Which first decent watch, budget up to 2.5

[Rockatansky]

I'm considering buying myself a 'nice' watch for my upcoming significant birthday. I currently wear a fitbit or an ancient Casio dw3700 g-shock so nothing too stylish there...

I'd consider Omega as my preferred brand as that's what my Dad used to wear, in fact I gifted his vintage seamaster to my brother in law a couple of years back. It was a nice watch but not something I was ever going to wear.

I also quite like the look of the Bell and Ross aviation style watches, but I'm not sure if it's the sort of watch you could use every day.

So, budget up to £2.5k or so, what do folks recommend?

I don't expect an investment but I would like something that'll hold its value.

Thanks.

[ellroy]

New or second hand?

What style do you like? Big wrists or small? Manual, automatic or quartz? Bracelet or strap?

Far too many questions to start giving you a steer at this stage.

[mikees]

Used older Rolex OP, Used Omega Speedmaster, Omega SMP

So much to choose from , do you want dressy or diver like?

M

[dimots]

Buy the watch you like most that costs £2.5k or less

Pre-owned/second hand you can get numerous nice Omegas for that price - Seamaster 300m, Planet Ocean, etc... You could pick up a decent Bremont, little bit unusual and a very nice option at that price.

Go to chrono24.co.uk, set price to £2.5k and flick through the various brands.

[Rockatansky]

ellroy said:

New or second hand?

What style do you like? Big wrists or small? Manual, automatic or quartz? Bracelet or strap?

Far too many questions to start giving you a steer at this stage.

I'd guess second hand, bigger rather than small, probably automatic. Bracelet and strap are both fine and it would be nice to have something that I could swap from one to the other, but strap probably wins.

[Rockatansky]

mikees said:

Used older Rolex OP, Used Omega Speedmaster, Omega SMP

So much to choose from , do you want dressy or diver like?

M

Thanks.

Is there a middle ground?

Leaning towards diver over dress.

[Rockatansky]

dimots said:

Buy the watch you like most that costs £2.5k or less

Pre-owned/second hand you can get numerous nice Omegas for that price - Seamaster 300m, Planet Ocean, etc... You could pick up a decent Bremont, little bit unusual and a very nice option at that price.

Go to chrono24.co.uk, set price to £2.5k and flick through the various brands.

Thanks, I'll do exactly that later on.

[rattyuk2000]

Stretch your budget to £2.9k and you can get a new big box Speedy Moonwatch from one of the (reputable) grey dealers such as Dom Hackett or Iconic.

The only watch you'll ever need.

[Eddh]

Speedmaster or Tudor BB variant at that price IMO. Seamaster also a solid bet.

[Dicky Knee]

Omega Seamaster Professional. From someone like Dom you would get a new one and have change to buy a leather strap for it (you can Google some images to get an idea of what it would look like). My personal choice would be a second hand Breitling Superocean Heritage. They take quite a hit from brand new but a good buy used. As previously said Chrono24 is a great resource for finding out what you can get for your money.

[rattyuk2000]

Dicky Knee said:

My personal choice would be a second hand Breitling Superocean Heritage. They take quite a hit from brand new but a good buy used.

With a blue dial and mesh strap - good call.

[Gio G]

OP at that budget, if it was my money, I would go Bremont or Bell & Ross.

G

[GCH]

A few pennies more will get you a new speedmaster moonwatch or first omega in space (which wears a little smaller and is lovely).

[andyman_2006]

Bell and Ross, really nice watches, dont see that many wearing them either.

[seefarr]

I'd go with two of the interesting watches from this list and save up for the third. Or one of them and spend the rest on a dirt bike:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMc8USvO2cI

Ball Engineer Master II Diver
Frederique Constant Slimline
Junghans Meister Telemeter Chronoscope

[nikaiyo2]

Bell & Ross make great watches.

The BR03 is an easier wear than the BR01. I wear mine all the time, it’s fine with a shirt and jeans etc.

[Rockatansky]

nikaiyo2 said:

Bell & Ross make great watches.

The BR03 is an easier wear than the BR01. I wear mine all the time, it’s fine with a shirt and jeans etc.

I've got this in my watch list, if you'll pardon the pun.....

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

[T6 vanman]

As others have said …. Chrono 24,
Also spend a good hour on Jura watches
Is it going to be a keeper forever as your 'First decent watch'? if so Omeg or, Brightbling new
If it's going to be the first of a collection …. If the e-bay one appeal's then go for it


Spend some time thinking what watch you really want, I really wanted a Snoopy Omega but thought it was too pricey and out of my range, I've since bought a couple of really nice watches then realised I'd spent more than what the Snoopy would have cost … (So bit the bullet and found a Snoopy - but now have a couple of really nice watches that won't get much wrist time again )


If I'd have my time again … I'd just go for what you really want (Limited Ed special / Rolex / whatever) and with credit so cheap … sod the budget

[nikaiyo2]

Rockatansky said:

I've got this in my watch list, if you'll pardon the pun.....

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Lol, my eBay watch list is literally... watches!

Love the orange ltd. Great buy if you can get for £1500ish.

[Jag_NE]

rattyuk2000 said:

Stretch your budget to £2.9k and you can get a new big box Speedy Moonwatch from one of the (reputable) grey dealers such as Dom Hackett or Iconic.

The only watch you'll ever need.

Absolutely this imo.

Perfect all rounder and brand new too.