tom austin
Most 18-year-olds wonder why they need a watch when they have the latest iPhone. That makes sense. If you simply want to know the time, that’s natural. Age 18 is a coming-of-age milestone where most of us identify ourselves as adults, and adults begin to learn something about sentimentality. That’s why marking your 18th birthday on a clock is a great suggestion. Now, if you were like me when I was 18, you wouldn’t shell out thousands of dollars to buy a fancy watch that your teenage angel would carry too many and fall over and break. Most likely. I didn’t do anything like that. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best watches for 18th birthday gifts for teenagers of all budgets and levels of discretion.
Seiko 5 Sports SRPD79 SKX Street Style
Express your inner urban ninja with the Seiko 5 SRPD79 street style. This is a practical automatic watch with a sleek, aggressive look and functionality for the street, but it’s also a great watch that will last a lifetime. At 42.5mm in size, it looks tough with all the features you need, including 100m water resistance, a waterproof nylon NATO strap, a rotating bezel, and an amazing amount of luminous paint. Being all black, it definitely fits the streetwear aesthetic and is perfect for exploring the city. Price: $360
Tissot PRX
I don’t consider myself a fashionable person, and at 37 I’m not qualified to comment on an 18 year old’s fashion choices. But you know a fashionable watch when you see it. When it comes to modern watch design, the Tissot PRX is an absolute killer. Based on the original PRX from the late ’70s, this version is updated with a trendy integrated bracelet case design and waffle dial. Combined with the ETA-based self-winding Powermatic 80 movement, it is easy and cheap to maintain and has a weekend-safe power reserve. The watch is available in 40mm or 35mm sizes, a variety of dial colors and finishes, and quick-change rubber or leather straps. There’s also a full gold-tone version to satisfy even the most glitter-obsessed teenager. But most of all, this is a solid automatic watch with heritage and one of the biggest hits of the last few years. Price: From $350 USD at Time+Tide Shop
Baltic Hermetic Tourer
We’re here again with another 37mm field watch, and for good reason. It’s just the perfect size and features for the average older teenager who needs something reliable to wear every day, but also looks business-ready. Baltic Hermétique fits the bill with its four watch collections consisting of green, beige, blue and brown options. Microbrands are really starting to push out when it comes to dial design, and Hermetic is no exception, with a highly legible layout complete with luminous hour markers. Combined with the contrasting chapter ring and textured center section, this is a clean, crisp dial that oozes quality and functionality. The Hermétique is powered by the reliable Miyota 9039 automatic with hacking seconds function and 42-hour power reserve. This watch is exactly what you want in an explorer’s watch as a time-limited timepiece, reliable and accurate, and combined with the integrated crown, it has a water resistance of 150 meters. Price: From 550 EUR (~600 USD), available from T+T shop
hamilton khaki field mechanical
An ideal watch for budding collectors, the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is an essential addition to any starter collection. This is the kind of watch you’ll want on your wrist when you head out into the great outdoors to find yourself on your gap year. This is a military-inspired watch from the American-turned-Swiss brand Hamilton, which, like the Hamilton Khaki Field Auto, is well-known for its ruggedness and ability as a useful tool watch. At 38mm wide and 11.5mm thick, the case is perfectly sized and made of stainless steel. Inside is the H-50 caliber, an ETA-based movement that is highly reliable and boasts a whopping 80-hour power reserve. The Hamilton Khaki is the epitome of a field watch, a piece that will live forever in someone’s collection, adding to its character over the years with its scratches and dents. Price: US$595, available from T+T Shop
Studio Underd0g 02 series
Born out of founder Richard Benn’s boredom during the 2020 lockdown, Studio Underd0g has become one of the most recognized and respected microbrands in the industry. Following the introduction of the cheeky and colorful 01 series centerpiece, the 02 series was released in 2024 with the same blush and color as its predecessor. With a discreet 37mm steel case, a colorful luminous dial atop the Sellita SW210-1, and a domed sapphire crystal, this model packs powerful features into a small yet affordable package. This is a field watch with a twist. It certainly doesn’t seem suitable for use in the field, but it’s definitely more than capable. Following a typically hyped release, there are four watches in the 02 series, each named after its colorful design inspiration – Pink Remnade, Stephanie Blue, Full Moon, and Midnight. Although each watch has slightly different features, each dial uses a unique sandwich construction with a luminous base and a sapphire crystal disc sitting above it. Price: $900 USD, available from Time+Tide Studio
doxa sub 200
Doxa is one of the most prolific dive watch brands in the industry, with over a century of history in watchmaking. The SUB 200 is a serious tool watch aimed at divers who want something rugged, durable and long-lasting. The case is machined from stainless steel for maximum corrosion resistance and durability, and measures 42mm, although it’s a little smaller than it looks on the wrist. It is finished with a domed sapphire crystal and is rated for water resistance to 200 meters. On top of that, it looks great with Doxa’s signature neo-vintage design, blending the brand’s DNA into a modern sports watch. This watch also comes in wild colors like orange, yellow, and even Tiffany blue. Price: From USD 920, available from T+T Shop
Christopher Ward The Twelve 36
Return to high fashion and on-trend watches with Christopher Ward’s The Twelve 36. Christopher Ward is on a roll right now, and with the continued resurgence of integrated bracelets, he’s back with a ready-to-wear stainless steel watch. Shaking things up again – The CW tends to be very good at it. The price/performance ratio is almost unparalleled here. The thin, well-finished integrated bracelet and dodecagonal bezel with polished bevels give it a great feel on the wrist. But the nice touches don’t end there, the dial is finished in a unique textured pattern that comes in white, blue, glacier blue, and what CW calls “frosted lichen” (mint for you and me). You can choose from green). Powering this watch is the reliable Sellita SW200-1 automatic, a Swiss-made caliber known for its entry-level price and robust performance. For the price, it’s an aggressive value proposition. Price: Starting at $995
Celica ref. 8315 Travel Chronometer
I think everyone needs a GMT watch. At the age of 18, you’ll be traveling the world a lot by yourself, so having a companion to help you keep track of time is very convenient. And in a world of watches where so many GMTs look the same, the Celica ref. 8315 Travel Chronometer gives a “normal” GMT watch its own personality. The 39mm size is suitable for most wearers, with a relatively slim steel case with twisted lugs. It’s a mature watch without being too pretentious. The ceramic dial and bezel combination is also unique for GMT, with either a brown, red and ivory bezel, or a deep black and simple black and white bezel. Inside the watch is a Soprod C125 automatic with a 42-hour power reserve. Considering the specifications of the watch, which is COSC certified and uses ceramic here and sapphire there, it is quite cost-effective. Price: 1,890 EUR (~2,050 USD)
tudor ranger
Now it’s branching out into traditional high-end brands, starting with Tudor’s 2023 release, the Ranger. Like Tudor’s original Submariner, the Oyster Prince Ranger was a more affordable version of Rolex’s Explorer. The Tudor version also has a history of its own, playing an important role in the British expedition to North Greenland in the 1950s. As for the watch itself, it has everything you would expect from a modern Tudor. With a fully brushed 39mm steel case and matte black dial, this model is simple and no-nonsense, and can back up its claims with a COSC-certified movement and Tudor’s exceptional level of quality. Considering the starting price, you’ll need to have a lot of disposable income or really, really love kids. Price: From USD 2,975
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300
When young people ask me what their first luxury watch is, I almost always say a Tag Heuer. In fact, the first luxury sports watch I ever bought was an Aquaracer 300, and it was a watch I wish I had never sold. There’s something approachable about this brand, where you can get authentic Swiss luxury watches with all the history and quality without the astronomical prices. The latest TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 is no exception. This is a high-performance diver’s watch with water resistance of 300 meters, perfect for pairing with TAG Heuer’s recognizable design language. At 43mm, this model is suitable for 18-year-olds with larger wrists and comes in several subtle dial colors, including black, gray, and blue. Price: from USD 3,300
