9 of the best Valentine’s Day watches from humble to extravagant
Buffy AcaciaAttitudes in watch communities can sometimes seem a little bit adversarial to partners – feeling the need to lie about new watch purchases or lamenting the lack of shared interest in the hobby. Valentine’s Day offers a chance to remedy that tension, or just to reinforce the existing love with whatever love language you’re fluent in. If your love language is gift-giving, here’s a list of the best Valentine’s Day watches you can buy now.
Swatch x The Simpsons Sweet Embrace
Marge and Homer Simpson’s relationship since 1989 hasn’t always been the smoothest sailing – with the pair even getting a (very brief) divorce in Season 8 – but no matter what comes between them, they always end up back in each other’s arms. This Valentine’s Day special collaboration from Swatch and The Simpsons dropped recently, showing Homer and Marge in a wholesome hug and kiss. The picture continues from the dial to the case and even to the strap, where we see Marge’s lifted leg in the heat of passion. The 41mm case in bright red bio-sourced plastic is a great unisex size for any lovers of The Simpsons, or lovers in general. Price: US$110
Mr Jones Berry Late Again!
You really can’t force a hobby on someone if they’re not naturally drawn to it, which a lot of us may dread. You might think that if you could only just find the right watch, your partner would jump down into the rabbit hole with you! Well, it’s not likely. Thankfully, Mr Jones’ brand of eccentric animated dials is a perfect solution. This Berry Late Again! model is tongue-in-cheek enough to be enjoyed by even the most cynical people, and the ironic message only lines up once per hour thanks to the creative use of transparent disks. You can still tell the time on it too, with the whole strawberry marking the hours and the bitten strawberry marking the minutes. It makes the perfect gift for the time-blind loved ones in your life. Price: US$275
Second Hour Mandala Mk3
There’s nothing more romantic than supporting an Australian microbrand… Or is that just us? In any case, the Mandala Mk3 from Second Hour, seen here in ‘Bull’s Eye Red’, is sure to put a smile on your special someone’s face. Featuring a hypnotically textured dial, a surface-hardened steel case rated to 1200 Vickers, a silky 7-link bracelet and powered by a reliable Miyota 9015, this is more reliable than a box of dethorned roses. Price: US$570
Raymond Weil Millesime Automatic Infinite Burgundy
Still riding high from its 2023 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève victory, the Raymond Weil Millesime collection has grown into a force to be reckoned with. Its stunning sector dial explores space, texture, and colour with such perfect proportions, and the latest edition is definitely one to swoon over. There are two burgundy Millesimes available, with the standard production model being 35mm and coated with rose gold PVD. The second, however, is an 88-piece limited edition called the Infinite Burgundy. In a 39mm steel case on a matching burgundy strap, it presents a fantastic opportunity to buy as part of a couple’s watch pair, or just a standalone classic in the colour of love. It happened to be released to coincide with the Year of the Snake in 2025, so it also plays into the seductive serpent archetype. Price: US$1,650
Brellum Duobox 39 Chronometer MOP
We’re not normally fans of “shrinking it and pinking it” when it comes to women’s or Valentine’s Day watches, but this mother-of-pearl dial Brellum is too tastefully done to ignore. A Valentine’s Day limited edition of just 17 pieces worldwide, this COSC-certified chronograph boasts a column-wheel-utilising, La Joux-Perret-based calibre and a subtle pink face that’ll get your heart racing. Price: US$3,500
Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine
If you haven’t spent a night gazing up at the stars with your lover, it’s a beautiful and natural way to connect. Let the majesty of the universe wash over you with all its romantic notions, whether they be drawn from religious or scientific roots. In honour of that feeling, I’ve nominated the Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine as a Valentine’s Day watch in the luxury bracket. This was an early example of a watch picking up on the stone dial trend, even though this kind of aventurine is a man-made glass rather than a natural stone. Spending large sums of money on a gift doesn’t equal loving someone, but if you’ve got the wealth to flaunt, you might as well make it count. Price: US$13,600
Blancpain Ladybird Colors Valentine’s Day 2024
It may not be overly romantic to buy a watch from a year ago, but this limited edition from Valentine’s Day last year seems to still be available. I’ve also tried to keep the Valentine’s theme relatively vague so that the air of love could exist at any time of the year, but this Blancpain Ladybird Colors is just too cute to pass up. The white mother-of-pearl dial is a sumptuous backdrop for vivid red hour markers, a case fully set with diamonds, and a love-heart-shaped array of diamonds built into the sector at 6 o’clock. The seconds hand holds a pierced heart, which is driven around the dial by the automatic calibre 1153 at 3Hz. This ultra-slim movement also boasts a power reserve of 100 hours and allows the 35mm case of 18k white gold to remain a diminutive 8.2mm thick. Price: US$32,700
Breguet Reine de Naples 9915 Valentine’s Day 2025
Here’s a watch from this year! If you’re the kind of lover with cash to burn, this Breguet Reine de Naples will absolutely receive a gasp upon opening the box. Breguet’s Reine de Naples collection reimagines Breguet’s first wristwatch, made for the Queen of Naples, Caroline Murat. Although they’re all thoroughly modern watches, this particular reference is truly a display of old-world decadence like no other. The egg-shaped, white gold case is flanked with diamonds, with rubies set in the shape of a heart adorning its mother-of-pearl dial. Price: US$51,900
Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux
As a brand that has prized both the technical and artistic sides of watchmaking, the Van Clef & Arpels Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux is a culmination of expertise in gem-setting, complications, miniature sculpture, and grisaille enamel. All of the metal you see is rhodium-plated 18k white gold, and all of the jewels are of course brilliant-cut diamonds for a total of 12.41cts across 388 stones. The ValFleurier Q020 movement uses a retrograde module to gradually move a pair of lovers towards each other on a moonlit bridge in Paris, meeting for a fleeting kiss twice per day. It may be heartbreaking to see them fly apart once more, but it’s a reminder of love’s cyclical nature and the rewards of patience. Price: US$381,000
Time+Tide Timeless Pick: Louis Vuitton Fiery Heart Automata
This one’s not for anyone with shallow pockets, but the Louis Vuitton Tambour Fiery Heart Automata is certainly on point thematically for Valentine’s Day. Not only is the dial a true work of art in enamel, gold sculpture and guilloché, but it’s full to bursting with classical depictions of romance. The roses and flaming heart are symbolic not just of love’s beauty, but also its ferocity, as demonstrated when the animations are sent into action. Given the handmade nature of these watches you’ve probably missed the deadline to find one before Feb 14th 2025, but maybe you could plan ahead for next year. The original retail price was set at US$370,000, but if you’re open to purchasing a second-hand one, there is one for sale on Chrono24 at the time of writing for a little under US$460,000.