If your almost 21 yr old son would like a watch (not a smart watch) for his bday which brands should we look at?

[Snooks1971]

Budget is £400 to £500 max. We know nothing about watches, he doesn’t want an Apple Watch but something more old school.

Any brand recommendations please?

Skagen

Seiko

Thanks never heard of them :)

You could probably get a pre owned tag heuer.

I have heard of them, also very open to ideas like what @Carolwithane suggested

@Carolwithane sorry my reply came across as quite flippant, we are open to all ideas thank you :)

Seiko
I bought my DS one like this for his...
https://www.seikoboutique.co.uk/product/mens-quartz-chronograph-watch-in-blue-ssb477p1/

Any trusted pre-owned websites please?

@KnightandDay thank you for that! I will show DS the recommendations in this thread, all watches look the same to me

I was going to suggest Longines but thought I better look at prices before I did. I’m astonished at how expensive they’ve become.
I got a very basic one with a leather strap for my 21st birthday which apart from the one time it went away to be serviced I’ve worn all day every day for going on 25 years. The watch has never let me down but I’ve gone through a fair few cheap straps over the years which my local jeweller fixes the original longines buckle to.

Not 21 but I bought my partner a Mondaine watch. You can get one with the date in a little window (which I chose). They’re classic but modern, look sleek, and are great quality.

@millymae @aLogLady wow never heard of these brands either - thank you so much

Check out battery replacement costs before you buy. I have a Raymond Weil and it cost £120 for a new one. I know you are looking at less expensive ones, but you can get a nasty surprise with watch batteries and if you get a Premier brand second hand you could definitely end up paying a fortune on batteries.

Chronomaster may have something. Otherwise a Seiko 5, a Hamilton field watch, a Breguet Swatch divers or Omega Moonswatch

My son is a little older and I didn’t spend that much, but I bought him a Timex last birthday-there are some lovely classics on their website. He loves it.

Mondaine

Oh defo seiko are beautiful

We bought our son a Tissot watch for his 21st last year and he was really pleased with it.

https://www.goldsmiths.co.uk/Tissot-Seastar-36mm-Mens-Watch-T1202101105100/p/17361646

He likes the fact it’s more old school than his Apple Watch, but still young looking. They do some really nice colours

I bought the eldest a Tissot for his 21st birthday, and he also has a Skagen that his grandparents brought him.
My Tissot is over 30 years old. I've worn it pretty much every day, and it's still pretty much perfect

Mondaine is definitely my vote too - I love mine, and I’ve had it about 12 years. (Which is when I stole it from DH)

Loving your username!

I think watches are very personal. I've fallen in love with a watch in a shop window on several occasions, only to take an instant dislike to it when I try it on.

In other words, @Snooks1971 rather than surprise your son, it would be best if he sees and tries on a few watches to see what feels right on his wrist.

And, without wishing to sound unkind, if you've never heard of brands such as Longines, Skagen and Mondaine, then I'm guessing that you're really new to the watch market.

So I'd go to a specialist watch dealer as opposed to a high street jeweller. If you can tell us whereabouts in the country you are, someone will be able to suggest somewhere. (If you're anywhere near the west Midlands, I'll put in a shout for
https://www.firstclasswatches.co.uk/ in Kenilworth. It has watches for all budgets! No high pressure sales pitch, and they will usually knock a few ££ off if you sweettalk them!) And if your son falls in love with one that you can't afford, you could always have a look at the used watch market at that point.

(I am not a watch expert either! But between us, my OH and I at the moment have omega, longines, maurice lacroix, skagen, bering, rotary, tissot, tag heuer, and I'm sure there may be others that slip my mind!)

We are East Midlands! X

Ah well, it will def be worth a trip over to Kenilworth for you then!