Another "Help Me Buy a Watch" Thread. for a 16 Year Old Lad (Inexpensive Analogue)

Fredorishi on 09/02/2024 - 09:55

Looking to buy my boy a half-decent watch for his upcoming birthday.

Might be opening a can of worms and opening myself to flaming (again) but would be grateful for some input from anyone who has more than zero knowledge like myself. Or heckle away as you see fit.

I Have read through other threads and deals and trying to get a bit of an idea from FB and YouTube but I'm clearly wayyyyy out of my depth.

Budget: thinking $4-500 but negotiable. (I'm not the typical super-wealthy Ozbargainer)

I bought one on impulse a couple weeks ago when I knew he was open to the idea. A week later he's finally given me his "specifications" and of course, Murphys law, they're completely different. New watch for me! Lol.

Basic requirements:

He has noodle arms like his old man, so thinking something thin. I had an old "Sekonda" thing lying around and even on the smallest notch on the clasp, I still had to take out a couple links for it to fit. Looked super chunky on him and he hated it. Lol.

He says he would prefer silver and fairly basic look.

I haven't done a lot of research, but initial googling threw up this which appears to fit the bill to give an idea what I'm looking for.

https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-au/t1504101104100.html

Not really fussed about brand or where it comes from, so open to any and all suggestions.

Any input most welcome. Thanks. :)

Fashion & Apparel Watch

Comments

  • StingyBritches on 10/02/2024 - 13:42
    +1

    Or, you could support an Aussie company that makes very good watches - Adina.

    My wife and I love their product.

    https://www.adinawatches.com.au/product-category/mens_watche…

  • 2esc on 10/02/2024 - 17:36
    -1

    When i was sixteen i think my watch would of been about $10.

    • Fredorishi on 10/02/2024 - 18:03
      +1

      Well yeah, things were cheaper back in 1966! When i was sixteen in the 80s, I didn't even have a watch! Amd I don't wear one now, either. But I'm not sure what any of that has to do with my post?

  • Sterlk on 12/02/2024 - 08:49
    +3

    I may not be popular among the watch community for saying so, but I'd go for a quartz watch, rather than an automatic.

    Enthusiasts like automatics for the prestige, the tradition, the craftsmanship of the movement, and the opportunity to interact with it more… but the flip side to that is they're more expensive to buy, chunkier on the wrist for the affordable ones, less accurate over time, run out of juice if you don't wear them for a few days, and are supposed to serviced semi-regularly.

    A quartz will probably be cheaper, thinner, more accurate, and will only need a change of battery every few years - or never if you get a solar one.

    The trade-offs of automatics are worth it for a lot of people, but 'graduating' to going down that road is probably a decision someone should make for themselves given some of those downsides.

    • Fredorishi on 12/02/2024 - 13:17

      Thanks for the pointer. That's actually very helpful. I hadn't really established too many points of difference like that yet and it seems to narrow down the field quite a bit. The more I think about it, it's more to give him a daily wear for at school and work rather than an "heirloom" type thing. Obviously my budget doesn't really cover the latter anyway. Having one that doesn't take a lot of fuss sounds like a much better plan. Maybe something like this, although he's only got 16cm wrists, so probs a bit big. The search continues…. :) https://starbuy.com.au/citizen-quartz-mens-watch-bi5100-58a/

      • Sterlk on 12/02/2024 - 18:48
        +1

        Generally you also want to look for sapphire glass on the front. You don't have to go sapphire of course, though it's the type that'll withstand just about all scratches except diamond and still look brand new. A lot of the Citizen range is mineral crystal, which is far less resilient. I like this for a Citizen with sapphire glass:
        https://starbuy.com.au/citizen-eco-drive-titanium-mens-watch…

        Something cool you could consider at around the top of your budget, and some a tad above if you're willing to stretch a bit while looking for a discount at the same time, is the Bulova Precisionist and Jet Star lines. Regrettably some of those also aren't sapphire, but the cool thing with these is that they're quartz and have a second hand that 'sweeps' smoothly around the dial rather than 'ticking' once a second, which is something you usually only get from the automatics - and nothing as smooth this side of a Grand Seiko, which is faaaaaar out of budget in Rolex territory.

        Another cool option that involves a little bit of stretching is a Seiko Speedtimer that's doing its best Rolex Daytona impression. This one is good for smaller wrists because it's a 39mm diameter - if still a tad thick:
        https://starbuy.com.au/seiko-speedtimer-mens-watch-ssc813p/

        If you want to zone in on small watches in particular, look at things in the military/field watch styles. It's pretty hard to find a lot under 40mm these days, but there's a lot of field watches holding on to their traditional sizing at around 36mm, you might have to go searching to find them among their larger counterparts but they're there.

        • Fredorishi on 13/02/2024 - 10:34

          He definitely wants something simpler like the first one you linked. I'm now leaning towards this Tissot. I have no particular love for that brand, but it meets his specs in terms of simplicity, colour/design and strap (he wants metal) its thin, and also has the sapphire glass you mention. Might be a big at 42 mm though. This is harder than o thought it would be. Lol. https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-au/t1294101101300.html

        • Fredorishi on 13/02/2024 - 10:38

          Ooohhh. The Bulova Classic Regatta looks real nice too but probs just a little over budget. Sigh. https://au.bulova.com/products/96a232

  • Fredorishi on 13/02/2024 - 16:32

    So for anyone still playing along at home, I finally went for a "Seiko Conceptual". Quartz movement for the simplicity. Smaller size at 38.9 mm. And sapphire glass for the scratch resistance. Also a less formal looking. Hopefully not too boring. Even with express delivery (Birthday next week) and some gift wrapping ftw! (I can't wrap for shit) It came in well under budget. I'm happy with the purchase. Fingers crossed he will be too.

    Thanks for all the help!

    https://lindajewellers.com/product/seiko-conceptual-analogue…

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