Tardiness is much easier to excuse when the latecomer is without a timepiece. At least, that's how the best defences begin: "Sorry, I completely lost track of time, I don't have a watch."

The latecomer can feign absolute shock when they realise it's three hours later than they thought it was. Alternatively, those who wear watches can amend this excuse by insisting that their watch is a cheap knock-off that is always running slow.

A quality crafted watch, however, should keep perfect time for as long as the owner lives, and many years after that. Time-sticklers will have no quarrel with spending a fair wack on a watch that will guarantee punctuality for life. We're not talking about the kind of Mickey Mouse watch you can buy for two squid down the Barras on a Saturday morning, here. Nor, in fact, are we talking about an Oyster Rolex or an elegant little Cartier number. Those searching for an expensive, well-made watch for Christmas will have to be quick off the mark to get hold of one of the exclusive Jose Carreras designs by top Swiss watchmaker Chopard.

This exclusive watch has been created by Chopard for the Jose Carreras Leukaemia Foundation, a charity set up by the tenor after he was given a successful bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with leukaemia 13 years ago. The company, renowned for it's high-quality jewellery and watches, is a regular sponsor of concerts and receptions organised on behalf of the foundation and recently teamed up with Sir Elton John to raise funds for the singer's Aids Foundation. A limited edition of 1,000 watches have been produced, and only four will be on sale in the UK.

Carreras is performing a charity concert in the renovated Usher Hall in Edinburgh on Friday with support from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Glasgow City Chorus. This will be his first performance in Scotland since 1995 and his first in Edinburgh for 20 years. The concert and following gala dinner will be a star-studded affair. The proceeds, which are expected to be in excess of £200,000, will be donated by Carreras to leukaemia research and care of sufferers.

Carreras, who is to be awarded an honorary doctorate by Napier University, was asked to perform the concert by Michael Laing, a manager of Laing the Jewellers, and his friend Betsy Stirling, whose husband Sheriff Hamish Stirling died of leukaemia recently.

The Carreras watch is a top-of-the range timepiece: steel fitted with a self winding movement, two superposed going-barrels, micro-rotor and a power reserve of 65 hours. With only a 1,000 in the world, it will soon be a collector's item. The reverse side of the watch face is inscribed with Carreras' signature and the logo of the famous theatre of his hometown, Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu.

Costing a few pounds more than you might expect to pay for a reliable watch, it's not one to be left on the draining board when doing the dishes.

The Jose Carreras watch, £3,360, is available from Laing the Jewellers, Edinburgh.

Copyright © 2000 Times Newspapers Ltd.