The first watch in our life is always special. And, in all probability, we would have got ours when we were in school. It did not matter how small or cartoonish they were. It meant something to us then and it is a nostalgic treasure now. As a young boy or a girl, we would have all looked up to our parents or our favourite relative sporting their watches on their wrists. We might have even tried them on with or -if brave enough- without their permission as well. Thus, we were already weaving a dream of owning a watch when we hit adulthood. Truth is, the kids of this generation are also fascinated by watches, albeit they have more options to choose from. This article will help you square in on the best watch that keeps up with your teen’s desires of owning their first timepiece.
First, let us understand what functionalities a teen’s watch should have.
Readability
The watch should serve its primary purpose. The time should be legible enough to read easily. Going by this, the default choice would be to go for a digital watch where the numbers are visible and are of standard format. But there is a different school of thought amongst parents that a watch should teach the kids to read time from an analog watch. But irrespective of the watch that is bought, the time should be displayed in the biggest size possible.
Durability
Teens are most likely to wear their watch everywhere they go, whatever they do, as it is their prized possession. Be it a sport they are playing or when hitting the shower. Hence, it is important not to cut corners when buying the watch as it should be durable by all meanings of the word. It should be able to withstand a high impact fall and should be water resistant as well.
Price
There is hardly any reason to buy an expensive watch unless your name is Cristiano Ronaldo. His son, Ronaldo Jr was seen sporting a Rolex GMT Master II in 18k white, fully set with baguette cut diamonds. The watch is estimated at a price of $485,350.00USD or in Indian Rupees, a couple of thousands shy of Rs. 4 Crore! But that apart, buying an expensive watch does not make sense. For one, the preferences are likely to change as your teenager comes of age. From the shape of the watch to the colours on it to the brand, there will be a fresh outlook to watches as they grow older
Colour & Design
At very young ages, teens are fascinated by the superheroes in their cartoons and the colours they see around them. What we adults usually brush off as flashy is what they would pick by default if given a choice. For instance, a girl’s eyes, in all likelihood, would be on a watch that is pink or red in colour and has Barbie’s picture on it. Whereas the boys would be all in for an Avengers themed watch that gives them the ‘macho’ feel.
These days there are watches that have unique shapes and motifs on them. You can easily spot watches that have unicorns, Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse and his counterparts on the strap or in the dial. These quirky designs make watches attractive to the teens thus making it their most valuable gift and is something they will cherish for a lifetime.
A host of such watches are available with Krishnan Nair & Sons which is easily one of the best watch shops in Trivandrum. Some of the best watch brands such as Tissot, Rado, Citizen, Casio, Timex etc can be found here from which you can select your kid’s favourite watch based on their taste and choice.
Size of the Watch
The size of the watch is very important especially for a teen who has relatively smaller wrists. The smallest size that is generally available is 23-28mm which is the diameter of the dial on the watch. The larger ones are usually 30-35mm. Anywhere between the size of 26-32mm would constitute as the ideal dial size for the kids. Most popular brands make watches to meet this size.
Smartwatches an Ideal Choice?
This is the most asked question amongst the parents to themselves and on the internet. While smart watches come with their own positives, there are downsides as well. Like mobile phones, kids can be hooked to their watches as well. Moreover, depending on the brand, there are quite a lot of features that would mostly be unnecessary for a kid. That said, if there is parental control over these gadgets and only the much needed apps are installed on the smartwatches, it would be an ideal choice for the teenagers. They would get to appreciate technology at a very young age and also be aware of the developments happening in the tech world.
We spoke about colour, durability, price, legibility of the watch and even the ideal size for a teenager’s watch. So when it comes to the crux of the matter, you may implore which are the best watches that are available in the Indian Market. Here, we are suggesting a couple of watches that ticks most, if not all the boxes that make a perfect watch for a teenager.
One watch series that stands out prominently is the Baby – G by Casio. The Baby – G watches takes its inspiration from the iconic G – Shock series of Casio. The Baby – G watches have some of the highest durability with most of their starting range watches having resin band and case material. The BGA-260-3A Baby – G watch for instance is shock resistant and comes with a 100 metre water resistance. Weighing only 37g, the watch comes in a sleek design thus making it an easy wear for the teens.
The Chic Mirror Dial Stainless Steel Mesh Band Watch is another that meets almost all the criteria but doesn’t burn a hole in the pocket. With a case diameter of 30mm, the dial comes in baby pink colour and the case colour comes in a contrasting silver tone thus accentuating the colours in the dial. To ensure durability, the watch movement is quartz and the watch glass is made of mineral glass. It is water resistant and comes with a stainless steel mesh band.
On a concluding note, as parents, we might take a soft corner with our kids and fall for their ‘sentimental marketing’ and get them an expensive watch that would neither meet the functionality nor its purpose. To help them make a wise decision is not an easy task but has to be done nonetheless. Krishnan Nair & Sons who has been in the business of watches for more than a hundred years, have in their collection some of the best watches for teenagers. Do check them out and buy your kids happiness that can be wrapped around their wrists.
