H and I have worn watches forever, so our kids grew up wearing them. " Back in style " seems odd to me also. D1’s 22 yr old BF has a very stylish collection.
Having been born in the dinosaur era, H and I never check the time on our phones…just doesn’t occur to us when you can just bend your arm.
We purchased a Seiko metal…large face. It was over $500, and we got it for just a little over $300 at Macy’s. They have very sharp looking mens watches.
Macy’s had several nice Seiko watches on special last year @ $100. I bought one and then returned it since I already have two which are alternated and both are in good shape.
All three of my kids wear watches. Style conscious S1 wears an old school dial watch with a canvas band, D has a runner’s digital, and S2 wears a cheap digital. Look at the Vestal brand; good deals can be found on closeouts in the price range.
@Knitkneelionmom S has a brown leather band, white face MVMT, and his Citizen in silver metal with blue face. He wants a black leather one next.
Leather bands are quite pricey to replace when they wear out, usually at the top at the watch pins. Depending on the leather a replacement strap can easily run $25-$35. Opt for a nylon strap that withstands sweat, water, and other things that make it deteriorate.
My 29-year-old son collects vintage watches. And wears them.
@Knitkneelionmom, those MVMT watches are beautiful! Unlike jshain, I’d go with a leather band. The good ones can last a long time and have such a nice classic look.
Personally, I like metal bands with links. I have H remove the extra ones. I believe the watch that S has is with a metal band as well. I don’t like that leather cracks, doesn’t like getting wet, and needs to be replaced. I rarely have ever had to replace any metal bands and you can wash them as needed (taking are not to get the face too wet).
It’s good to get waterproof or at least water resistant watches, as they can end up being showered with or wet from hand-washing or washing dishes (or even swum with, tho generally not recommended except for diving watches).
I also prefer leather but it’s a personal choice. I like classic styles. My sons both seem to prefer leather. They have Citizen Eco Drive and Tissot watches. Shinola watches seem nice but are pricier.
I was waiting for my daughter at Barnes and Noble the other day, and in the magazine section there was a magazine completely devoted to watches. It was like, watch porn. I’ve never seen anything like it! There must be some men who are REALLY into watches.
My 22 yr old S always wears a watch, has for years. He has my dad’s really nice dress watch and then a few more casual ones. He told me he wears my dad’s watch a lot.
I think he is going to one of those men who buy a lot of expensive watches.
My H is one of them!
My sons, 23 and 17, both have several watches and wear them daily. Not expensive, but very nice looking. Just don’t ask them what time it is- they will likely stick out their arm to you. Raised on digital, it takes them an extra second to read the dial.
My son considers himself very dressed up when he’s wearing his watch. It’s not a ridiculously expensive watch, just a maybe less than average dress watch. But to him, it means he’s dressed up.
My older son (23) has been wearing a watch for years; younger one (19) just asked for one for Christmas. He said he wanted one with a black metal band. DS1 helped me pick one out from Fossil…I figured that he would know better what what a college aged kid would like.
My 14 year old wears a watch. He seems to be the only one his age that does. DH wears one too. He says people sometimes complement him on his watches at work. However most of them do not wear watches.
Everyone in my family wears a watch, which includes all three of my 20 something kids. I bought my S two watches last year and have bought H 4 or 5 watches. Both continually get comments about their watches, usually from other males.
D1 Used to wear a Michael Kors watch I bought her. But last year she bought herself a Cartier watch. Not exactly in the $100-150 price range. Haha. D2 asked for a new watch this Christmas. Not sure what to get her.
I have found some very nice Invicta watches on ShopNBC for the men. They come in all price ranges and styles. Look for the ones in your price range that get 5 stars. These are some of the watches my men get so many comments on. They aren’t a Rolex, but they are nice.
My son wears a watch when he takes a test. The teacher/proctor usually tells the students to put away cell phones as part of the pre-test instructions. Timex Ironman, nothing fancy.
I have a Pulsar that I bought at Sam’s Club over 10 years ago. I paid less than $100, and it keeps amazing time. I never have to adjust it.
“D2 asked for a new watch this Christmas. Not sure what to get her.”
Costco sells J12. Just sayin’… 
My almost 60-years young Mr. always wears a watch, he did not stop wearing it even when he got a work Iphone in addition to his personal one. He says he feels naked without his Casio. It is not a fancy watch, and I’d like to get him a nicer one, but every time I hear something about another NMR experiment, I sigh. Maybe when he retires in 15-20 years!