Which watch?

[DrNick]

As I know there are several watch fans on here, I'd like to ask if anyone has any recommendations for a watch for an 18 yr old male for around £500.

Not much to go on, but I don't want to constrain the thinking too much at this point, but I'd be interested in unusual but stylish. What have you got?

 

[SpikyMikey]

Not sure where you'd even start with this one:
depends on the tastes of the individual. Dress watch? chrono? sports? Dive? retro digital? Techy?

 

[alabbasi]

If he likes automatic watches and is sporty by nature. A Seiko dive watch would fit the bill.
You should be able to get a Tissot or Hamilton dress watch with a swiss movement for about the same price or if he's into tech, I expect there's no shortage of Garmin, Apple, Samsung or something else in that range. It all depends on his taste. Be careful though, some people have been known to get carried away

 

[Headhurts]

Try Christopher Ward products they are U.K. company making some decent watches and some around that price, I purchased one for my son that was around that range but cannot remember which one.

I have two of them, the Trident range are decent.

Robin

 

[fourwheels]

I suppose the first question is would he want digital (as in Apple) or mechanical as mention here.
Most young people (younger than me) around here seem to have Apple type watches linked to their sporting activities.

 

[DrNick]

I suppose the first question is would he want digital (as in Apple) or mechanical as mention here.
Most young people (younger than me) around here seem to have Apple type watches linked to their sporting activities.

Good point. If he wants digital he can buy it himself. It would be mechanical, and I think he'd like mechanical anyway. I don't want to force too many of my opinions and bias the outcome but people are right, I'm going to have to constrain it a bit.
As we are not in the realms of high end watches, I suspect something from left field but not too outrageous - so a dress watch type thing.
I've looked at things like INITIAL - Skeleton - White or OXFORD BLUE
I'm drawn to seeing some movement.
Anybody had any experience of these makes, or know of similar ones?

 

[DrNick]

These have the name Omega X Swatch to the Planets with the BIOCERAMIC MOONSWATCH Collection and are a bit different

 

[DrNick]

If he likes automatic watches and is sporty by nature. A Seiko dive watch would fit the bill.
You should be able to get a Tissot or Hamilton dress watch with a swiss movement for about the same price or if he's into tech, I expect there's no shortage of Garmin, Apple, Samsung or something else in that range. It all depends on his taste. Be careful though, some people have been known to get carried away

Thanks. Some of those do come within budget if I shop around - I'll check them out

 

[KennyN]

Recently purchased an automatic Seiko as a daily ,easily available for under your budget if you haggle.

20231010_154345

Explore kennyniven's 129 photos on Flickr!

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K

 

[GeeJayW]

I quite like this one from Citizen

Promaster Diver Super Titanium™

Proof that a dive watch can be fun and functional with the Citizen ISO-compliant Titanium™ Promaster Diver. With Eco-Drive technology, it is powered by light and never needs a battery, so you'll never need to open your caseback or compromise your dive again. Featuring a Super Titanium™ case and...

www.citizenwatch.co.uk

Edit - I also like the AV-8 watches, they have nice style to them. The Oxford Blue one you linked looks great. They also have a grey one on offer.

GUNMETAL GREY

The Spitfire Type 300 Automatic pays tribute to the prototype Supermarine developed in 1934. Inspired by the lines, form, and design of the famed World War 2 era fighter, AVI-8 delivers a unique take on a stylish timepiece that draws from one of the most famous aircraft to have ever flown. The...

avi-8.co.uk

 

[ChrisEdu]

As a bit of a watch collector at that sort of price point, I would either recommend Seiko Presage Cocktail Time range or something from Hamilton, which you ought to be able to find at around that price. Hamilton offer one of the best price/performance propositions for a mechanical watch.
You might also be able to find Alpina, Glycine, or Certina at around that point on offer.

 

[MCFastybloke]

The one they like, or it will be a drawer queen.

 

[Dryce]

Chunky (but not as chunky as the full size Dreadnought) and uses a Miyota movement rather than ETA which keeps the price down.

TIMEFACTORS | BABY DREADNOUGHT PRS-52

The original Dreadnought was introduced in 2003 as a limited edition of 200 pieces and immediately sold out, used examples now sell for as much as 5 times the original selling price. The new "Baby" Dreadnought will appeal to those who don't have a gorilla's wrist but still want a top...

www.timefactors.com

 

[fabes]

One unfortunately negative consideration is that decent non digital watches can attract the wrong type of attention....

As an 18 year old he may find he doesn't need that problem

Just to bear in mind.

If he keeps it for special dress or family occasions fair enough, but out n about ....?

Sorry, but as a parent, I'd have to mention it

 

[ALFAitalia]

Obviously if he wants it to be anything like accurate by modern standards then avoid anything mechanical and go quartz....all the big players, even the most traditional do them now.....even Rolex did them until 2001.....a rare and expensive find now. I used to deal watches for a living (98 to 2002)....only saw one. The problem with chronometer watches....the certified and accurate ones (as against chronograph...the ones with a stop watch of you a not a watch person) is that to pass the test and get certified they are still permitted to lose 4 or gain 6 seconds per day. Fine if you want it to be a statement or a fine piece of art/jewelry/dressware/showcase of the watchmakers skill (delete where appropriate!)....not so good if you actually want a daily wearer that will actually tell the correct time! A decent certified quartz will be accurate to hundredths of a second a day. As most quartz watches easily outperform the COSC ( Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) requirement for mechanical wristwatches, the COSC created a whole separate set of tests and standards for a quartz movement requiring the watch to stay accurate to an amazing 0.02 seconds per day! Accurate time or piece of art on your wrist...the choice is yours.
Just for clarity I have two quartz TAG Heuer watches....but as I write this I'm wearing an auto!

 

[Spider10]

I could part with this if interested
All paperwork present including original box was bought from a nice guy on here but never worn by me

 

[ALFAitalia]

Very nice....although me and leather straps have never got on!

 

[Spider10]

Im the same probably 1 reason I haven't worn it ,not really suitable for putting an awning up

 

[Dryce]

As most quartz watches easily outperform the COSC ( Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) requirement for mechanical wristwatches, the COSC created a whole separate set of tests and standards for a quartz movement requiring the watch to stay accurate to an amazing 0.02 seconds per day! Accurate time or piece of art on your wrist...the choice is yours.

Bulova UHF quartz allegedly 'few seconds per year' - though I suspect they don't quite manage few enough meet the 0.02 secs per day though they won't be far off.

In practical terms the 'few seconds per year' is sufficient that I have never felt the need to adjust mine for time over the 2 years or so between battery changes.

(They're also a bit unusual for quartz watches in having sweep second hands on the non-multi dial versions. The movement draws more power than most analogue quartz watches so larger battery than usual and not long change intervals.)

 

[Spider10]

Very similar in looks to the tag heuer F1