers in creations such as this Chopard clown to appeal to our more playful side. It features Chopard’s signature dancing ruby and diamonds, spinning coquettishly in its transparent belly. Pictured here with it is Chopard’s elegant green resin and gold-plated Ice Cube Ballpoint Pen.
Messika’s My Soul collection is the second collaboration between Valérie Messika and American supermodel Gigi Hadid, she of 45 million Instagram followers. The concept is ‘bohemian chic’, and indeed there’s a sun-kissed, slight devil-may-care Californian feel to the designs, which feature diamonds galore. Here, two gold, drop-bead diamond rings, one pavé-set, sit alongside a sparkling yellow gold choker set with 1.58 carats of diamonds.
