Suggest a watch
Discussion
If you had £8-10k to buy a gents watch as a gift for someone for a big birthday what would you be looking at?
The main spec needs to be:
Durable and waterproof
Can be worn regularly / all the time
Ideally automatic and reliable
Nothing too bling or anything with gold
New with space for maybe engraved message on the back?
No long waiting lists so something that can be obtained within max a few weeks.
As you can tell I know nothing about watches!!!
The main spec needs to be:
Durable and waterproof
Can be worn regularly / all the time
Ideally automatic and reliable
Nothing too bling or anything with gold
New with space for maybe engraved message on the back?
No long waiting lists so something that can be obtained within max a few weeks.
As you can tell I know nothing about watches!!!
I like the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Chronograph. Automatic movement, but only 50m waterproof so not much more than splash proof really and possibly not all that durable. The back is crystal, I don't know if that can be engraved, but it's such a pretty watch! There is one available on the Selfridges website for £7200.
(googled image)
(googled image)
Edited by AlexC1981 on Monday 17th September 21:24
AlexC1981 said:
...only 50m waterproof so not much more than splash proof really...
Where does this come from? I mean, I can understand dodgy brands putting a low rating on stuff because they managed to find one from a batch that passed the testing, but if JLC say it's 50m water resistant, why wouldn't it be resistant to 5ATM water pressure, which it would need to be to be certified as such?I know it's widely accepted that 50m means you can dare to wear it in the rain etc. but really, why...? Unless you're actually deep sea diving you're unlikely to even get to 50m in the sea, where the watch would still be fine, even if you're flailing your arms (another myth, it makes almost no difference).
I have two 50m watches, I've worn both to swim in. I wear a watch 24/7 so they've survived baths / showers regularly, no issues at all for over 10 years...
Don't get me wrong, if I was wearing that JLC I wouldn't be taking it swimming (it just wouldn't seem right for such a lovely thing!), but to say it's barely more than splash proof when you could comfortably go to the industry standard depth for recreational scuba divers (39m...) in it does seem a bit excessive
Maybe I should have just started a new thread, although I would imagine it's been done to death
Plain casebacks on Rolex models make them ideal for engraving. It's a bit below your budget but I'd suggest an Explorer, which should be relatively easy to get hold of without a waiting list. A white dial Explorer II is also a lovely watch IMHO and less obvious than a Sub.
Edited by gregd on Tuesday 18th September 11:22
Grand Seiko?
A modest sub-40mm case, available in a number of colours and probably the pinnacle of watchmaking at that price point:
This is probably my grail watch at this point:
Edit: Damn, availability might be an issue with this particular one.
A modest sub-40mm case, available in a number of colours and probably the pinnacle of watchmaking at that price point:
This is probably my grail watch at this point:
Edit: Damn, availability might be an issue with this particular one.
Edited by ZesPak on Tuesday 18th September 12:52
gregd said:
Plain casebacks on Rolex models make them ideal for engraving. It's a bit below your budget but I'd suggest an Explorer, which should be relatively easy to get hold of without a waiting list. A white dial Explorer II is also a lovely watch IMHO and less obvious than a Sub.
214270 is a good shout - definitely flies under the radar, but for a daily it lacks date which may make it a miss.
Boringly obvious I know, but I’d agree a Rolex meets your brief really well re being understated, reliable, waterproof, automatic & durable.
There are a great many fine watches out there, but it might surprise how many are so finicky that they fail at the ‘just put the thing on & forget about it’ test. Also, Rolex offers a five-year warranty for long-term comfort at that level of spending.
Plus, whilst I full-well know & appreciate that there are lots of other really excellent and lesser-seen watch brands besides Rolex, for those who aren’t watch geeks a Rolex does tend to be the man’s equivalent of a woman’s diamond solitaire or eternity ring for those big occasions. It’s a cliché, but it doesn’t make it a bad thing.
Surprisingly, a blank case back for engraving is something that’s harder to come-by these days. I’d have maybe suggested an Omega, but many of them come with engraved case backs or else the co-axials tend to have sapphire display backs. Perhaps their DeVilles do not, I haven't checked in a while, but they're not especially inspiring as a model. Virtually all Rolex offer a nice, large, clean slate for this very reason. With others you might be restricted to a small space on the outer circumference of the case.
It’s well documented that popular stainless steel Rolex are like unicorn poo, but something like an Explorer II (as already mentioned) can be bought almost anywhere from a bricks & mortar shop, but at 42mm and with numbered bezel & bright-orange GMT hand is maybe not as subtle as required. If you hunt a bit then a black-bezel stainless steel GMT II is achievable, and maybe even the classic Explorer 1. However, my recommendation would be a stainless steel 36mm or 39mm Oyster Perpetual (just as good as an Explorer but lacking crown guards and with a simpler clasp) – utterly timeless, versatile & classic. Or even a DateJust with smooth bezel (instead of the ‘blingier’ precious metal fluted version).
Rolex sister-brand Tudor also meet many of your stated requirements, but they would be under half the budget and with less brand cachet (if that’s what you’re seeking with your £10k budget).
Other classic choices with a steel case back, but a bit less durable & water-resistant, would be a Cartier Tank or Santos.
Even better, and with probably more ‘high end’ pedigree, would be a lovely Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso – designed for polo players many decades ago, the watch face fully rotates to protect the delicate sapphire crystal & dial, leaving a large, clear stainless steel case back to the front instead (and extremely amenable to engraving too). Again though, if you’re after 24/7/365 durability and higher water resistance, it won’t match a Rolex.
Grand Seikos are phenomenal, but tend to come with an engraved back already.
I don’t have much personal experience of IWC, so someone else would need to attest to their long-term durability & wearability, but their Pilot, Portugese & Ingenieur lines are all classic, high-quality watches in stainless steel which also have an expanse of case back for engraving.
You are really best just hitting the stores and getting a hands-on feel for what you/the recipient might prefer. There's plenty of brands, all with their virtues.
There are a great many fine watches out there, but it might surprise how many are so finicky that they fail at the ‘just put the thing on & forget about it’ test. Also, Rolex offers a five-year warranty for long-term comfort at that level of spending.
Plus, whilst I full-well know & appreciate that there are lots of other really excellent and lesser-seen watch brands besides Rolex, for those who aren’t watch geeks a Rolex does tend to be the man’s equivalent of a woman’s diamond solitaire or eternity ring for those big occasions. It’s a cliché, but it doesn’t make it a bad thing.
Surprisingly, a blank case back for engraving is something that’s harder to come-by these days. I’d have maybe suggested an Omega, but many of them come with engraved case backs or else the co-axials tend to have sapphire display backs. Perhaps their DeVilles do not, I haven't checked in a while, but they're not especially inspiring as a model. Virtually all Rolex offer a nice, large, clean slate for this very reason. With others you might be restricted to a small space on the outer circumference of the case.
It’s well documented that popular stainless steel Rolex are like unicorn poo, but something like an Explorer II (as already mentioned) can be bought almost anywhere from a bricks & mortar shop, but at 42mm and with numbered bezel & bright-orange GMT hand is maybe not as subtle as required. If you hunt a bit then a black-bezel stainless steel GMT II is achievable, and maybe even the classic Explorer 1. However, my recommendation would be a stainless steel 36mm or 39mm Oyster Perpetual (just as good as an Explorer but lacking crown guards and with a simpler clasp) – utterly timeless, versatile & classic. Or even a DateJust with smooth bezel (instead of the ‘blingier’ precious metal fluted version).
Rolex sister-brand Tudor also meet many of your stated requirements, but they would be under half the budget and with less brand cachet (if that’s what you’re seeking with your £10k budget).
Other classic choices with a steel case back, but a bit less durable & water-resistant, would be a Cartier Tank or Santos.
Even better, and with probably more ‘high end’ pedigree, would be a lovely Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso – designed for polo players many decades ago, the watch face fully rotates to protect the delicate sapphire crystal & dial, leaving a large, clear stainless steel case back to the front instead (and extremely amenable to engraving too). Again though, if you’re after 24/7/365 durability and higher water resistance, it won’t match a Rolex.
Grand Seikos are phenomenal, but tend to come with an engraved back already.
I don’t have much personal experience of IWC, so someone else would need to attest to their long-term durability & wearability, but their Pilot, Portugese & Ingenieur lines are all classic, high-quality watches in stainless steel which also have an expanse of case back for engraving.
You are really best just hitting the stores and getting a hands-on feel for what you/the recipient might prefer. There's plenty of brands, all with their virtues.
ZesPak said:
Grand Seiko?
A modest sub-40mm case, available in a number of colours and probably the pinnacle of watchmaking at that price point:
This is probably my grail watch at this point:
Edit: Damn, availability might be an issue with this particular one.
I always think Lexus when I see these.A modest sub-40mm case, available in a number of colours and probably the pinnacle of watchmaking at that price point:
This is probably my grail watch at this point:
Edit: Damn, availability might be an issue with this particular one.
Edited by ZesPak on Tuesday 18th September 12:52
I know nothing about watches, but quite like looking here occasionally: - https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/mens-watches pre-owned if that's an issue, but most come with boxes and papers it seems.
SturdyHSV said:
AlexC1981 said:
...only 50m waterproof so not much more than splash proof really...
Where does this come from? I mean, I can understand dodgy brands putting a low rating on stuff because they managed to find one from a batch that passed the testing, but if JLC say it's 50m water resistant, why wouldn't it be resistant to 5ATM water pressure, which it would need to be to be certified as such?I know it's widely accepted that 50m means you can dare to wear it in the rain etc. but really, why...? Unless you're actually deep sea diving you're unlikely to even get to 50m in the sea, where the watch would still be fine, even if you're flailing your arms (another myth, it makes almost no difference).
I have two 50m watches, I've worn both to swim in. I wear a watch 24/7 so they've survived baths / showers regularly, no issues at all for over 10 years...
Don't get me wrong, if I was wearing that JLC I wouldn't be taking it swimming (it just wouldn't seem right for such a lovely thing!), but to say it's barely more than splash proof when you could comfortably go to the industry standard depth for recreational scuba divers (39m...) in it does seem a bit excessive
Maybe I should have just started a new thread, although I would imagine it's been done to death
Hoofy said:
You can google the details but it's 50m water RESISTANT not waterPROOF. Resistance is 50m in still water ie you don't move your arm around. If it were 50m waterPROOF then what you say stands.
Upon Googling there's some interesting differences between the ISO standards for a 'dive watch' specifically and other watches, but I shan't pollute this thread any more SturdyHSV said:
Hoofy said:
You can google the details but it's 50m water RESISTANT not waterPROOF. Resistance is 50m in still water ie you don't move your arm around. If it were 50m waterPROOF then what you say stands.
Upon Googling there's some interesting differences between the ISO standards for a 'dive watch' specifically and other watches, but I shan't pollute this thread any more Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff