How to Choose Boys' Watches
As a young boy growing into a fine gentleman, you might be choosing a watch for yourself.
In the same vein, you could also be getting a watch for your kid/ any other boy that you know.
We never recommend going for the first thing on the list. At least, make the following considerations.
Brand
Start the kid's watch collection with picks from reputable watch brands.
This way, they know well to continue with established brands as they start to choose their watches over time too.
The best brands will also have a collection of watches that you can explore, so you can always get the desired pick depending on where the other factors on this list drive you.
Size
The year is 2021, but most manufacturers are yet to start making their watches in kid sizes.
That, however, should not discourage you.
Choosing anywhere from 28mm and above should be appropriate for kids. Since you will be buying a standard watch for the boy, they get to keep and grow with the watch.
Color
The watch color can speak volumes about the boy’s personality, so know to choose what they will appreciate best.
Fortunately, you can get watches with different color configurations today.
Gone are the days when black watches alone were all the rave. Now, there is a selection of watches with blue, white, red, and rose gold watch dials, among other colors.
These options extend to the watch frame itself, where manufacturers have a thing with stainless steel, rose gold, gold, gunmetal, and other picks.
Form Factor
To go with an analog or digital display?
For kids, there is nothing wrong with introducing them to digital watches. From the time when they start advancing in age, make sure to swap that out with a quality analog watch.
The features on a digital watch do not expose kids to proper watch history and time-telling features. Likewise, we don’t think any boy has ever grown into a proper gentleman while sporting a digital watch.
Strap Type
Different straps come with different appeals.
For a start, stay away from getting your kids anything with a stainless-steel band. They might not understand the quality yet and end up abusing it.
At these stages, a rubber or nylon band is much better. These bands are rugged, durable, and can take a beating.
As they get older and better at managing their watches, you can switch to other strap types for them.
Functionality
Wristwatches might be there to tell the time, no doubt, but they can do so much more than that.
Features like a chronograph on a watch, for example, bring extra functionality into the mix. That allows the kids to get better used to all what their watches can do besides just telling the time.
You would be surprised to know that many people do not know the first thing about the chronographs on their watches. That would not have been if they started early enough – just like your kids are about to get the chance to.
Benefits of Giving Watches to Boys
After all, what do they need to tell the time for?
Looking elsewhere, most kids now have either a small smartphone or another device that can tell them the time anyway.
Thinking like that will get you in the wrong. Instead, consider the following benefits from starting your kids out early with a valuable wristwatch.
1. Style
Help your kids find their sense of style and personal brand from a tender age – and watch them discover themselves better in life.
Unlike females, men have a limited range of jewelry that they can enjoy. In line with that, it makes no sense to not allow the boys to enjoy the only kind of jewelry they can wear to a board room.
2. Heirloom Appreciation
Watches are one of the most common heirloom types passed down from one generation to the other.
Should your kid not fancy watches from the onset, you might be setting yourself up for the death of that family tradition.
When they have come to know and appreciate the importance of watches over time, keeping the tradition alive doesn’t come hard.
3. Punctuality
A scientific study drew the parallel between watch wearers and their tendency to be more punctual than non-watch wearers. See where we are going with this?
Nobody wants to know that man who never keeps to time. Even if they knew him, they wouldn’t be proud of that side of him.
Either the boy in question is your kid or some other boy that you believe to be worthy of such a timeless gift, you would be helping shape him into a punctual young man.
Some Great Options for Boys' Watches
Now that we have discussed how to choose a watch for boys and the benefits of gifting them one in the first place, what watches are there for boys?
Like we said earlier, there is a limited range of quality boys' watches mainly because they are not the target market for most manufacturers.
Fortunately, limited doesn’t mean non-existent. Check out the picks we have handpicked for your boys below.
Pioneer Watch Series – Ideal for Older Boys
Whether for graduation, going-to-prom present, something to remember you by in college, or any other memorable event, the Pioneer watch series is an amazing pick for boys.
Everything from the watch case to the bands – all available in multiple options – features impeccable attention to detail and class.
If you had been looking for a great new watch that any boy would appreciate, it is this one.
On first sighting, the unique arrangement of the chronographs on the watch display contributes to its beauty. At a one-size rating of 42mm case diameter, the watch is not too big for older boys – and they get to use it for longer.
For such longevity, we have a sturdy watch case in the mix.
Depending on the boy's taste, they can get the watch frame in either gunmetal, silver, or rose gold. The options do not end there, seeing as the strap can be sold in stainless steel (3-link, silver mesh, rose gold mesh, gunmetal mesh, black mesh), leather (black, brown, dark brown, black croc, brown vegan), rubber and nylon.
Native Watch Series – Great for Younger Boys
This series starts at 28mm on the case measurement, making it a great choice if you were looking for something truly premium for your young boys.
Since this will most likely be their baptism into the analog watch niche, the watch display is bare save for the Nordgreen branding. The focus here is on telling the time than every other thing. We can leave the chronographs till when they are better at telling the time in analog format.
Like every other pick on this list, the Native series is blessed with a ton of options.
On the dial alone, you can choose to have black, blue, or white dials.
Even though there are a ton of strap picks for you also, it is recommended that you go with nylon (black, olive green, or navy blue) or rubber (black) bands. That way, you are sure the fine watch has a better chance of taking abuse while the boy learns how to treat a watch properly.
Much later in life, they can find a new strap to convert the watch to their new taste.
Philosopher Watch Series – Amazing for Teenage Boys
The stage between being a younger kid and an older boy is not that defined, but you know it when you see it.
At this stage, the average boy can handle a complicated watch – but not too complicated either.
The Philosopher strikes that balance right with its simple display.
Starting at 32mm and going to 40mm case diameter, you should not have a problem getting something that works for your boys here. The dials are only offered in white and black: both neutral colors that go with different styles and outfits.
The choice of watch strap here will come down to the kind of boy in question.
Do they have what it takes to handle a stainless steel/ mesh/ leather band yet, or would you prefer they spend more time with the abuse-friendly rubber and nylon?
The choice is yours – but make sure it’s in line with the boy’s personality.
Final Words
As promised, we have powered through a list of the finest boys' watches you can find – and for different age ranges also.
When next you are looking to give the gift of time to any boy, you now know what to do even better.
