Affordable Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Big and burly with an overload of military machismo, the 45mm LACO Friedrichshafen is modelled after a vintage WWII creation from the same brand. The watch’s imposing sandblasted steel case, distinctive Type-B dial (hour markers on the inside, minute track on the outside), and hardy calf leather strap will help your dad get on the right side of the retro trend.

For dads who prefer to play it safe, this Tissot model in 42mm steel case offers both dressy versatility and a reputable mechanical movement that is built to last. The navy hues on a classic profile allows sartorial scope, so he can wear it to work as well as on the weekends. The Powermatic 80 automatic movement promises up to 80 hours of power reserve, giving him plenty of substance to go with the style.

A choice recommendation for young-at-heart dads, the Lum-Tec V4 in rose gold PVD case is a chunky hunk that is loaded with sportive muscle. The US-based brand is known for its robust watches fortified by top-notch lume. Despite the watch’s young-ish ostentation, the ETA automatic movement powered Lum-Tec V4 is a tough outdoor accompaniment, promising 100m water resistance with screw-down crown and a double-gasket sealing system.

Nothing quite as precious as the gift of time. And while you’re at it, why not make it ultra-precise? Tech-geek dads will have a ball with the Conquest V.H.P, short for ‘Very High Precision’, a state-of-the-art quartz watch with analogue interface that is accurate to -/+ 5 seconds A YEAR. This three-hand model comes in a 41mm steel case. You can read more about the entire collection here.

Is your old fella a petrol head? Oris has always had a close association with motorsports (it is also a sponsor of the Williams F1 team), and the TT1 Engine Date revs up on sportiness with features that, while not necessary automobile-inspired, certainly evokes race car-styles. It is also pretty neat the way Oris flaunts its mechanical dynamism with the watch’s openworked dial design, despite the TT1 Engine Date being a ‘simple’ time-and-date watch.

Another classic dress watch option, Rado’s Centrix Automatic, which comes in stainless steel, is aesthetically fuss-free and very office-appropriate. The 38mm case means that the watch is better suited to dads with slimmer wrists, while the minimalist design guarantees easy elegance even in a smart-casual outfit.