The Sensei Ten · First watch gifts
10 first-watch gifts to start an obsession
Give someone the start of an obsession. These watches have the colour, character and little details that make a first watch feel personal.
Start with these three
Find your starting point.
A small, uncomplicated first watch
Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mmEmerald Sky starts with a modest 32mm case and a VH31 quartz movement. That leaves the recipient free to enjoy the green dial without learning a winding routine.
AUD 399.00
For someone who dresses around a shape
Second Hour Memoir Ice BlueMemoir makes a clear first-watch proposition: an ice-blue rectangle, a leather strap and quartz operation. Its 28mm width and 7.3mm thickness give you something concrete to compare with the recipient’s existing accessories.
AUD 615.00
For a recipient who likes a direct answer
Casio W-800H-1AVW-800 shows the time as digits and adds a date, alarm and dual-time function. It suits somebody who wants a useful object rather than an explanation of why enthusiasts admire it. Walk through the buttons together before wrapping it up.
AUD 99.95Jump to a watch All ten picks, in order
- 01Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mmA small, uncomplicated first watch
- 02Second Hour Memoir Ice BlueFor someone who dresses around a shape
- 03Casio W-800H-1AVFor a recipient who likes a direct answer
- 04Casio F-91W-1A gift with very little weight attached
- 05Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30BAn automatic for the curious recipient
- 06sternglas.de Naos Solar WhiteFor a recipient who wants fewer winding chores
- 07Beaucroft Element - Forest GreenFor the person who already wears green
- 08BOLDR Supply Co. Venture Earth (SP)For an outdoors-minded beginner
- 09Brew Metric - Retro Dial Chronograph WatchFor someone who has already noticed the design
- 10Casio LF-20W-1AA small digital with a clear point of view
The ten, side by side. Open comparison table ↓
| Watch / role | Price | What makes it interesting | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mmA small, uncomplicated first watch | AUD 399.00 | 32mm diameter · 7.8mm thick | TMI VH31 |
| 2. Second Hour Memoir Ice BlueFor someone who dresses around a shape | AUD 615.00 | 28mm wide · 7.3mm thick | Ronda Slimtech 1069 |
| 3. Casio W-800H-1AVFor a recipient who likes a direct answer | AUD 99.95 | 36.8mm wide · 13.4mm thick | Digital quartz |
| 4. Casio F-91W-1A gift with very little weight attached | USD 29.95 | 35.2mm wide · 8.5mm thick | Digital quartz |
| 5. Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30BAn automatic for the curious recipient | USD 295.00 | 38.4mm diameter · 12.5mm thick · 44mm lug span | Orient F6724 |
| 6. sternglas.de Naos Solar WhiteFor a recipient who wants fewer winding chores | 38mm diameter · 42mm lug span | Epson AS32 solar quartz | |
| 7. Beaucroft Element - Forest GreenFor the person who already wears green | GBP 649.00 | 39.5mm diameter · 11.6mm thick · 46.5mm lug span | Miyota 9039 |
| 8. BOLDR Supply Co. Venture Earth (SP)For an outdoors-minded beginner | USD 299.00 | 38mm diameter · 12mm thick · 44mm lug span | Seiko NH38A |
| 9. Brew Metric - Retro Dial Chronograph WatchFor someone who has already noticed the design | 36mm wide · 10.75mm thick | VK68 meca-quartz chronograph | |
| 10. Casio LF-20W-1AA small digital with a clear point of view | USD 39.95 | 23g · Complete watch with supplied resin band | Casio digital quartz |
Ten watches. Plenty of temptation.
Find your favourite ↓- 01
A small, uncomplicated first watch
AUD 399.00
Blessington & Co
Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mm
Emerald Sky starts with a modest 32mm case and a VH31 quartz movement. That leaves the recipient free to enjoy the green dial without learning a winding routine.
- Diameter
- 32 mm
- Thickness
- 7.8 mm
- Maker rating
- 50 m
- Movement
- TMI VH31
Check Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mm listing ↗ · About Blessington & Co · Get the Sensei take
- 02
For someone who dresses around a shape
AUD 615.00
Second Hour
Second Hour Memoir Ice Blue
Memoir makes a clear first-watch proposition: an ice-blue rectangle, a leather strap and quartz operation. Its 28mm width and 7.3mm thickness give you something concrete to compare with the recipient’s existing accessories.
- Case
- 28 × 39.5 mm
- Thickness
- 7.3 mm
- Maker rating
- 50 m
- Movement
- Ronda Slimtech 1069
Check Second Hour Memoir Ice Blue listing ↗ · About Second Hour · Get the Sensei take
- 03
For a recipient who likes a direct answer
AUD 99.95
Casio
Casio W-800H-1AV
W-800 shows the time as digits and adds a date, alarm and dual-time function. It suits somebody who wants a useful object rather than an explanation of why enthusiasts admire it. Walk through the buttons together before wrapping it up.
- Case
- 36.8 × 44.2 mm
- Thickness
- 13.4 mm
- Maker rating
- 100 m
- Movement
- Digital quartz
Check Casio W-800H-1AV listing ↗ · About Casio · Get the Sensei take
- 04
A gift with very little weight attached
USD 29.95
Casio
Casio F-91W-1
The 21g F-91W is worth considering for someone who usually dislikes having anything on their wrist. Its small resin construction makes the purchase about trying a watch, without pretending a first watch must be a lifelong ceremonial object.
- Case
- 35.2 × 38.2 mm
- Thickness
- 8.5 mm
- Movement
- Digital quartz
Check Casio F-91W-1 listing ↗ · About Casio · Get the Sensei take
- 05
An automatic for the curious recipient
USD 295.00
Orient
Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30B
Bambino’s display back gives a mechanically curious beginner a reason to turn it over. The champagne dial and 38.4mm case are approachable; the automatic movement should be something they have expressed an interest in, not a lesson imposed on them.
- Diameter
- 38.4 mm
- Lug span
- 44 mm
- Thickness
- 12.5 mm
- Maker rating
- 30 m
- Movement
- Orient F6724
Check Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30B listing ↗ · About Orient · Get the Sensei take
- 06
For a recipient who wants fewer winding chores
sternglas.de
sternglas.de Naos Solar White
Naos Solar is a 38mm quartz watch with a 42mm span. The solar movement makes it a different first-watch proposition from a gift that needs winding, provided the recipient will actually expose it to light.
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Lug span
- 42 mm
- Maker rating
- 50 m
- Movement
- Epson AS32 solar quartz
Check sternglas.de Naos Solar White listing ↗ · About sternglas.de · Get the Sensei take
- 07
For the person who already wears green
GBP 649.00
Beaucroft
Beaucroft Element - Forest Green
Element Forest Green works as a gift when the colour connects to something the recipient actually likes. The conventional three-hand display keeps the face familiar while the 39.5mm case makes this a larger option than the opening picks.
- Diameter
- 39.5 mm
- Lug span
- 46.5 mm
- Thickness
- 11.6 mm
- Maker rating
- 200 m
- Movement
- Miyota 9039
Check Beaucroft Element - Forest Green listing ↗ · About Beaucroft · Get the Sensei take
- 08
For an outdoors-minded beginner
USD 299.00
BOLDR Supply Co.
BOLDR Supply Co. Venture Earth (SP)
Venture Earth offers a titanium case and a no-date NH38A in a recognisable field-watch format. The appeal is straightforward: a different material and a practical-looking dial for someone who already likes this sort of object.
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Lug span
- 44 mm
- Thickness
- 12 mm
- Maker rating
- 200 m
- Movement
- Seiko NH38A
Check BOLDR Supply Co. Venture Earth (SP) listing ↗ · About BOLDR Supply Co. · Get the Sensei take
- 09
For someone who has already noticed the design
More angles · 5 maker photos
The Metric Retro dial photographed against a coloured background by Brew. 
Brew’s wrist photograph labels the 36mm case width; the wearer’s wrist measurement is not supplied. 
An angled view of the Retro dial, pushers, case and open bracelet. 
The Metric’s caseback and folding bracelet clasp, photographed by Brew. 
Brew’s styled photograph shows the Retro dial and bracelet together. Brew
Brew Metric - Retro Dial Chronograph Watch
Metric is a good first-watch gift only when its graphic dial is already part of the attraction. Quartz timekeeping reduces the ownership learning curve, but the chronograph should be explained rather than left as mysterious extra buttons.
- Case
- 36 × 41.5 mm
- Thickness
- 10.75 mm
- Maker rating
- 50 m
- Movement
- VK68 meca-quartz chronograph
Check Brew Metric - Retro Dial Chronograph Watch listing ↗ · About Brew · Get the Sensei take
- 10
A small digital with a clear point of view
USD 39.95
Casio
Casio LF-20W-1A
LF-20W gives a first-time wearer a compact digital case instead of another conventional dress watch. Its 33.7mm width makes it worth trying when the recipient dislikes large wrist objects.
- Case
- 33.7 × 37.8 mm
- Thickness
- 8.6 mm
- Light
- Amber LED with afterglow
- Functions
- Five alarms; 24-hour countdown; world time; 12/24-hour display
- Listed weight
- 23 g
- Movement
- Casio digital quartz
Weight basis: Complete watch with supplied resin band
Check Casio LF-20W-1A listing ↗ · About Casio · Get the Sensei take
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