Watch for a 21st
Discussion
Hi all
Our lad is coming up 21 and we're looking at a first decent watch for him. The usual something that won't look out of place in 10 years time. He's not a massive brand slut but a recognisable brand would be preferred.
Under normal times we'd have happily pushed the boat out, but the past year has been tricky as I work in aviation so the finances have had to be controlled a bit more than normal.
Initially we were looking at somewhere around the 500 mark at stuff like these
https://amjwatches.co.uk/seiko-prospex-world-time-...
https://amjwatches.co.uk/seiko-prospex-padi-divers...
https://www.chisholmhunter.co.uk/gents-tissot-supe...
https://www.chisholmhunter.co.uk/tissot-seastar-10...
https://www.watchshop.com/watches/certina-watch-c0...
The only thing is I can't help but feel we're selling him short a little. I know he'd instantly recognise the brand on these. But reading up suggests these aren't particularly great internals for the money?
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tagheuer/tag-heuer-form...
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tagheuer/tag-heuer-form...
Any input or advice gratefully recieved
Our lad is coming up 21 and we're looking at a first decent watch for him. The usual something that won't look out of place in 10 years time. He's not a massive brand slut but a recognisable brand would be preferred.
Under normal times we'd have happily pushed the boat out, but the past year has been tricky as I work in aviation so the finances have had to be controlled a bit more than normal.
Initially we were looking at somewhere around the 500 mark at stuff like these
https://amjwatches.co.uk/seiko-prospex-world-time-...
https://amjwatches.co.uk/seiko-prospex-padi-divers...
https://www.chisholmhunter.co.uk/gents-tissot-supe...
https://www.chisholmhunter.co.uk/tissot-seastar-10...
https://www.watchshop.com/watches/certina-watch-c0...
The only thing is I can't help but feel we're selling him short a little. I know he'd instantly recognise the brand on these. But reading up suggests these aren't particularly great internals for the money?
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tagheuer/tag-heuer-form...
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tagheuer/tag-heuer-form...
Any input or advice gratefully recieved
Personally, a really nice Seiko > the other brands you suggest here. Unless you want to stretch to a (used) Tudor or similar, I just don't think that many of the options are worth it at that price bracket.
However - and this is most important - this is a 21st, not a gift for someone that's a watch fiend so it's a personal choice and you should let him choose. Only guidance I'd give would be to steer towards something reasonably timeless in design terms - I had one as a gift in the 90's and it's too dated to want to wear now and I wish I'd gone for something more universal.
However - and this is most important - this is a 21st, not a gift for someone that's a watch fiend so it's a personal choice and you should let him choose. Only guidance I'd give would be to steer towards something reasonably timeless in design terms - I had one as a gift in the 90's and it's too dated to want to wear now and I wish I'd gone for something more universal.
Edited by tapandunwrap on Sunday 7th March 13:06
Thanks. Used is out, not my stipulation I might add.
We spoke to him a while back and offered to let him pick but he stipulated a few bits, metal bracelet, black or dark blue face and then told us to pick!
If I put the list above in front of him id be 99% sure he'd pick a tag. But not for the fact its the 'better' watch. Just because it's a tag. I know that kind of answers my own question but am wary of buying the cheapest tag they sell.
We spoke to him a while back and offered to let him pick but he stipulated a few bits, metal bracelet, black or dark blue face and then told us to pick!
If I put the list above in front of him id be 99% sure he'd pick a tag. But not for the fact its the 'better' watch. Just because it's a tag. I know that kind of answers my own question but am wary of buying the cheapest tag they sell.
Will he care what's inside? Does he even know the difference between automatic and quartz? He's going to love whatever you get him but Tag is perfect for a 21 year old. In fact I've just bought my elder son one for a significant birthday. Yes it's overpriced, all the WIS's would sneer at it, but he can flash it to his mates and generally feel great every time he puts it on.
I got this one for around £700 in as new condition from a private seller. Every watch I ever bought from Beaverbrooks I've had minimum 10% discount and you may get more on a Tag
https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/0012182/TAG-Heuer-F...
eta didn't see the post about bracelet..
I got this one for around £700 in as new condition from a private seller. Every watch I ever bought from Beaverbrooks I've had minimum 10% discount and you may get more on a Tag
https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/0012182/TAG-Heuer-F...
eta didn't see the post about bracelet..
Edited by Macneil on Sunday 7th March 13:18
sdh2903 said:
Thanks. Used is out, not my stipulation I might add.
We spoke to him a while back and offered to let him pick but he stipulated a few bits, metal bracelet, black or dark blue face and then told us to pick!
If I put the list above in front of him id be 99% sure he'd pick a tag. But not for the fact its the 'better' watch. Just because it's a tag. I know that kind of answers my own question but am wary of buying the cheapest tag they sell.
I've had two Tags.We spoke to him a while back and offered to let him pick but he stipulated a few bits, metal bracelet, black or dark blue face and then told us to pick!
If I put the list above in front of him id be 99% sure he'd pick a tag. But not for the fact its the 'better' watch. Just because it's a tag. I know that kind of answers my own question but am wary of buying the cheapest tag they sell.
They were both faultless in operation.
One lasted 20+ years until it went through the washing machine, the other is still going strong at 14 years old, I gave it to my daughter.
The one I gave a good wash to was on my wrist every single day, used and abused and was great.
There are a lot of Tag haters on here but they aren't s
te.Unless he is ‘into watches’ you could put an automatic Certina, Tissot, Inox etc etc...(all bloody good watches) up against the cheapest Tag and the Tag will win every time.
On a side note if you want a watch to withstand a run through the washing machine, Casio F-91w is the one as I found out last week...
What about this..in budget, bracelet, recognised name looks great 300m water resistant and new...it’s quartz but so what. I’ve tried one on and it felt quality.
https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/longines-mens-con...
On a side note if you want a watch to withstand a run through the washing machine, Casio F-91w is the one as I found out last week...
What about this..in budget, bracelet, recognised name looks great 300m water resistant and new...it’s quartz but so what. I’ve tried one on and it felt quality.
https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/longines-mens-con...
Edited by r159 on Sunday 7th March 13:44
Barchettaman said:
Gotta be a quartz Tag really, excellent starter watch for a young man.
Others will know the best/cheapest way to get one.
Best of luck!
I'm kind of coming to the same conclusion. I know he will be more than happy with whatever we get him. But I also know that he would never forget getting a real tag on his 21st. It'd make his year. Others will know the best/cheapest way to get one.
Best of luck!
Just choosing one now........
This seems good value on chrono24. Worth a cheeky bid?
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tagheuer/tag-heuer-form...
Or the chrono version
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tagheuer/tag-heuer-form...
Oris and longiness do nice submariner type watches for about a grand and most of the jewellery seem to do up to 4 years 0%. If you put £500 down, it would only be an extra £10-20 a month, so you wouldn't really notice?
Sinn, damasko do nice watches for around a grand too. Have a look at jura watches.
Sinn, damasko do nice watches for around a grand too. Have a look at jura watches.
blingybongy said:
I've had two Tags.
They were both faultless in operation.
One lasted 20+ years until it went through the washing machine, the other is still going strong at 14 years old, I gave it to my daughter.
The one I gave a good wash to was on my wrist every single day, used and abused and was great.
There are a lot of Tag haters on here but they aren't ste.
This, I bought a 2000 professional as a treat to myself in 2004 and have worn it almost everyday since then including diy, working on the car etc, it still feels and looks good and apart from a couple of batteries it has been faultless.They were both faultless in operation.
One lasted 20+ years until it went through the washing machine, the other is still going strong at 14 years old, I gave it to my daughter.
The one I gave a good wash to was on my wrist every single day, used and abused and was great.
There are a lot of Tag haters on here but they aren't s
te.Non watch people still appreciate it as a "nice" watch which used to give me a warm feeling!
The Mrs bought me a new Aquaracer for christmas last year which is also really nice.
As above there are a lot of Tag haters, they may not as flash or "quality" as a Tudor or a Roller but they are still really nice watches and I'm sure your son would be well chuffed to receive one as a memorable birthday present!
I'm a bit older than your lad but have experience of a few of the watches your looking at.
First of all whilst I love seikos, to many people they aren't really a big name but I could really recommend the original Seiko samurai save the ocean, the dark blue dial is fantastic and is probably my favourite dial in my whole collection. Its got a nice weight to it and sits nicely on the wrist.
Tissot and certina are pretty nice watches generally but unless your into watches are pretty unknowns. The certina Ds ph200 is just over budget but shopping around should get it closer to £500. It can be dressed up nicely but can also be pretty casual too.
I have a waz1111 which is the white dialled version of the non chrono that you posted, I got it for my 40th birthday present to myself as I've always wanted one.. yes I could have got many other fine auto watches from big watch companies and also microbrands. But I wanted a tag and so a tag is what I got!
However shop around as big discounts are available, I paid just under £600 for mine just over two years ago brand new from an AD, this isn't the usual level of discount but it was a right time right place kind of thing.
If your not set on an exact model you can get good discount from their outlet stores at places like Cheshire oaks and Bicester village.
First of all whilst I love seikos, to many people they aren't really a big name but I could really recommend the original Seiko samurai save the ocean, the dark blue dial is fantastic and is probably my favourite dial in my whole collection. Its got a nice weight to it and sits nicely on the wrist.
Tissot and certina are pretty nice watches generally but unless your into watches are pretty unknowns. The certina Ds ph200 is just over budget but shopping around should get it closer to £500. It can be dressed up nicely but can also be pretty casual too.
I have a waz1111 which is the white dialled version of the non chrono that you posted, I got it for my 40th birthday present to myself as I've always wanted one.. yes I could have got many other fine auto watches from big watch companies and also microbrands. But I wanted a tag and so a tag is what I got!
However shop around as big discounts are available, I paid just under £600 for mine just over two years ago brand new from an AD, this isn't the usual level of discount but it was a right time right place kind of thing.
If your not set on an exact model you can get good discount from their outlet stores at places like Cheshire oaks and Bicester village.
blue_haddock said:
First of all whilst I love seikos, to many people they aren't really a big name but I could really recommend the original Seiko samurai save the ocean, the dark blue dial is fantastic and is probably my favourite dial in my whole collection. Its got a nice weight to it and sits nicely on the wrist.
Agree, I have a couple and wear them the most frequently. In fact I'm having a really hard time keeping one of these out of the shopping basket whilst I've been browsing. https://amjwatches.co.uk/seiko-prospex-samurai-aut...
I just have the feeling though a seiko wouldn't quite have the wow factor for a 21 yo.
liner33 said:
That one in the link really is a lovely thing. I'd never heard of those before Ill take a look. If you going to consider a CHWard then I think you should consider a Certina too.
Automatic movement Certina are near in budget of £500-600 (after discounts) and the quartz ones are well within budget.
https://www.cwsellors.co.uk/collections/certina-wa...
Automatic movement Certina are near in budget of £500-600 (after discounts) and the quartz ones are well within budget.
https://www.cwsellors.co.uk/collections/certina-wa...
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