Christmas Buying Guide – Our Top 5 Dress Watches of 2015

The end of the year is coming fast, and like most of us, you’ll probably have this big question in mind: what are THE watches to focus on this year? What were the noticeable introductions of the year 2015? To start with a series of articles that will look at sports watches, dive watches, chronographs and accessible timepieces (and more), why not start with the dress watches…? Simply because on New Year’s Eve, you’ll have to find what to wear on your wrist, together with your tuxedo. Here are our Top 5 Dress Watches of 2015.

The Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim

What is the definition of a dress watch? A slim, rather small and simple timepiece that can find its place under the cuff of your shirt and that can match with a suit or a tuxedo. Well, this Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim has all of this – and for a super-decent price. It features a hand-wound ETA/Peseux calibre 7001, fully decorated with Geneva stripes. This movement helps to keep the watch at a 38mm diameter and at just 5.8mm thick.

Montblanc found inspiration for the Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim in an old model from their own Minerva manufacture: the Minerva Pythagore. The Montblanc Heritage Chronometrie Ultra Slim is highly discreet but also elegant and will be perfect for a business meeting or a black-tie party. The best: its price – 1.965 Euros in stainless steel and 5.900 Euros in solid 18k red gold. Almost a bargain! Fully detailed here, in our hands-on review.

The Habring² Felix

If you want to be classy but not with the same watch as all of your friends or co-workers, the Habring² Felix might be a very interesting solution. First of all, it’s different because it’s made by 2 interesting humans (and not by a brand), Richard and Maria Habring. Then, it has been awarded at the GPHG 2015, meaning that you can’t really go wrong. Finally, it doesn’t come from Switzerland but the Habring² Felix is mainly produced in Austria – and that itself is very cool.

It is a simple looking watch. It is after all a time-only watch with no complications (other than a small second at 9) and considering the overall look, we can even state that it is a minimalistic watch. However, it will always be very classy. The good point is that you and only a bunch of connoisseurs will know what ticks inside and will recognize the real value of this Habring² Felix. Price: 4.450 Euros. Read our review here for more details.

The A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Automatic

With this one, we’re moving into the world of high-end watches, not because of the gold case but because of the movement that ticks inside this A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Automatic. When you buy a Lange, you opt for a superlative quality, which will be the same, whatever the price of the watch or the complications featured (something that the brand’s CEO confirmed to us in a recent interview). The 2015 Saxonia gains in style and modernity but the overall elegance of the German manufacture is still here.

We choose to go for the automatic edition, both for its daily convenience, for the beauty of its movement and for its slightly larger case (38.5mm). The finish is mega, the watch is comfortable and the look on the wrist is really elegant. All of has a price: 21.800 Euros in Rose gold. But consider it as one of the best value-for-money watch possible. All the details in our review here.

The Laurent Ferrier Galet Square

This watch is a point of conflict between me and my editor-in-chief. He prefers the blue dial edition and I prefer the sliver dial, nude look edition. Where we don’t disagree is about the beauty of this watch. This Galet Square is the front door of the independent watchmakers’ hall of fame. The Laurent Ferrier Galet Square requires to be observed to be understood. At first, it’s just a simple dress watch, with a rather naked dial and a strange cushion-shaped case. A longer look will reveal the details, like these splendid hands.

And then comes the moment you turn it back and look at the movement. This is when you discover haute-horlogerie at its best: huge polished beveled angles by hand, complex escapement module, flat surfaces polished  to the perfection… This watch deserves to be worn by mature collectors, in order to go further than its stainless steel case and its simple display. A true beauty. Price: 35.000 Swiss Francs. All the details in our hands-on article.

The Parmigiani-Fleurier Tonda 1950 Tourbillon

Dress watches don’t always mean simple watches and sometimes, complications can be included without ruining the elegance of a timepiece. Parmigiani-Fleurier introduced this year a tourbillon watch that, despite its opening on the dial to reveal a tourbillon, keeps the superb elegance of the normal Tonda 1950. Not only this watch is pure beauty and refinement but it’s also a complicated piece and a technical achievement, as being the world’s thinnest automatic flying tourbillon.

The Parmigiani-Fleurier Tonda 1950 Tourbillon is, considering its complication, flying under the radar – and that’s very appreciable for a dress watch. A large choice of dials (all with discreet textures) will help you to match it with your very own style. Finally, the movement features an astonishing finish. The price is according to what you’ll get: 123.800 Euros, whatever the edition. Details in our recent review.