"I wanted something timeless," is an interesting statement from a man who just designed his first watch. But as his name suggests, James de Givenchy knows a thing or two about creating something lasting. (It was, after all, his uncle, the couturier Hubert de Givenchy, who helped ladies like Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Onassis radiate enduring style.) The designer's first foray into the men's wristwatch for Taffin, the jewelry label he began in 1996, is a ticking testament to as much. Named the Jimmy — "because that is what my dad and uncle used to call me," Givenchy says — the piece is a classic chronograph inspired by vintage Rolex bubble backs. As a designer, Givenchy treats each piece as a work of art, but this process — a technical journey that lasted three years — was different. "A watch has a function," he says, "it has to be practical." Hence its scratchproof sapphire glass, water-resistant-up-to-250-feet capability, and optional rubber bracelet for diving. It's available in a limited edition of 200 numbered pieces each in yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, titanium, and steel. "I wanted something I would want to wear," Givenchy says, returning to his favorite topic: longevity. "A watch that you want to give to your kid and pass on. That would be my dream. The watch stays in the family."

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