Watchonista Staff Picks: The Watches We’d Like for Valentine’s Day

I’ve never been a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. Still, when Watchonista’s Project and Community Manager Nicole Jarvis suggested we do a “Staff Picks” article on the watches we’d like to receive for the holiday, my mind immediately jumped to two brands: Brew and NOMOS Glashütte.

Now, I already own a Brew – the original, black-dialed Metric Retro Dial; however, in the last year, the brand has released several watches that have seriously tested my ability to spend my money responsibly.
 

But, if I had to choose one, I would have to go with the Metric Gold & Black because, after reading Rhonda Riche’s write-up about it, this watch has taken up residence in my thoughts, and I seem unable to evict it.
 

At this point, I can practically hear you all thinking: Okay, if you’re so obsessed with Brew, why did you also think of NOMOS?

That answer is simple: I’ve always wanted one but could never convince myself to spend the money. You see, I’m a pretty frugal person, so even though NOMOS models rarely reach the prices of 99% of the watches we cover on Watchonista, I still find it nearly impossible to justify spending several thousand dollars on myself.
 

HOWEVER, since we’re talking about a gift… I would like either the Tangomat GMT (because, since half of my colleagues are located in Switzerland, having a watch that can switch between time zones with a push of the button would come in handy) or the midnight blue Tangente neomatik 41 Update (because I’ve always loved this model’s unique ring date display and the contrast of the green date markers with its deep blue dial).
 

I should choose a watch that I can share with my partner (after all, sharing is caring). Or maybe I should pick something romantic and heart-shaped. Yet, despite these “shoulds,” I can’t stop thinking about this tiger-themed jump hour watch from Mr. Jones Watches.

It’s called “The Promise of Happiness,” and at the end of the day, that’s what love is all about.
 

No one who knows me would think I would like the watch I chose, but I absolutely LOVE it. Here’s the story: I first met Benoît Mintiens, the founder of Ressence, at a watch exposition in concert with the old SIHH show years ago. And it was that year when his uncanny Type 3 won the design award.
 

The rest is unexpected watch history. While Ressence has vastly expanded its offerings since then, that old-school design still haunts my dreams as the unlikely opposite of what I generally go for: flat, not deep; black, not steel; artful, not sporty; modern, not classic. Appropriately, this timepiece appeals to my romantic side, if even just a bit.