Digital devices like smartphones and similar accessories can rapidly become obsolete. So instead of giving dad or the grad in your life a gift that might need to be replaced in a few years, consider the long-lasting gift of a luxury timepiece. Fine watches from local jewelers are beautiful and technological marvels in their own right, with the bonus that they can become a collector’s piece or a family heirloom.
Joshua Wilkes, watchmaker for TimeScape in Edina, admits that mechanical watches might never be as accurate as a $20 quartz from Target, but that’s not the point. “The reason to buy a high-end mechanical watch is an intentional enjoyment of, or nostalgia for, old things,” he says. Wilkes, whose appreciation for handcrafted excellence stretches back to his childhood days spent building Legos, believes luxury watches are still some of the finest things humans make by hand.
(Joshua Wilkes, watchmaker for TimeScape in Edina, works on a timepiece in the workshop.)
Bryan Moeller, store manager for R.F. Moeller Jeweler in Edina, agrees. “It can take up to 12 months to create one Rolex watch,” says Moeller. “The quality, care and precision necessary to make over 230 parts work together to keep perfect time is amazing to think about.”
Like many luxury watch retailers, Scott Rudd, owner of Scheherazade Jewelers in the Galleria, has traveled to Switzerland several times. “Watch-making is almost like a religion there,” Rudd says. A passion, history and competitive spirit spurs on Swiss watch makers to create better and better timepieces, continuing a legacy that thrives for a reason. Much like having an appreciation for fine art, “a person of any age or gender can appreciate a timepiece with a history and a legacy,” Rudd says.
Watches are also a fashion statement. Those who appreciate fine things want to accessorize with a terrific watch the same way they would with a fine piece of nonfunctional jewelry. Moeller says it’s a misconception that the rising popularity of cellphones has made wristwatches less popular. “Watches are as popular as ever because people want something of quality on their wrists.” He also notes that checking your cellphone during a business meeting is impolite. You can help young people avoid this faux pas during job interviews or starting out in their careers by introducing them to an appreciation for a quality timepiece.
Quality watches offer a variety of appealing functions. Calendar displays are most popular. Wilkes says, “Some [calendar displays] simply count days 1 to 31. Others can stay accurate for 400 years, accounting for leap years.”
Moeller notes that frequent fliers and pilots like a second time zone feature. “They appreciate being able to keep track of the time at home while in Europe, Asia or Los Angeles,” he says, noting that each function has its original purpose and also more practical purposes for daily use. For example, a tachometer is designed to judge speed and a chronograph serves as a stopwatch. Practical applications can be to keep track of a child’s 10-minute timeout, time the perfect doneness of a steak or keep track of time left on a parking meter. “Most people aren’t going to take an $8,000 Rolex dive watch 1,000 feet underwater,” Moeller says. “But you know you don’t have to worry about where you wear it. It can withstand most anything you throw at it.” Plus, guys like gadgets. “I’m not a farmer, but I think the moon phase watch function is neat,” Moeller says.
(Above: Hamilton Xxl Ventura, Below: Oris Aquis, descriptions below; photo by Emily J. Davis)
Once you’ve settled on preferred functionality, these Edina experts can guide shoppers through selecting the latest watch fashions. All agree that the popularity of extremely oversized watch faces from a few years ago has come back down to earth. Retailers were once selling many watches for men that measured up to 45 or 48 mm. The current sweet spot seems to be between 40 and 43 mm. More size selections are now being offered in women’s watches as well.
Rudd notes that the best-designed watches are not over-designed. “The best sellers, day in and day out, are timeless modern classics made by companies like Oris or Hamilton,” he says.
Craig Zaligson, owner of TimeScape, says buying luxury watches is an evolution. “When someone gets their first watch as a graduation gift or for their first job, maybe an Omega or a Rolex, both excellent watches with outstanding service, they’ve received something they can keep for the rest of their lives.” But some people want to collect watches because they like them and come to appreciate higher-end watches made by companies that create only a few each year. “Companies like Ulysse Nardin make only 23,000 watches per year. Other outlier companies might design something where they make only 800 watches per year. You order yours and wait for it, sometimes up to two years, and at prices up to $600,000,” Zaligson says. He adds that many collectors also invest in watch winders so that your watch collection will always keep time, even when you’re not wearing them. “It’s like caring for cigars or fine scotch,” he says. “Winders are an accessory item for gentlemen to help keep their watches in good condition.”
So whether you’re looking to spend $100 or $100,000 on a classic style or something sporty for weekends, these local watch sellers offer top brands at a variety of price points. And their Swiss-trained and certified watchmakers can ensure the continued quality and enjoyment of your investment.
(Above: TUDOR Fastrider Black Shield, Below: TAG Heuer Formula I, descrptions below)
Cover Image Watches (provided by TimeScape):
Ulysse Nardin Dual Time Manufacture
Features: An 18K rose gold 42 mm case with a silverized dial and a crocodile strap. Patented instant time zone adjustment. Water resistant to 98 feet.
Retail Price: $26,500
Ulysse Nardin Classico
Features: A stainless steel bracelet style strap and 40 mm case with a blue enamel watch-face dial and a classico chronometer. Water resistant to 164 feet.
Retail Price: $9,600
Inline Image 2 (watches proveded by Scheherazade Jewelers):
Hamilton Xxl Ventura
Features: Touches of the unexpected give this classic inspiration a futuristic and edgy feel. An angular crown is integrated into the case with its pointed tip signaling 3 o’clock. The black dial sports racy looks and a touch of fiery red. With a nod toward Elivs Presley, one of the first celebrity fans of the brand, this watch celebrates modernity with a case that elegantly flows into a stylish, smooth black rubber strap.
Retail Price: $1,345
Oris Aquis
Features: A 46 mm stainless steel case with a scratch resistant ceramic bezel, uni-directional timing function and a sapphire crystal cover. Water resistant to 1600 feet.
Retail Price: $2,450
Inline Image 3 (watches provided by R. F. Moeller Jeweler):
TUDOR Fastrider Black Shield
Features: A high-tech matte ceramic case made from a single piece of injected ceramic and a leather strap with red stitching. Waterproof to a depth of 500 feet.
Retail Price: $4,925
TAG Heuer Formula I
Features: A Swiss made, TAG Heuer Calibre 7 movement and a fixed steel bezel with a black and blue aluminum ring for day and night indications in dual time zones.
Retail Price: $2,050
