Max £150 Simple Watch

[Shermanator]

Hello

My 21st birthday is in July and the tradition in my family is that you get a watch for it however I'm the only one who is nerdy enough to have favourite watch designs etc in the family. As a result I have been told to actually pick the watch I want rather than being surprised like everyone else. This is where my problems begin... I can't decide! So, could people please suggest some, please also bear in mind that while I have an interest and favourites I don't actually know anything about them (a bit like the mechanics of cars, love them but don't know which end of a wrench to turn).

Criteria:

Max £150
Simple design
Not tough, something but to withstand knocks and scrapes (like a Casio G-Shock) is not what I want. It will be a special occasion piece so needs to be more classy than rough looking
Last a very long time


P.S To all the well-off PHers who spend £150 on a Valentimes presents and spend 4 figures of birthdays and think this budget is way too low, don't bother responding. I don't come from a well-off family. (Probabaly didn't need to add this last bit in, but this is Pistonheads and every thread eventually turns to slagging off the OP).

[r159]

Check out the £200 watch thread, you didn’t mention if you want quartz or automatic/wind up.

Orient do some really nice automatic stuff, check out these...

https://www.citywatches.co.uk/shop/orient/page/4/

Or citizen eco drive models

Edited by r159 on Saturday 28th March 15:25

[7mike]

Hi mate,

I lurk in the watch section more than any other on PH these days & regarding your last comment I think you'll may be pleasantly surprised by the help you can get here at any price range. My suggestion would be to flip through the watches under £200 thread and see if anything there appeals. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[bitchstewie]

I always think the Seiko 5 looks a lovely "honest" watch with a lot of class for the money.

[ginettajoe]

r159 said:

Check out the £200 watch thread, you didn’t mention if you want quartz or automatic/wind up.

Orient do some really nice automatic stuff, check out these...

https://www.citywatches.co.uk/shop/orient/page/4/

Or citizen eco drive models

Edited by r159 on Saturday 28th March 15:25

I agree, look at something like this (I realise it is shown as "out of stock" ) , Citizen Eco drive are fabulous watches. I wear one every day, and the quality is as good as it gets! I have several watches that cost a few thousand pounds each, but the Citizen is my favourite!

https://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/d/9602356/citiz...

[HTP99]

r159 said:

Check out the £200 watch thread, you didn’t mention if you want quartz or automatic/wind up.

Orient do some really nice automatic stuff, check out these...

https://www.citywatches.co.uk/shop/orient/page/4/

Or citizen eco drive models

Edited by r159 on Saturday 28th March 15:25

Orient came straight to my mind too, I've a Mako XL, probably not the style that the OP is after, however I've been more than pleased with it, the build, time keeping, quality etc they always get great reviews and there are loads of styles.

The Bambino is a lovely looking dress watch and can be picked up well within budget.

[iacabu]

bhstewie said:

I always think the Seiko 5 looks a lovely "honest" watch with a lot of class for the money.

I'd agree with this. Love my Seiko 'Sea Urchin'

[r159]

I have this and it’s great, very versatile bracelet, leather strap or fabric, it really works from smarter to casual.

https://www.watchnation.com/product/seiko-5-sports...

[blue_haddock]

I'd be looking at an Orient mako for that money.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Another recommendation for Orient. Certainly look at the bambino. Nicely made watches and lots of choice.

[T6 vanman]

I'd spend a few minutes (well maybe 2 hours or so) on this site - (Seiko 5 as mentioned for Automatic & Citizen Eco-Drive for Quartz)

https://www.creationwatches.com/

https://www.creationwatches.com/products/orient-wa...


Or if 2 hours is amateur hour, then this site ….. It's USA but I've shopped there before and genuine (sorted watches up to $250)
https://www.jomashop.com/watches.html?price=-250

https://www.jomashop.com/certina-watch-c024-410-16...

[h0b0]

I would be looking at Tissot in this price bracket..

[lostkiwi]

And some of the Bulovas.
I picked up one of these for £127 a while back:


Don't forget the Gates watch either (mine a golden gates but silver and blue are also available).


There's also Skagen for something more elegant.

Edited by lostkiwi on Saturday 28th March 17:26

[CharlesdeGaulle]

lostkiwi said:

Don't forget the Gates watch either (mine a golden gates but silver and blue are also available).

I had a blue one of these arrive a couple of weeks ago and I haven't taken it off! I think I paid £52.
Not very dressy though; I'd say it's a decent everyday watch rather than a 21st gift.

[lostkiwi]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

lostkiwi said:

Don't forget the Gates watch either (mine a golden gates but silver and blue are also available).

I had a blue one of these arrive a couple of weeks ago and I haven't taken it off! I think I paid £52.
Not very dressy though; I'd say it's a decent everyday watch rather than a 21st gift.

Agreed, but then an Orient Mako isn't particularly dressy either.
For dressy if be looking at Skagen I think or perhaps Dan Henry - say the 1968 for example.

[lostkiwi]

If you can push the budget slightly and sign up for the 5% discount this would be worth considering:
https://www.jamesmoorejewellers.co.uk/shop/bulova-...

[Fallingup]

May I suggest one of the older Seiko 5's. They're no longer in production but you can still find them on Amazon. There's several dial colours. Black,silver, grey, blue. Also a gold version. They all look superb and more expensive than they really are. They are very well made and reliable. My favourite is the grey sunburst of the SNXS79. They come on bracelets which are fine and comfortable but the watch looks much better on a leather.



Here's the blue one (SNXS77). Not my pics but I have all of them!



Here's my gold coloured one (SNXS80) on a Hirsch strap:

Edited by Fallingup on Saturday 28th March 19:22

Edited by Fallingup on Saturday 28th March 19:40

[Shermanator]

I have been looking at all your suggestions, not many are massively jumping out at me but I did get looking on the £200 thread (hadn't looked at before because I expected the vast majority to be at the higher end of that budget, although I now know that's not the case)

There was somebody with a Skagen on it so I got looking on that website and fell in love with this one:

https://www.skagen.com/en-gb/catalog/product/view/...

Is Skagen a decent brand?

[lostkiwi]

Yep they're fine. Been around a while and not heard many issues.
Made a name for elegant thin watches with minimalist style.

[kuro]

Had an email from Watch gecko earlier and they have knocked 50% off a couple of models during this virus event.

This one looks quite nice,

https://www.watchgecko.com/geckota-p-01-small-seco...