Rado watches, a best man gift.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

I'm entertaining just this, something used/vintage, something maybe like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RADO-CONWAY-10-AUTOMATIC...

I like them, and I believe the best man shall too, but has anyone any thoughts? Also, any other make ideas at the £150-£200 price point?
I would have liked to buy him a vintage Omega, but they do seem to command more than budget.

[13m]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

I'm entertaining just this, something used/vintage, something maybe like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RADO-CONWAY-10-AUTOMATIC...

I like them, and I believe the best man shall too, but has anyone any thoughts? Also, any other make ideas at the £150-£200 price point?
I would have liked to buy him a vintage Omega, but they do seem to command more than budget.

Are you sure he will "get" it? One man's vintage timepiece is another's knackered, dated old watch.

[Jag_NE]

I like that, very cool.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

13m said:

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

I'm entertaining just this, something used/vintage, something maybe like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RADO-CONWAY-10-AUTOMATIC...

I like them, and I believe the best man shall too, but has anyone any thoughts? Also, any other make ideas at the £150-£200 price point?
I would have liked to buy him a vintage Omega, but they do seem to command more than budget.

Are you sure he will "get" it? One man's vintage timepiece is another's knackered, dated old watch.

This IS a serious consideration. I've known the guy for approaching 30 years now, so I have a pretty good idea of his tastes. However, I would be gutted if he didn't like it - watches are pretty personal things.

Edit. Could the following be a 'done' thing. When gifting it him say before that if he doesn't like it I would happily buy him another of his choice (within reason, I wouldn't want him asking for a brand new Sea Master!) and I'd happily add the bought one to my collection?

Edited by Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah on Saturday 31st December 21:03

[13m]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Edit. Could the following be a 'done' thing. When gifting it him say before that if he doesn't like it I would happily buy him another of his choice (within reason, I wouldn't want him asking for a brand new Sea Master!) and I'd happily add the bought one to my collection?

Not really. If he doesn't like it he may feel awkward about telling you as much.

I'd buy him something new and personal, which even if it isn't actually his taste is a nice memento of the day. For example an engraved hip flask saying, "to my best friend and best man, 26 February 2017". He may not be a hip flask kinda guy, but you get my drift.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

13m said:

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Edit. Could the following be a 'done' thing. When gifting it him say before that if he doesn't like it I would happily buy him another of his choice (within reason, I wouldn't want him asking for a brand new Sea Master!) and I'd happily add the bought one to my collection?

Not really. If he doesn't like it he may feel awkward about telling you as much.

I'd buy him something new and personal, which even if it isn't actually his taste is a nice memento of the day. For example an engraved hip flask saying, "to my best friend and best man, 26 February 2017". He may not be a hip flask kinda guy, but you get my drift.

He is pretty blunt, and I am pretty accepting when he is. We have a very honest friendship. I do get your point however.

[msej449]

A colleague of mine was given his Dad's Patek Phillipe watch and it was a millstone. It ended-up costing him around an average of £750 a year in maintenance and repairs, but there was no way he could avoid keeping it going. These Swiss premium things are great watches but they are still mechanical devices and don't last forever without a lot of care.

If I was going for a special watch, I'd fund him a long weekend to Berne, with a specific budget. There are over 200 Swiss manufacturers outside of the well-known volume brands like Hublot, Patek Phillipe, Vacherin Constantine, Rado, Omega etc. and I'd buy one of these lesser-known but great 'boutique' brands from one of the shops there.

If I could afford it, I'd have one built new, to order, by someone like Osch und Junior

https://www.ochsundjunior.swiss

prices start at about £5K and it's a lot of fun to play with the configurator. For something more downmarket, you can configure your own design direct from the factory of someone like 121time

https://www.121time.com/

at around a much more reasonable £200 upwards. I have two of the latter models and frankly, I prefer them to my more expensive Junghans Mega Solar. Once you realise there are a lot of small-scale Swiss manufacturers out there, you start to regard even the very expensive brands like Omega and Hublot as mass-produced commodities.

Edited by msej449 on Saturday 31st December 21:41

[13m]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

13m said:

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

Edit. Could the following be a 'done' thing. When gifting it him say before that if he doesn't like it I would happily buy him another of his choice (within reason, I wouldn't want him asking for a brand new Sea Master!) and I'd happily add the bought one to my collection?

Not really. If he doesn't like it he may feel awkward about telling you as much.

I'd buy him something new and personal, which even if it isn't actually his taste is a nice memento of the day. For example an engraved hip flask saying, "to my best friend and best man, 26 February 2017". He may not be a hip flask kinda guy, but you get my drift.

He is pretty blunt, and I am pretty accepting when he is. We have a very honest friendship. I do get your point however.

You know him, I don't. But personally I'd go for something lower risk unless you're sure you know his taste.

Good luck.

[Snubs]

I'd agree with 13m, that Rado is certainly an interesting watch and I would like it myslef, but it is quite niche. I'd suggest a lower risk option would be Marloe: http://www.marloewatchcompany.com/

You can see some pics of mine, and more pertinently Justin220's (as he bought one for his best man), here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Hopefully still within your budget at £249 and a lower risk style IMO.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

Snubs said:

I'd agree with 13m, that Rado is certainly an interesting watch and I would like it myslef, but it is quite niche. I'd suggest a lower risk option would be Marloe: http://www.marloewatchcompany.com/

You can see some pics of mine, and more pertinently Justin220's (as he bought one for his best man), here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Hopefully still within your budget at £249 and a lower risk style IMO.

It is a gorgeous piece, but the two initial problems I see are A) it's a bit too elegant for his style, and B) the watch face is too large for his slight wrists. I do think he'd appreciate their style mind, so I shall explore their other offerings. Thanks.

[traffman]

Its a pretty cool piece .

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

traffman said:

Its a pretty cool piece .

The Rado or the Marloe?

[subsea99]

Quite a few vintage Omega quartz for your budget

[traffman]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

traffman said:

Its a pretty cool piece .

The Rado or the Marloe?

The Rado , very nice.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

traffman said:

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

traffman said:

Its a pretty cool piece .

The Rado or the Marloe?

The Rado , very nice.

Thank you. I'm going to give it serious consideration, as I need to ensure said gift is loved. Has anyone else any suggestions of a £150-£225 watch, new, that is a little smaller and less classic looking than the Marloe?
BTW, I'm quite taken by them, I may have to invest in one of them for myself.

[Hainey]

I'd be over the moon with that Rado. It's lovely.

Exudes cool I think!

[Hoofy]

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

I'm entertaining just this, something used/vintage, something maybe like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RADO-CONWAY-10-AUTOMATIC...

I like them, and I believe the best man shall too, but has anyone any thoughts? Also, any other make ideas at the £150-£200 price point?
I would have liked to buy him a vintage Omega, but they do seem to command more than budget.

Tis a bit 70s. I'd go for a more classical round timepiece. Boring, perhaps, but your best man is more likely to "get it". I usually wear a traditional looking Omega or Rolex to BMDs.

[RichB]

Does he like steel bracelets? I can't wear them myself so always wear a leather strap. That rather cuts out that '70s style of watch.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

RichB said:

Does he like steel bracelets? I can't wear them myself so always wear a leather strap. That rather cuts out that '70s style of watch.

Yes, he does have at least one steel strapped watch. I prefer steel, my favourite watch I own, a Seiko Auto Relay is steel, but I appreciate they can be a pain.

[TerryThomas]

13m said:

Not really. If he doesn't like it he may feel awkward about telling you as much.

I'd buy him something new and personal, which even if it isn't actually his taste is a nice memento of the day. For example an engraved hip flask saying, "to my best friend and best man, 26 February 2017". He may not be a hip flask kinda guy, but you get my drift.

Which then sits in a cupboard forever gathering dust. Sod that! I will take a lovely Radio watch thanks!