My dad’s birthday is coming up, I’ve never gotten him anything ever for his birthday, I have some money now, around 500 dollars budget. I need recommendations on what to get him. It needs to be scratch proof, he works in construction, so scratch proof band, watch head and glass, the whole watch. he likes fancy looking watches, something that goes well even with a suit and plain clothes, something nice you know. the watch head should be uh, hmm, i think like around the size of a half dollar, not an insanely massive head size but above average. also it shouldn’t be thick like a brick, or thin like a coin, a decent thickness. ok after looking up different watches, the watch head preferably should look like a “Coupole Automatic” but a little smaller watch head diameter. also try to find one with similar shaped watch hands as this type of watch. go for a silver color, if you find one that you think looks really nice with gold then send it. and the watch should last a long long time in good condition. if you find a realllly nice watch but its higher than 500 then go for anything below 600
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I second the citizen eco-drive Promaster Tough bn0211.
For a dressier automatic the citizen nb1050.
These both have a scratch resistant coating on the case and bracelet and a sapphire crystal too. You can set up a notification on ebay for when the tough comes back in stock but it probably won’t be before Christmas and they don’t last that long either. There are other tough models also but not at this price.
But keep in mind that even though these do resist better to scratches than regular stainless steel they are not scratch proof and in an enviroemt like construction work will pick up scratches just not as many as regular stainless steel.
Also a brushed finish on the case shows scratches less that a polished finish.
I would go with a citizen promaster dive watch. Solar powered, durable, low maintenance. If he isn’t super into watches, it’s perfect.
Rado have the best ceramic coating. For scratch proofing cases and bracelet.
RELIO SOLSTICE COPPER - SPORTS WATCH (SALMON SUNBURST would be my dial choice)
https://microbrand.store/collections/top-dress-watches/products/relio-solstice-copper
Something that can be worn working in construction and ‘nice watch’ is difficult to reconcile. If it’s going to get banged about the obvious choice would be a G-Shock but that doesn’t fit the brief. Maybe look at a Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical or a Hamilton Jazzmaster. The Rado you describe (Coupole Automatic) is a dress watch and no dress watch is really going to be rugged enough to survive long term everyday wear in construction. Take a look at Seiko and Citizen who make very large ranges of watches in your budget and you should see something that’d suit your Dad. Best of luck.
thanks for replying, i am looking at tissot or seiko, also no offence but the “Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical” looks like someone put a sticker on a watch, and the band is woven. can’t believe its more than 20 dollars much less 600. the jazzmaster looks nice though, im still debating
Long time construction guy, new watch guy. My 2 cents for whatever it’s worth is the two things you should be looking for is 1) sapphire crystal and 2) bracelet.
Anything with a strap looks cheap right outta the box in my opinion, but they wear fast when you’re rubbing your arms on rough shit all day and it’ll look like trash in a suite. For the crystal I’ve beaten the shit out of 2 watches and I’ve only owned them for about 4 months. I bought a “flame fusion” crystal which is supposed to be sapphire over crystal and I wish i would’ve just bought sapphire because my shits whooped already.
I know a microbrand may have a longer wait but I think clemence watches make a perfect combo of durable and classy, and that’s what I intend to buy next.
Automatic watches have a bit of a learning curve. For most that may be a turn off, for a guy that builds and tinkers for a living it may be a positive. You’d know bettter than me what gizmos your dad likes to geek out on.
An easier alternative in a similar price range you could buy fast on Amazon would be an alpina AL-240SS4E6B.
These will at least give you an idea of features and looks you can look around and compare on. Asking about types of watches is like asking guys what truck brand is the best. You’ll get lots of opinions but they’re all basically pretty equal in value, it depends on what quirks and heritage appeal to you personally
Handyman, can confirm on the crystal and bracelt, and would advise going quartz. As an older guy, you may not even need to spend that much if you take a gander at Vaer. One of theirs–one of my current three-watch collection–I got because it was a very good quartz homage to a Hamilton hand-wound at half the price.
BN0241-59H Promaster Tough is also an option though somewhat less dress capable. Definitely sporty and construction capable.
Citizen BN0211-50E Promaster Tough. SS, sapphire, monocoque case, Super Titanium coating (5x scratch resistance over SS alone), eco drive, good lume. Looks great on leather and takes on a more dressy appearance. Discontinued but can still be found with some looking around.
Victorinox INOX maybe? The stick indices models look reasonably classy?