Kid’s sub

[torifile]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask. If not, please move.

I’ve been a watch-lover since I was a kid. I remember wearing multiple swatch watches as the kids did in the early 90’s and always loving watches for their intricate beauty. (My dad had this weird Rado with some sort of angled crystal. I don’t remember what it was exactly. It had a blue dial. Anyone know what it might have been? It’d be cool to track it down.) I currently have a SubC which I love more than is reasonable. I have an 11 year-old son and he seems to have inherited the bug. I’ve often caught him staring at my former watch, a speedy pro (I’ve got to get that watch back when finances allow!).

My son currently rocks a red Casio somethingorother. He’s been wearing it for years and it’s about to give up the ghost (those things are tough!). So as he explores the new possibilities, I was hoping to introduce him to an analog watch. Since he still thinks I hung the moon (dads will understand what that means), I thought I’d do a little research on what the WIS community thinks is a good version of the submariner for kids. Any thoughts? TIA. And before anyone suggests it, no, I’m not buying him a Rolex! I’m not DJ Khalid over here!

[Ruud Van Driver]

Depends on your budget but for an 11 year old, a Seiko or Citizen diver would be a good start. Tough as old boots and won’t break the bank if he trashes it.

[kauffee]

Seiko is always a good bet. Monster diver is a great watch if his wrist is big enough. If you want to go Swiss and not as big, look at the Hamilton Khaki line. They’re pretty classic and you can probably find one for not much more than a Seiko diver.

[RolexPD]

Cheap - Vostok Amphibia with a modded black bezel (small size, too)

Little more expensive - Seiko SNZH55 or SNZH57

More expensive - Seiko SKX007

Three bulletproof automatic watches ranging from $90 to $250-ish.

I love my Vostoks and Seikos, and I’m a grown man.

[torrente]

My 11 years old kid wears a Seiko 5 (SNK809) with a NATO strap as he feels the standard strap buckle uncomfortable to use the computer.
The size of the watch is perfect for a kid, it is 36mm but wears small.
The watch price is $70 in Amazon plus $15 18mm premium NATO from Crown&Buckle.

[torifile]

Originally Posted by torrente

My 11 years old kid wears a Seiko 5 (SNK809) with a NATO strap as he feels the standard strap buckle uncomfortable to use the computer.
The size of the watch is perfect for a kid, it is 36mm but wears small.
The watch price is $70 in Amazon plus $15 18mm premium NATO from Crown&Buckle.

I like this one!

[torrente]

Originally Posted by torifile

I like this one!

Seiko 5 is solid, not lot of features as it does not has manual winding or hacking.
There are other colors in this model, I let the decision to my kid and he preferred the black over the blue that I was thinking that it would be his choice.

[torrente]

Originally Posted by torifile

I like this one!

For your comparison, my 7.5 inch wrist with my DJ36 and his:

[torifile]

Originally Posted by torrente

Seiko 5 is solid, not lot of features as it does not has manual winding or hacking.
There are other colors in this model, I let the decision to my kid and he preferred the black over the blue that I was thinking that it would be his choice.

How’s the accuracy?

[torrente]

Originally Posted by torifile

How’s the accuracy?

I am not tracking it but should be good (not COSC for sure), he set it the watch, but looking at the photo as I know that mine is well set up there's is a difference. I will set up correctly his and I will tell you tomorrow.

[Justindo]

I agree with the Seiko 5 idea. When he gets older with a larger wrist, perhaps an SKX diver.

[Bt122]

My daughter sports this..as her casual watch...she’s 8


The watch is a seiko skx007
The modifications are the yobokies sub bezel
Dagaz, ceramic insert and superdome crystal.

And she has 3 nato strap.

All in maybe $320 or something

Not only stylish and about the same size as my sub. But a fully legit dive watch

[AEC]

Originally Posted by torrente

My 11 years old kid wears a Seiko 5 (SNK809) with a NATO strap as he feels the standard strap buckle uncomfortable to use the computer.
The size of the watch is perfect for a kid, it is 36mm but wears small.
The watch price is $70 in Amazon plus $15 18mm premium NATO from Crown&Buckle.

I had one of these (the beige one) for a brief time, and it was super-comfy. I wore it skiing because it slipped easily beneath sweaters, gloves, etc.

Seiko makes a mid-sized (39mm) diver called the SKX031, and I think it normally comes on an Oyster-style bracelet. Depending on your son's size (which is changing every week, I realize), perhaps this one would suit him for a few years.

BTW, I saw a K-series Air-King 14000M, all original, unpolished, box and papers for $2,500 OBO just this morning. That's a 34mm case. Contact me if needed :-)

Here's a photo of the Seiko SKX031 swiped from the web:

[Bt122]

Skx031 would be a great watch but I think it’s been discountinued so only able to buy it pre-owned.

[Jeffwb65]

How about a Seiko SKX013? Same specs as an SKX007, but 38mm vs 42mm. Lot of modding possibilities as well.

skx-size-500x289.jpg

[torifile]

Let me just say you that guys are awesome.

[offrdmania]

Depending on your budget and I know you said no Rolex; How about a Tudor 73090 mini-sub? Its 33mm, perfect for a boys size wrist and they can still be had for under $1500. Its a great investment piece to teach him about responsibility and how to treat something given to him by his father.

[osamu]

I second the idea of an SKX013. Not sure what wrist size you're looking at, but I would think would be fine, and hopefully get him into automatics... although when I was a kid, I remember I had an auto, and I hated how it always stopped.

If 38mm is still too big, maybe have to go with a ladies diver, like there is an Eco-Drive EP6050-17E.

[toxicavenger]

Don't buy him something you are gonna get a pissed about if it gets damaged our he doesnt' take care of like you do. I dont' think most kids think of watches as jewelry.

[torifile]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I showed him a few of the options and he wasn’t thirilled with any of them. Then I showed him a Swatch Sistem 51 in red (the corrida model) and he loved it.

The look on his face when it arrived and he saw it in the flesh was absolutely priceless. That alone was worth the price of admission. It’s not anything like a sub but he really loves it and it’s an automatic which he finds interesting. I guess it’s fitting that my son gets started on watches with a swatch considering my own history. Thanks again, guys! May we all be able share our watch love with our loved ones!

[torifile]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

Don't buy him something you are gonna get a pissed about if it gets damaged our he doesnt' take care of like you do. I dont' think most kids think of watches as jewelry.

Nah. My son is a good kid and he would never damage anything intentionally or through negligence. Anything that would happen to it would be accidental and I don’t care about stuff like that. No need getting upset about accidents. (My parents used to get really angry when we accidentally broke anything and I swore to myself I’d never let that happen to my kids).

[torifile]

Budding WIS alert!! He has been listening to the ticking of the watch and I’ve caught him winding it throughout the night. One of the best things about being a dad is being able to see yourself in that kid through the eyes of an adult. It’s so cute.

[uncleluck]

Originally Posted by torifile

(My parents used to get really angry when we accidentally broke anything and I swore to myself I’d never let that happen to my kids).

My parents were the same and it’s made me the same as you with my boy.

The skx013 is a good shout.

[JR16]

Bumping the thread...
My 9 year old son is becoming more interested in my hobby, and we discovered that the mini-turtle (srpc37) is a good fit for him. I put it on a Eulit perlon strap which can be adjusted easily to fit his wrist




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[Cabaiguan]

Delete.

[Cabaiguan]

Originally Posted by JR16

Bumping the thread...
My 9 year old son is becoming more interested in my hobby, and we discovered that the mini-turtle (srpc37) is a good fit for him. I put it on a Eulit perlon strap which can be adjusted easily to fit his wrist




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That is AWESOME! Teach them right!


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