La Patiala's Kristen Shirley Shares Her Favorite Luxury Watches

Diamonds are definitely a girl's best friend, but a watch can be her best investment. Kristen Shirley acknowledges that the world of watches is a mysterious, machismo-filled world that makes buying a watch daunting if you're new to the game. Shirley, a former ELLE and industry veteran, has set out to lift the curtain on watches and their historical past with the Watch Encyclopedia on its new digital platform, La Patiala.

For the uninitiated, La Patiala is a go-to resource and an encyclopedia of all things luxury, from how to to shuck an oyster, who a bottle of champagne to offer, where to travel in Napa Valley and, yes, how to buy a watch. The Watch Encyclopedia is a collection of 50 articles debunking all the myths of watch brands, with instructions on where to spend your money, mistakes to avoid when making your first major purchase, and everything in between.

With over 15 years of industry experience, Shirley is indeed a trusted source of knowledge for the complicated world of watches, which aren't just a utilitarian purchase, they're investment pieces that stand the test of trends and time (no pun intended). Ahead of the holiday season, we spoke with Shirley about Watch Encyclopedia, her dream watch, and the styles she thinks you should gift (or ask for) this year.

Why do watches make the best gift?

Watches have been a traditional gift for special occasions and memorable moments for decades, and with good reason. The design of the watch has not changed significantly - a classic dress watch from the 1950s has a similar look to a contemporary dress watch. So, even though watches can be expensive, you know you're giving them a gift that will last a long time and stay stylish no matter what the fashion trends are. People also wear their watch a lot and look at it frequently throughout the day, so they will remember you every time they check the time.

What's your favorite watch you own? You must have a lot of them.

My favorite is my Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas watch. As a former fashion editor, I'm drawn to her distinctive design. It really looks like a snake wrapping around your wrist, and it's so fabulous. It stops people in their tracks when they see it, and you don't see many people wearing one, so you stand out from the crowd. I have the double wrap, which makes a very strong statement.

What's the number one watch on your wish list?

Honestly, there are too many to count! I have always loved Dior Grand Bal watches. Automatic watches usually have a rotor (a semi-circular weight) at the back of the watch movement that winds the watch when you wear it. Dior took the unusual approach of placing the rotor on the front of the watch and decorating it using different crafts, including feathers, diamonds and engraved gold. I like how it twirls above the dial as you move around. My favorite is the brilliantly feathered Dior Grand Bal Plume. It's the perfect combination of style and fine watchmaking.

What prompted you to launch La Patiala and the Encyclopedia of Watches?

I started my career as a fashion assistant at ELLE, and by the time I left I had an encyclopedic knowledge of fashion designers . In my next job...