Gift watch recommendations?

[kalniel]

Well I know Hexus has some timepiece connoisseurs, perhaps you can help with some recommendations for a watch that's going to be a gift.

The budget is basically < £500, although nearer £100-200 would be better.. and I know that basically rules out 'good' watches. Does that mean it's not worth getting an automatic watch at all, and just getting a nice quartz?

Longevity and 'class' are key requirements. By 'class' I mean it should be something perhaps a little out of the ordinary, but elegant, and not digital. It's not going to be taken diving or used during sports, so doesn't have to be ultra durable, but it will travel a lot on planes etc. The recipient has quite narrow wrists so a huge face isn't going to be too good either. In terms of style, a leather bracelet and gold face, ideally rose, would probably be best.

So far the best sort of things I'm coming up with are things like Citizen Eco-Drive Perpetual calender, like this one. No idea about reliability for Citizen though.



Thanks in advance,

[GoNz0]

after finding them myself last week i can suggest the vostok-europe collection, most are automatic Russian movements & limited editions can be had between 2-500 quid

something different to the normal swatch/citizen line up, thats for sure !

http://www.vostok-europe.com/

oh, i have retired my eco drive after 4 years of good service

[Nerval]

Spent ages looking for a watch and settled on Eco drive as being the best option. Can't do with changing batteries.
Like yr dad I have small wrists, and also wanted something different from the multi-dial blocks of steel that everybody was wearing. You also find that most of the dials don't do anything useful either.

Decided eventually on a black ion plated eco drive with calendar that was small but different. I love it. This is it on watch shop

[smelly]

gift for a male or female and roughly how old?

[kalniel]

after finding them myself last week i can suggest the vostok-europe collection, most are automatic Russian movements & limited editions can be had between 2-500 quid

something different to the normal swatch/citizen line up, thats for sure !

http://www.vostok-europe.com/

oh, i have retired my eco drive after 4 years of good service

Some of those are great Any idea of places in England to get them?

gift for a male or female and roughly how old?

Sorry: Male, young side of middle-aged professional.

[smelly]

posted before i saw the "Male, young side of middle-aged professional"

you could go vintage:

this one is from http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/Omega%20Vintage.htm and is £475 manual movement.

If you look at the site he has quite a few that come and go and he may get something that you like Neil is an OK chap to deal with.

How about something like this:

They new from http://www.timefactors.com/new1.htm he actually designed the watch and they're highly thought of £340.

There are a few more on the page that you may like the looks of also.

If you like the idea of vintage try http://www.darlor-watch.com/omega_wa...1.html#Watches
Only problem is that they're in the USA.

same with http://www.finertimes.com/index.html

http://www.littlecogs.com/watome01.html is in the UK and have a wide selection should be able to pick up an Omega seamaster for under £500.

With all of these if you don't like the strap just change it, very easy to do and very cheap as you can get some fantastic straps



For under £300 from http://www.higuchi-inc.com/Spilitmecha.html The guy who runs the site is a very well respect gentleman in Japan and can get some very nice Seikos that are sold exclusively for the Far East market (Google Grand Seiko).


£250 from http://www.wristwatchserver.com/watches/index.htm there is a huge selection for under £500 all vintage some are new old stock so never been worn.

Anyway this is just the tip of the iceberg you can get a decent good quality watch for the money you want to spend if you just look beyond the high-street.

[kalniel]

posted before i saw the "Male, young side of middle-aged professional"

Well the suggestions look spot on, thanks

[smelly]

OK previous post was for a slightly older bloke - my mistake.


From http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/classic_and_sport.htm is £445 Marcello c although not a huge brand name are constructed very well and the owners love them I had one of their divers as my first mechanical watch.


Same price again £445


If you changed your mind for a diver at £475.

Seiko do a huge automatic diver range, if interested i can post more info.

Stowa have a nice range of watches well made with nice clean uncluttered faces

http://www.stowa.de/


This is a lovely watch but at 520euros

But it's pure watch porn!

[kalniel]

Awesome suggestions. This is going to be harder than I thought!

[Flibb]

You could look for something a little different, from an interesting maker. Two that spring to mind are RLT who sell a range of watches but also make / assemeble their own, or Christopher Ward who seem to be very up and comming and offer a 5 year guarantee, and 60 day money back exchange policy.

I keep drooling over the Christopher Ward aviators, maybe for my next birthday.

Also worth thinking how often the user will wear the watch, I love autos, but if you dont wear them for a couple of days the date has to be reset. On the flip side self charging quartz watches also may not need battery replacement, but the capacitors can go after several years. The old kintetics needed cap replacement after about 8 years, my old battery powered seiko had a 6 year life battery.

[Phage]

Crpies - I wasn't even looking, and now I'm thinking about watches !

[smelly]

I agree with Flibb you don't have to get an Auto, quartz watches are in many ways more usable in this day and age. I mean he's going to have a mobile phone with the time on or a computer etc. So a watch is slightly sentimental and also a luxury.

Being a gift and slightly special hopefully he'll take care of it over time, wind it if it's left for a few days and service after a few years. I find automatic and manual watches fascinating, that someone can think of creating something like a time piece then shrink it down so small.

You don't have to spend hundreds of pounds for something decent and also it's a gift so anything you give would be well received.

[GoNz0]

Some of those are great Any idea of places in England to get them?

http://www.sovietwatches.co.uk/watch...e-Watches.html

http://www.redsquarewatches.co.uk/vo...tches-20-c.asp

the expedition range are mid priced and limited editions!

only 3000 of each being made.

all come in a box with the watch on a felt pillow + certificate if its a LE

[usxhe190]

kalniel, do you mind used watches?

[kalniel]

kalniel, do you mind used watches?

Well it's a gift, so I'm not 100%, but I'll look at them, certainly.

[kalniel]

http://www.sovietwatches.co.uk/watch...e-Watches.html

http://www.redsquarewatches.co.uk/vo...tches-20-c.asp

the expedition range are mid priced and limited editions!

only 3000 of each being made.

all come in a box with the watch on a felt pillow + certificate if its a LE

I quite like the look of the Gaz 14 limo