10 best compact luxury watches couples can share this Valentine’s Day

Compact case sizes are no longer a niche preference; they are trendy once again. Men are experimenting with smaller watches because, why not? Besides, these always fit perfectly under slim shirt cuffs. Some women who have been wearing bulky men’s watches for their technical features are also getting tired of not having something that fits well.

Watchmakers’ downsizing of case sizes over the past few years presents a great opportunity for gifting this Valentine’s Day. Why buy something just for him or her when you can pop it on from time to time, too?

Luxury watches in the 36mm to 39mm range often boast balanced aesthetics, comfort, versatility, and longevity of style, while still leaving room for serious mechanics and thoughtful finishing.

From discreet dress watches to contemporary sports models and independent high horology, the following 10 timepieces transcend gender categorisation, making them especially suitable Valentine’s Day gifts for couples who share the same taste.

Party people: TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph

The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph remains one of the most recognisable forms in watch design, defined by its square case and left-field geometry. This 39mm square case is crafted from DLC-coated titanium, offering a dark, matte base that lets the dial do the talking. 

Electric blue and vivid purple accents, as well as luminous hands and applied markers, cut through the openworked dial architecture, framing the chronograph counters and highlighting multi-layered elements beneath the sapphire crystal.

Colour continues through the details, from the chronograph registers to the stitching on the fabric strap, reinforcing the watch’s after-dark character.

Offering 80 hours of power reserve, the Calibre Heuer 02 automatic movement is visible from multiple angles, making its mechanics part of the visual experience.

Restrained elegance: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Classic

The Master Control Classic is a study in restraint and proportion. Its 36mm stainless steel case measures just 8.15mm thick, reinforcing its classical profile and clean side silhouette. The case alternates between brushed and polished surfaces, with short, gently curved lugs that integrate seamlessly into the caseband.

The silver sunray dial shifts subtly with light, punctuated by elongated triangular hour markers, faceted dauphine hands, and discreet lume dots positioned just outside the markers to preserve visual clarity. A fine printed minute track frames the dial without detracting from its symmetry.

Inside is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s manufacture Calibre 899, an automatic movement offering a 70-hour power reserve. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement features perlage, Geneva stripes, and a signed rotor.

Each watch undergoes the maison’s 1,000-Hour Control testing, applied to the fully assembled case for long-term reliability.

Modern old-school: Tudor Black Bay 54 “Lagoon Blue”

The Black Bay 54 “Lagoon Blue” draws directly from Tudor’s earliest dive watches, with proportions derived from period tool-watch references rather than stylised reinterpretation. The 37mm stainless-steel case is paired with a mirror-polished bezel and domed sapphire crystal, giving the watch a soft profile when viewed from the side.

The sand-textured blue dial introduces a matte, sun-washed tone that contrasts with the polished bezel, while gilt-free printing keeps the palette restrained. Snowflake hands and applied hour markers are filled with Grade A Super-LumiNova, emitting a strong, even glow in low-light conditions.

Powering the watch is the manufacture Calibre MT5400, a COSC-certified automatic movement with a silicon balance spring and a 70-hour power reserve. Water resistance is rated to 200m, and the five-link steel bracelet incorporates Tudor’s T-fit clasp with tool-free micro-adjustment.

Artistic soul: Louis Erard Regulateur x GoS

This Regulateur is a collaboration between Louis Erard and the Swedish atelier GoS (Gustafsson & Sjogren), known for its craftsmanship in forged-metal dials. The 39mm stainless steel case has a compact, rounded profile with polished bezel edges that contrast against brushed mid-case surfaces.

The regulator display separates hours, minutes, and seconds across three distinct zones, creating a technical yet balanced dial layout. GoS produces the dial using traditional forging techniques, resulting in an organic texture resembling wood grain that varies subtly from piece to piece.

The watch is driven by the automatic Sellita SW266-1, delivering a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. Blue hands, crisp printed scales, and carefully spaced sub-dials ensure legibility despite the unconventional layout.

Sporty glamour: NORQAIN Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Red Gold

The colourful Wild ONE Skeleton collection now takes on a more sophisticated, apres-ski-appropriate character, with a precious red gold version paired with either a white or black colourway.

Its 39mm case, 11.75m thick, features a red gold PX Impact cage integrated with NORTEQ carbon fibre, sand-blasted titanium elements, and a rubber shock-absorbing system designed to withstand extreme impact. 

The openworked dial reveals the COSC-certified NORQAIN Calibre N08S automatic movement, operating at 4Hz with a 41-hour power reserve.

Skeletonised bridges create visual depth while maintaining structural rigidity. Diamond-cut red-gold-plated hands and indexes are filled with X1 Super-LumiNova, standing out clearly against the movement architecture.

Fashion-forward: Dior Chiffre Rouge Automatic

The Chiffre Rouge translates Dior’s couture codes into a sharply defined wristwatch. Its 38mm case is built around asymmetrical geometry, sculpted lugs, and crisp transitions between brushed and polished surfaces.

The grey dial is engraved with a tone-on-tone cannage motif, adding texture while keeping the colour palette restrained.

A red seconds hand introduces contrast, referencing Christian Dior’s symbolic “colour of life”, while the knurled crown is accented with a matching red ring. Applied markers and faceted hands maintain clarity across the dial.

Power is supplied by the CD.002 automatic movement, offering a 50-hour power reserve. The movement is visible through a red-tinted sapphire caseback with a decorated rotor. Water resistance is rated to 100m, reinforcing the watch’s technical substance beneath its stylish design.

Curious spirit: Krayon Anyday

The Krayon Anyday introduces a mechanical complication that visualises the structure of the week rather than measuring elapsed time. The 39mm case frames a muted, two-toned blue dial organised into clearly defined zones that indicate working days, weekends, and the current position within the week.

Despite the conceptual complexity, the display remains orderly, with restrained typography and carefully layered discs preventing visual congestion. The complication operates entirely mechanically, without digital components or electronic assistance.

The automatic Calibre C032 movement is developed fully in-house, while finely finished components are arranged for clarity. The appeal of Anyday lies in its rethinking of information display, presented through gears and discs rather than traditional calendar apertures.

Cool complexity: MB&F SP One

The SP One distils MB&F’s avant-garde spirit into a sleek 38mm case defined by continuous curvature and bezel-free sapphire crystals front and back. The inclined time display and oversized balance wheel anchor the movement visually, creating a mechanical spectacle enhanced by the pared-down design language.

The model is offered in either platinum paired with a sky-blue bevelled flange or rose gold with an anthracite flange. Case height measures 12mm, with detached lugs rising from the lower case and reinforcing the watch’s floating architecture.

Powering the watch is the in-house manual-winding SP One movement, developed by MB&F and finished to high horology standards.

The calibre operates at 2.5Hz and delivers a 72-hour power reserve, with hand-polished bevels, internal angles, and engraved components visible beneath the sapphire crystal.

Quiet luxury: Parmigiani Tonda PF Automatic 36mm Deep Ruby

While the Tonda PF Automatic 36mm is always a beautiful showcase of refined minimalism and casual elegance, this reference is enriched with a touch of decadence through the combination of a deep ruby dial with a stainless steel and rose gold construction.

Measuring 8.6mm thick, the case is fitted with a finely knurled rose gold bezel, a subtle signature detail that catches the light and draws attention towards the dial, whose hue shifts between plum and burgundy.

It is finished with Grain d’Orge guilloche and set with baguette-cut diamond indices, whose gleaming linear geometry lifts the aesthetics without excess.

It is driven by the manufacture Calibre PF770 automatic movement, offering 60 hours of power reserve. Visible through the sapphire caseback, it features Côtes de Genève finishing and a skeletonised gold rotor, reflecting Parmigiani Fleurier’s emphasis on traditional high-end finishing.

Extreme action: Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic Date 0 Oxygen 38mm

Montblanc’s most technically advanced compact dive watch, the Iced Sea Automatic Date 0 Oxygen 38mm, features a 12.3mm-thick stainless steel case and 300m water resistance. A unidirectional rotating bezel features a ceramic insert and a luminous zero marker for precise dive timing.

Lending a contemporary flair to its serious tool watch cred is Montblanc’s glacier-pattern dial, created using the gratte-boise technique to reproduce the fractured texture of ice. Available in white or blue, it looks equally at home in the city as under the sea.

Applied Arabic numerals and rhodium-coated hands are filled with Super-LumiNova for legibility.

The automatic Calibre MB 24.17 offers a 38-hour power reserve and is also housed in a fully oxygen-free case, preventing fogging during rapid temperature changes and reducing long-term oxidation of internal components.