One of the greatest gifts you can buy someone – or yourself, a luxury watch is both an investment and a point of pride. You might remember my recent review of Weird Ape watches: watch review . For their fashion connotations, for their beauty and for their practicality – a watch makes a terrific present for men and women. 2016 has witnessed watch buyers become more interested in simple, uncomplicated designs and technology. But what do YOU select and why?

Here are three ideas for timeless timepieces you can buy for that special someone in your life, my Birthday and Mother's Day is just around the corner! Or, of course, you can always treat yourself. Make sure you take care of a purchase like this with watch insurance.

Watch trends for him 

The Minimalist Choice – Longines Master Collection L2.718.4.70.3

A dress watch that is sleek, sophisticated and designed to effortlessly mimic the design sensibilities of the 1940’s era with its crocodile strap details, this is a beautiful example of a minimalist timepiece. The Longines Master Collection 38mm has a 21 jewel automatic movement and is water resistant to 30m with a 38mm sapphire glass case. This is a watch that has as much sensibility as it does dress appeal. The silver elements contrast with the brown strap, creating a watch great for winter formal occasions like the office party. Priced at an affordable £2,200 and up, visit the Longines site for more information.

The Diver’s Choice – Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black

While this watch will not suit everyone’s budget, it’s a beautiful piece of engineering that will be appreciated by anyone who dives. It’s new for October 2016 too, so you’ll be one of the few sporting such a beautiful design. It’s a bold, all-black watch that can take on 600 metre dives thanks to its ceramic construction. Inspired by the dark side of the moon, these watches are out of this world when it comes to durability and technical achievement. However, with prices starting from £7,000, this is for serious divers only.

The Trendy Luxury Choice – Breitling Navitimer in blue

Breitling is synonymous with quality, and nothing has changed over the years. However, many watch trends in 2016 seem to have prized blue faces – with little surprise, as blue is a versatile colour that matches virtually any outfit. The Navitimer men’s watch is a delightful instrument that looks absolutely spellbinding on any man’s wrist. It captures attention immediately and is a favoured timepiece for pilots and aeronautical experts alike. The mechanical chronograph is crafted in Breitling’s workshop and is a true technical marvel.

Available from£5,999.

Watch trends for her 

The Minimalist Choice – Montblanc Tradition

The Montblanc Tradition is a masterpiece in 36mm. It’s a simplistic piece that features a classic guilloche dial with Roman numerals and a small date function. Uncluttered and unassuming, but engineered to offer the finest level of quality. The watch also has 30 metres of water resistance and comes with a beautiful strap. While it’s unisex, this is a piece that will suit a businesswomen looking for a clean, elegant dress watch. Prices start at£930.

 The Diver’s Choice – Oris Diving

Oris Diving watches perfectly capture the sleek trends of 2017, with a bold black face on a sturdy metallic strap. Built for diving first and foremost, the watch offers 300 metres of water resistance and is engineered specifically to fit a women’s wrists. The model has an immaculate display with a sapphire crystal watch face. Swiss-made movement completes the watch – a truly dependable diving model that does not compromise on quality.

The Trendy Luxury Model – Chanel Boy.Friend

In the fashion world, Chanel reigns supreme. One of the most instantly recognisable, sought-after brands on the planet, Chanel speaks of quality in a way many watches can never hope to. This Boy.Friend model features a diamond bezel and a sleek black strap that complements the simplistic face. It’s a modern watch for a modern woman – but is adorned with the type of luxury you’d expect from a fashion leader. Prices start from £3,200 for the non-diamond version and £5,700 for the one pictured.

Sleek, sophisticated and low-key is the name of the game for 2017. Even if you don’t have the money to afford these luxury brands, learning from the styles and features they offer can guarantee you make a good purchase on whatever brand you choose.

If you are looking for a truly dependable diving model then i recommend looking at Citizen or Seiko models.