High time: The best watches for Christmas

A watch can reveal much about the wearer's character at a single glance, which makes deciding on one for someone else all the more difficult. The sheer array of options can be bewildering, so take away the guesswork with our guide to picking out the perfect timepiece, whatever your loved one's personality.

For the sportsman

A good sports watch should look the part and yet be hardwearing enough to withstand being put through its paces in a variety of pursuits. This stylish number from Omega has a case crafted from a single block of robust black ceramic, and, being a diver's watch, is packed full of handy features such as water resistance to almost 2,000ft, luminescent highlights on the dial and a chic-yet-sturdy fabric-effect rubber strap.

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Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean "Deep Black" in red, £7,900; omegawatches.com

For the minimalist

German watchmaker Nomos Glashutte takes inspiration from the Bauhaus movement with its modern, clean and simple designs. Here, less is definitely more – opt for the Tangente, its most popular model, which is equipped with the brand's well-regarded in-house movement.

Nomos Glashutte Tangente with stainless-steel back, £1,380; nomos-glashuette.com

For the traveller

For those whose work sees them constantly hopping across continents, a world timer is essential. This version from Richard Mille makes keeping track of time easy; a rotating bezel is marked with 24 cities around the globe that can be used to determine the desired time zone, while a blue-and-white disc indicates whether it's day or night in each location.

Richard Mille RM 63-02 World Timer Automatic, £POA; richardmille.com

For the businessman

A sharp suit requires a suitably sophisticated timepiece to match – and this is one you won't want to hide under the cuff. This beautifully crafted creation from Breguet features an ornate silvered dial with intricate guilloche detail, contrasted against the watchmaker's signature blue "moon" tip hands.

Breguet Hora Mundi 5727, £49,000; breguet.com

For the adventurer

Bell & Ross has decades of experience producing high-spec watches for the military and has drawn on this knowledge for this vintage-inspired timepiece. It takes its design cues from the distinguished blue-and-gold ceremonial uniforms worn by French Naval Air Force pilots, but don't be fooled by its handsome looks – as with all the Swiss watchmaker's output, it is created with the demands of professional pilots in mind.

Bell & Ross BR 123 Aeronavale, £2,150; bellross.com