The Sensei Ten · Graduation

Top 10 graduation watches

The last exam is over. The next chapter deserves something better than another notification. Ten watches to mark the moment.

Start with these three

Find your starting point.

Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mm

A small watch, not a small gesture

Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mm

The 32mm Emerald Sky makes a sensible opening gift when the recipient prefers compact watches. Its VH31 quartz movement asks less of a new owner than an automatic, and the 7.8mm height gives it a useful role beyond the ceremony.

AUD 399.00
Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30B

The first deliberate mechanical choice

Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30B

The 38.4mm Bambino offers a fairly restrained route into automatic watches. A champagne dial and leather strap can accompany a first interview, while the display back gives a curious new owner something to investigate afterwards.

USD 295.00
EREBUS WATCH Ascent 34 Black Enamel

Compact, with a date

EREBUS WATCH Ascent 34 Black Enamel

Ascent 34 gives this gift list a bracelet automatic with a date and a 40mm lug span. That is a useful starting combination for someone moving between lectures, work and evenings out without wanting a large watch.

USD 449.00
Jump to a watch All ten picks, in order
  1. 01Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mmA small watch, not a small gesture
  2. 02Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30BThe first deliberate mechanical choice
  3. 03EREBUS WATCH Ascent 34 Black EnamelCompact, with a date
  4. 04BOLDR Supply Co. Venture Earth (SP)For a working life beyond a desk
  5. 05Brew Metric - Retro Dial Chronograph WatchA design graduate's alternative
  6. 06Beaucroft Element - Forest GreenWhen green is already their colour
  7. 07MAEN Manhattan 37 - Midnight Blue G100For someone who asked for this look
  8. 08Bersigar Watches Bersigar Allegro 1673 · BG1673SLOnly if this is the look they asked for
  9. 09Mr Jones Watches A perfectly useless afternoonFor the person escaping the timetable
  10. 10EONIQ Workshop New Arrival - 38.5mm Custom Alster - AS06Let the graduate help design the gift
The ten, side by side. Open comparison table ↓
Graduation - compare the selection
Watch / rolePriceWhat makes it interestingMovement
1. Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mmA small watch, not a small gestureAUD 399.0032mm diameter · 7.8mm thickTMI VH31
2. Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30BThe first deliberate mechanical choiceUSD 295.0038.4mm diameter · 12.5mm thick · 44mm lug spanOrient F6724
3. EREBUS WATCH Ascent 34 Black EnamelCompact, with a dateUSD 449.0034mm diameter · 10.9mm thick · 40mm lug spanMiyota 9015
4. BOLDR Supply Co. Venture Earth (SP)For a working life beyond a deskUSD 299.0038mm diameter · 12mm thick · 44mm lug spanSeiko NH38A
5. Brew Metric - Retro Dial Chronograph WatchA design graduate's alternative36mm wide · 10.75mm thickVK68 meca-quartz chronograph
6. Beaucroft Element - Forest GreenWhen green is already their colourGBP 649.0039.5mm diameter · 11.6mm thick · 46.5mm lug spanMiyota 9039
7. MAEN Manhattan 37 - Midnight Blue G100For someone who asked for this lookUSD 914.0037mm diameter · 9.3mm thick · 47mm lug spanLa Joux-Perret G100 Standard Grade
8. Bersigar Watches Bersigar Allegro 1673 · BG1673SLOnly if this is the look they asked forUSD 399.0039mm diameter · 12mm thick · 51mm lug spanSeiko NH35A
9. Mr Jones Watches A perfectly useless afternoonFor the person escaping the timetableGBP 245.0037mm diameterSingle-jewel quartz
10. EONIQ Workshop New Arrival - 38.5mm Custom Alster - AS06Let the graduate help design the gift38.5mm diameterMiyota 82S5

Ten watches. Plenty of temptation.

Find your favourite ↓
  1. 01Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mm

    A small watch, not a small gesture

    AUD 399.00

    Blessington & Co

    Blessington & Co Emerald Sky - 32mm

    The 32mm Emerald Sky makes a sensible opening gift when the recipient prefers compact watches. Its VH31 quartz movement asks less of a new owner than an automatic, and the 7.8mm height gives it a useful role beyond the ceremony.

    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

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  2. 02Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30B

    The first deliberate mechanical choice

    USD 295.00

    Orient

    Orient Bambino Version 7 RA-AC0M04Y30B

    The 38.4mm Bambino offers a fairly restrained route into automatic watches. A champagne dial and leather strap can accompany a first interview, while the display back gives a curious new owner something to investigate afterwards.

    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

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  3. 03EREBUS WATCH Ascent 34 Black Enamel

    Compact, with a date

    USD 449.00

    EREBUS WATCH

    EREBUS WATCH Ascent 34 Black Enamel

    Ascent 34 gives this gift list a bracelet automatic with a date and a 40mm lug span. That is a useful starting combination for someone moving between lectures, work and evenings out without wanting a large watch.

    Diameter
    34 mm
    Lug span
    40 mm
    Thickness
    10.9 mm
    Maker rating
    100 m
    Movement
    Miyota 9015

    Check EREBUS WATCH Ascent 34 Black Enamel listing ↗ · About EREBUS WATCH · Get the Sensei take

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  4. 04BOLDR Supply Co. Venture Earth (SP)

    For a working life beyond a desk

    USD 299.00

    BOLDR Supply Co.

    BOLDR Supply Co. Venture Earth (SP)

    Venture Earth's 38mm titanium case and no-date NH38A suit a graduate who would rather discuss the next trip than a dress code. The crown at ten gives it a small but real departure from the standard field-watch recipe.

    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

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  5. 05Brew Metric - Retro Dial Chronograph Watch

    A design graduate's alternative

    Brew

    Brew Metric - Retro Dial Chronograph Watch

    Brew's Metric makes the graduation gift feel chosen: a compact rectangular format, a chronograph layout and a recognisable visual rhythm. Quartz operation keeps the argument about the design rather than the obligation to maintain a winding habit.

    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

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  6. 06Beaucroft Element - Forest Green

    When green is already their colour

    GBP 649.00

    Beaucroft

    Beaucroft Element - Forest Green

    Element Forest Green is a more personal choice than another black-dial graduation watch. Its 39.5mm case and 46.5mm span are worth checking against something the graduate wears; the green should be a preference you recognise, not a guess.

    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

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  7. 07MAEN Manhattan 37 - Midnight Blue G100

    For someone who asked for this look

    USD 914.00

    MAEN

    MAEN Manhattan 37 - Midnight Blue G100

    Manhattan's blue dial and integrated bracelet can make a strong graduation gift when that seventies-style outline is already on the recipient's wish list. The 9.3mm height gives the design some practical restraint.

    Diameter
    37 mm
    Lug span
    47 mm
    Thickness
    9.3 mm
    Maker rating
    100 m
    Movement
    La Joux-Perret G100 Standard Grade

    Check MAEN Manhattan 37 - Midnight Blue G100 listing ↗ · About MAEN · Get the Sensei take

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  8. 08Bersigar Watches Bersigar Allegro 1673 · BG1673SL

    Only if this is the look they asked for

    USD 399.00

    Bersigar Watches

    Bersigar Watches Bersigar Allegro 1673 · BG1673SL

    For a recipient who specifically wants an angular steel sports watch, Allegro adds a different visual direction.

    Diameter
    39 mm
    Lug span
    51 mm
    Thickness
    12 mm
    Maker rating
    100 m
    Movement
    Seiko NH35A

    Check Bersigar Watches Bersigar Allegro 1673 · BG1673SL listing ↗ · About Bersigar Watches · Get the Sensei take

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  9. 09Mr Jones Watches A perfectly useless afternoon

    For the person escaping the timetable

    GBP 245.00

    Mr Jones Watches

    Mr Jones Watches A perfectly useless afternoon

    A Perfectly Useless Afternoon makes an unusually literal graduation joke: after years of timetables, a little swimmer marks the time. Its 37mm quartz format is approachable, provided the recipient enjoys the illustration.

    Diameter
    37 mm
    Maker rating
    50 m
    Movement
    Single-jewel quartz

    Check Mr Jones Watches A perfectly useless afternoon listing ↗ · About Mr Jones Watches · Get the Sensei take

    Back to the ten watches ↑

  10. 10EONIQ Workshop New Arrival - 38.5mm Custom Alster - AS06

    Let the graduate help design the gift

    EONIQ Workshop

    EONIQ Workshop New Arrival - 38.5mm Custom Alster - AS06

    ALSTER adds a collaborative route: agree the dial artwork with the graduate instead of guessing their taste. A meaningful design needs their input and a production plan, so it belongs at the planning-heavy end of this list.

    Diameter
    38.5 mm
    Maker rating
    50 m
    Movement
    Miyota 82S5

    Check EONIQ Workshop New Arrival - 38.5mm Custom Alster - AS06 listing ↗ · About EONIQ Workshop · Get the Sensei take

    Back to the ten watches ↑

Your next obsession?

Keep looking

More Top 10 lists

A different brief. Another ten watches to consider.

Browse all buying guides →