The Laings Journal
It’s no secret that gift buying can be tricky, especially at Christmas time! An often fail safe option is of course a sparkling piece of jewellery for the ladies, or a handsome watch for the gentlemen, but these gifts are not ones to be given without careful thought and consideration.
Laings of Glasgow offer a wide selection of brands with hundreds of watches to choose from. It’s no surprise then, that the task of choosing the perfect timepiece for your loved one can become a little daunting. That’s why Laings of Glasgow have put together a simple 5-Step Watch Gift Guide to help make your shopping that little bit easier.
- Budget
Many of us may dream of owning a Patek Philippe or limited edition Rolex, but when considering a watch purchase as a gift it is beneficial to be realistic. Set yourself a budget within your means and work from there. It is important to remember that if you are planning a special gift many brands such as TAG Heuer, Breitling and Gucci have fantastic interest free finance options.
- Personality
The next step after setting your budget is to consider the personality of the person you are buying the watch for. Are they Sporty? Classic? Modern? Collectors? Professional (diver, pilot)? Whichever personality they are you are sure to find a perfect fit. Classic personalities may prefer a sleek, round or square case set on a timeless black or brown leather strap. Collectors may fantasise about the latest collector’s watch from Panerai or Rolex, so it can be useful to enquire if there are any special models available.
- Brand
Now you have the budget in place and you know the personality you are buying for the next step is to think about a specific brand. TAG Heuer and Breitling are perfect for sporty personalities as the majority of models are finished with metal bracelets and sapphire crystal glasses for added robustness. Those with a classic personality may be more suited to a brand such as Jaeger Le Coultre or Cartier. These brands offer watches with metal bracelets and leather straps. Many of the models have classic, sleek round dials and timeless colour schemes such as silver, gold, white and black.
- Style
The next thing to consider is style. It is imperative to think how the watch will be worn – will it be an everyday piece worn for work, sports, gardening or other hobbies or will it be an occasional piece only worn for special occasions. A watch that will have to endure sports and work will have to be of a robust design with a metal bracelet or rubber strap for durability. If the watch will be worn at night it may also be beneficial to look for dial with luminous indicators for maximum legibility. A special occasion piece on the other hand can have soft premium skin straps, such as alligator or lizard or perhaps a case crafted in precious metal such as yellow or white gold.
- Functionality
The last main point to consider before making your purchase is the functionality of the watch and how it will fit into the wearer’s life. If the watch will be worn everyday an automatic model may be the perfect choice as the movement is powered by the motion of the wearer’s wrist. A date function is always a good added function, or even better, a day-date function. Many watches also offer chronograph, moon-phase and second time zone functions all of which offer their own benefits. The chronograph for example, is perfect for those who often have to time different short events precisely while the second time zone is ideal for jet-setters.
Laings Christmas watch collection also holds a wide range of fantastic timepieces, perfect to gift your loved one. View the collection here.
Follow these five simple steps and you should be able to find the perfect watch for anyone, and remember, if you do get stuck help is always at hand from our online and in-store experts who can offer you guidance along the way. Thank you for reading, we hope this makes your Christmas shopping that little bit easier. You can view our selection of new and pre-owned watches online at https://www.laingsuk.com/ and in-store at Laings in the Argyll Arcade. Merry Christmas!