Digital watch birthday present for son?
My son turns seventeen in September.
Since my watch collecting became a thing last year I have been trying unsuccesfully so far to get him interested as well!
Other than fleetingly admiring my new mechanical purchases he has zero interest in owning one himself.
However on a recent return flight back to the UK from Egypt he remarked on a fellow passengers watch as being "cool" and said that was something he would wear!
Sadly I couldn't get a close look at the watch and can only say it was smallish and squarish and was of the type very popular in the eighties and early nineties.
My own casio knowledge is limited to the models I own so I'm reaching out to the casio digital enthusiasts with greater knowledge to suggest a model of watch suitable for my son as a present?
Many thanks!
An enthusiast and collector for two years. Got it worse now than when I fell down the rabbit hole! The more I learn the greater my affliction becomes... A particular interest in titanium divers and vi...
If he not into watches I suggest you look at his other interests and buy him a watch related to that. Your boy likes Mission Impossible? Get a DW290. Likes the movie Speed? DW5600. BTTF, The Office US or The Dark Knight? CA-53. Etc. Happy birthday to him by the way
Square you say ck this out I got two of these thanks to our fellow crunchers brings back fond memories…
https://www.watchcrunch.com/erochelle/posts/probably-the-cheapest-watch-ever-posted-here-12636#comment-128121
If he not into watches I suggest you look at his other interests and buy him a watch related to that. Your boy likes Mission Impossible? Get a DW290. Likes the movie Speed? DW5600. BTTF, The Office US or The Dark Knight? CA-53. Etc. Happy birthday to him by the way
Actually he is really into the office US I will take a look at that! Great idea thank you!
Square you say ck this out I got two of these thanks to our fellow crunchers brings back fond memories…
https://www.watchcrunch.com/erochelle/posts/probably-the-cheapest-watch-ever-posted-here-12636#comment-128121
Wow! I missed this post! I'm too old to remember these but my son might be interested thank you!
If he not into watches I suggest you look at his other interests and buy him a watch related to that. Your boy likes Mission Impossible? Get a DW290. Likes the movie Speed? DW5600. BTTF, The Office US or The Dark Knight? CA-53. Etc. Happy birthday to him by the way
You forgot the A100 re-release of the F100 worn by Ripley in Alien.
There are a lot of great Casio suggestions here, but you might also look at some other digital offerings if you are looking for something fun.
Timex T80 Space Invaders
Nixon Re Run
Bulova Computron
Armitron Griffy (this one also comes in black)
I hope your son has a great birthday. Admiring one watch may not make him a watch enthusiast. Given that he will be 17 and no doubt has some pretty clear ideas about things, would it be helpful just to ask him what he would like for his birthday or to get him to give you a list?
You forgot the A100 re-release of the F100 worn by Ripley in Alien.
Yep just seen that and seen some reviews that's now on the radar thanks!
There are a lot of great Casio suggestions here, but you might also look at some other digital offerings if you are looking for something fun.
Timex T80 Space Invaders
Nixon Re Run
Bulova Computron
Armitron Griffy (this one also comes in black)
I shouldn't have limited it to casios you are right! I do have a timex explorer myself. I should have said any digital?
The Nixon looks cool also I think the Armitron although aren't they pretty expensive?
I hope your son has a great birthday. Admiring one watch may not make him a watch enthusiast. Given that he will be 17 and no doubt has some pretty clear ideas about things, would it be helpful just to ask him what he would like for his birthday or to get him to give you a list?
Yep I'm doing both those things...he is traditionally difficult to buy for!
The watch probably won't be the main present but more an additional to hopefully get him to wear a watch! It's a long term aim of mine. Of my children and step children only my eldest daughter (33) wears a watch!
Actually he is really into the office US I will take a look at that! Great idea thank you!
Not sure how familiar you are with it but it's the calculator watch that a character called "Dwight Schrute" wears. H samuel, Game and Amazon all sell it
You forgot the A100 re-release of the F100 worn by Ripley in Alien.
Yeah I was thinking of that. I just couldn't ewmember the model name of the top of my head 🤣
Check this out: GWM5610-1 | CASIO
An iconic watch and you can't go wrong. Also, check the "YoureTerrific"'s review here: The Best G-SHOCK, still - YouTube
Can't go wrong with the Casio AE-1200WHD-1AVEF. I have the steel version as well as the one on the resin band. If it is the only watch your son will wear (at least in the beginning😉), I would go for the silver/ steel version. This was my first "proper" watch that I bought for myself as well (I was also around the age of 16/ 17) and I still wear it to this day with as much joy as the first time it was around my wrist.
It resembles also the Seiko watch James Bond wore in Octopussy.
Two minute search on eBay and I found these, the DW series depending on his wrist size may or may not fit him, but they come in a huge variation of colours. There is other Casio's as well from different series and one I found was 38mm so may or may not be too big for him.
My two boys had little to no interest in my watch addiction either, until my oldest boy at 14 started to ask questions about them, then he wanted his own at which time I purchased him a Citizen Promaster. Now he has 5 watches of his own and I have to keep an eye on him as he keeps wanting to borrow my Sinn's. So just remember if you start him on this watch attraction business, keep an eye on your watch box 🤣
All prices are in Australian dollars, so nearly have the figure in ponds.
$37.95 AUD plenty of buttons to play with and he could always cheat during his maths class or do what people do and flip the watch up side down and spell BOOBS on the display 🤣
$59.36 AUD Great little unisex sized watch and a legend in the watch world F-91W
$64.95 AUD Casio LWS-1100H-9A Cool little 38mm with loads of functions to impress his friends.
$155 AUD Casio G-Shock Special Colour Digital DW-5600WS-4. It's a G-Shock so say no more.
Then there's Swatch, but I'll leave that one with you 👍
Good luck and all the best for your boy on his birthday 🙏
Hey, this is the guy's birthday, not a day for a workshop! 🤣
"Happy Birthday, son. Now you are 17, you can open your other presents later. First, I want you to sit down and let me tell you all about watches...better get yourself a drink; we may be in for the long haul..."
(10 hours later)
".... and that my son is how a perpetual calendar works. Next, lets discuss grades of leather for straps"
I think it is easy to overthink this. First, I suspect that none of us on here really has much idea about what goes on in the head of a 17 year old, nor even their favourite things. Second, our age sometimes means that we assume that films, tv shows and so on are more recent than they were. It is easy to think: 'of course he will have seen that...everyone has'.
It is understandable, perhaps, to want other people to share our interests but not everyone wants, needs, or likes watches - even if they have admired the odd one. Perhaps most teenagers don't automatically want to have the same interests as their older family members. I can just remember being a teenager and when my mother recommended a book to me (we were both great readers) I always made a point of remembering never to read that particular one. 😂 Only after quite a few decades have I appreciated what I missed.
The Munky children were teenagers many years ago but I still remember buying them the wrong clothes, the wrong music and so on.
Perhaps accept that the watch may not been worn very often. That is why a basic, square, Casio is a good option. It comes in a range of bright colours and in the UK you can get it from Amazon for around £18. If your son really doesn't like it, he can always give it to a mate or quietly slip it in the bin.
You could go full pocket protector and get him something like this.
Dwight in the office wears a databank, which is peak nerd-cool. Especially if he loves the show
Or if he's into some awesome sci fi, casio issued a version of the watch used in the Alien movie, which does look dope.
But It might be good to casually show the guy a digital watch and ask if it looks the same to get some pointers and then if it's not obvious come back so we can help!
Failing that, Michael Scott, the boss in the office is the proud owner of a Seyko....
(10 hours later)
".... and that my son is how a perpetual calendar works. Next, lets discuss grades of leather for straps"
Yep he would definitely do a runner if I took that approach!
I think it is easy to overthink this. First, I suspect that none of us on here really has much idea about what goes on in the head of a 17 year old, nor even their favourite things. Second, our age sometimes means that we assume that films, tv shows and so on are more recent than they were. It is easy to think: 'of course he will have seen that...everyone has'.
It is understandable, perhaps, to want other people to share our interests but not everyone wants, needs, or likes watches - even if they have admired the odd one. Perhaps most teenagers don't automatically want to have the same interests as their older family members. I can just remember being a teenager and when my mother recommended a book to me (we were both great readers) I always made a point of remembering never to read that particular one. 😂 Only after quite a few decades have I appreciated what I missed.
The Munky children were teenagers many years ago but I still remember buying them the wrong clothes, the wrong music and so on.
Perhaps accept that the watch may not been worn very often. That is why a basic, square, Casio is a good option. It comes in a range of bright colours and in the UK you can get it from Amazon for around £18. If your son really doesn't like it, he can always give it to a mate or quietly slip it in the bin.
Wise words indeed! My children sound much like your Munky children!
You could go full pocket protector and get him something like this.
That definitely wasn't the watch he spotted! Interesting though it is!!
If your son's friends are like young people of a similar age from where I'm from, most will be showing up sporting their Apple watches or no watch at all (because time has now become un-important in this new world) and instead some cool hand-made friendship, bead/twine bracelet.
To the other extreme those influenced by social media and pop culture... they may like an "iced out AP" or "bling'ed out Rich Mills" (🙄 actually overheard this at a dinner out a few months back).
Maybe during the next family trip to the mall, you take him aside and visit the local jewelry shop/department store (who will carry Casio, Citizen, Seiko) or boutique AD and have him try on a few pieces and gauge his interest. If he's not into it... there's always the Apple Store. 😉
Dwight in the office wears a databank, which is peak nerd-cool. Especially if he loves the show
Or if he's into some awesome sci fi, casio issued a version of the watch used in the Alien movie, which does look dope.
But It might be good to casually show the guy a digital watch and ask if it looks the same to get some pointers and then if it's not obvious come back so we can help!
Failing that, Michael Scott, the boss in the office is the proud owner of a Seyko....
That Alien reissue is a very strong contender thank you!
If your son's friends are like young people of a similar age from where I'm from, most will be showing up sporting their Apple watches or no watch at all (because time has now become un-important in this new world) and instead some cool hand-made friendship, bead/twine bracelet.
To the other extreme those influenced by social media and pop culture... they may like an "iced out AP" or "bling'ed out Rich Mills" (🙄 actually overheard this at a dinner out a few months back).
Maybe during the next family trip to the mall, you take him aside and visit the local jewelry shop/department store (who will carry Casio, Citizen, Seiko) or boutique AD and have him try on a few pieces and gauge his interest. If he's not into it... there's always the Apple Store. 😉
He has an I phone 12 and the obligatory ear buds but no apple watch or apparently any interest in a smart watch so far. I'm thinking slightly older friends in the year above at school are starting to wear vintage type casios hence his recent interest.
I'm old enough to remember at primary school the very first LED digital watches being a huge thing!
Further to my last and I know its not a casio but I'm also considering the Timex T80? It features in Stranger Things. Any opinions?
I'd get hime a Casio Royale! Thats the one my son likes ! Although he also liked my Seiko modded SKX Batman and the thought of a blue and black Bezel and the name really caught his attention!
Here is something cheap and fun. $3 on AliExpress.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2255800646701109.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.63e31802HVCBhL
I'd get hime a Casio Royale! Thats the one my son likes ! Although he also liked my Seiko modded SKX Batman and the thought of a blue and black Bezel and the name really caught his attention!
I've got one and put it on a posh vario strap but he was only passingly interested! I would have thought he would love it buy then again I'm 58 and he's only coming up 17!
Here is something cheap and fun. $3 on AliExpress.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2255800646701109.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.63e31802HVCBhL
That is completely bonkers! Could get one for a Christmas cracker!!