My son graduates next spring with his BS in chemical engineering.

Looking for a good watch in the 3-700 dollar range. Any ideas? Doesn't need to be dressy but one that looks classic. thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
My son graduates next spring with his BS in chemical engineering.

Looking for a good watch in the 3-700 dollar range. Any ideas?

David Truong -- SIGforum's Official Jeweler.

A basic black-and-stainless dive watch makes for a great all-arounder. Perfect for everything from a day at the beach, to work, to a nice dinner.

Good options in that price range include big names like Seiko, Citizen, Bulova, or Hamilton. Or if you're willing to go down a bit of a rabbit hole, there are dozens/hundreds of microbrands that offer good options in that price range.

Long Island Watch's house brand is my favorite option in the $300ish watch territory. Tons of bang for your buck. Something like this ISL-02 dive watch would be a perfect "go anywhere, do anything" watch.
https://longislandwatch.com/is...c-dive-watch-isl-02/

However, understand that most younger folks these days have no interest in a mechanical watch. They're much more apt to wear a smartwatch.

So before you go dropping $300-$700 on a watch, find out if he's even interested in a traditional watch, or if it would just sit in a drawer collecting dust. Otherwise, just get him an Apple/Android watch (to match his choice in phone).

quote:

David Truong -- SIGforum's Official Jeweler.

I emailed him a few months ago. Might have went in his spam folder !

I like this Hamilton a lot: Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic Auto.

$589 here: Jomashop.

This is the one I bought my son for his high school graduation with an AA degree:



That’s my wrist, but it looks better on his.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
<snip>
However, understand that most younger folks these days have no interest in a mechanical watch. They're much more apt to wear a smartwatch.

So before you go dropping $300-$700 on a watch, find out if he's even interested in a traditional watch, or if it would just sit in a drawer collecting dust. Otherwise, just get him an Apple/Android watch (to match his choice in phone).

Good advice. I bought an Apple Watch for a specific purpose, but I’m impressed with its other capabilities.

Where does he plan to work? This may drive your decision. If it’s in the field, I would recommend a nice G-Shock. Office or lab, lots of options.

I agree with RogueJSK with a stainless and black dive watch. It is the cornerstone of every watch collection.
That being said, with a 700 dollar budget, I would go with a Seiko but only if it is made in Japan. Some will say movement made in Japan, but you get the best quality in my opinion when the entire watch is made in Japan. Here is an example watch:
https://www.gnomonwatches.com/...ic-black-ref-sbdy131

 
A nice classic look is this Made in Japan Citizen I recently bought on the Japanese Market, with a stainless case and sapphire crystal.
 

 
It has a perpetual calendar feature, too. No need to reset the date after a 30 day month.

With the Yen down, buying on the Japanese market offers some good bargains. This watch is currently $202, plus shipping.

This Timex has a Swiss movement and stainless steel case.

This is a great buy.



https://timex.com/products/q-t...elet-watch-tw2v38000

I think most young tech types would get much more use out of an Apple Watch UltraII (top of the line) than the nicest mechanical you can buy.

My son asked for a Hamilton King Khaki when he graduated with his accounting degree.

He loves it and gets tons of compliments. I think we were around six hundred or so.

I’d go with a stainless g shock square, or if you can stretch a couple hundred, the Seiko Astron Nexter or the Timex x James.

Engineering isn’t law, but a dive watch with a suit is absurd. (Yes, lots of pop folks disagree. They’re wrong )

Those are all rugged enough watches for a young man who may have to put on coveralls, but will also be OK with a jacket and tie.

Honestly, if you don’t care about it being a “big” gift, and he’s OK with vintage watches, an MRG-100t or MRG-100 would be great - and will catch the eye of watch nerds. (Think new entry Porsche/Audi vs vintage JDM or muscle car for car guys)

Sometimes, socially, it’s best for a young man to do “cool and cheap” until he can afford to play.

(At one time, if his industry was big into shotguns, an older browning superposed was the right gun for a young man who couldn’t afford the Perazzi/Krieghoff/etc)

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
Engineering isn’t law, but a dive watch with a suit is absurd. (Yes, lots of pop folks disagree. They’re wrong )

I'm one of those who disagree. I wear a suit daily, and wear dive watches with them. As do several of the lawyers that I know and work with. (Though a majority of lawyers nowadays have switched to smartwatches.)

Luckily, if you're one of those "purists" who feel that a dressy-ish diver isn't appropriate for a suit, there's a subset of watches that mix sports/dive watch and dress watch, ala the O.G. Rolex Datejust. Affordable options include stuff like the Seiko SRPE "DressKX" line or Islander Brookville/Upper Brookville line. Basically taking a dive-style watch and putting it in a slightly smaller case without the prominent bezel. Best of both worlds. Those are excellent all-arounders, if you're the type that refuses to wear a true dive watch with a suit.

But if a dive watch is good enough for James Bond...

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/...haki-field-auto.html I bought this one fore myself, casual but can still wear with a jacket.

As nice as an Apple Watch might be it’s the functional equivalent of a gift card. It’ll become the last generation sooner than later. A dive watch of good quality is a long time companion.

There is an Alpinist in the classifieds that would be an awesome "nice" watch. It's in your price range as well.

ETA Link

^^^ Brad's right!

Seiko Alpinists are great, classy watches. My only caveat is that particular watch's cream dial (especially with its orange highlights) won't go with every/most outfits, so it may not be the best choice for someone's only watch, if that's the case here.

Black, white, or dark blue are the more "universal" dial colors.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
Engineering isn’t law, but a dive watch with a suit is absurd. (Yes, lots of pop folks disagree. They’re wrong )

I'm one of those who disagree. SNIP

But if a dive watch is good enough for James Bond...

A) Emulating a fictional psychopath is probably not the best professional image for a young engineer. (. I could see how a young lawyer might be attracted to that image. I had a lovely lavender tie, with silver skull and bones, outlined in blue. Very demur, and tasteful, until people notice what the “polka dots” were.)

B) I always took the “sport watch in non-sporting attire to indicate a lack of desire to be at the non-sporting location/doing non-sporting things - which does tie in with the Bond character, I think.