“Round, round baby round, round / Spinning out on me”. It’s not explicit whether the underlying theme of this Sugababes song is an appreciation of mechanical timekeeping – the repetition of the lyric “got my kicks for free” casts doubt on the idea – but Mses Buchanan, Buena and Range were bang on the money if so. Watches (and clocks; and sundials, for that matter) are notable for their circular nature. Circular springs unwind to power an array of wheels, turning hands through 360 degrees to tell you that you’re late for another meeting. In a perfectly standard example of form following function, watches tend to come in round cases, too.

You don’t have to have the hottest limited-edition collab to win the respect of devoted watch aficionados. There are watches out there, hidden gems that they are, that represent good value for money and also mark you out as a person of great horological taste. Whether you’re looking for a dress watch, a dive watch or something for the everyday, these five are our top-secret, in-the-know, so-good-we-can’t-believe-we’re-sharing-them tips for showing superlative watch taste without going broke.

Before Hermès Timepieces took the watchmaking world by storm with the sporty yet sophisticated H08 and the carefree, summery Cut, it was beloved among collector circles for another family of watches: the Slim d’Hermès. It remains a formidable design in the brand’s portfolio. In fact, we would argue that it represents a peerless fusion of traditional and modern watchmaking aesthetics.

A watch, most collectors would agree, is more than a timepiece. It’s an extension of your personality. So, how better to show you really know someone than buying them their dream watch? We’ve put together a starter pack to help you on your way, with watch suggestions that’ll show you’ve been keeping up with horological happenings. Choose carefully and this could be the highlight of any holiday season – plus, it’s easier to conceal under a tree than that motorbike, drinks cabinet or the Mr Richard Orlinski sculpture they’ve been dropping hints about.

“Round, round baby round, round / Spinning out on me”. It’s not explicit whether the underlying theme of this Sugababes song is an appreciation of mechanical timekeeping – the repetition of the lyric “got my kicks for free” casts doubt on the idea – but Mses Buchanan, Buena and Range were bang on the money if so. Watches (and clocks; and sundials, for that matter) are notable for their circular nature. Circular springs unwind to power an array of wheels, turning hands through 360 degrees to tell you that you’re late for another meeting. In a perfectly standard example of form following function, watches tend to come in round cases, too.

You don’t have to have the hottest limited-edition collab to win the respect of devoted watch aficionados. There are watches out there, hidden gems that they are, that represent good value for money and also mark you out as a person of great horological taste. Whether you’re looking for a dress watch, a dive watch or something for the everyday, these five are our top-secret, in-the-know, so-good-we-can’t-believe-we’re-sharing-them tips for showing superlative watch taste without going broke.