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The seven watches your dad actually wants for Father’s Day

Forget the boring gifts, get him a watch he will wear forever

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Clothing, Hat, Sun Hat
Mark D. McKee / The Manual

With Father’s Day on the way, you are likely trying to find ways to make the day special. Sure, you could get him the novelty necktie (please don’t), or you can look like you put a little bit of thought into the gift. We like to make our mothers feel special on Mother’s Day, but for some reason, we tend to overlook our fathers. According to a study, Mother’s Day is the fifth most celebrated holiday across the country, and we spend $38 billion a year making them feel special. Fathers fell to the tenth most celebrated and reached a record high last year of $24 billion. Now, it isn’t a contest, but it is high time we make dads feel special. And a watch is the best possible way to make them feel the love.

Now, you could go all the way down to a Timex or all the way up to a Rolex. Sure, the thought counts, but you could also get him a watch that means something. Something with a story. Something with a connection to something deeper. Here are the seven watches your dad actually wants for Father’s Day.

A-11 Utah Beach Sand MK2 – Bronze

Wristwatch, Arm, Body Part
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Does your dad love World War II as much as mine? Books on submarines. Pearl Harbor memoirs. Movies with John Wayne, Brad Pitt, or Tom Hanks, depicting the biggest moments in the war. He is like most dads, obsessed with the stories of the Greatest Generation. That is why I already bought him this watch. A recreation of a watch given to the soldiers who actually stormed the five beaches of Normandy, containing sand from Utah Beach, this watch is a reminder of everything sacrificed to save Europe from Hitler and the Nazis.

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Few things are better than a watch with a story, and my dad loves to tell the story as soon as some unsuspecting person compliments him and asks about it. Praesidus nailed it with this one.

Citizen Attesa

Going away from things that happened decades ago and looking at something brand new, we shift to the Citizen Attesa. This is the watch worn on the wrist of John Krasinski in his latest outing as Jack Ryan in Jack Ryan: Ghost War. Sure, it has the element of cool, but it also will level up any outfit your dad wears. If your dad is anything like mine, that means he could use the help in every sartorial aspect. What makes this watch a no-brainer for me is the Super Titanium, Satellite Wave GPS, and the ever-present Eco-Drive Citizen is known for. It is the pinnacle of everything that makes Citizen one of my number one watch brands.

Omega Seamaster

Wristwatch, Arm, Body Part
Omega

Ok. Element of cool. Tells a good story. And can elevate any outfit your dad wears…can’t go wrong with the same watch James Bond wears. The Omega Seamaster has been the friend of 007 since Pierce Brosnan took over the role. Thirty years later, it remains one of the most sought-after and popular watches on the market. If your dad wants to wear something with meaning, and if you want to show him you care, then gifting him the only watch still good enough for James Bond himself is a great way to show it.

Norqain Wild One

Norqain Independent Wild One
Mark D. McKee / The Manual

Your dad isn’t meant to sit behind a desk or to sit and watch movies in a basement. Your dad is built to explore. He is a descendant of the men who discovered the world and built this country. It is in his blood as well as yours. So, get him a watch that is built for him to wear while discovering the world. Norqain creates its watches for the singular purpose of adventure. Lightweight, durable, and reliable, I have worn mine from the mountains of Peru to the jungles of Belize. I have put it through the waters of Norway and the fields of Iceland; it can take a beating. Help your dad feel alive again.

Bremont Supermarine

watch
Mark D. McKee / The Manual

Simple, easy, and durable. There is no need for all the complications when you are looking for a great watch. Your dad is busy, and he likely doesn’t want to have to think every day when getting ready. One of the best everyday wears you can find is the Bremont Supermarine. It is attractive and lightweight, so your dad will forget he is wearing it until someone asks him about it. Also, this is the number one watch, I believe, James Bond would actually wear if he were a real person.

CIGA Design Blue Planet II

Ciga Design Blue Planet on wrist
KC Stone / The Manual

Does your dad like to stand out? Is he the life of the party? The guy everyone gravitates to? If that sounds like your dad, then you should consider this watch from Ciga. It is by far the most beautiful watch I have ever worn, and it gets nothing but compliments and attention. I wear it all over the world to dinner, and it has become one of my staples. Fair warning, it takes a bit of an adjustment to learn how to read it. But once you do, you find yourself staring at the craftsmanship more and more. For the dad who wants people to talk to him, for the guy who likes being the center of attention, this is the one.

Luminox Navy Seal 3587

Military, Military Uniform, Person
Ian Schinelli / Luminox

Finally, we have the no-nonsense dad. The get sh*t done, guy. The guy who wakes up every day and has a mission. A focus. I had an opportunity to interview former Navy SEAL Ian Schinelli, who embodies these traits, and he signed up with Luminox to continue that ethos. Luminox is made to be tough enough to withstand everything a SEAL encounters, which means it is the perfect choice for the dad who puts himself in the thick of it every day.

Father’s Day is right around the corner, and now is the time to grab him something truly special. Whether he is the movie buff, the WWII efficianado, the center of attention, or the no-nonsense guy, there is a watch above perfect for him.

Mark D McKee
Mark D McKee
Editor
Mark cut his teeth in the men's style world when he sold suits first at box stores such as Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank…
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