10 of the best watches for an 18th birthday

Tom Austin

Most 18 year olds will probably wonder why you need a watch when you have the latest iPhone, and that’s a fair point – if you’re purely looking for the time, that is. 18 is that coming-of-age milestone where most of us regarded ourselves as grown-ups, and grown-ups begin to learn a thing or two about sentimentality, which is why marking an 18th birthday with a watch is a fantastic proposition. Now, if you were anything like what I was at 18, there’s a strong chance your folks aren’t likely to fork out thousands for a high-level timepiece for their teenage angel to smash up while falling over after having a few too many. Not that I did anything like that. We’ve compiled a list of ten of the best 18th birthday gift watches to suit all budgets and levels of carefulness that we presume your teenagers have.

Seiko 5 Sports SRPD79 SKX Street Style

Channel your inner urban ninja with the Seiko 5 SRPD79 Street Style, a no-nonsense functional automatic watch, which is street-smart, aggressive-looking, and functional, but also a damn fantastic watch that will last a lifetime. Sized at 42.5mm, it’s a tough-looking thing, with all the functionality one would need, water resistance of 100 metres, waterproof nylon NATO strap, rotating bezel, and a stunning amount of lume. Being all black, it’s perfect for urban exploration too, as it certainly fits with the streetwear aesthetic. Price: US$360

Tissot PRX

I wouldn’t consider myself to be a fashionable person, and being 37 years old, I’m not qualified to comment on the fashion choices of 18 year olds either. However, I do know a fashionable watch when I see one, and the Tissot PRX is an absolute killer when it comes to modern watch design. Based on the original PRX from the late ’70s, the current iteration brings it bang up to date with the on-trend integrated bracelet case design and waffle dial. Paired with an automatic, ETA-based Powermatic 80 movement, it’ll be simple and inexpensive to service, with the safety of a weekend-proof power reserve. The watch comes in 40mm or 35mm sizes, a multitude of dial colours and finishes, including quick-change rubber and leather straps. There’s even a full gold-toned version too to satisfy even the most bling-obsessed teenager. Above all though, it’s a solid automatic timepiece with heritage and is one of the biggest hit releases of the past couple of years. Price: starting from US$350 from the Time+Tide Shop

Baltic Hermétique Tourer

We’re here again with another 37mm field watch, and with good reason, too. It’s just the perfect size and function for your average older teenager who needs something reliable to wear every day, but also look the business. The Baltic Hermétique fits the bill, with its four-watch collection comprised of green, beige, blue or brown options. Microbrands are really starting to push the boat out when it comes to dial design, and the Hermétique is no different, with its ultra-legible layout provided by applied luminous hour markers. Combined with the contrasting chapter ring and textured centre section, it’s a clean and crisp dial that oozes quality and functionality. The Hermétique comes equipped with the reliable Miyota 9039 automatic, with a hacking seconds function and a 42-hour power reserve. As a time-only piece it’s just what you need for an explorers watch, it’s dependable and accurate, and combined with the integrated crown, the watch offers 150 meters of water resistance. Price: starting from €550 (~US$600), available from the T+T Shop

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical

The ideal watch for the budding collector, the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical has become an essential piece in starter collections. It’s the kind of watch I’d want on my wrist if I was heading off to the wilderness to find myself on my gap year. It’s a military inspired watch from American-turned-Swiss brand Hamilton, and well-known for its ruggedness and ability as a useful tool watch, much like the Hamilton Khaki Field Auto. At 38mm wide and 11.5mm thick the case is perfectly sized so as to not get in the way and manufactured in stainless steel. Sitting inside is the H-50 calibre, an ETA-based movement, which is reliable and boasts a whopping 80-hour power reserve. The Hamilton Khaki is the epitome of a field watch, and it’s the kind of piece that will live on in someone’s collection forever, carrying the scars and dinks along with it, adding to the watches character over the years. Price: US$595, available from the T+T Shop

Studio Underd0g 02 Series

Born out of founder Richard Benc’s boredom during the 2020 lockdowns, Studio Underd0g has gone on to become one of the most recognised and well-respected microbrands in the industry. Following on from its big-eyed introduction with the cheeky and colourful 01 Series, 2024 saw the release of the 02 Series that matched its predecessor both in cheek and colour. With an unobtrusive 37mm steel case, colourful, lumetastic dials atop a Sellita SW210-1, and domed sapphire crystal, it packs a punch in a small, yet affordable package. It’s a field watch with a twist – it certainly doesn’t look like it should be living out 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 colourful design inspiration – Pink Lem0nade, Steffany Blue, Full Mo0n, and Midnight. Each watch has subtly different features, but each dial uses a unique sandwich construction, with a luminous base and a sapphire crystal disc sitting above it. Price: US$900, available from the Time+Tide Studio

Doxa SUB 200

Doxa is one of the most prolific dive watch brands in the industry, with a history that covers more than a century in watchmaking. The SUB 200 is a serious tool watch aimed at divers with a need for something rugged, hard-wearing and long-lasting. The case is machined from stainless steel for the best corrosion resistance and durability and comes in at 42mm, but wears a little smaller on the wrist than it may seem. It’s completed with a domed sapphire crystal, and is rated to 200 metres of water resistance. On top of that, it looks stunning with its neo-vintage design, which Doxa got spot on, mixing the brand DNA into a modern sports watch. The watch is also available in some wild colours, including orange, yellow and even a Tiffany-like blue. Price: starting from US$920, available from the T+T Shop

Christopher Ward The Twelve 36

Back to the high-fashion, on-trend watches with Christopher Ward’s The Twelve 36. Christopher Ward is on a roll at the moment, and with the ongoing resurgence of the integrated bracelet, it has returned with a stainless steel watch that is ready to shake things up yet again – something CW tends to be quite good at. The price versus performance ratio is almost unmatched here. With a thin, well-finished integrated bracelet and dodecagonal bezel featuring polished chamfers, it all gives the watch a wonderful feel on the wrist. The nice touches don’t end there though, as the dial is finished in a unique textured pattern, and available in a choice of white, blue, glacier blue, and what CW calls “frosted lichen” – mint green to you and I. Powering the watch is the trusty Sellita SW200-1 automatic, a Swiss calibre known for its entry-level price and sturdy performance. For the price point, it’s an aggressive value proposition. Price: starting from US$995

Serica ref. 8315 Travel Chronometer

I believe that everyone needs a GMT watch. At 18, it’s a time when you often go travelling the world on your own, so having a handy time-telling companion is, well, handy. And in a watch world where so many GMTs look the same, the Serica ref. 8315 Travel Chronometer takes the “normal” GMT watch and gives it its own personality. Sized at 39mm, it’s suitable for most wearers with its relatively slim steel case with twisted lugs. It’s a mature-looking watch, without taking itself too seriously. The ceramic dial and bezel combinations are unique for a GMT, too, with either a brown with a red and ivory bezel, or a deep black with a straightforward black and white bezel. Inside the watch sits a Soprod C125 automatic, with a 42-hour power reserve. Given the specifications of the watch – being COSC-certified, with ceramic here and sapphire there – there’s some real bang for your buck. Price: €1,890 (~US$2,050)

Tudor Ranger

Into the traditional high-end brands now, first with Tudor’s 2023 release – the Ranger. Like the original Submariners from Tudor, the Oyster Prince Ranger was the more affordable version of Rolex’s Explorer. The Tudor version has its own history too, playing an important part of the British North Greenland Expedition in the 1950s. As for the watch itself, it’s everything you might expect from a modern Tudor. With a fully brushed 39mm steel case and matte black dial, it’s simplistic and no-nonsense, and can back up its claims with a COSC-certified movement and Tudor’s exceptional levels of quality. Considering the starting price, you either need to command a significant disposable income, or really, really love your kid. Price: starting from US$2,975

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300

Whenever I get asked by young people about what first luxury watch to buy, I almost always default to TAG Heuer. In fact, my first luxury sports watch was an Aquaracer 300, a watch I wish I’d never sold. There’s something accessible about the brand, where you get a real Swiss luxury timepiece, with all the history and quality, but without the astronomical price tag – the latest Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 is no different. It’s a highly capable dive watch with a 300-metre water resistance, and great to go along with the recognisable TAG Heuer design language. At 43mm, it’ll suit the larger-wristed 18 year olds, and is available in few subtle dial colours such as black, grey, and blue. Price: starting from US$3,300