70th Birthday Present Circa £350

[AMG01]

For my dads 70th birthday I would like to get him a decent watch, he isn't really a watch person but want to get him a decent watch, up to £350 to spend, any suggestions appreciated?

[vixen1700]

Something not obvious and different:

The Marloe Coniston Bluebird is rather nice at £299 with a good Japanese automatic movement. Plus only 200 of them made.

https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/products/conist...

[Nigel_O]

Any particular styles in mind?

I rather like Chris Ward at this price-point - nicely made with decent movements - pretty much something for everyone in their range, although you might need to raise your budget a little

EDIT - just checked some Chris Ward prices - not much close to your budget, but this one grabbed my attention

https://www.christopherward.co.uk/events/summer-cl...

Some nice Seikos available in budget

Edited by Nigel_O on Monday 26th November 15:54

[Nigel_O]

Or maybe a birth year watch

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/omega-Vintage-Swiss-mad...

[Barchettaman]

Steinhart make some lovely things at that price point, but it would make sense to try and work out what style he’s interested in.

[Wildfire]

The Marloe Coniston is very nice. Especially for the price. I’m very tempted to get one!

[Variomatic]

Practical (and often overlooked) questions with auto suggestions.

At 70, how active is he? Many 70+ have no problems keeping an auto wound, but (from experience with customers) many don't. Also, might he slow down in future? A cherished 70th birthday that no longer works reliably on his arm in 10 years seems a bit of a shame and can becoe a source of frustration to the owner!

The same goes for kinetics, btw, but possibly more so because they tend to need faster movements to charge effectively.

While many turn their noses up at them on principle, a decent quality quartz or solar (Citizen Ecodrive?) can be just as nice to wear - especially for someone who isn't that much of a "watch person" - avoids potential problems above. Despite popular wisdom, a good quarts is also perfectly able to last decades if looked after - my normal daily wear consists of 1 of 4 assorted quartz all from the mid 70s, and all still good for (low) tenths of a second a day.

[Speed Badger]

If you can stretch a little bit maybe worth looking at the Junghans Form C Chronoscope Chronograph? Looks elegant but still sporty for an older gent. Around £445 new but maybe cheaper with a bit of sourcing.



Also for a bit more elegance, the Certina DS-8 moonphase - around £350-£399 ish.

Edited by Speed Badger on Tuesday 27th November 00:28

Edited by Speed Badger on Tuesday 27th November 00:28

[andyman_2006]

There are some 30% off watches on Christopher ward, Auto Swiss movement, under £350 5 year warranty :-)

https://www.christopherward.co.uk/events/summer-cl...

Andy

[Dicky Knee]

Tissot Visodate

[Paul Drawmer]

Would your Dad want a mechanical watch, or would a quartz actually suit him better? As he's not a watch guy, maybe the extra accuracy of a quartz would be appreciated more than the mechanical wonder?

[Squadrone Rosso]

Mondaine make great watches for older people. Great legibility in the shape of Swiss rail clock faces.

[toon10]

Dicky Knee said:

Tissot Visodate

It's hard to say what watch without knowing what sort of style or strap he would appreciate but if his style is simple elegance then you can't go wrong with something like this for the price. As mentioned at this price point, Steinhart do a lot of nice looking, good quality pieces also.

[ZesPak]

Isn't that straigt into the cocktail time ballpark?



I've got the one on the left and it really looks exquisite. Pictures don't do it justice.

There's also some more distinct colours:

Edited by ZesPak on Friday 30th November 13:24

[Variomatic]

Paul Drawmer said:

Would your Dad want a mechanical watch, or would a quartz actually suit him better? As he's not a watch guy, maybe the extra accuracy of a quartz would be appreciated more than the mechanical wonder?

Very much this. It'[s easy as enthusiasts to forget what the non-enthusiast might value in a watch. After all, if most people didn't prefer quartz practicality then the quartz crisis would never have happened and the Average Joe would still be wearing a hand-wound Sekonda!

[Barchettaman]

Squadrone Rosso said:

Mondaine make great watches for older people. Great legibility in the shape of Swiss rail clock faces.

That's a really good shout. My elderly in-laws have matching his 'n' her Mondaines and really like them. It's a clever, classy design.

[Dicky Knee]

Variomatic said:

Paul Drawmer said:

Would your Dad want a mechanical watch, or would a quartz actually suit him better? As he's not a watch guy, maybe the extra accuracy of a quartz would be appreciated more than the mechanical wonder?

Very much this. It'[s easy as enthusiasts to forget what the non-enthusiast might value in a watch. After all, if most people didn't prefer quartz practicality then the quartz crisis would never have happened and the Average Joe would still be wearing a hand-wound Sekonda!

Tissot Visodate Quartz?