What watch would you buy your Dad?

[Macca]

Have been circling for a good month or so (reading watch forum etc etc) , would like to buy my Dad a nice watch with a $3- 4k limit. (he has never had one and I want to buy him one) 

Personally -I have a series of 4 watches in my collection -a seiko and 3x ghocks so this is why I am posting for a bit of guidance,

My thoughts are;

Longines Master moon - http://shop.us.longines.com/longines-collections/l26734786-the-longines-master-collection-40mm-stainless-steel-automatic-with-moon-phase.html

Seiko Grand - http://www.grand-seiko.com/collection/detail.php?pid=SBGX059

Omega Aqua -https://www.omegawatches.com/watches/seamaster/aqua-terra-150m/co-axial-30-mm/23110302006001/

He is old  - so the face cant be to crowded to read. Engineering and precision is important to him (he went from a musterer to an aerospace engineer) but ultimately the last thing I want to buy him is a headache. My wife has bling iced watches,Doir, Tag etc and have had issues with them so that kind of watch is way out.

I want to get him something that he can wear and enjoy. (carefree)

Please share your opinions,

Cheers,

 

 

[LeeM]

  Personally,  Citizen eco drive watches are my favourite, and are very good value for money. Never need a battery change, as any light source will do. A personal fave Citizen is the Satellite wave titanium. Prices range from $1800 to $3000 depending where you go, and how desperate the shop wants to sell you one, or the lower price range pieces are still exceptional value

 They have styles to suit any taste (as do most watch brands), yet I have 6 or 7 Citizen's, and not had any of them fail, even the second hand ones I have bought from Crime Converters. I have 4 automatic Seiko's and only one works now, 3 Pulsars that have flat batteries (I'm lazy) and one G Shock that is my daily work watch

 

[Macca]

Citizen is the Satellite wave titanium.

Yes, I like them too, have yoyo'ed back to the GPS watches several times;  Citizen Sat and Casio oceanus or even mtg. Japanese are hard to beat when it comes to manufacturing reliable and precise items.

[LeeM]

  I would like to buy one myself, and very nearly did after I had a grand knocked off the price, yet I had to spend the cash on finishing the 912.

  I have 2 titanium Pro Master's that are exceptional pieces, and I paid a quarter of retail for them, yet one of them I can't read the date now, as my 50 year old eyes aren't what they used to be. It really depends what style your dad likes, as I have had watches bought for me and felt bad when I don't like them. For your budget, my personal view (not having that amount to buy just one!) would be to purchase a dress watch for special occasions, and an everyday all rounder

 I personally like a sport styled watch (hence the Promasters, a Nighthawk and a couple of others), and this is my current favourite Citizen. $180 from a shop on sale

Also love this Nighthawk

[Steve88]

Would you consider a pre-owned classic ? Pre owned Rolex Milgauss ( a watch built for engineers ) . Omega Speedmaster , Tudor Black bay , Rolex Air King  or an Oyster anything . All these are sub $5000 May take a little more effort but i think a nice classic piece is a great idea and would love to do something like that for my dad into the future.

[D-banger]

Pre owned Speedy Pro + aero engineer = match, for that price range IMHO

[D2000]

For a simple automatic with big numbers the iwc pilot would be my bet: https://mobile.iwc.com/pilots-watch-mark-xviii/

[MARTY]

Take a look at theoldwatchshop.co.uk Mike has some great watches you could buy a used Rolex or Omega for the top end of your budget and you would be buying a watch that   like most peoples cars on here will only go up in value,When you compare a good used watch compared to some of the others mentioned its a no brainer a good Rolex will last a lifetime.

[Tips]

Take a look at theoldwatchshop.co.uk Mike has some great watches you could buy a used Rolex or Omega for the top end of your budget and you would be buying a watch that   like most peoples cars on here will only go up in value,When you compare a good used watch compared to some of the others mentioned its a no brainer a good Rolex will last a lifetime.

agree go classic if u can. Omega or Rolex. I wear my dads 1952 Oyster perpetual as a daily, just an annual service it keeps time for around 2 days without wear and gets loads of comments?

[Carrera28]

I have owned a few of the brand name watches and have to say that in my experience Omega's sit most comfortably on the wrist.  Beautiful fit and finish.

Personally I am a big fan of TAG Heuer and even with this my advice is to steer clear of TAG Heuer, they are just a touch too common and their mechanisms are not as strong as Omega or Rolex and as a special present they are not perhaps quite special enough.  The one exception would be if your father is a big Ayrton Senna fan a Senna Heuer is a super nice present and the box and brochures make it extra special.

An iconic Rolex or Omega would be an amazing present.  An Omega Speedmaster 'moon watch' would be a fantastic and with some research you could potentially get a very good condition second hand one within your price range.  Unless of course your father is a big James Bond fan and then you have to get the blue Omega Seamaster. 

 

[1q2w3e4r]

Pre owned Speedy Pro + aero engineer = match, for that price range IMHO

Agree 100% can't go past a Moonwatch, you might sneak one at $4k

[Macca]

Would you consider a pre-owned classic ? Pre owned Rolex Milgauss ( a watch built for engineers ) . Omega Speedmaster , Tudor Black bay , Rolex Air King  or an Oyster anything . All these are sub $5000 May take a little more effort but i think a nice classic piece is a great idea and would love to do something like that for my dad into the future.

Have been all over the auction houses. (I buy jewelry for ladyboss). I like secondhard pieces to be honest but concerned about the movement and service history. 

The Omega Speedmaster is spoken for - its for me when I am 40 (next year)

 

 

For a simple automatic with big numbers the iwc pilot would be my bet: https://mobile.iwc.com/pilots-watch-mark-xviii/

Thats NICE.....will look at these also.

agree go classic if u can. Omega or Rolex. I wear my dads 1952 Oyster perpetual as a daily, just an annual service it keeps time for around 2 days without wear and gets loads of comments?

That is good to know, 

Take a look at theoldwatchshop.co.uk Mike has some great watches you could buy a used Rolex or Omega for the top end of your budget and you would be buying a watch that   like most peoples cars on here will only go up in value,When you compare a good used watch compared to some of the others mentioned its a no brainer a good Rolex will last a lifetime.

Cheers, will do. 

Entertained rolex...will revisit them. 

I have owned a few of the brand name watches and have to say that in my experience Omega's sit most comfortably on the wrist.  Beautiful fit and finish.

Personally I am a big fan of TAG Heuer and even with this my advice is to steer clear of TAG Heuer, they are just a touch too common and their mechanisms are not as strong as Omega or Rolex and as a special present they are not perhaps quite special enough.  The one exception would be if your father is a big Ayrton Senna fan a Senna Heuer is a super nice present and the box and brochures make it extra special.

An iconic Rolex or Omega would be an amazing present.  An Omega Speedmaster 'moon watch' would be a fantastic and with some research you could potentially get a very good condition second hand one within your price range.  Unless of course your father is a big James Bond fan and then you have to get the blue Omega Seamaster. 

 

I am a big fan of Omega - never owned one but they appeal to me. 

If I am buying secondhand - it will be a broad-arrow or moon.

He is not a race car fan - loves planes (air force basically raised him - he never met his Father and he grew up in Longreach QLD - more planes than cars in the 1950's) - was entertaining a Breitling but the face is too busy. That IWC (D2000 posted) has given me a good vibe.

Ladyboss has two tags and have had issues with the newer one. It was basically replaced. For a $6k watch I shouldnt have to test the watch to see if it keeps time. Was disappointed in Tag but still love the monaco and some of the F1's.

 

[Macca]

Rolex Milgauss  Tudor Black bay , Rolex Air King  

they are bloody nice also. 

[D2000]

Don't forget that there is a lot of room for negotiation even on new watches in Australia. Plus stores like Gregories have regular sales

[OBRUT]

I have a 70's Heuer Calculator (outer bezel is a rotating slide rule).  I have a few watches and this is the fave by a mile.  

Engineers, car guys and aero guys love it.  From memory, slide rule watches were developed for aviation use.

You should have no problem finding one in your budget. 

[MARTY]

Hi again forgot to mention check out Leonard Joel auction house here in Melbourne they have a Jewels auction on sept 5th on page 3 they have some great watches all within your budget eg omega speedmaster (moonwatch) estimate of $1500-$2000 a seamaster for $2200-$3200 these are just a selection they have several on that page,plus its a bit of fun going to the auction.Good luck with the search. 

[Macca]

Hi again forgot to mention check out Leonard Joel auction house here in Melbourne they have a Jewels auction on sept 5th on page 3 they have some great watches all within your budget eg omega speedmaster (moonwatch) estimate of $1500-$2000 a seamaster for $2200-$3200 these are just a selection they have several on that page,plus its a bit of fun going to the auction.Good luck with the search. 

NICE !! thanking you.

 

[HH1]

Check out fleabay, there are plenty of nice watches and I would strongly suggest the Rolex Cellini range. They are a top watch with simplistic design usually in gold or white gold, not bulky and very understated for a Rolex. Would suit an older gent. 

[Spannerhead]

As a big watch fan . I would buy him an OMEGA SEAMASTER 300 COAXIAL . I know its not the cheapest but they are a beautiful watch. Easy to read and will become a classic. You should be able to pick up a good secondhand one for your budget . Good luck.

[Macca]

As a big watch fan . I would buy him an OMEGA SEAMASTER 300 COAXIAL . I know its not the cheapest but they are a beautiful watch. Easy to read and will become a classic. You should be able to pick up a good secondhand one for your budget . Good luck.

Spannerhead, that is a very cool piece. Have been reading about them. 

Thanking you, 

[Niko]

To fit the criteria of something your Dad can wear and enjoy (carefree)   Aerospace Engineer also sort of fits in here...

Plus my eyesight is not as good as it used to me (probably from all the self abuse when I was a young bloke apparently) so clarity on the dial is a must for me.

I picked this one up about 18 months ago.   My nephew in the RAN did a course over with the USN and knowing I love watches, found this one in the PX.

I paid about $500.00 AUD for it from memory or thereabouts.   It's a commemorative watch for the BLUE ANGELS flying team.

I checked on Ebay a few months ago and I think there were a couple for private sale.

It is solar powered, and has the satellite time keeping capabilities. i.e.  It automatically changes time for wherever you are in the world.

Probably my favourite watch of my collection, I'm also a CITIZEN fan.

Last year I purchased another CITIZEN with the same stuff (satellite and solar) but a much more modern design and that was $4k although I got it for 3K.

But I like this one better, and the price is fantastic.

It is also available or was available in the metal band instead of the colour coded leather band.

[LeeM]

  I bought one of the titanium Blue Angels Citizen's very cheap last year, yet my mate was obsessed with it, so I gave it to him as a present

[Niko]

This is the other CITIZEN with Satellite wave and fully solar, which has all the same features as the BLUE ANGELS but about 3k more.

It has a titanium band and is very light.   Love this one too.

 

[LeeM]

 You had to post that one up! That's the one I haggled down to $1800 but saw sense and finished the 912. I'll own one eventually

[Niko]

 You had to post that one up! That's the one I haggled down to $1800 but saw sense and finished the 912. I'll own one eventually

aarrgghh wish you hadn't told me that