I am wondering whether a watch in the $100-$150 range is something a late twenty something male would wear. If so what brands should I be looking at?
Does he wear a watch now? If he’s not wearing one now, he probably won’t start wearing one. Using his phone to check the time is probably already ingrained.
No watches for any of my three kids - 18, 23, 27.
My S has a “dress” watch he wears very rarely. He’s 28 and bought it for himself around when he started job at 23. The one I gifted him at college graduation was too wifmde for his wrist. D (age 26) has never worn a watch. Most of S & D’s cousins and peers do not wear watches and rely on phones instead.
My 23 yo S was a total phone only user–until about 2 years ago. Watches now seem to be back in vogue with this age group. He has 2 and has asked for another. Most of his friends got watches when they started full time employment…and many of them have multiple watches–kind of their fashion statement. But I will say that he still checks his phone for time, even with his watch on. go figure.
Not to belabor the point, but $100 - $150 is a lot of money to spend on a gift that might just collect dust on a dresser top. You need to know - from the guy - if a watch is something he wants.
My daughter (20) has asked for a watch for Christmas as she is going to do a Disney internship and they can’t be checking their phones (or even have them with them) all the time. I’m rather thankful she knows how to read a traditional clock face!
@abasket, he can always return it. The trendy brother wears one. I would ask him for brands but he has caviar tastes! This son is more frugal.
@gosmom, do you know what brands are popular?
@Pizzagirl has a son to whom she gave a nice watch. Maybe she will weigh in on whether or not he actually wears it.
Yep - watches for young professional men are back in style.
Neither of my kids wore watches until this year when I bought them Samsung Gear S watches that sync with their Samsung phones (they now get and make phone calls, and get and send texts, emails and other alerts thru their watch, which means not having to pull their phones out of their pockets for every alert or text.). They love them. I recently heard that AT&T is offering the Gear S for 99 cents or FREE with a 2 year contract between now and Christmas.
I have the white one. I LOVE it.
this may be the deal
https://www.att.com/devices/samsung/gear-s.html#sku=sku7380327
@Knitkneelionmom MVMT watches are popular with his crowd…because of the interesting story in how they got going (2nd biggest crowdfunding in 2013, started by friends of his old roommate) and they are " “Classic design, quality construction, and styled minimalism." They are relatively inexpensive…and is his favorite. I know a number of kids that have them.
He also has a Citizen. Would like a Boss.
And in his funnier moments, has asked for a Tag Heuer, but would settle for a Rolex. Funny boy.
ETA: I think the watches are making a come back because of what twoinandone referenced: Employers don’t want their employees checking out their smartphones on the job…
S likes to wear a watch, D wears one for fashion not for the time. It is important to know what type he likes as, for example, S likes very thin watches and not the huge, bulky things popular with some guys. H has a bulkier one. Both from Dakota watch, but not cheap.
Watches ARE making a comeback. My 27 year old D now wears one every day; as does my 22 year old. Neither wore them just a few years ago.
@Knitkneelionmom, my daughter has two Nixon watches… Nixon… alarming name for those of us old enough to know/care, but DD says a lot of her friends (men and women) wear them.
My son is partial to Victorinox Swiss Army watches – look for special deals on Amazon, Overstock or even Costco, all of which have them steeply discounted, and models in your price range.
@gosmom, my son also likes Tag Heuer – which he says he’ll buy once he gets his Porsche 
My 18 yr old son’s gf gave him a Ted Baker watch and he wears it pretty often. It is very classy looking - not sure how much it was but I can’t imagine she would have spent more than $125…
My 18 year old wears a watch— has for years.
So do I, but I work where I cannot have my phone with me at all times. (But then again I’m not in the requested demographic–“young man”)
My D bought her 25 yr old BF a MVMF watch for their anniversary. I think it was in that price range. I had never heard of the brand. I know it was back ordered and she had to give him a picture on the anniversary.
I wear a watch everyday. I feel naked without it.
I agree with those that think watches are coming back in style. My 19 yr old son asked for one for Christmas. He is a freshman in business, who wants a watch that isn’t too dressy, but can be worn with a suit. We have begun researching them.
First, I think you should make a decision if you want to purchase a fashion piece that keeps time…or a timepiece. The first salesperson we talked with (Nordstroms) asked us that very question. Then she asked us what was our price range. I think that is a good way to start the process.
Once you answer those two questions you can narrow it down to brands. Then within brands you can narrow it down by your personal preference. For instance, we are looking at leather bands…not metal, which are noticeably heavier. Then there is the face of the watch to consider (white face or dark face) and what features you want (date, second hand, chronograph, etc). After visiting several department and jewelry stores we have narrowed it down to Citizen, Bulova and Seiko…for now. We’ll probably make a decision soon.
I bought Mr R a cheapish one for Christmas last year as he wanted one. The deal was that if he wore it, I’d buy him a nicer one this Christmas.
He’s worn it maybe 10 times and I know very few people who wear them- and those that do have been wearing them for years.
I wear a watch most days but I’d definitely a generation older than your target group. I don’t like spending money on things my loved ones don’t use/wear often. My watches were $30 and $50 apiece–a Relic & a Skagen at Ross & TJMass, respectively.