Circa £2000 watch choices

[gregs656]

mickyh7 said:

Have a think about what you've just typed!
Then price a cashback.

What about it? ‘Unmoveable’ is nonsense.

[JatHanspal]

Nice gift for an 18 year old to have a 2k watch. Based on all comments here, I definitely would take him to pick it, and perhaps start with a shortlist that you have filtered down.

For a quick scan over, I would suggest the two below may work well for an 18 year old - nice designs, decent brands, automatics, well in budget. That said, Tag works wonders for designs and brand value for younger ages.


https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Tissot-T+Heritage-Her...


https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Oris-Aquis-43.5mm-Men...

[sandman77]

I think you have made the right decision to go with a TAG. They are lovely watches and well made. I have one and it has a better quality feel to it than my speedmaster. A lot of watch enthusiasts turn their nose up TAG but that is nothing but snobbery.
One think to be aware of though is the TAG’s you have linked to are all 43mm. These are BIG watches so unless he has pretty large wrists I would look for a 41mm version.

[Deep]

I had a quick look at the Longines spirit time as a gmt function is a lovely complication to have.
Only looked at it through the window as I couldn't be bothered having to deal with the sales pitch but it looks huge.
I probably shouldn't be surprised given it's a 42mm watch but it still looked bigger than I imagined. My nephew is very slim so this watch would look pretty silly on him I reckon.

Will go check out those Tags when I get time.

Have a good weekend folks

[codenamecueball]

Would it be worth taking Nephew to the shop, getting the glasses of fizz or a few beers in, and trying them all out? You lose the surprise element, but in return you'll know it's something he's happy with. It's a nice day out if you haven't done it before!

[Voldemort]

codenamecueball said:

Would it be worth taking Nephew to the shop,

Please do this. [I got a gold Omega for my 18th. Hated the design, hated the flashiness of it, never wore it and sold it some years later for a fraction of what it must have cost.]

[Mezzanine]

codenamecueball said:

Would it be worth taking Nephew to the shop, getting the glasses of fizz or a few beers in, and trying them all out? You lose the surprise element, but in return you'll know it's something he's happy with. It's a nice day out if you haven't done it before!

Plus you’ll almost certainly end up buying something for yourself

[Deep]

Resurrecting this thread....

So his birthday is approaching fast. I had set my mind on one of these and we went out together to try it on. He liked it and would be very happy with it....as I knew he would lol.

https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/TAG-Heuer...

It feels like a very good quality watch and I was pleasantly surprised by the finish. It feels as well finished as my Omega and better than Tudor, Longines, Oris etc imho.

I then started to read up a bit about Tag and am a little put off by the fact that they use 'generic' movements at this price level.
It won't bother him as he doesn't really get the difference but it sort of niggles me a bit.

Looking for a bit of forum reassurance that it's not 'over priced tat for the fashion conscious'. Not my words but the sort of comments you read on the web...

To get an in-house movement in the sort of sporty watch he wants and with a brand name that means something in his age group I would have to jump up to one of these.

https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Breitling...

I do love him but that's a hell of a lot of money lol.

Appreciate any constructive advice.

Thanks

[Ed T]

I personally would buy a watch that he can wear into his later years and not get put into a draw once he’s out of his 20s. I purchased a Tag when 21 and now in my mid/late 30s don’t wear it. Still wear my Omega planet ocean I bought later on in my 20s however.

I won’t sell it but find it a younger man’s brand. This is my opinion only. He is of course a young man at 18 so could be ideal.

Tag make great watches btw, the new GMT they just launched looks great and the night diver is very cool.

Longings spirit GMT is a beautiful watch.

https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Longines-Spirit-Zulu-..._adty__pla___prch__local___stco__22___prid__17350998,utm_medium:cpc&utm_content=shopping___adty__pla___prch__local___stco__22___prid__17350998%2Cutm_medium:cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjdodOF-gIVD4BQBh12dA1XEAQYDyABEgJ3fvD_BwE


This has just been released from Oris and the movement is incredible

https://www.oris.ch/en/watch/divers-sixty-five-12h...

Or longines legend diver

[Barchettaman]

I wouldn’t worry about whether the movement is in house or not.

I would suggest getting that Tag on the BRACELET and buy the rubber strap separately.

I sincerely hope the lad enjoys his watch for years to come. What a gift.

[Ed T]

I also think this watch is excellent DSPH200

https://www.certina.co.uk/watch/ds-ph200m/c0364071...

[gregs656]

Deep said:

I then started to read up a bit about Tag and am a little put off by the fact that they use 'generic' movements at this price level.
It won't bother him as he doesn't really get the difference but it sort of niggles me a bit.

This gets written about quite a bit. I have noticed recently there is a bit of a shift away from obsessing over whether a movement is 'in house' or 'manufacturer' and I can understand why.

The big benefit of a movement from an established movement manufacturer is that they will typically be easier and cheaper to service, and you will be able to find someone to do it anywhere - to me this is even more of a benefit when the watch is a gift, as it is more likely to actually be serviced or repaired when it needs to be. Spending 600+ on a service is not everyone's idea of a good time, and that is more likely when you are dealing with in house movements.

I would also recommend buying on the bracelet.

[grumbledoak]

Deep said:

Resurrecting this thread....

So his birthday is approaching fast. I had set my mind on one of these and we went out together to try it on. He liked it and would be very happy with it....as I knew he would lol.

https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/TAG-Heuer...

It feels like a very good quality watch and I was pleasantly surprised by the finish. It feels as well finished as my Omega and better than Tudor, Longines, Oris etc imho.

I then started to read...


Appreciate any constructive advice.

Thanks

It's a lovely looking watch, and he likes it.

Buying bracelets can be a complete rip off expensive. See if you can buy it on a bracelet and ask for a discount.
Buy the strap with the saving.

[Carl_Manchester]

Deep said:

Appreciate any constructive advice.

Thanks

Manchester is a great place for going on watch safari, breitling and Tudor have big boutiques inside the trafford centre and that's before we get started on TAG. Why don't you make it an occasion and take your son for a day out on watch safari in Manchester ?

My daughter has no interest in mechanical watches, the TAG and Hublot android onnected watches on the other hand she goes wild for but she has an iPhone.

The breitling you posted is in the window of the breitling store in Trafford and they look like very nice watches.

[Deep]

Ed T said:

I personally would buy a watch that he can wear into his later years and not get put into a draw once he’s out of his 20s. I purchased a Tag when 21 and now in my mid/late 30s don’t wear it. Still wear my Omega planet ocean I bought later on in my 20s however.

I won’t sell it but find it a younger man’s brand. This is my opinion only. He is of course a young man at 18 so could be ideal.

Tag make great watches btw, the new GMT they just launched looks great and the night diver is very cool.

Longings spirit GMT is a beautiful watch.

https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Longines-Spirit-Zulu-..._adty__pla___prch__local___stco__22___prid__17350998,utm_medium:cpc&utm_content=shopping___adty__pla___prch__local___stco__22___prid__17350998%2Cutm_medium:cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjdodOF-gIVD4BQBh12dA1XEAQYDyABEgJ3fvD_BwE


This has just been released from Oris and the movement is incredible

https://www.oris.ch/en/watch/divers-sixty-five-12h...

Or longines legend diver

I think of TAG as a younger person's watch as well. But the way I see it the watch will see him through Uni and into the first few years of his job. After that he could consign it to a back up watch or daily beater if he has any interest in a more 'mature' brand.

I loved the pics and specs of the Longines spirit gmt but when I saw it in a shop window I was a bit underwhelmed...I didn't have it in my hands though.

I saw the press release on the new Oris and you're right it's a fantastic movement but I think he would prefer something just a tad more blingy..he is only 18 after all.

Cheers

[Deep]

Barchettaman said:

I wouldn’t worry about whether the movement is in house or not.

I would suggest getting that Tag on the BRACELET and buy the rubber strap separately.

I sincerely hope the lad enjoys his watch for years to come. What a gift.

Thank you.
He definitely prefers the rubber strap (and a very nice clasp strap it is too), but you're right, it makes more sense to get the bracelet version and buy the strap separately.

[Deep]

gregs656 said:

This gets written about quite a bit. I have noticed recently there is a bit of a shift away from obsessing over whether a movement is 'in house' or 'manufacturer' and I can understand why.

The big benefit of a movement from an established movement manufacturer is that they will typically be easier and cheaper to service, and you will be able to find someone to do it anywhere - to me this is even more of a benefit when the watch is a gift, as it is more likely to actually be serviced or repaired when it needs to be. Spending 600+ on a service is not everyone's idea of a good time, and that is more likely when you are dealing with in house movements.

I would also recommend buying on the bracelet.

Thank you.

[Deep]

Carl_Manchester said:

Manchester is a great place for going on watch safari, breitling and Tudor have big boutiques inside the trafford centre and that's before we get started on TAG. Why don't you make it an occasion and take your son for a day out on watch safari in Manchester ?

My daughter has no interest in mechanical watches, the TAG and Hublot android onnected watches on the other hand she goes wild for but she has an iPhone.

The breitling you posted is in the window of the breitling store in Trafford and they look like very nice watches.

I'm a long way from Manchester so will head to some boutiques closer to home.

Thank you.

[Ed T]

Deep said:

I think of TAG as a younger person's watch as well. But the way I see it the watch will see him through Uni and into the first few years of his job. After that he could consign it to a back up watch or daily beater if he has any interest in a more 'mature' brand.

I loved the pics and specs of the Longines spirit gmt but when I saw it in a shop window I was a bit underwhelmed...I didn't have it in my hands though.

I saw the press release on the new Oris and you're right it's a fantastic movement but I think he would prefer something just a tad more blingy..he is only 18 after all.

Cheers

I think Tag sounds like the right brand. I’ve just had a look at their website, some really lovely watches. My final (probably) comment would be to go for a 40mm or 41mm watch.

Rationale - mid-size can be more comfortable, the trend is now not for oversized watches, a middle ground watch can be casual and also fit under a shirt (even a trendy one for the youth of today) etc…. How big are his wrists? 43mm feels too big for me at 7inch wrist. 42mm is my max.

So I think this is an excellent first watch…I actually have a couple of colleagues that have the older version (20 years older) that they still occasionally wear.

https://www.tagheuer.com/gb/en/timepieces/collecti...

[Deep]

Finally made the decision.

Tag was the front runner but he said he would prefer a slightly cheaper watch that he didn't have to worry about on drunken nights out lol.

https://www.longines.com/watch-hydroconquest-l3-78...

This one but the 41mm version.

It's actually a lovely watch and the case/dial is very well finished. I also handled the one with a bracelet and that was also well finished but let down by the bracelet clasp. I know it's only a small part but it really spoilt it, looked like they had spent 1p on the clasp.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for their help. The watch finally chosen was suggested by a number of people.

Have a good evening