Invicta pro diver
https://www.creationwatches.com/products/invicta-watches-307/invicta-pro-diver-automatic-blue-dial-9094-mens-watch-7073.html
Spend the remaining £220 on coke and hooker (s)
Fossil do some reasonably priced skeleton autos, they look good IRL.
Get one he can build himself - https://shop.diywatch.club/collections/watchmakingkit/products/40mm-vintage-skeleton-dive-watch-kit-seiko-nh72-with-tools-and-video-instructions
Tried and tested workhorse Seiko movement, skeleton dial, dresses up nicely with a different strap which you could get with the change from your £300 no problem.
Seiko
Christopher ward if on sale
Elliott brown
All very solid watches
It's for his 18th so there's a commemorative element to it. With that in mind I'd try to steer away from anything fashionable or quirky that may just end up looking a bit sad in a couple of years time.
Within your budget I'd recommend something timeless like a Seiko field watch or diver which he can still wear in 10 years time. A Seiko will run that long without maintenance, and if necessary you'll be able to drop a new movement in for less than the service cost of a SW200 or similar. I've no specific watch in mind, there are absolutely loads within your budget!
Crikey I feel old. My 18th was a tag Heuer formula 1, the original one. It was 79.95 in Selfridges.
Mate worked in a jeweller and got me the stainless bracelet for 30 quid when the rubber strap died
TAG are just reissuing the Formula 1 watches - you don’t want to know what they’re going for now, though!
I think diver style watches are brash, fat and ugly.
Well, some are, but £300 won’t get you a platinum Rolex set with multicolour baguette-cut diamonds. A proper, ‘tool’ dive watch should be plain and simple and easy to read, and built to take abuse.
Here’s my mid-80’s TAG Heuer Series 1000 ‘NightDiver’ - the G-Shock ‘CasiOak’ I’m currently wearing is actually bigger!
Some good suggestions above. Seiko are a safe bet, the Timex krypton linked to is great (& can be had with 15% off IIRC), but IMVHO a Timex isn’t that soecial.
also I was gifted a skeleton watch when I was 16 or 18 as my father is into watches and I loved it at the time, but they don’t age that well, definitely not something I’ll ever likely wear again. Just my 2 cents. Also be wary of buying something that has a smallish case diameter.
I also have a pocket watch my best mate have me when I was his best man. Still wear it to formal occasions when I wear my kilt and all the get up that goes with it.
It's Timex which has already been pooh-poohed but I keep getting drawn to this.
Thanks all.
So far, Cougar’s Rotary Skelton is the most approved. I think it’s a decent looking watch and I’m not 18yo!
It feels like the budget is middle ground, I sort of wish we could go more for a proper statement piece but he’s had two daughters before home turn 18 and we try to strictly treat all the kids the same.
Go Chinese, could have a San Martin dive watch and a chrono for the budget
Make sure the lug to lug width will fit his wrist, sapphire bezel, Seiko quartz movement, jobs a goodun
Just an update, we went for the rotary Skeleton as per Cougars note. After two days of hardly any use the second hand dropped off. The store swapped it and, today, the second hand has dropped off the replacement. So the watch is going back and we’ll probably steer clear of the Rotary brand now.
I like some of those listed in the DIY link above. No knowledge of it being vfm as a watch but you're getting an experience and an interesting story as well. I think that counts for a lot.
That’s incredibly disappointing, both for you son and for yourselves. I’d still feel quite confident recommending a Seiko or Tissot. But not sure if either has that skeleton type in their catalog.
Apple Watch?
does most of the smartphone stuff, without the weight.
Indeed, we are both very disappointed as we had hoped for a heirloom quality piece (acknowledging it isn’t very spendy compared to what is for sale, but still a decent chunk to have hands fall off).
Any Apple watch will likely be obsolete in three years.
Moon Swatch would fit the budget?
Got one of our children one of these E-One Bradleys. Seems to do the job https://www.eone-time.com/
Can you push the boat out slighty for a Bulova: https://www.firstclasswatches.co.uk/bulova-mens-automatic-skeleton-dial-stainless-steel-bracelet-96a293-p-116885/?correct_country=222&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADnEZGeNYDRrtB1lYA74PjIEmeGzq&gclid=CjwKCAjw3P-2BhAEEiwA3yPhwHObLU7LPKRGLLbVq6C4TCIWQ7001HOF34c-rzB8zUS99cJRt_VvYBoCmywQAvD_BwE
There is a 10% off button in red at the bottom of the page and have a “make us an offer” link.
Bad luck on the Rotary, ours here have been a little heavy on battery, but robust.
How about this for an alternative. Swiss automatic, ETA 2824 movement, sapphire crystal on top and bottom, brand name he'll know.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394831057416
Calvin Klein Infinite.
Unlucky. My Rotary Super Seven diver is a couple of years old now, no issues.
That said two failures suggest problems with current production.
Slightly over budget, I am thinking of getting one of these. UK design and quality control. I have the Model 1 and 2 which are several years old with no issues.
https://12and60.com/review-alkin-model-three-great-british-design-bargain-price/
Only a real watch enthusiast would recognise the brand which may not suit everyone.
Sorry it didn't work out for you. It wasn't a personal recommendation, just a help with web searching. I feel bad now.
No worries @cougar, I wasn’t citing you as at fault, just referring the product as he really liked the look and style of it. For that money, it should be a decent watch, certainly not have hands fall off! I’m sort of glad the fault has manifested early on as it might have been a tricker warranty call in a year or two.
