If it has to be a watch
- A serious independent. A watch from F.P. Journe, Laurent Ferrier, Rexhep Rexhepi (Akrivia) or MB&F — mechanical work at the highest level and a very different social signal.
- A vintage reference. A period Patek Philippe Calatrava, a vintage A. Lange 1815, a genuinely old Rolex reference bought carefully.
- A dress watch. A thin, elegant time-only piece from any of the traditional Swiss and German houses.
If it does not have to be a watch
- A serious contemporary violin or cello from a working luthier. See Where to buy a cello in Spain.
- A restored parlour grand piano from a top pre-war maker. See Grand Pianos.
- A modest but properly-provenanced work of art for a specific wall. See How to buy art for a villa in Spain.
- A single perfectly-commissioned piece of European craft — bespoke leather, hand-thrown ceramics, a set of hand-forged silver — from a working atelier.
- Books. A small, considered collection of first editions or important manuscripts.
The honest point
A steel sports watch is a legitimate purchase. But it is also the most predictable one. For a buyer who has already made it, the more interesting question is what they would buy if the market didn't have a ready-made answer.