Published on May 30, 2025
Rolex; Chopard; Breitling
Tucked in between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, graduation is yet another agenda in some people’s packed gifting schedule. But it is an important opportunity to establish a future heirloom. The grad gift commemorates the passage into adulthood, and should be a reward for the hard work of getting through the learning stage to the working stage. It’s the beginning of a new life that involves, among other things, time management. That calls for an important watch, one that conveys elegance and taste. It should be practical, investment-worthy, and serve as a daily reminder of the rewards of dedication. It is also an heirloom as much as an investment and many come with casebacks convenient for engraving a monogram or a meaningful message. Best bets include anything that could be considered versatile and classic like the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso or the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle. But there is also plenty of fun to be had for young grads, so colorful or cool sports watches like the Breitling Top Time or the Rolex Oyster Perpetual also hit. Fashion statements like the Piaget Sixtie or the Bulgari Serpenti are perfect for female grads. Here are 10 suggestions for celebrating grads that run the gamut from smartly practical to wildly generous.
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Chopard Alpine Eagle 41
The Alpine Eagle collection is one for environmental buffs, as Chopard has made contributions to Alpine conservation with various editions of the line. The case is made of Lucent steel, which is 80% recycled, and the textured dial is inspired by an eagle’s iris, with a sky blue color obtained by a galvanic treatment. The rhodium-plated Roman numerals and hour markers are coated with Super-LumiNova.
It also comes with a great generational backstory. When he was 22 years old, Chopard co-president Karl Friederich Scheufele wanted a sports watch he could wear on the slopes of the Swiss Alps. He proposed a steel watch to his father and the St. Moritz timepiece was born. It launched in 1980 but was retired around the year 2000. A few decades later, his son, Karl-Fritz proposed he revive the piece with some modern updates and the Alpine Eagle was born. Take it as proof of its timeless appeal.
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Breilting Top Time B01 Gino Bartali
Image Credit: Breitling In the 1950s, Breitling sponsored the Giro d’Italia, the stars of which were rivals Fausto Coppi, the first racer to win both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same year, and Gino Bartali, nicknamed Il Vecchio. These two athletes were the rock stars of the cycling circuit, and they wore Breitling timepieces. Two new models, the Breitling Top Time Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, honor them as role models. But the more subdued Bartali model is a bit more subdued making for a better everday timekeeper.
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TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph
Image Credit: TAG Heuer This steel Carrera with gold markers and hands epitomizes the crossover between the dress and sports watch genre. It’s a design that works at a new job, but also looks just as great on the weekends. The caseback is open, revealing the automatic movement andTAG offers a complimentary engraving service, on the upper part of the caseback ring. “Graduate 2025” fits perfectly.
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Cartier Tank Louis Cartier
Image Credit: Cartier One of the most recognizable watches in the world, the Tank Louis Cartier was created in 1922, and now stands as one of the great classics in watchmakking. The elongated case with rounded brancards, railway track index, Roman numerals and blue hands are instantly recognizable. The newest version is larger, at 38.1 mm x 27.75 mm x 8.18 mm with an automatic movement, in 18-karat rose or yellow gold.
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Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 MM
Image Credit: Rolex The new pastel-dialed steel Oyster Perpetuals are fun and will stand out in the sea of Submariners and Datejusts often gifted to grads. One of our favorites this year was the 41 mm version with a pistachio green lacquered dial. It’s an entry-level Rolex—big and cheerful, but not flashy. It is equipped with the chronometer-rated automatic caliber 3230 with Rolex’s uber-efficient chronergy escapement and a 70-hour power reserve.
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds
Image Credit: Jaeger-LeCoultre Flipping the case over on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is more than just a neat party trick. It is revolutionary watchmaking. The first Reverso was launched in 1931, and its design is still as revelvant today as it was almost 100 years ago. This version tracks a different time zone on each of two dials. The blue side is coated by hand with 24 layers of lacquer. The flip side in a silvered gray dial, features the second time zone, which is set using a small secret trigger on the side of the case when turned upside down. Its hand-wound cal 854 has a 42-hour power reserve.
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Vacheron Constantin Anniversary Traditionnelle 33 MM
Image Credit: Vacheron Constantin This ladies-sized version of Vacheron’s classic time-only model from the elite Traditionnelle collection celebrates the brand’s 270th anniversary. It’s a nice alternative to the more decorative Egerie model, Vacheron’s cornerstone ladies’ line. It comes decorated with special anniversary edition finishes: the signature Maltese cross motif is etched into the dial, the movement bears a discreet signature for the celebratory year, and the bridges are given a “Côte Unique” finish.
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Piaget Sixtie
Image Credit: Piaget Piaget’s new everyday ladies’ watch has a trapezoid-shaped case inspired by the brand’s 1960s sautoir designs. It’s an ultra-cool alternative to more standard case shapes. Piaget is experiencing a big resurgence, so this is purchase you won’t likely regret. The bracelet links are also trapezoid shaped, with rounded edges. It’s available in gold, steel or two-tone, with or without a diamond bezel.
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Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori
Image Credit: Bulgari Women of every age adore the Bulgari Serpenti. But the Seduttori version, with a more standard bracelet with a scale design versus the serpentine wrap of the classic Serpenti, is certainly more versatile as an around-the-clock wear. This modern icon is stylish both as a day watch and evening-wear pieces. it will travel seamlessly from a night out on the town to the office. It is also a prestigious example of modern ladies’ watchmaking, with Bulgari’s new caliber BVS100, one of the smallest automatic movements on the market, designed especially for women.
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Rolex Oyster Perpetual 28 MM
Image Credit: Rolex An entry-level Rolex is a perennial choice to mark significant milestones, especially for graduates, but this is certainly one of the more fashion-forward models. The Oyster Perpetual, is a playground for Rolex to experiment with cheerful colorful dials and they tend to appreciate in value (especially when, down the road, colors get discontinued). This steel 28 mm version, with a chonometer-rated automatic movement and 55-hour power reserve, comes in a lacquer lavender dial, part of a new collection of pastels. It was a hit at Watches & Wonders and we suspect it will fly off the shelves. The case is steel and the movement is a chronometer-rated automatic, with a 55-hour power reserve.
Authors
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Carol Besler
Credit: robbreport.com
