4 Oddly Specific Gifts for the Watch Fan in Your Life

Valentine's Day is around the corner, which means that in the watchy parts of the world, you're going to start getting inundated with gift listicles (gifticles?) purporting to have the perfect present for the watch person in yours. Undoubtedly, these lists will comprise a handful of watches from a range of price points and — if they're feeling spicy — a watch winder or travel case. All that is well and good, but if you've got people in your life into watches enough to have Dubai Watch Week on their radar, suggesting the latest Breitling or whatever is entry-level. Here are four gift choices for people who have two loves in their life: you and horology.

A Witschi Chronomaster Pro

If you don't have 24/7 access to COSC testing, this is the next best thing. The Witschi Chronomaster Pro is an acoustic timing machine that can automatically detect the six main test positions, as well as six additional positions. It also features a plug-and-play interface, ergonomic controls and graphic results and analysis. Now that's love right there.

A Visit to the Metalem Dial Factory

For those who know, Metalem is one of the greatest watch dial facilities in Switzerland right now. The Le Locle-based facility has made some of the most famous dials in the business, working with brands like Audemars Piguet, Chopard, IWC, Czapek & Cie and plenty more. It's been one of the mainstays of the industry since 1928, and is perhaps most famous for being Philippe Dufour's dial manufacture of choice. Being able to see where the magic happens would be the ultimate gift for the truly passionate watch fan. Now, full disclosure: we're not sure if Metalem offers tours, but surely they couldn't say no to love?

The Art of Patek Philippe

In the lore and legend of watches, there are a few key events that have come to shape and define the industry at large. One such moment occurred in 1989, when Patek Philippe celebrated its 150th anniversary. Over time, this event, which saw the brand release iconic pieces like the uber-complicated Caliber 89, has come to represent a turning point away from the economic gloom of the quartz era and mark the start of the mechanical renaissance. It put Patek Philippe on the map in the modern day. As such it holds a special place in the hearts of many watch fans. Travelling back to 1989 is sadly out of the question, but perhaps the next best thing is a copy of 'The Art of Patek Philippe', an auction for the sale of 300 Patek Philippe timepieces sourced from the brand's museum, as well as the aforementioned Calibre 89. It's just the sort of nostalgic ephemera that hardcore watch collectors can't get enough of.

WOSTEP Training 

Hang around watchmakers and technicians for long enough, and you'll hear the name WOSTEP come up. WOSTEP is the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program, a school originally designed to train watchmakers from around the world in the art of Swiss watchmaking. WOSTEP offers training for novice watchmakers through to industry professionals and could be the perfect gift for that special someone who really wants to get up close and personal with balance wheels. It might even lead to a career change.