You‘re right with that that he shouldn‘t get a watch worth too much because a 13 year old might lose it. A used Junghans is what came first to my Mind. Reputation like Hamilton or Tudor and looks very mature.

 

Hmm so many options... Hamilton khaki field would make a grear option, and came to me as an obvious choice as well.
Solid field watch, can take a beating without being to toy like or to dressy.

Laco does some fliegers at 36mm and well within your budget (Birmingham).

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I thought of Laco but didn't see a 36. I'll look again for the Birmingham.

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Seiko SNK80X

 

For a 13 year old, any G-Shock watch is a good beater watch perfect for any out door and indoor exercise.

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For a 13 year old, any G-Shock watch is a good beater watch perfect for any out door and indoor exercise.

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Exactly what I was thinking. I dont think I would have appreciated or looked after an auto.

 

My kid is turning 13 and will have his bar mitzvah. The Mrs thinks I should get him a watch, which makes for a touch choice. Criteria:

1. Has to be small. Under 40mm.
2. I'm not spending over $500 for a kid. maybe when he graduates Med School!
3. Must be nice enough that 20 years from now he might wear it. So no toy, fun watches. Not even sure about Swatch.

Write now I'm thinking Hamilton Khaki or Seiko Skx013. Anything else?

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Quartz or mechanical? Quartz might be more rugged and thus perhaps more suitable for a 13 year old boy....

 

13 years old--gotta be a G-Shock, definitely NOT a 'traditional'-looking watch (Longines, Hamilton, Citizen, Seiko, etc. those with zero "cool factor" for the early teen set). Worry about the future ("20 years from now") later on down the line--the watch will likely not make it that far (he's 13 after all...).

 

Honestly, you have a point .

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How about a Citizen Chandler (reference BM8180-03E)?

It's a forum darling for some good reasons. 37mm, solar-powered quartz, design cues from flieger and field watches, day/date complication, and 100m water resistance.

It's also versatile with strap changes, which could be fun for a teenage boy.

Usually $90 on Amazon, it goes on sale sometimes (I got these for $63 and $57 respectively on "deal of the day").

https://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Eco-Drive-Stainless-display-BM8180-03E/dp/B000EQS1JW

Nice value, good all-around watch. Functional, reliable, accurate (mine are within a tenth of a second a week), and if he breaks it or loses it, you're not out a fortune.

[emoji106]

 

I second this suggestion.

 

I'm open to quartz.

I own and respect g-shocks but don't think they are quite special enough for the occasion, however appropriate they may be for 13-yr olds.

The kid is a boy scout, so field and dive watches make sense.

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Like few have mentioned GShock is the best choice. It is very popular since 1980s among all age groups.
Wearing one myself today...

 

Bertucci makes a solid, good value field watch. The A-1 is 36mm and comes in steel for $100 or Ti for $200.
I've thought about one of these for my kids.

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I like the G-Shock idea. Unless it's something you're passing down to him to have when he's older, I doubt there's a watch that he'll use/wear heavily now at 13 and still at 33.

Whatever you do, I would get something that has tools. Chrono, tachy, etc. Like a Navitimer. If it's just to tell time, unless he's actually into watches, it may not get great wear.

 

My kid is turning 13 and will have his bar mitzvah. The Mrs thinks I should get him a watch, which makes for a touch choice. Criteria:

1. Has to be small. Under 40mm.
2. I'm not spending over $500 for a kid. maybe when he graduates Med School!
3. Must be nice enough that 20 years from now he might wear it. So no toy, fun watches. Not even sure about Swatch.

Write now I'm thinking Hamilton Khaki or Seiko Skx013. Anything else?

Have you asked him what he likes?

Kids have personal preferences, too. Some love digital watches, some love automatic watches because daddy has one, too. You could buy him one for everyday use (Casio, Seiko 5, anything <$100,..) or a much better one for special occasions only, if he appreciates that kind of thing. Some kids love to dress up for celebrations, others would rather wear their torn jeans every day.

Bottom line is: you know your son much better than we do.

 

I think a quartz field style watch (36 to 40mm) with a titanium case would be perfect for him.

Look at offerings from citizen, Boldr, bertucci & Vaer. (Vaer uses regular 316l steel) but are all under 500

My choice would be the Citizen as its also solar powered and WR to 300m

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How about the 37 mm version of the Victorinox Inox? Tough as nails, good looking, fine WR, and the swiss army theme fits in perfectly for a boy scout. You can get it on a bracelet or rubber, and it looks good on a variety of aftermarket straps. I have the full size and it's my beater watch, but on the bracelet it still looks very respectable. The Gerald Genta-esque bezel is what makes it special in my opinion. it's gotten me as many compliments as most of my more expensive watches.

 

When I was a kid, I liked watches (Timex Ironmans because of the Stopwatch and Casio Calculators), but I really liked Swiss Army Knives. I looked, at Victorinox, but 40mm is the smallest they sell right now unfortunately. Maybe you could find an older NOS Victorinox watch that is smaller?

 

I got my 5yr old a SKX0013. He loves it, and really gets into the strap changing. He also likes that it tells day/date.
Before that he had a 37mm Luminox, but the movement quit.

 

Showed my 12yr old a few watch pictures of solar seikos and citizens, he chose this, wears it nonstop. It's held up well.

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My first watch at that age was an Accro (obscure company that used low end swiss movements in their own case) but a decent watch and decent looking. I still have it, but the important bit was my dad wore it first and handed it down to me. It means a lot to me. Maybe you should consider handing down a (not so expensive) watch to him?

I kind of agree above though that something rugged and inexpensive might be good if you do buy -- Cascio maybe (they even have a dive watch I think).

 

My first watch at that age was an Accro (obscure company that used low end swiss movements in their own case) but a decent watch and decent looking. I still have it, but the important bit was my dad wore it first and handed it down to me. It means a lot to me. Maybe you should consider handing down a (not so expensive) watch to him?

I kind of agree above though that something rugged and inexpensive might be good if you do buy -- Cascio maybe (they even have a dive watch I think).

Casio Duro would be obvious, but at 44mm rather large.

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Baby G Square. They are colorful, smaller than normal G and still have the same appeal. I got BGD-501-1JF for my nephew and he is still pleased with it

 

My son is 19, we’re extremely close. Shirts and pants I’ve got down, but were I to guess his preferences for things like a watch, wallet, shoes....I’d still miss the mark 9 times outta 10.

I love your idea of gifting him a watch, but I always throw this out there for kicks: consider getting him involved in the whole process. Maybe have him look at some options online with ya’, spend a day window shopping and trying things on and have lunch at a place so fancy you’ll be crackin’ jokes about how snobby the patrons were for months.

Yeah, it spoils the surprise....and at first glance maybe even takes away from the whole notion of “gifting” something special. A lot of folks wouldn’t like the idea, and I understand why. On the flip side, when my son wanted a watch for Christmas last year it’s what I did. He surprised me by really getting in to it. He’d text me pics, ask me questions....and was actually willing to go to shopping with me when he came home from college. We spent a lot of quality time looking for the right watch, and while I may be romanticizing it a bit....I like to think those memories are there every time he wears it now. Plus, we found him a watch he absolutely loves and is proud of....and it’s definitely not one I would ever have picked on my own. I did end up surprising him with a nice wood and glass display case that holds four watches and other accessories. He seems to really like it.

Again, just a thought. You’ll know what’s right with/for your son. Good luck with the decision....and congrats on the upcoming celebration!

 

My son is 19, we're extremely close. Shirts and pants I've got down, but were I to guess his preferences for things like a watch, wallet, shoes....I'd still miss the mark 9 times outta 10.

I love your idea of gifting him a watch, but I always throw this out there for kicks: consider getting him involved in the whole process. Maybe have him look at some options online with ya', spend a day window shopping and trying things on and have lunch at a place so fancy you'll be crackin' jokes about how snobby the patrons were for months.

Yeah, it spoils the surprise....and at first glance maybe even takes away from the whole notion of "gifting" something special. A lot of folks wouldn't like the idea, and I understand why. On the flip side, when my son wanted a watch for Christmas last year it's what I did. He surprised me by really getting in to it. He'd text me pics, ask me questions....and was actually willing to go to shopping with me when he came home from college. We spent a lot of quality time looking for the right watch, and while I may be romanticizing it a bit....I like to think those memories are there every time he wears it now. Plus, we found him a watch he absolutely loves and is proud of....and it's definitely not one I would ever have picked on my own. I did end up surprising him with a nice wood and glass display case that holds four watches and other accessories. He seems to really like it.

Again, just a thought. You'll know what's right with/for your son. Good luck with the decision....and congrats on the upcoming celebration!

I really like this idea... Maybe I should try work my wife. Also thinking about getting her a watch for an upcoming birthday. Thanks for sharing!

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Check out Momentum watches they have a wide variety of watches that may fit your criteria. Another option that is a tad more expensive but way cool would be the Marathon Search and Rescue diver's medium quartz or auto. They are 36 mm and well built; this watch will definitely be one that will be around 20 years from now which he will be proud to wear and remember the occasion by. Goes for $600 for quartz and $850 auto. Look at Armida watches as well they are all auto but have a wide range of sizes to choose from in the dive and field watch category well within your price range. Good luck, let us know what you pick.

 

Another option that is a tad more expensive but way cool would be the Marathon Search and Rescue diver's medium quartz or auto. They are 36 mm and well built; this watch will definitely be one that will be around 20 years from now

Fair enough, but a 36mm watch with that style on an average sized wrist of a grown up guy..? It would look like he's still wearing the watch that was well proportioned when he was 13. Which is exactly what it would be.

 

Mazel Tov ...My vote is either a G-Shock with input from him sooooo many styles/colors OR even better your Seiko ..but let him pick out a new strap for it to make it his own !!

 

These are my sons watches, same age.

 

These are my sons watches, same age.

View attachment 14392193

Perfect collection for that age. Exposes him to a variety of aesthetics and functions. Really nice educational foundation for any future collecting he might do.

 

Get him a square G Shock. One of those things looks good anywhere and in any setting.

 

+1. With blue tooth.

 

I'm actually wearing the SKX now.

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That SKX013 would be perfect [emoji108]and a classic choice for a first legit watch.
A bit of advice. I bought my son a cheap Watch Winder, and gave him very strict instruction, that if he is ever to take the watch off, it goes immediately on to the Watch Winder. I did this so he did not get into the habit of taking it off, and misplacing it. My kid is just turning six so it may not be as important w/yours; however, this has worked very well over the last year, since he has not miss placed his watch even once.