The Time+Tide Father’s Day gift guide, for all sorts of watch-loving dads

Jamie Weiss

What do you get the man who has everything? Finding a good Father’s Day gift can be a real challenge – and if you’re a dad yourself, you’re probably tired of getting socks and jocks year after year. That’s why a watch makes such a great Father’s Day gift: it’s something dad will actually treasure and appreciate. If you’re anything like me, your dad was also the man who put you onto watches, so there’s an extra special touch there. We’ve assembled a number of handsome watches (and watch accessories) at a variety of price points that will all make a great Father’s Day gift and ensure that you’re the old man’s favourite.

For the frugal father: Boldr Venture Staghorn

Boldr Watch Co. has long been something of an insider’s secret among watch collectors. A winning combination of adventurous designs, fantastic build quality, and sought-after specs – all at “how do they do it?” prices – have made Boldr a favourite among the microbrand cognoscenti. One of their best and most versatile models is the Venture dive watch in the unique Staghorn colourway. It’s a real standout compared to more conventional-looking dive watches, with its 38mm titanium case’s angular lines and hooded lug profile. Other thoughtfully designed features include a matched titanium bracelet, a full 200 metres of water resistance, a unidirectional timing bezel, sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown at 4, and a clean, graphical look to the matte beige dial. It’s supremely legible, with broad sword hands, no date window, and a healthy dose of Japanese superlume. A bronze-toned bezel insert and minute hand are the perfect complements to the dial. Powered by the stalwart Seiko NH35A automatic, it’s as reliable as dad himself, and the overall value proposition is just off the chart. Price: US$489. from the Time+Tide Shop

For the playful pop: Studio Underd0g Watermel0n

Father’s Day usually means a day for dad to pig out on dude food, but even adults need to eat their fruits and veggies. That’s why the tasty Studio Underd0g Watermel0n makes a great Father’s Day gift. Easily the most iconic model this popular English microbrand has ever produced, and a cult favourite piece, its fruity pink and red dial is an absolute stunner. The coarse dégradé top dial really evokes the textural effect of an actual watermelon, contrasted by the green tachymeter and black watermelon pip indices. A hand-wound chronograph movement and a supple Epsom leather strap make this a perfectly playful gift for a dad who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Price: US$694, available exclusively in-store at the Time+Tide Watch Discovery Studio

For the strapping man: Artem HydroFlex Watch Strap

A piece of fatherly watch advice you might have received is that a strap change is as good as a new watch. And if your dad loves experimenting with watch straps, then the HydroFlex from Australian watch accessories brand Artem might be a great present this Father’s Day. Founded by two mates with a passion for horology, Artem Straps has gained a cult following for its exceptional attention to detail and premium materials. A hybrid strap crafted with a premium FKM rubber base and layered with Artem’s signature synthetic embossed material, the HydroFlex is Artem’s flagship product and is water-resistant, flexible, and durable – yet butter-soft in a way few rubber straps can match. Price: US$218 (Omega Speedmaster not included)

For the hip dad: Casio G-Shock GM-B2100GD

The Casio G-Shock 2100 Series – better known as the CasiOak thanks to its octagonal case that evokes an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak – has proven to be one of the most popular Casios of the 21st century, and a must-have in any watch fan’s collection. This variant from the G-Shock GMB 2100 collection is a blingy CasiOak that features a full stainless steel case and bracelet ion-coated with yellow gold, which gives it an undeniably luxurious look, yet without an Audemars Piguet price tag. Solar-powered, water-resistant to 200m, legendarily tough and boasting an extensive features list including 38 time zones, a 1/100 second stopwatch, a countdown timer, five daily alarms, Bluetooth connectivity and a power-saving function, any father will love how practical this CasiOak is. Price: US$792, from the Time+Tide Shop

For the pop culture-loving pop: Honmono Taiketsu figures

These witty, watch-centric ‌Honmono Taiketsu vinyl art figures by Fools Paradise are definitely big boy’s toys: think of them as a sort of Funko POP! for the watch aficionado. These clever collectibles keep the horological puns coming fast and furious, and who doesn’t love a good dad joke? Choose from an assortment of Foolex Panda figures, all of which feature Daytona-like panda dial faces, or perhaps the GMT-Master II “Batman”-inspired Dark Knight. There are several different choices on the site, but they are limited, so get a move on, junior. Price: Starting at US$298

For the sporty father: Bausele Sydney Diver

Some dads are couch potatoes, while some are proper Action Men. Regardless of whether your old man is a desk diver or a real one, we’re sure he’ll appreciate this Sydney Diver from Australian watch brand Bausele. A properly international timepiece, its signature hollow crown is filled with soil from military forts throughout the United States, while the watch itself is assembled by military veterans with a robust Swiss-made Sellita movement and is designed in Sydney, Australia. Water-resistant to 200m, the Bausele Sydney Diver features a black PVD-treated stainless steel case, a unidirectional diving bezel and comes with two straps: one elastic NATO paratrooper strap and one tropical rubber strap. In addition, 10% of sales go to veterans’ associations, which is something we bet most dads will get behind. Price: US$1,421, from the Time+Tide Shop

For the dad that loves to wind you up: Wolf Axis Double Winder with Storage – Copper

There’s nothing dads like more than telling groan-worthy jokes and messing with their children. But as fun as it is to wind your kids up, having to wind your watches – especially if they’re complicated pieces like perpetual calendars – can be a real hassle. So don’t joke around this Father’s Day and get your dad one of these luxe Axis watch winders from Wolf. Utilising Wolf’s patented rotation counting technology, which guarantees precise turns per day, this Axis winder features a microsuede interior, locking glass cover, backlit LCD display, copper-finished laser cut steel hardware and two winding modules. A storage bin at the top of the winder is the perfect place to store extra straps, spring bars or tools. Price: US$1,516, from the Time+Tide Shop

For the dapper dad: Furlan Marri Salmon Sector

As I mentioned earlier, some dads don’t love just getting underwear for Father’s Day. No, some dads have more sartorial aspirations: they’re stylish men, always on the hunt for the coolest new accessory – and similarly, you can do a lot better than some cufflinks or a tie. What about a dress watch? This Furlan Marri Salmon Sector is a tasteful choice. Featuring a delightfully textured salmon pink three-sector dial, this piece is full of lovely vintage touches such as the cornes de vache lugs and open Breguet-style sixes and nines. Indeed, it actually resembles a Vacheron Constantin from the 1940s – except its modern La Joux-Perret automatic movement will give dad far less hassle than a vintage piece. Price: US$1,553, from the Time+Tide Shop

For the formal father: AHW cufflinks

I know I just said cufflinks are a little trad for a Father’s Day gift, but these cufflinks are the exception – especially if dad loves watches. Australian jewellers AHW make a wide range of jewellery and accessories, but they’re best known for their pieces that use real watch movements. The cufflinks pictured above use 1940s-era Benrus movements from NYC and Switzerland, mounted in a 925 sterling silver frame with 18k rose gold plating. The handmade cufflink toggle is even designed to resemble a watch crown and stem! Subtly steampunky but not on the nose, they’re the perfect gift for a dad who likes dressing up. Price: $304

For the well-read gentleman: A Man & His Watch by Matt Hranek

No dad can have enough coffee table books or nice tomes in his library, and A Man & His Watch is a particularly nice piece of literature. Written by watch collector, photographer and NYC men’s style fixture Matt Hranek, A Man & His Watch catalogues 76 of the world’s most coveted and historically significant timepieces – such as Paul Newman’s Daytona and Churchill’s Tiffany watch – Hranek having travelled the world conducting first-hand interviews and diving into exclusive collections to gather their never-before-told stories, complete with stunning original photography of every single piece. Price: US$55, from the Time+Tide Shop

For the adventurous old man: Norqain Wild One

Wild… It’s in the name. The cutting-edge Norqain Wild One features high-tech construction in a bold, lightweight sports model. Designed with Jean-Claude Biver on the board of advisors, the Wild One line begins with its innovative case construction. The multi-layered design features their proprietary Norteq carbon fibre composite for the 42mm outer cage, secured to an inner titanium and shock-absorbing rubber structure. My favourite Norqain Wild One variant is the black and khaki combo, which brings a vibe of pure tactical cool. The laser-cut black dial has a multi-level effect that must be seen, and upon closer inspection, consists of an intricate pattern that features the interlocking double “N” of the Norqain logo in three layers. The rest of the specs inspire the confidence of all Norqain timepieces, with the Kenissi-made NN20/1 chronometer movement, 200 metres of water resistance, screw-down crown, and sapphire crystals front and back. The included rubber strap features a mesh texture in two-tone black and khaki green, a stylistic choice that’s right up my alley. Price: US$5,022, from the Time+Tide Shop

For the father who always wants to be on time: Multifunction Timegrapher

If your dad’s anything like my dad, he’s passionate about punctuality and being on time (especially if airports are involved – why do all dads want to turn up at airports so early?) So, if you really want to help your father be as punctual as possible, why not get him his own timegrapher, so he can put his watches to the test? A precision tool commonly used in watch regulation and beat error correction, this timegrapher automatically calculates in real time the rate, amplitude, beat error and frequency of a mechanical watch. We bet your dad will get a kick out of testing his timepieces to see if they’re really up to snuff. Price: US$149

For the very special dad: Patek Philippe Aquanaut

Okay, this one might be a little more outlandish, but if you really wanted to show your dad you loved him this Father’s Day, wouldn’t you get him an Aquanaut? I know if I had a kid, it’s what I’d secretly want them to get me. It’s the kind of watch people would consider selling their entire collection for. I also can’t think of a more ideal Patek to gift to someone: sporty and casual, yet exceptionally refined, it has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes sense as a gift. Also, remember the famous Patek Philippe slogan – “you never actually own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation” – so really, buying your dad a Patek is buying yourself a Patek. It’s a win-win. Better get on the waiting list before dad kicks the bucket… Price: US$24,450