Which watch for a 30 year old?

[driverrob]

My wife & I can't agree on a watch to buy our son, 30 next month, in the range £150-300.

They are all automatic watches and we each favour one of the above. What do you think? Or do you have another suggestion?
(He's a web designer/artist.)

Edited by driverrob on Thursday 16th April 14:23

Edited by driverrob on Thursday 16th April 14:26

Edited by driverrob on Thursday 16th April 14:27

[Dracoro]

Thing is, watches can be rather personal so your son is the ONLY person who can tell you which he likes the look of best.

Might be best to ask, or if a surprise get from somewhere where he can exchange for one he prefers.

Personally I prefer the white faced Seiko and the Tissot but that doesn't tell you which your son likes......

Edited by Dracoro on Thursday 16th April 16:14

[Slinky]

I know that this is all about personal taste, but, I'm 30 next month and wouldn't particularly like any of those watches I'm afraid (that's not to say I wouldn't be grateful!)

What does he wear at the moment, how does he dress?

slinky

[okgo]

Has he not got a decent watch already?

I personally like the Tissot out of that bunch.

[tomw2000]

At that price-level I'd be looking at the Christopher Ward watches.

If he's and designer/artist type guy, there maybe more styles that appeal to him and the relatively limited prodction runs would make it feel more special.

All imo.

[driverrob]

He tends to dress casually in a restrained way. I know he has several retro watches, including my old Seiko digital/analogue and my very old red LED Citizen.
Does that help?
I would ask his wife but I doubt she'd be much help - especially as she's more concerned with their baby which is due any day now!

[lowdrag]

The one you've missed out above is the Seiko Monster, only available on line and not sold in the UK. Very much in fashion and will always sell if he doesn't like it!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LATEST-SEIKO-DIVER-ORANGE-MO...

Also available with a black face if you look.

[driverrob]

I think the Tissot is by far the nicest looking of the four but its disadvantage is; if you don't wear it for a couple of days it really will have stopped and you'll have to set it right. Its power reserve is quoted at 38 hours, compared to 90 days for the Seiko.
Does anyone have experience of this?

[Asterix]

As said, being a designer, even if he looks a bit scruffy/casual - his clothes and 'look' will all have been thought through to the smallest detail. Watches are very specific like that as well.

Get something from a place that can give him plenty of choice should he wish to exchange or, and it can be fun, take him on a shopping trip with a budget in mind and let him choose himself.

Hope he enjoys whatever he ends up with

[thegobetween]

As a designer (apparently!), could I suggest one of these Rob:

http://www.finnishdesignshop.com/vakio-chronograph...

They are well made (produced by Seiko) and very rare in the UK. I've never seen another since I've had mine!

[Revs_Addiction]

At a push I'd say the silver faced Seiko, but none of them really float my boat at all....

I'm a similar age to your son, and I think they all look like something out of the Argos catalogue, (sorry!). For your budget you can do a lot better, and get something he'll wear for years...

As others have said, watches are VERY personal, and it sounds like he's into quite quirky watches, so the ones you're looking at may be a bit boring for him...

If I were spending that sort of money, I'd be looking at:

- Christopher Ward C8, (or a C15 if you wanted to get something more 'traditional'). http://www.christopherward.co.uk/
- Precista Speedbird, or PRS-5 http://www.timefactors.com/new1.htm
- Seiko dive watches, either the monster, or the red/blue bezel ones.
- Glycine combat, or incursore
- Tokyo Flash if you want something quirky. http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/

Another idea, why not look at 2nd hand watches. They can be amazing value, and something from his birth year would be a great tie-in!

[driverrob]

Some wonerful suggestions, guys. I've been browsing for ages.
A couple have taken my fancy.


What do you think?

[randlemarcus]

driverrob said:

Some wonerful suggestions, guys. I've been browsing for ages.
A couple have taken my fancy.
What do you think?

Of those, the black one. The gold one looks a little, erm, seaside arcade win, if you'll forgive me.

I'd go with some sort of hand crafted "watch voucher" for the present, then let him choose himself. Intensely personal things, especially at 30...

[ClintonB]

Revs_Addiction said:

At a push I'd say the silver faced Seiko, but none of them really float my boat at all....

I'm a similar age to your son, and I think they all look like something out of the Argos catalogue, (sorry!). For your budget you can do a lot better, and get something he'll wear for years...

As others have said, watches are VERY personal, and it sounds like he's into quite quirky watches, so the ones you're looking at may be a bit boring for him...

If I were spending that sort of money, I'd be looking at:

- Christopher Ward C8, (or a C15 if you wanted to get something more 'traditional'). http://www.christopherward.co.uk/
- Precista Speedbird, or PRS-5 http://www.timefactors.com/new1.htm
- Seiko dive watches, either the monster, or the red/blue bezel ones.
- Glycine combat, or incursore
- Tokyo Flash if you want something quirky. http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/

Another idea, why not look at 2nd hand watches. They can be amazing value, and something from his birth year would be a great tie-in!

I'd agree with pretty much all of the above.

Sorry OP but the original list look like watches for someone who's 15 or 65 (hopefully no offence taken). They just look too dull/simplistic for a 30yr old of art/design background. I'm a little older but that's really how they look to me - a bit too Greenwoods!

These things are very personal and I think you'd be a lot better off giving him an IOU and possibly a view of some of the suggestions being raised here. He could then put some money to it (or not) and make a choice of new or second hand - would mean something a bit better & into the automatic realm.

I'd say Glycine sounds like a decent shout but personally I'd go for a Lagunare - a little of the Panerai to it (long favourite of the design & similar fraternity, or so it seems) and for a lot less cash. I like and have thought quite a few times about getting one and they seem to be £700ish (new) downwards.

e.g - http://www.watches.co.uk/watch.php?wid=7794S

Another option might be an Oris - generally well liked for the money they can be had for.

Edited by ClintonB on Saturday 18th April 01:50

Edited by ClintonB on Saturday 18th April 01:54

[driverrob]

Too much choice and you're right; he's been living away from home for so long now we don't know his tastes well enough.
I took up the suggestion of pre-owned watches and found this one:

He has no pretensions to be a diver but neither, I suspect, do most men who wear watches like this.

[lowdrag]

I think you have taken a quick learning curve here! Yes, that would seem to be much more the style for a 30 year old in my book. But then that was too long ago for me too sadly. I'm sure some of the others here will put you on the right route once again. I do agree that the first set of choices did look a bit "auntie". Now, have you thought of letting him choose for himself? I well remember my parents buying me a new bike - with the best of intentions no doubt - and I hated it every minute of every day. Their era, not mine - I wanted a Claude Butler and they bought me something out of the ark.

[driverrob]

lowdrag said:

Now, have you thought of letting him choose for himself?

Yes, I have but my OH is insistent; he's had mostly cash for years now and she wants it to be an actual present he'll wear for years. Hence all the searching and opinion gathering.

[StevenJJ]

You need to let him choose.

I recently took ownership of a family-pass-me down watch and I'm ashamed to say it never sees any wrist time against my other half-dozen carefully chosen and considered purchases. I am considering passing it back up so it gets some use

Edit to say: He will only wear it for family occasions where you're all present if you pick a specific model for him

Edited by StevenJJ on Saturday 18th April 16:02

[driverrob]

Ok guys. It's sorted.
It's probably not what you 30 yr olds would have chosen. It may not be what my son would have chosen. But I knew it was the nearest thing to it I'd get my wife to choose.
When you've been married as long as me you'll understand the subtlety of that last sentence.

Classic and grown-up.
Married, soon to be a dad and soon to start a new life on the other side of the world. God, I'm going to miss him/them.

[Asterix]

driverrob said:

Ok guys. It's sorted.
It's probably not what you 30 yr olds would have chosen. It may not be what my son would have chosen. But I knew it was the nearest thing to it I'd get my wife to choose.
When you've been married as long as me you'll understand the subtlety of that last sentence.

Classic and grown-up.
Married, soon to be a dad and soon to start a new life on the other side of the world. God, I'm going to miss him/them.

I'm sure he'll love it - may he wear it in good health.