Call it buying a memento or just plain old retail therapy, but marking a milestone with a timepiece is always a good choice, because of how long it can last. It is also easily wearable on the daily, and that is what you want for a trinket of memories. 

But marking normal milestones like having your firstborn or graduating from university veers on the side of basic. There are so many other, often smaller, life events that are worth remembering as well. Here are some suggestions. 

Producing Your First Creative Work: Franck Muller Crazy Hours Jisbar

Whether it is completing your first painting or uploading your first YouTube video, the act of creating something out of nothing is always a reason to celebrate. More brownie points if it is a lengthier project, such as building a life-size sculpture or producing an hour-long documentary. 

To commemorate this, the Franck Muller Crazy Hours Jisbar fits the bill just right. That is because the complication alone is synonymous with creativity. For starters, the hour markers are not arranged in order, thus the hour hand jumps from point to point — instead of clockwise — as time passes. 

To add to that, this particular collaboration with French pop-street artist Jisbar marks the watch as the ultimate demonstration of the creative pursuit. An interesting piece to mark an interesting point in your life. 

Overcoming Your First Heartbreak: Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic ‘Midnight Mariner’ 

Just because there are no physical consequences from heartbreak does not mean that it is not debilitating, especially if it is your first time. In fact, it will still hurt when you go through it again, which is why it is good to remind yourself that you have been through the fire and can walk through it again if need be. 

Enter the Luminox Pacific Diver Automatic ‘Midnight Mariner’. The brand name itself will make for a good reminder of what you have been through, because Luminox has long been associated with everything robust and rugged. 

This particular model features a fully-lumed dial, which will be your light in the darkness (pardon the cheesiness). Add on Luminox’s trademark tritium gas tubes, and the watch will be a good companion for however long it takes you to get back on your feet, and then some. 

Paying Your Taxes For The First Time: Tissot PRX 

Yes, nothing is certain except death and taxes, which means that you will most probably need to pay your taxes sooner or later. But finally reaching that point, especially in Malaysia, is cause for celebration because that means you are a contributing member of society. That, and the fact that you belong in a different bracket now.  

Believe it or not, not many people get to break into the taxable category, so why not splurge a little to remember this moment? Tax breaks are not allowed for luxury items, however. 

Regardless, the Tissot PRX is a great timepiece for this income bracket, while also introducing you to Swiss watchmaking, especially to a brand that has existed since 1853. The PRX design is timeless too, harkening back to the 1970s and still looking very relevant almost five decades later. 

The goal, however, is to one day look at your wrist and see how far you have come since making your first contribution to the tax department, so there is that. 

Quitting Your First Job: Tudor 1926 

There are many reasons to quit your first job, and no matter your reasons for doing it, it is an event worthy of remembering. Because it can be unnerving to send in your letter or talk to your boss about what seems like a breakup.  

But it can also be exciting to finally take charge of your destiny, be it for a job that resonates with you better or to distance yourself from what you dislike. 

For this, commemorating your decision with the Tudor 1926 (ref. M91350-0005) makes for a solid choice. It offers the best value when it comes to exploring the brand, while simultaneously adding street cred to your wrist for your next venture. 

It comes in a variety of sizes too, ranging from 28mm to 41mm, so there is definitely a model for every wrist size. Plus, its rather simplistic design with just a date complication, and when coupled with the steel bracelet version, this watch will last through the rest of your new career. 

Overcoming A Health Scare: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar 

When it comes to treasuring life, no truer words have been spoken than Confucius’ quote: “We have two lives. The second one begins when we realise we only have one.” 

A health scare can quickly remind us of that fact. The scare does not even need to be particularly malevolent. It just needs to remind us to appreciate our given time more. 

That is where the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar comes in. First and foremost, if you have the means to spoil yourself with a Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece, post-health-scare would be the perfect time to do so. 

Also, while this watch comes with a chronometer, it also includes pulsometer markers on the chapter ring, which allows you to calculate your pulse wherever you are. 

This watch also features a nice round case that varies from the maison’s more popular aesthetic — the rectangular design of the Reverso. If there is any timepiece that will serve as a luxurious version of memento mori, then this is it. 

Getting Sober: IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month 

We all have our vices, some of us worse than others. The first instinct is to look at the worst habits we can harbour. But vice does not need to be borderline illegal. Doomscrolling can be a crippling example that removes you from your daily duties. Overeating can endanger your health. And video games could spark obsession. 

Which is why overcoming them is a milestone worth celebrating. For this, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month becomes an apt choice, because it is always worth keeping track of how far you have come. And the perpetual calendar complication allows you to do just that.  

The digital format provides more clarity on the passage of time, while the makeup of Ceratanium provides the lightness and durability that takes your mind off the watch and more about your own growth. 

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