18th birthday watch choice....

[NDA]

A friend's son is turning 18 in a month or so and I'd like to buy him a watch - my budget would be around £250.

Is it unrealistic to find something moderately decent at this price?

I was looking at some of the Rotary watch models.

My preference would be a waterproof watch on a bracelet.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[anonymous-user]

I would certainly be looking at Tissot to a Seiko dive watch.

For your budget (or near enough), if you look at Tissot you will get a proper Swiss watch, from a proper watchmaking brand, for a very reasonable sum.

I've been though this exact thing with a couple go friends who wanted to spend £250-500 on something for their kids and they both went for Tissot in the end.

Nothing wrong with Rotary watches in my opinion, but to me, they just aren't cool or desirable in any way. They always seem to be worn by retirement age men who "Just wanted a decent watch" and didn't want to spend much.

I would avoid any 'fashion brands': Diesel, Boss, Armani etc. They will have plenty in the £250 price range but aren't proper 'watch brands' in my opinion and will be worth £50 as soon as you walk out of the shop

Big Edit:

Actually, are you sure you want to buy a watch for him? Is he into watches? Do you know specifically what models of watch he likes?

The reason I ask, is that if he isn't into watches, he simply won't ever wear it and it'll just sit in a drawer until the battery runs out. Then he definitely won't wear it. Many 18 year old's don't have any interest in watches these days, and if they do, they want a Smartwatch/Apple Watch etc.

If he is into watches, then he will be really really fussy about what he wants, and if you buy him something he doesn't like, he won't wear it.

I've always been interested in watches since I was about 15, and had various £100-300 watches bought for me over the years by people as I passed though 18, 21, etc and honestly, I never wore them as I really wanted a Rolex/TAG/Breitling etc, and I wasn't going to wear anything that wasn't one of those, as I was really fussy and specific in my tastes. I didn't wear a watch until I bought a Seiko automatic Diver when I was about 23 as this was the first watch I could both afford to buy, and actually liked, but as soon as I could afford to change up for something better, I did.

I think you wanting to spend £250 in a friends son is very generous, but I would hate to think you had bought something that would just be chucked in a drawer and never looked at again.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 16th November 11:22

[NDA]

All good points!

My son is not into watches - despite me buying him several over the years.... so I know what you mean.

This young man does like watches, I bought him a G Shock rubber thing some years ago which is never off his wrist.

I will look at the Seiko range, good thought. Thanks.

[vixen1700]

A little over budget, but the Marloe Coniston range are very nice and could be a good introduction to mechanical watches. A decent little British brand that you won't see in the shopping centre chain stores.

https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/pages/coniston

[r159]

Citizen automatic dive watch NY0040 or 84 or 86

New Rotary dive watch

Victorinox INOX

Metal G Shock

Tissot PRC 200 or Quickster

Certina Furious or Rookie

Citizen Promaster Tough (stretched budget a bit)

[alabbasi]

G-Shock Atomic solar similar to this:



Keeps perfect time, tough as old boots and less likely to go for a walk when he goes to university and shares a house with a bunch of strangers who invite a bunch of strangers to party.

[RSTurboPaul]

As already mentioned, watches are a very personal thing.

I cannot stand chronos and 'busy' dials, so ultra-clean is my preference - if someone bought me a nice watch that cost £££ I'd say thank you but then likely never wear it if it wasn't to my taste.

Can you sound him out WRT his tastes?

[Matt99man]

If you can stretch out to say £300 I would highly recommend something by Hamilton, I have two of their watches in my collection and love them to bits. Swiss automatic movement, great looking and in my opinion a step up from tissot etc...

https://www.creationwatches.com/products/hamilton-...

[anonymous-user]

Matt99man said:

If you can stretch out to say £300 I would highly recommend something by Hamilton, I have two of their watches in my collection and love them to bits. Swiss automatic movement, great looking and in my opinion a step up from tissot etc...

https://www.creationwatches.com/products/hamilton-...

Also, Matt Damon wore a Hamilton watch throughout 'The Martian' so that alone makes them cool in my opinion.

[richthebike]

Hamilton is a great shout.

https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/hamilton-mens-kha...

[AstonZagato]

Blowing through your budget, there are some nice watches at the lower end of Christopher Ward's range:
https://www.christopherward.com/most-popular?pmax=...

[NDA]

AstonZagato said:

Blowing through your budget, there are some nice watches at the lower end of Christopher Ward's range:
https://www.christopherward.com/most-popular?pmax=...

I have looked at many that have been way beyond my budget.... he's not a godson!

I have ordered a Seiko which should fit the bill - mechanical Seiko movement (decent in-house movement) and a nice looking dive watch style. Within budget too.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions - I looked at them all.

[anonymous-user]

NDA said:

I have looked at many that have been way beyond my budget.... he's not a godson!

I have ordered a Seiko which should fit the bill - mechanical Seiko movement (decent in-house movement) and a nice looking dive watch style. Within budget too.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions - I looked at them all.

Got a link to the watch you bought?

I had a feeling when I said Seiko that it might be the way to go. They do some superb automatic dive watches at great prices, and it's a brand people are happy to wear.

[NDA]

Lord Marylebone said:

Got a link to the watch you bought?

I had a feeling when I said Seiko that it might be the way to go. They do some superb automatic dive watches at great prices, and it's a brand people are happy to wear.

Yes, it was a good shout - thanks. As you know from our collective posts on other threads, I am a watch collector - but I don't know this segment particularly well. I do like the Seiko 5 movement, it's pretty robust.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WGMD9ND/ref...

[anonymous-user]

NDA said:

Yes, it was a good shout - thanks. As you know from our collective posts on other threads, I am a watch collector - but I don't know this segment particularly well. I do like the Seiko 5 movement, it's pretty robust.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WGMD9ND/ref...

Look really nice. I would happily wear that.

[AstonZagato]

Good choice.

[Barchettaman]

Yep, solid choice. That should set him on the road to watch ruin quite nicely!

[blingybongy]

Not a Seiko but a Citizen of a similar ilk and a personal favourite.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Citizen-Promaster-NY0086-...

[NDA]

Barchettaman said:

Yep, solid choice. That should set him on the road to watch ruin quite nicely!

Yes... it's a slippery slope. As you know!!