£200 automatics recommendations for 21st birthday

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Am looking for a nice automatic for my son for his 21st birthday.

Budget is set by previous jewelry gifts for his older sisters at their 21st's, but maybe stretch to £250 for inflation as he is 8 years behind them.

Not a fan of "fashion" brands, and know there are some brands like Ingersoll, Citizen, Rotary are in that range.

Might just about find a Bering or Tissot if i'm lucky, but are there others that would be worth considering?

Hoping this might be an investment of interest for him, to appreciate this type of movement and appreciate what that sort of watch is about.

Something that might become a future budget classic?

I have browsed through the £200 watch thread, and some nice examples in there, but i am not sure what would be considered safe up and coming brands that would fit my criteria?

Thanks

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Thank you, some nice pointers there.

Have found a couple of Seiko in the price range now, so that's good too.

I just need to try and subtly work out which style to go for, classic simplicity or divers, or something in between.

A job for his mum and i to try and determine over the next few weeks.

He has a Hugo Boss black and gold quartz which was his choice for 16th/prom, but i think he wants something little more subtle, as he has commented on a couple of mine over the years.

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gregs656 said:

Citizen aren’t a fashion brand FWIW. They are a watch and movement manufacturer.

yes, that was meant as in same price range, not in the same range as fashion brands, sorry.

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Matt99man said:

If possible, I’d try an up your budget to c£500. This is Hamilton territory and I think they offer the best value for money. Beautiful watches too!

Budget itself isn't the problem, it's equality between multiple siblings for the same event, when budget may have been more important in the past, or not to show favouritism to the youngest of the family, etc.
Also, i like to introduce my children to something at a fair entry level price, and if they aspire to improve it and have better, they do it themselves.

I love my own Hamilton.

MrB. said:

I’d be going Seiko all day long. Great value, well built [...]
The other alternative I’m a huge fan of is my Spinnaker Fleus
A watch should be a conversation starter and one with a story (bought for his 21st) is a great place to start.

Exactly this. I want him to appreciate the detail of what he has, not the price of it, and look back on it with fondness possibly as a starting point for an interest.
But at the same time, he will have a nice, reliable, mechanical watch that won't get left in a drawer when the battery runs out and forget to take it somewhere.

redrabbit said:

Actually, Spinnaker is a great shout. Great looking, well regarded watches from a well established microbrand that will still be appreciated in the years ahead. Not an investment per se, except as a great watch to give your son.

Yes, have just had a look at those, and that's the kind of feedback i was looking for, thanks.

Lotobear said:

Not sure if it's still in budget but I've always considered the Tissot Visodate to be a very nice watch for the money.

Am a Tissot fan myself, and if i can wangle out of him an interest in that style, it will be on my list for sure.

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InitialDave said:

Have you asked your eldest?

He may not be at all bothered about "parity" over a couple of hundred pounds.

My brother and I were bought/gifted different things by our parents over the years, I suspect if you totted it up he had "more", but it's just not something either of us got worked up about.

It's the thought and intent behind gifts that matters. Keeping an exact score is quite a sad perspective to have IMO.

The elders are both daughters, and although they will not be too bothered, i am sure they have thought he has had it easier than them growing up.

The "thought and intent" is exactly why i am looking for something that fits the criteria. My wife and I do not keep score, we are using a set of fair guidelines, as we always have with our kids.

They have all had various gifts, help and assistance over the years of different values, and none of that is an issue with them because it has been what is needed at the time.

There is always something better at the next price point, and then the one above starts looking attractive.

This is just something that will be something of a memento, much the same way as bracelets and necklaces are, given with some particular thought behind them, and not just chuck money at the problem.

Thanks for the insight though.

cwis said:

£200 in 2016 is £273 now based on a random CPI calculator:

https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/2016?am...

Make sure the youngest isn't unfairly penalised by inflation...

Yes. Previously, the budget was around £150, hence my already looking around the £200 figure now. Thanks.

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Thank you everyone for the help, suggestions, guidance and also your thoughts on the occasion and my intentions.

There are some we really like the look of, and i would certainly go for something from those great suggestions if i was looking for myself.

But I think we have currently narrowed down to a Seiko, either SRPE or SRPD.

To have something that is a safe recognisable brand, known for reliability, and an automatic which is always a nice talking point when an interest is shown, i think it ticks all of our boxes as a memento and keepsake.

Thank you all.