Borna Bosnjak
The likeliest way for someone to get into watches is through a familial connection – in my case, both of my parents played a major role in my eventual fanaticism. While I mostly talked about watches with dad, it was my mum that kept my first-ever watch in pristine condition, only to give it to me years later, as well as pass down on an old ana-digi Casio she used to wear when I was in primary school. As hard as I try, I still can’t figure out what the reference of that (now lost) watch was. Our mums are the main reason any of us are around as well, and what better way to show your appreciation for someone than gifting them a watch? Oh, there are other ways to do that, I hear you say? Well, us watch nerds wouldn’t know any better.For the gathering gal – Cased in Time x Time+Tide D’ohnut watch caseA good watch collector knows how to take care of their watches. Usually, this is done by way of wooden boxes or olive drab watch rolls – but watch storage can be a lot more colourful than that. Partnering with Cased in Time, we’ve done our best to show just how colourful that is with the D’ohnut watch case trio. Whether you go for the classic chocolate, bright blueberry, or pink strawberry, they’ll have no issues storing your most precious pieces. If you are displaying them alongside actual doughtnuts, though, mind which one you’re biting into. Ask me how I know. Price: A$49, 25, US$30. Available from the T+T Shop online and the T+T London and Melbourne Studios.For the thrifty mamma – Casio LF20WTruth be told, you could put any entry-level Casio on this list, and I don’t think you’d get any complaints. The reason I chose the LF20W, however, is because there’s a general agreement in the T+T offices that it could continue the best-selling trend of the venerable F-91W. With similar proportions, this reimagining of the AE-20W Twin-Graph experienced a common trope with hot Casios, where they’ll be sold out everywhere for the first few months after release, with huge markups on the secondary market. Thankfully, that hype has died down, so you can easily pick up this resin cutie from the Time+Tide Shop. Price: A$99.95For the ana-digi amma – G-Shock GMS110While the digital G-Shocks take most of the mass-market appeal, I feel like there are ana-digi options that many people kinda sleep on. The new GMS110 is a good example. The usual complaint with these is that they’re just too big and too thick, but with a 42mm x 13mm case, this metal G-Shock is certainly more manageable. The host of usual shock and water-resistance features is still here, with Casio’s proprietary Neobrite lume on the hands. Price: A$549 from the Time+Tide ShopFor the mini mum – Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer Auto 34mmWatches (and the accompanying advertising) are becoming more and more resistant to the gender binary, but for a sporty watch that incorporates a few more traditionally feminine cues, look no further than the Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer. It’s a watch that does shrink-it-and-pink-it right, going for a subtle rose dial that looks just as at home on a new Lange or Patek, and retains the H-10 movement with its 80-hour power reserve. Sized at 34mm, it’s not the tiniest of watches, but that suits its style and 100 metres of water resistance. Price: A$1,850 from the Time+Tide ShopFor the vintage mother – Nivada Grenchen F77 Lapis LazuliTo the mums who like to jump on a trend, but do so unexpectedly, Nivada Grenchen’s F77 may be the answer to the integrated-bracelet question. With a 37mm diameter suitable to most wrist sizes, I believe the stand-out model is the lapis-dialled number. Naturally, each dial is unique thanks to the stone’s textures, and the softened features normally found on other watches of this type are softened for a subtler look. Price: A$2,390 from the Time+Tide ShopFor the adventure-ready lady – Doxa SUB 200TAsk any watch enthusiast, and they’ll tell you no collection is complete without a diver. Okay, that’s not true because I don’t truly believe that, but it?is?true that dive watches have become an everyday staple for many. The new SUB 200T takes the brand’s instantly recognisable design and squishes it down into a much more wearable case, especially for smaller-wristed folk like myself. It also essentially has no lugs and is impressively thin, coming in at 39mm in diameter, 41.5mm lug-to-lug, and 10.7mm in height. Price: A$2,550 (rubber), A$2,590 (steel bracelet) from the Time+Tide ShopFor the dressy dame – Serica Parade ref. 1174Microbrand dress watches very rarely fully commit to their description, often retaining some form of casual-wear sensibility. It’s a smart choice, but one that does lead to design compromises. You could expect the same from Serica, a brand popularised by its COSC-certified, vintage-style GMTs and tool watches, but the Parade ref. 1174 shows that couldn’t be further from the truth. The baignoire shape is emphasised by the gorgeous double-stepped geometry, as the case sits at 35mm in width and just 8.3mm in height. Though we’re all saying it, it’s yet another example of a gender-non-conforming watch that would look at home with pretty much any outfit, from denim overalls to black tie. Price: A$2,690 from the Time+Tide ShopFor the opulent old lady – Christopher Ward C1 Moonphase 37mmAffordable moonphase complications are often half-assed, many times simply serving as a day/night indicator. But that’s not the Christopher Ward modus operandi. In fact, they chose to make the C1 Moonphase all about the complication, allowing it to take up the entire top half of the dial, while the rest is beautiful blue aventurine. By removing any branding from the dial altogether, you can tell CW are confident about the design – and they should be, not least because it was nominated for a GPHG. Price: A$3,690, available in-store from the T+T London and Melbourne StudiosFor the majestic matriarch – Bulgari Serpenti x Tadao AndoThe previous suggestions spanned a wide price spectrum, but for those who really feel like treating their mum, there’s only one option in my eyes. The Bulgari Serpenti is just about the most elegant dress watch around, and the brand’s third go at collaborating with Tadao Ando yielded this spectacular aventurine stone and two-tone Tubogas number. Price: CHF 15,700
28.04.25