Crowdsourcing My Next Milestone Watch
'Evening Watchcrunch Fam -
I'm hoping to get some thoughts and ideas on my next purchase. Here's the deal.
Like many, watches represent milestones for me. My Breitling is incredibly special on two levels. One, it's a limited edition Superocean Heritage engraved with the emblem from an organization I spent many years serving, and two, was a wedding gift from my wife. My Aqua Terra is a gift to myself representing a major career milestone.
My Speedy is the watch I lusted after for years, and purchased it to commemorate the birth of my son. This is extra special because I purchased it for him (the warranty date is his birthday), and am simply it's caretaker until one day when I will slip it off my wrist and give it to him. So now we are expecting our second son in a handful of months, and of course this warrants a second watch to commemorate his birth with the intention of giving it to him in the future.
After a LOT of deliberation, I found myself loving the Seamaster Diver 300. It's sporty but works with a suit and it's in the Omega family (I love the brand). But the moment I say, "that's it, it's settled", I wonder - what about the JLC Reverso Duoface? What about a Snowflake?
So I thought I'd reach out to my fellow watch nerd community to get your thoughts. Here are other random thoughts as you come up with suggestions. I have others in my collection: my entry watches are the SARB 033, the SKX, a Save the Ocean Turtle, the Hamilton Interstellar (my wife has the Murph). Aesthetically, my grail is the Lange 1 in Rose Gold. To that end, I LOVE a rose gold on soft tan leather look!! I adore the Datejust, but can't bring myself to buy a Rolex in the current market. Tudors are stunning, but my Superocean heritage kind of scratches that itch.
Ok folks - work your magic. What is the next milestone purchase to commemorate the birth of my son, with a budget of staying under $15k, that is appropriate to give to a young man (21?) when the time is right, but in the meantime adds to my collection? Bonus if it has a similar and charming je ne sais quoi as the iconic Speedy.
Cheers!
Watch nerd from the beginning.
My first answer is the obvious one, Rolex Sub. Timeless, classic, and good chance it’ll be running still. I know that will not excite folks, but oh well. You should have no issue getting a Datejust in the current market.
You mention the Lange 1 in rose as a grail, why not get the GO? It is arguably aesthetically better looking. Stunning movement and simply class in red gold. No it is not ALS, but when you can pick one up under $15K and it checks many of the ALS1 boxes, could be a worthy consideration.
Then compare. The stepped down date and lack of zero would drive me nuts.
My first answer is the obvious one, Rolex Sub. Timeless, classic, and good chance it’ll be running still. I know that will not excite folks, but oh well. You should have no issue getting a Datejust in the current market.
You mention the Lange 1 in rose as a grail, why not get the GO? It is arguably aesthetically better looking. Stunning movement and simply class in red gold. No it is not ALS, but when you can pick one up under $15K and it checks many of the ALS1 boxes, could be a worthy consideration.
Then compare. The stepped down date and lack of zero would drive me nuts.
OMG... this is precisely what I was about to say!
The GO is an awesome suggestion. My only question is whether you would give a solid gold GO to a 21 year old.
My first answer is the obvious one, Rolex Sub. Timeless, classic, and good chance it’ll be running still. I know that will not excite folks, but oh well. You should have no issue getting a Datejust in the current market.
You mention the Lange 1 in rose as a grail, why not get the GO? It is arguably aesthetically better looking. Stunning movement and simply class in red gold. No it is not ALS, but when you can pick one up under $15K and it checks many of the ALS1 boxes, could be a worthy consideration.
Then compare. The stepped down date and lack of zero would drive me nuts.
Great suggestion - thank you! There’s an element of passing it along. Purely for me, the GO is an amazing option. But passing it to a young man, would some of that be lost on him. Hmmm.
The GO is an awesome suggestion. My only question is whether you would give a solid gold GO to a 21 year old.
That’s my thought as well. GO is a perfect option and addition to my collection if it were staying. But the intention that it’s ‘his’ watch…might be too much watch?
What's going to be cool for a 21 year old to wear in 21 years time?
The world might be even more casual than it is today, so I'm not sure any dress watch will work in this situation. I would go with something iconic, versatile and from a brand you know will be around in two decades. To me, any of these options would work.
Omega Seamaster 300m (this would be my choice. I'm validating your gut instinct).
Rolex Sports Model (any from the GMT Master II, Sub, or Explorer II collections)
Breitling Navitimer (you seem to be a fan of the brand and that watch is iconic as it gets) EDIT: Ninja'd by @MegaBob
Tudor Black Bay 58 (not a fan of the brand, but this watch is reaching iconic status if it hasn't already).
JLC Polaris (this is my outlier choice. I think any JLC dress watch may not go with your son's lifestyle in two decades, but this is a killer watch from a killer brand that will go with just about anything).
A Rolex Submariner or a Tudor BB58 because if he grew up to be a watchbro or muggle he'll recognize a subbie/submariner styled watch for what it is (the lucky brat...kidding!)
Something from Omega or Tag Heuer because those two are the ones I can think of that would look techbro cool.
A Panerai. Unless your boy have sticks for wrist a Panerai should be cool for him.
Come thank your uncles here at WC when you get your watch on your 21st birthday, kid!
👍
+1 on rose gold GO.
at that price range, i would get a garrick (british made) with a beautiful guilloche dial or lot of awesome breguet too. Entry level lange saxonia is possible.
have fun and go a bit off the main brands since u have plenty already :) amazing classic watches so far though!
Long term, how about something like a Seamaster 300 heritage? Classic design, excellent movement, not too big or small, and easy to wear with fancy or casual clothes - not stoopid expensive either..
Firstly thank you for asking the community. I am sure you will get some brilliant recommendations. My personal opinion will be along the Rolex lines. I am afraid its a brand if we like it or not it is going to be timeless and an asset to your son when he grows up and when you hand it to him. I am lucky, I have a great relationship with my AD and probably could get most of the sports range at retail so under your budget. But even on the grey market, a submariner would be ideal within your budget. If you are after a casual dress watch, consider thr Vacheron Constantin Fiftysix in steel. Fabulous watch for all occasions and at a brilliant price point and under your budget at retail.
What do you want to wear for the next 21 years?
It seems unlikely that you'll make a decision based on your taste today that will exactly align with what he would like to do with $10k when he's 21, so maybe the best play would be to give him the sentimental feelings of having something that you loved for a long time.
My step-dad gave my brother and I each watches (at 35 and 40 respectively) that we love because they were important to him, not necessarily because they are what we would buy for ourselves. Mine totally is, but my brother is not really a watch guy.
My father in law has worn his 1016 every day for 50+ years. My brother in law couldn't give two sh*ts about watches, but that old Explorer is the single physical item that embodies his father.
Just a few that come to mind
Blancpain 50 Fathoms
The new SLGA015 Grand Seiko
Glashutte SeaQ
Of course Submariner or Seadweller
Planet Ocean 600m Titanium
Planet Ocean Ultra Deep
Zenith Chronomaster
Cartier Panther ,Raodster or Santos
Vacheron Constantine Overseas
What do you want to wear for the next 21 years?
It seems unlikely that you'll make a decision based on your taste today that will exactly align with what he would like to do with $10k when he's 21, so maybe the best play would be to give him the sentimental feelings of having something that you loved for a long time.
My step-dad gave my brother and I each watches (at 35 and 40 respectively) that we love because they were important to him, not necessarily because they are what we would buy for ourselves. Mine totally is, but my brother is not really a watch guy.
My father in law has worn his 1016 every day for 50+ years. My brother in law couldn't give two sh*ts about watches, but that old Explorer is the single physical item that embodies his father.
This is a really great philosophical recommendation! I really appreciate it. It's not about them today...it's about what I'm giving them in 20+ years that will remind them of me and our time over that period. Really amazing perspective. Thank you!!
Just a few that come to mind
Blancpain 50 Fathoms
The new SLGA015 Grand Seiko
Glashutte SeaQ
Of course Submariner or Seadweller
Planet Ocean 600m Titanium
Planet Ocean Ultra Deep
Zenith Chronomaster
Cartier Panther ,Raodster or Santos
Vacheron Constantine Overseas
Great recommendations! Thank you!
Long term, how about something like a Seamaster 300 heritage? Classic design, excellent movement, not too big or small, and easy to wear with fancy or casual clothes - not stoopid expensive either..
That's an excellent recommendation! I do love that Heritage...
+1 on rose gold GO.
at that price range, i would get a garrick (british made) with a beautiful guilloche dial or lot of awesome breguet too. Entry level lange saxonia is possible.
have fun and go a bit off the main brands since u have plenty already :) amazing classic watches so far though!
Thank you! I appreciate your recco of going off main brand. It's hard for me - but you've given me reason to think outside the box!
A Rolex Submariner or a Tudor BB58 because if he grew up to be a watchbro or muggle he'll recognize a subbie/submariner styled watch for what it is (the lucky brat...kidding!)
Something from Omega or Tag Heuer because those two are the ones I can think of that would look techbro cool.
A Panerai. Unless your boy have sticks for wrist a Panerai should be cool for him.
Come thank your uncles here at WC when you get your watch on your 21st birthday, kid!
👍
Great reccos! I hadn't considered Panerai...but an amazing brand with really great options. Ok...let the Panerai rabbit hole begin!
Navitimer... what a great suggestion! Badass for sure...and iconic styling that isn't going out of style any time soon. Thank you!
I say go farther and more adventurous...set your son up to be a Man of The World and Intercontinental Man of Business...go with the Omega Seamaster WorldTime...stays in your price range...stays in your design family...stays in your quality category...and is an amazing watch...
This may be a "wrong" opinion but here goes.
1) Brothers always want what the other brother has, its a truth of life. so..
2) My advice is to buy another speedy exactly the same so that they both end up with exactly the same watch and have nothing to fight over. and lastly..
3) After they both have their speedys buy yourself another and that is something you will share with both your sons, the fact that you all have matching speedys.
Just a thought and my personal advice probably not what you really wanted to hear but I thought I would throw human nature into the scenario I wont take it personally if you don't care for it 😀👍
Blancpain 50fathoms as it has similar heritage to the Speedy.
or how about a different speedmaster? Darkside of the moon perhaps? then each of your boys get a speedy in adulthood.
What about having more babies ?! Choosing dilemma solved. You welcome 🤗 😁