Help me buy a watch for a young man - YouLookFab Forum

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Help me buy a watch for a young man

Aquamarine

Veteran

My 21 year-old son has asked for a "nice" wrist watch for Christmas. Any suggestions? I am stumped, since I thought that age group used their phones to tell time. He will be graduating in the spring and I am guessing he is thinking ahead to the work world. I bet he is also influenced by his peers but I have no idea where to start looking. I would like to keep it under $200. Is that reasonable?

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15 replies

Latest reply was from Aquamarine

Astrid

Veteran

If he will be wearing a suit you need to pick a dresswatch, I personally love anything Bauhaus like. For casual dress you could go more sporty. I wonder about picking for him though - I personally think a watch is just like jewelry, really personal. Maybe go watch shopping together? Oh and I vote get a mechanical watch.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

ooooh. Hard one. You do need to ask DS what he is looking for though - metal, leather, digital, sporty, classic.

I'd say an oversized classic that's funky is a good idea. Here are some visuals in your price range:

Nixon 'The Corporal' Bracelet Watch, 48mm

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1

Quiksilver 'The Quad' Bracelet Watch, 40mm

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3

Kenneth Cole New York Chronograph Bracelet Watch, 45mm

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1

Fossil 'Fossil Q - Grant' Round Chronograph Leather Strap Smart Watch, 44mm

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3

Nixon 'The Passport' Watch, 49mm

$400.00 $199.98

Sale

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2

Michael by Michael Kors Michael Kors 'Gage' Chronograph Leather Strap Watch, 45mm

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3

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I really like the Fossil and MK from Angie's pick.

It'll help to ask your son if he'd like a leather strap or a metal strap. I say this because men can be rather picky! For ex: my husband likes oversized dials but they HAVE to have a leather strap. No metal strap for him....as he thinks the watch becomes too heavy and fussy. He has several dress watches but at heart loves loves loves the Casio GShock, which is a sporty watch.

It'll really help to ask your son what his preferences are before you go gift shopping.

Astrid

Veteran

I have to confess I'm not a fan at all of a watch masquerading as a chronograph... In my opinion either you buy a real one or you don't. There's a lot of crap design out there when it comes to watches. And if they're quartz and you don't have fine mechanics working in them most are definitely overpriced. (Sorry for the rant.) But I agree that you should ask him what he's looking for if he doesn't want to pick himself. With leather band or metal? With date? Dark or light colored watchface? Round or square? Neutral black and white or colorful? Classic or sporty or retro or... You get my drift. If he's looking for something casual and sporty I think you could have a look at the Seiko 5ers for under 200$. A tons of colors and designs and decent quality. It's more difficult if he wants a good quality dresswatch to find something under 200$.

ETA

Some of my favourite men's watches. Don't look at the prices.

#1 Tutima Grand Flieger

#2 Stowa Antea

#3 Mido Commander

#4 Laco Düsseldorf

#5 Dievas Vintage

#6 Max Bill Chronograph

#7 Nomos Tangomat

#8 Hamilton Jazzmaster

I think if he tries to find out his likes and dislikes first you can then go and set a budget and look for options that fit. And maybe try to find out why he's asking for a watch and when he wants to wear it. If it's something for everyday and you buy from a watch brand and not a fashion brand it might be worth spending just a bit more if he will wear it for a few years. CPW would be down quickly.

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abc

Veteran

You can find good deals at Rack on watches in that price range (ie, original price more but at Rack around the 100-200 mark).

JAileen

Veteran

I gave my husband a new watch several years ago. It's similar to the picture, except the metal is dark, as is the face. It's much larger than my watch, but weighs less, I think because of the titanium. It's kind of surprising.

If I were getting a new watch, I'd get a solar one. No batteries!

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merwoman

Veteran

The Skagen watches are quite nice. I bought my DS (25) the one pictured below (sorry for poor image) - titanium band, sleek and modern looking.

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Astrid

Veteran

Oh and I wanted to add don't look at the band when you choose the watch, as it can easily be replaced with something you like better if necessary. My own watch in my profile picture is a men's watch so the strap that came with it was much too big for me and I bought another one. That reminds me - the black band I have on it now is done in, might be time for a new one...

rachylou

Veteran

I like the Quad (the squared one) Angie shows. I guess the Apple Watch is more than $200... Because, yeah, I was gonna say young people don't wear watches; that fad has passed...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I was also going to suggest an Apple watch at first, but that exceeds the $200 mark.

I also like the watches Astrid suggested. Good, clean modern classics.

As an aside, some fashion watches - like the ones by DKNY, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors - are actually made by real watch manufacturers like Fossil. It's important to me that I wear a watch made by an authentic watch manufacturer, and not a fashion brand that is just winging it with watches.

Aquamarine, if the watch does not need to be a surprise - have him help you pick one out. If he's into Retro - Seiko and Casio watches are fun too.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Wow, ladies, thank you for your suggestions! You have given me a lot to think about. I am pretty sure he wants a metal, not leather, band. Astid, I am guessing he does not want a chronograph...he already has a running watch with all the bells and whistles. I am going to ask him to at least look at face colors, shape, size to give me some ideas. I agree it would be best if he could pick it out himself, but I don't think we wIll have enough time. I will make sure the watch can be exchanged.

I really appreciate the specific examples...they give me a starting point. It's overwhelming how many watches there are! I had briefly considered the Apple Watch (although it's beyond my budget), but I thought it was still in beta mode and there were kinks to iron out.

Finally, coincidentally, on another site I frequent, today posters were talking about how wrist watches were trending among young/college-age people. FYI!

Astrid

Veteran

Yeah, a true Chronograph would be over budget in any case. Or you have a cheaper watch with non functional hands and indicators. That's what I meant - a lot of the fashion watches put stuff on a watch face that isn't even functional because you don't have the mechanics behind it, it's just added to look that way. And that's what I don't like. If you want a classic metal band watch definitely look at the Seikos. But you have to be cautious buying them on the Internet, they're forged very often. I probably would even stay clear of Amazon. I would get something with contrast between watch face and hands, nothing worse than a watch you can't read at a glance.

#1
Seiko SNKE01K1
#2
Seiko SNZG13K1
#3
Seiko SNZH53K1

And for me a watch is totally removed from a smartphone. I want to know the time, but I don't want to be constantly connected and available. I can leave my phone muted in my bag and go for half a day without looking at it. If I had to get it out every time I wanted to know the time I'd go crazy...

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Astrid

Veteran

Also, one of the watch manufacturers I posted above that is still fairly affordable is Laco. You can order from them directly and shipping to USA is 30 €. And from reading reviews from Canada shipping over the pond is quick. There are some Fliegers with a metal band for 348€ each. I just love the look of Lacos...
https://shop.laco.de/en/product/Rom.html?info=309
https://shop.laco.de/en/Pilot-Watches-B/FARO.html
They also sell a metal band only for 89 Euro. If you contact them they might switch out the band on a watch that usually only comes with a leather band. And you can ask them to adjust for wrist circumference too.
You might need to check on taxes and duties, but as far as I know you have one big thing going for you as you don't need to pay VAT. So my stated prices have a 19% mark down.

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Deb

Veteran

Check out DANIEL WELLINGTON. Modern, sleek, tasteful, simple Danish design. Hip amongst the young urban adults and my son loves his. You should find a nice one in the $200-$250 US range.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Astrid, you seem to know a lot about watches. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Deb, those are sleek looking watches. So many choices! My son sent some links to Nixon watches with metal bands, so I have a starting point. I am sure he is just sending me what appeals to him, not necessarily asking for a Nixon watch.