5 Perfect Watches to Gift for a Wedding

The time it takes to say “I do”: five watches that celebrate commitment

Giving a watch for a wedding is anything but a simple present. It is the beginning of a story that will keep time for two lives. The great watchmaking houses understand this well: their icons don’t merely complement a style, they seal a memory. On the big day, here are five men’s watches that embody elegance, culture and longevity — perfect allies for a suit as well as for Sundays spent together.

Jaeger‑LeCoultre Reverso Classic Small Seconds: a case for a secret

Born in 1931 to protect its crystal during polo matches, the Reverso has since traded dusty fields for hushed drawing rooms. Its swivelling Art Deco case, polished gadroons and guilloché dial catch the light with a very French restraint. But the true luxury is the solid caseback: an ideal space to engrave a date, initials, a motto meant for two alone.

• Style: graphic dress watch, timeless rectangular silhouette.
• Movement: JLC hand-wound mechanical movement, small seconds.
• Why for a wedding: elegant personalisation, heritage charm.
• Indicative budget: from around €9,000 depending on versions.

On black or brown alligator leather, it courts a tuxedo like no other model. A classic to be passed down as much as it is worn.

Rolex Datejust 36: the promise of everyday life

Introduced in 1945, the Rolex Datejust is the very idea of the modern watch: automatic, water-resistant, displaying the date at 3 o’clock (with the Cyclops from the 1950s onwards). On the wrist, the 36mm steel version moves through fashions with an ease that suits men who prefer substance over spectacle.

• Style: versatile chic, multiple dials from understated silver to midnight blue.
• Movement: modern Rolex calibre, certified chronometric performance.
• Why for a wedding: a symbol of endurance, impeccable from suit to weekend.
• Indicative budget: from around €8,500–€10,000 in steel.

Oyster or Jubilee? The former is taut and sporty, the latter dances with the light — for a wedding, the Jubilee and a smooth bezel create a very “black-tie” elegance.

Cartier Tank Must: restraint that speaks volumes

Inspired by the lines of a Renault FT‑17 tank spotted at the front in 1917, the Tank remains a manifesto of Parisian taste: minimalism, golden proportions, vertical brancards. The steel Tank Must offers a refined entry into the Cartier universe, with lacquered or silvered dials and the blue gaze of sword-shaped hands.

• Style: Art Deco icon, slips very flat under a cuff.
• Movement: quartz or automatic depending on the version, to suit the groom-to-be.
• Why for a wedding: eloquent sobriety, literary charm, photographs beautifully.
• Indicative budget: around €3,000–€4,500.

The Tank never shouts. It whispers just enough to be remembered. On a leather strap, it becomes the ally of ceremonies and dinners that matter.

Grand Seiko SBGW231: the poetry of detail

At Grand Seiko, finishing is a philosophy. The hand-wound SBGW231, 37mm, combines mirror Zaratsu polishing and silky brushing with an almost Zen exactingness. Faceted indices, sculpted hands, a cream dial with discreet depth: you can read in it the obsession with “nothing too much”.

• Style: Japanese classicism, ideal proportions for an elegant wrist.
• Movement: hand-wound calibre 9S64, around 72 hours of power reserve.
• Why for a wedding: intimate refinement, artisanal know-how, durability.
• Indicative budget: around €5,000–€5,500.

It is the watch of inhabited silence: no ostentation, but a depth that reveals itself over the years — like a successful marriage.

Nomos Orion 38: the clear line

Founded in Glashütte after reunification, Nomos has refreshed the dress watch with a luminous Bauhaus spirit. The Orion 38, slim and long-limbed, offers crisp legibility, elongated lugs and an in-house Alpha movement visible through the caseback. It excels at modernising a suit without jolting it.

• Style: German minimalism, pared-back dial, contemporary elegance.
• Movement: hand-wound mechanical, carefully finished.
• Why for a wedding: gentle price point, design-minded spirit, an ideal first “proper” timepiece.
• Indicative budget: around €2,000–€2,300.

With an eggshell leather strap or taupe suede calf, it brings a cool note to formal wear — a confident Lifestyle signature.

How to give a wedding watch well: five precise tips

• Choose the right diameter: 36–40mm suits most men’s wrists and stays chic under a jacket cuff.
• Favour simplicity: a clean dial, three hands, no clutter — your wedding photos will thank you.
• Think about the message: an engraved solid caseback (initials, date, GPS coordinates of the venue) turns a gift into a talisman.
• Pay attention to the strap: black alligator for the ceremony, brown calf or steel for everyday. A second strap is the kind of thoughtful touch that lands.
• Plan for after: warranty card, servicing, insurance. Service is also the longevity of the memory.

Which style for which man?

The discreet dandy will recognise his nuance in the Reverso or the Tank; the everyday aesthete will choose the Datejust; the lover of secret finishing will gravitate towards Grand Seiko; the design minimalist will flourish with Nomos. What matters is not ticking a trend, but recognising a temperament. A wedding watch doesn’t merely dress a wrist: it illuminates a character.

The final word

Giving a watch on a wedding day is to inscribe time into a promise. These five proposals cross the years without apologising for being beautiful. Whether it is engraved, whether it barely glints, whether it fades into the background until the moment you catch its reflection: the right watch marries life. And with every glance, it recalls what two people promised each other.