The WristWatchReview 2025 Gift Guide: Part 1
Watch lovers are the worst. They know exactly what they want, and most of the time it costs more than rent. That is a rough mix when the holidays show up and someone tells you they are “into watches now.”
You know your favorite watch nerd wants an Omega. You have even heard the model name once or twice in passing. Then you hit the web and see a wall of very similar steel watches with tiny differences in dials, bezels, and reference numbers. Do you buy this one or that one. Do you go new or used. Do you gamble on a strap instead and hope they pretend to like it?
Maybe you are not even at that stage. Maybe you want to pull a friend or partner into the hobby and have no idea where to start. You want something that feels serious but does not drain your account. Or you are hunting for a single big gift for under the tree, something that will not end up in a drawer by February, something they will remember every time they check the time.
That is the problem this guide is going to solve. How to buy for the watch-obsessed, the watch-curious, and the person who has no idea they are about to fall down this particular hole.
The Beginner’s Guide to Watch Buying
Let’s break watch buying down to a few simple points. You can spend weeks in forums and group chats arguing about movements, lug width, and bracelet taper. In the end it still comes back to four things: budget, brand, condition, and safety. Get those right and you are already ahead of most people swiping through listings at 2 a.m.
Ask yourself what you want this watch to be. Do they need a daily wear piece? Something for work? Their first “real” mechanical? Find out before you buy because picking the wrong thing can frustrate you and the receiver.
A special tip? Find a friend who is already a watch fan and ask them what to buy. Don’t have a friend? Just email me: john@wristwatchreview.com.
Budget
Start with a number and stick to it. Not a vague “something nice” target. A clear ceiling. That includes tax, shipping, and any first service you might need on a used piece. If you can pay $8,000, look for something under that. If you can pay $200, look for something around that including shipping. Be very careful: the Trump Tariffs are in full effect and watches bought from overseas are now outrageously expensive.
If you have a serious watch fan in your life, set your number and accept this truth. There is always something they want above it. That is fine. You are buying a gift, not solving their whole wish list.
Brand
Brand matters, but not for the reasons most marketing people push. At the low end, brand is about basic trust. Will this thing keep time, hold together, and not fall apart in six months. In the middle and higher range, it is about service, parts, and long term support.
If you are buying for a fan, listen to what they talk about. Some people are Breitling people. Some care about small independents. Some want the logo they grew up seeing in movies. You do not need to fake expertise. Just pay attention. If you are buying for yourself and you are new to this, pick a brand with a clear track record and a real service center, not a random name from a social feed.
Condition
Buying a new watch is simple. You get a warranty, a clean case, and no history. You also pay for that peace of mind. Used and vintage are where things get tricky. A watch can look perfect in photos and still be polished to death, packed with wrong parts, or one step away from a costly repair. Further, many old watches have very poor seals, resulting in a watch that will fog up in the rain.
On used pieces, you want clear photos from all sides, some note of service history, and a seller who can answer basic questions without vanishing. On older models, do not chase perfection at all costs. A few marks, a bit of age on the lume, a bracelet with some stretch, these are normal. What you want to avoid is water damage, rust, and crude case work that removes metal.
If you buy used avoid anything that seems too shiny or too new unless the watch is marked New Old Stock (NOS). Popular models go for thousands but you can easily find cheaper Omegas, Doxas, and even Rolexes on eBay. You just have to consider the next point.
Safety
This is the part most new buyers skip, then regret later. There are fakes in every price band, from under one hundred dollars up to the top of the market. There are also honest sellers who make mistakes and bad actors who do not care at all.
If you are spending real money, buy from a source with a name and a return policy. That can be a brand boutique, an authorized dealer, or a well known used dealer. If you are using peer to peer sites, use payment methods that offer buyer protection. No cash wires to strangers. No “friends and family” payments to save a small fee. I would honestly avoid eBay on high-end pieces and instead focus on sites like Chrono24 and Bezel. You’ll pay a bit more but you’ll be relatively certain you won’t get scammed.
Trust your gut. If a deal looks far better than it should, or a seller gets pushy, walk away. Watch lovers always say: buy the seller, not the watch. Anything that looks too good to be true definitely is.
Best Watch for a Beginning Collector
There are a few very nice watches available for beginning collectors who might not be ready to wear anything more expensive than a $1,000. Here are a few of our recommendations:
Swatch X Blancpain 50 Fathoms - If you’re thinking about picking up an inexpensive mechanical watch with enough pedigree to satisfy a beginner, consider the Swatch X Blancpain, a watch that uses a simple mechanical movement inside a surprisingly handsome case. I love these and now that the hype cycle is over you can pick them up for less than many paid for them. Beware: there are many fakes out there and if you spot one for $100 or less then you’re buying a fake.
Seiko Orange Monster - The Seiko “Monster” style watches are lovely, inexpensive automatic sports watches for folks who are just entering the watch world. They are famous for their reliability and value for money. If you’re looking for something chunkier, consider something in the “true” monster range like this blue Antarctica Monster. Do not pay more than $800 for one of these, no matter how pretty.
Seiko SSK001 GMT - This is a solid automatic sports watch for someone who wants a real travel tool without getting silly on price. You get a clean dial with bright markers and hands you can read in the dark, plus a date so you stay on top of your day. The 24 hour bezel and fourth hand let you track a second time zone when you are on the road or talking to someone overseas. This is a “caller” GMT which means you set the GMT hand independently vs. a traveler GMT where you set the hour hand. For more information, check out this video.
Tissot PRX - The Tissot PRX Powermatic line is a sub-$800 watch with a great bracelet, body, and movement. It’s a classic watch that can be worn with a suit and it’s definitely a step up from the Seikos we mentioned. This is a great watch for a graduating senior or someone who wants something fancy but not too expensive.
Best Rugged Watch
Wolbrok WT Skindiver - This is an interesting choice for a rugged watch but hear me out. This guy is a reasonable $470 and is rugged enough for some swimming and diving. It also has a world time chapter ring and is based on a 1960s model. It runs a rugged Citizen/Miyota 8315 and comes on a Bund strap or bracelet.
Casio G-Shock GA700UC-3A - Picking on G-Shock out of the myriad options the Casio offers is fairly difficult but this one hits all the right buttons and is priced at a lovely $110. I personally also love the GAB series but you can’t go wrong with any of Casio’s wares if you’re buying for someone who wants to beat their watch up.
That concludes part one of our Watch Gift Guide. We’ll be posting the final part on Friday, so you still have a few days to order your ultimate watch lover’s holiday gift. Stay tuned!