what watch for circa 2-3k?

[V6 inside]

Hi,
i've got a few weeks left till my first child is born.

To mark the occasion i wanted to buy a watch to look after and hopefully give to him in 20 years time.

I'm a fan of Rolex purely on the basis that my Submariner that i wear everyday has survived almost everything i can throw at it, which has included dealing with a slipped angle grinder and the odd missed hammer blow (i'm in the motor trade so occasionaly have to get my hands dirty! )

My initial thoughts were to get an Airking with the engineered bezel and the blue face, a few non authorised dealers have these below 2k (not bothered about it being from a AD - its a keeper!)

Can anyone suggest anything else that might fit the bill? Ideally i'd want it to be slightly sought after in 20 years time!

Any advice appreciated
cheers,
Gary

[King Rolex]

get him a Sub

You know how cool they are, you'll want him to be in the Rolex family too surely?

[V6 inside]

LOL

I'll give him a choice of mine or the new one, if my Sub is still alive!!

[S1MMA]

Have a look at an Explorer 2 also, look good with either black or white face. Was my first Rolex, and I still love it!

[Peter G]

Can't knock your choice on a Rolex, they truly are superb watches.

I'd also consider an Omega Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch.

It's the 50th anniversary of the moon landings this year and I'm sure Omega will be marking the occasion with a beauty of a collectors item which will mark 70 years when he's ready to wear it!!!

Pretty cool if you ask me.

[CommanderJameson]

Add a grand to that and you can get a lovely hand-made Dornblüth.

A Rolex (like the idea of the Air King - a bit less obvious than a sub) or a Speedmaster would be a fine choice. though.

[mel]

Peter G said:

Can't knock your choice on a Rolex, they truly are superb watches.

I'd also consider an Omega Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch.

It's the 50th anniversary of the moon landings this year and I'm sure Omega will be marking the occasion with a beauty of a collectors item which will mark 70 years when he's ready to wear it!!!

Pretty cool if you ask me.

Agree with your logic and I'd agree that an "anniversary" watch would be appropriate, just that your math is a little wonky 2009 - 1969 makes it the 40th anniversary

[BigAlinEmbra]

mel said:

Peter G said:

Can't knock your choice on a Rolex, they truly are superb watches.

I'd also consider an Omega Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch.

It's the 50th anniversary of the moon landings this year and I'm sure Omega will be marking the occasion with a beauty of a collectors item which will mark 70 years when he's ready to wear it!!!

Pretty cool if you ask me.

Agree with your logic and I'd agree that an "anniversary" watch would be appropriate, just that your math is a little wonky 2009 - 1969 makes it the 40th anniversary

http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?pid=6143

50th Anniversary of the speedy!

[exper]

Slightly over budget but the GMT Master II is also a great daily beater, sporty but yet can be dressed up kinda like the Sub's

[Papoo]

CommanderJameson said:

Add a grand to that and you can get a lovely hand-made Dornblüth.

Exactly what popped into my head, too. And, for 2-3k, you're already well into the price range. 99.0 starts at 2300 Euros, if I'm not mistaken.

[Peter G]

BigAlinEmbra said:

mel said:

Peter G said:

Can't knock your choice on a Rolex, they truly are superb watches.

I'd also consider an Omega Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch.

It's the 50th anniversary of the moon landings this year and I'm sure Omega will be marking the occasion with a beauty of a collectors item which will mark 70 years when he's ready to wear it!!!

Pretty cool if you ask me.

Agree with your logic and I'd agree that an "anniversary" watch would be appropriate, just that your math is a little wonky 2009 - 1969 makes it the 40th anniversary

http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?pid=6143

50th Anniversary of the speedy!

Whoops sorry your right, its the 40th, the 50th is the anniversary for the start of the Apollo programme I assume???

[Peter G]

Papoo said:

CommanderJameson said:

Add a grand to that and you can get a lovely hand-made Dornblüth.

Exactly what popped into my head, too. And, for 2-3k, you're already well into the price range. 99.0 starts at 2300 Euros, if I'm not mistaken.

The Dornbluth would be a great choice. Its a very different style of watch - slim, dressy and classic. You mention the Airking in your original post and maybe this would be more akin to that.

As far as being sought after in 20 years its a tough one, vintage Rolex prices will always be firm, not sure on the used Dornbluth.

As an alternative to the Speedy, how about a nice Bremont???

[BigAlinEmbra]

Peter G said:

BigAlinEmbra said:

mel said:

Peter G said:

Can't knock your choice on a Rolex, they truly are superb watches.

I'd also consider an Omega Speedmaster Pro Moonwatch.

It's the 50th anniversary of the moon landings this year and I'm sure Omega will be marking the occasion with a beauty of a collectors item which will mark 70 years when he's ready to wear it!!!

Pretty cool if you ask me.

Agree with your logic and I'd agree that an "anniversary" watch would be appropriate, just that your math is a little wonky 2009 - 1969 makes it the 40th anniversary

http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/product.asp?pid=6143

50th Anniversary of the speedy!

Whoops sorry your right, its the 40th, the 50th is the anniversary for the start of the Apollo programme I assume???

Nah, Apollo kicked off at the start of the 60's when Kennedy said they'd have a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
Speedmaster wasn't specifically made for the programme afaik.

[andy_s]

S1MMA said:

Have a look at an Explorer 2 also, look good with either black or white face. Was my first Rolex, and I still love it!

Had exactly the same thoughts as the OP - bought an ExpII white face with intention of handing it down - bought in 2000, the year of birth, when I was 35. He can have it when he's 35 & I'm 70, which will be 2035...
(or at least that was the idea - I'll probably sling it to him on his 21st though)

[u got time?]

Did you come to a conclusion? I can help with the cost if it's any interest?

If you find a watch in Ernest Jones, SW London I can get you a £500 discount. We can collect it together.... nothing dodgy, just an insurance voucher I want to convert to cash.

Can get explorer (looks like an airking but is much higher in the range of rolex's as I'm sure you know)
Sub without date, both are in the window at croydon branch.......

Ley me know