SpotlightTimeless Love: A Classic Horological Hamper For Valentine’s Day

Isn’t it strange that the colour red is associated with both anger and love? Besides, it also represents Mars—the Red Planet, which in Roman mythology has been assigned the cult status of God of War, fabled to have military might and a passionate temperament—perhaps the prerequisites of a successful leader according to ancient scriptures. It’s interesting to note that any strong emotion stems from passion, and maybe that’s why humans have ascribed the deep scarlet hue to strong feelings such as love, danger or anger. Just like the month of February, that’s synonymous with love, as one finds people regaling their significant others with presents and specially curated experiences to keep up with the spirit of Valentine’s Day. Traditionally, red used to be a dominant theme in terms of gifting—roses, heart-shaped pillows, soft toys, cards, candy and even perfume in red bottles; readily available at your nearest mom-and-pop stores.

The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’ features a brown dial with a matching leather strap, inspired by the suit worn by the famed French author and pilot

₹4,04,000

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The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m with a 43mm red gold case looks gorgeous with a chocolate brown dial that displays the month and date windows at three o’clock

But now there’s been a paradigm shift in terms of preferences as one is spoilt for choice. Luxury players have stepped in with lavish offerings that get you In the Mood for Love (couldn’t resist the pun), and watch brands, too, are going the whole hog in keeping up with the February 14 celebrations. While maisons such as Breguet, Blancpain, Cartier, Bulgari, Chopard and Van Cleef & Arpels have exquisite poetic pieces that celebrate this emotion; others capture the theme in a more understated and approachable way. So the pertinent question is, how should one pick out an haute horlogerie piece if the clichéd pair watches is just not your thing; not everyone wants to ‘twin’ with their partner, right? We have taken the liberty of reinterpreting your routine Valentine’s Day gift hamper into one of the horological variety, with a timeless appeal. Building on classic gifting staples such as chocolates, flowers, champagne and wine; we have curated the perfect timepieces to suit your palate. After all, who would mind the thought of wrist candy, while sipping that bubbly and indulging in some decadent flavours, probably re-watching The Notebook or Love Actually, for the nth time!

Rado Centrix

₹2,43,800

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Chocolate

There’s no such thing as too much chocolate. And for those who firmly believe that any celebration is incomplete without this gift of the cocoa bean, then the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m should definitely be on your radar. This 43mm piece crafted in red gold looks absolutely gorgeous with a chocolate brown dial that displays the month and date windows at the three o’clock position. It is protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and is powered by the in-house co-axial calibre 8611. There’s also the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’ that features a brown dial with a matching leather strap, inspired by the flying suit worn by the famed French author and pilot. Powered by an automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve, the watch’s soft-iron inner case optimally shields it against magnetic fields.

Zenith Chronomaster

₹15,35,900

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The Zenith El Primero Legend of Cohiba is another objet d’art with its rose gold and brown hues. Launched in 2016 as a partnership between Zenith and Habanos—the company that produces the famed Cohiba cigars—this watch is for true connoisseurs of all the finer things in life. The 42mm rose gold case middle is engraved with the year 1966, while the rich dial displays the small seconds at nine o’clock, 30-minute counter at three and 12-hour counter at six. It also embodies the tawny hues of tobacco leaves—a tribute to Cohiba cigars. The watch is presented on a brown leather strap, which adds to the style quotient.

The Omega Constellation 27mm in rose gold has a brown sunray pattern on the dial, which resembles a sea shell—a pattern often found on artisanal chocolates

₹16,24,900

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The elegant La Grande Classique de Longines with its sunray brown dial, set with 12 diamond hour markers is perfect for someone who appreciates a minimal aesthetic

₹1,75,000

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For the dames, though we would not like to cramp anyone’s horological style, since watches should be beyond gender restrictions; the Omega Constellation 27mm in rose gold with a chocolate brown dial is an absolute stunner. The sunray pattern on the dial resembles a sea shell—a design often found in artisanal chocolates. It is also replete with diamond-set indexes and protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. This watch is presented on an 18-karat matching red gold bracelet. There’s also the elegant La Grande Classique de Longines with its sunray brown dial, set with 12 diamond hour markers—perfect for someone who appreciates a minimal aesthetic. Another distinct piece in this mix is the Rado Centrix Automatic Diamonds that looks delectable with its deep chocolate brown and rose gold PVD finish. The timepiece comes in a round 28mm case, water resistant to 30m. The dial is adorned with 12 diamond hour markers, and is protected by a sapphire crystal glass that imparts a scratch-free shine.

Candy

Available in various flavours and shapes, any hamper is incomplete without the good ol’ candies that add to the charm and joy of gifting. This offering from Nomos Glashütte is ideal for anyone with a small wrist or a penchant for clutter-free dials. The Orion Rose measures 33mm, and the subtle blush hue of the dial makes it perfect for daytime wear. So, if a nice romantic laidback brunch is on your mind, this watch is perfectly suited to the occasion. It is powered by a handcrafted manual-winding Alpha calibre, which needs to be wound every other day.

Nomos Glashutte Orion

₹1,63,800

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The Omega De Ville Ladymatic, also reflecting candy-pink hues, features a mother-of-pearl dial, with a date window at three o’clock and diamond-set indexes. With a stainless steel case measuring 34mm, the watch is presented on a matching polished metal bracelet. Once can get a glimpse of the internal workings of this watch, through the transparent caseback, which displays Omega’s co-axial calibre 8520.

Champagne

An integral part of celebrations, important milestones and festive revelry; champagne is an important element to keep one’s spirits up, while soaking in the fun at such joyous occasions. So raise a toast to your partner with the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual that combines elegance with contemporary sophistication. Crafted in steel and 18-karat rose gold, this watch’s dial in a champagne hue complements its understated design, despite being a mechanical complication with functions such as an annual calendar, date, and chronograph with a tachymeter scale.

Carl F. Bucherer Heritage

₹12,17,160

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And, for fans of minimalism, there is Movado’s Edge with its exquisite champagne dial and a matching metallic bracelet. The brand’s signature dot at 12 o’clock is raised and polished to perfection, placed on the iridescent dial, which has been kept neat, with just two hands for the elapsed time.

Movado Edge

₹90,545

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Red Wine

A gift from the gods, or manna from heaven, they say life is too short to drink bad wine. Traditionally derived from the goodness of juicy grapes, this is one of the oldest drinks known to mankind, and has been a part of countless ceremonious occasions.

Constructed in the figure of a snake, the Serpenti is one of Bulgari's most famous icons. This gorgeous red piece presented on a wrap strap, keeps up with the spirit of Valentine's Day

The Bulgari Serpenti features a 27mm stainless steel case with a red lacquered dial. The oval bezel is adorned with sparkling diamonds, and the watch is powered by a quartz movement

BVLGARI Serpenti

₹4,50,000

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If you prefer a rich red over a fresh bubbly, take your cues from this drink and opt for the H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds watch that is inspired by the deep colour codes of the vino. The elegant timepiece stands out for its minimalistic design with a clean display, set in a 38mm steel case with a diamond-set bezel. The rich burgundy fumé dial looks striking with a sun-brushed finish. The watch is powered by an automatic manufacture movement, which supplies a power reserve of 72 hours.

H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour

₹14,34,000

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Another outstanding watch paying homage to the glorious mead is the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date with a deep crimson dial. It stands out for its simple aesthetic, which is a nod to its traditional watchmaking style, blended with contemporary codes, unlike several other aviation watches that come with busy dials. Its distinct oversized crown helps controlling the functions with more ease. The timepiece comes in a 40mm case and is presented on a vintage brown leather strap.

Flowers

Romance has always been associated with flowers, and rightly so. After all, the amount of joy that nature provides is unparalleled. The Zenith Defy 21 Ultraviolet is reminiscent of violets that often grow wild. The brand’s revolutionary 1/100th-of-a-second El Primero 21 chronograph calibre is fitted inside the 44mm titanium case, beating at a frequency of 50Hz. This is visible through a skeletonised dial, which features three grey chronograph registers and a grey flange ring. A vibrant violet strap complements the design features of this edgy timepiece.

Zenith Defy

₹13,90,000

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The Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Plum Blossom is a minimalist timepiece that features aventurine glass for the dial, with just the hour and the minute hands in pink gold

Inspired by a flower, the brand have placed a gold blossom at nine o’clock, which indicates the small seconds, completing one rotation per minute

Girard-Perregaux Cat's Eye

₹33,70,000

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The Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Plum Blossom, too, captures the beauty of a flower in a simple yet elegant manner. Crafted in a pink gold elliptical case, this minimalist, poetic timepiece features aventurine glass for the dial, with just the hour and the minute hands in pink gold. Inspired by a flower, the brand have placed a gold blossom at nine o’clock, which indicates the small seconds, completing one rotation per minute. The Cat’s Eye Plum Blossom is powered by the GP03300 movement, which is decorated with Geneva stripes, perlage, blued screws and a skeletonised pink gold rotor—also designed in the shape of a petal cluster.