The Retirement Gift?

So, on December 31st of this year, my business partner is going to be retiring and I will be buying him out. While we have never been touchy-feely kind of guys, he has been a pretty significant part of my life for almost 20 years and we have been in business together for 17 of them. I think I owe him some kind of significant parting gift. 

Luckily he is a watch fanatic so I'm seriously thinking about getting him the proverbial gold watch. I think he would actually appreciate it, and he would get the joke.

The price range would be somewhere around $1000+-. 

My knowledge of watches is pretty limited. What brands should I be looking at? 

I'm also open to other ideas. 

What would you want as a retirement gift? What kind of watch would you like that you would never buy for yourself. 

Thanks.

Edit to say, he is also a car guy and into classic Mustangs. He just bought his dream car which is a 1969 Boss 302. Currently sitting in my warehouse. And behind it and currently buried, is a 1968 notchback with a supercharged 302 and a 5 speed. 

I have a vintage Waltham pocket watch engraved with a Reverend's name and the date 1887, too nice for work.  I wore a very thin cheapie pocket watch for work (can't wear wrist watches as a machinist).  As a watch buff, have you looked into vintage Waltham etc. wrist watches?

I have gotten to the point where I like gifts to be either unique or an experience. 

Doesn't your company do custom doors? Maybe a miniature power door? Something like a cookie or candy jar with a motion sensor that opens a little powered door? 

I had a big event at work a couple of years ago and I had pendants made that are a little smaller than a quarter. They had the company logo but they were made from the very unique product that the new project made. I know that the people that received them really appreciated them.

The watch idea is excellent but do you know what type of watches he like and, perhaps more importantly, what he already owns?

Is he actually going to be wearing the watch, or would he just appreciate the joke? Actually, for both, the answer will be Seiko. There are others that will be fine, but you can't really go wrong with Seiko, and there will be multiple price points for it ($150 to probably $700)

I'd personally go with the $150 gold Seiko, then spend the rest on something he'd really enjoy. What are his hobbies? Golfer? Get him a custom TP Mills or Tad Moore putter with his initials stamped on it, or a trip to Pinehurst. Is he a gun nut? 1911, or maybe a shotgun. Star Wars nut? Custom lightsaber. Hunter or boater? Nice binoculars. Coffee guru? Espresso machine, or a Mocamaster drip machine... So what is he into? 

Maybe talk to his wife, and get her to go in with you on a trip to France to see the Door museum. I think entry is free, but getting there will be costly. 

Unfortunately, I have no clue as to what he already owns in watches. I know his daily is a copy of a fairly expensive watch similar to this. 

Vintage watches are probably a good idea, but again I'm not sure what he already has. 

Doors are a job, not a passion. 

His hobbies are 60s era Mustangs and guitars. He's particular enough about both of them that I wouldn't even try to buy him something for them.

For the most part, he is at the office 7 days a week either working or working on a car. The cars will be moving to a backyard garage as soon as he finishes building it.

As far as travel, he doesn't do any. It's been at least 12 years since he last took a week off other than being sick with Covid. 

I googled up Mustang and watches and came up with a few:

This one dedicated to the 1969 Boss 429.  I did not see one dedicated to the Boss 302

https://www.bradford.co.uk/fordbosswatchbge.html

Some others: https://www.bradford.com.au/shop-by-theme/ford/mustang/

Is there anyone else who knows him who might have some input on what he already has and might like?  Is he married and if so could you ask his wife?

I've gotta think that custom engraving on the watch would be more appreciated than finding the perfect watch itself.

Keith Tanner said:

I've gotta think that custom engraving on the watch would be more appreciated than finding the perfect watch itself.

"When one door closes, another opens!"  

I have a hard time picking gifts but I definitely think a gift would be a great idea in this situation. 
 

Stand up paddleboard is a nice indulgence for somebody who lives near water. 

If he loves guitars there is a guitar builder amongst us. I don't know the craft but I hear great things about these...

How about assembling him a one of a kind watch? It's fairly easy and fun to do.

You can buy components online from Otto Frei and other online venders. You need to pick out a movement style to base the project on, then a case, dial, hands and a strap or bracelet. I have done a two with Swiss movements - an ETA 6497 pocket watch movement and a Valjoux / ETA 7750 stop watch movement. I have also done a few Seiko mods, where you swap out the dial or hands for a custom look. https://theyobokies.com/ is a good source for Seiko parts.

You can do a Seiko project for a few hundred dollars. My 6497 cost about $500 5-6 years ago and the Valjoux was about $1000.

Here are some pictures of the 6497, Valjoux and Seiko in that order.  If you want to go this route I would be happy to proivde tips or answer questions.

EDIT: Man, now I really want to build another watch! If you want to give him a custom watch and don't want to build it yourself I would be willing to help out.

I know nothing about watches but I do know guitars along with others here.

If you end up going that way I bet we can find him something he really likes.

What would I want? Pay off my student loans. 

https://www.birthyearwatches.com/ allows you to choose a used watch by year of manufacture.  The seller is in England but fast with shipping.  I ordered a 1994 Seiko diver and got it within 10 days.  Maybe choose a watch with year significant to you both and tell him so.  "Could you imagine back in ..... that we'd be doing this?" 

I will say that buying a watch for someone into watches can be tricky unless you know if they are either not picky or know what they are into. A better option might be something watch related like a really nice watch box for example.

But just in case you want some imo solid watch options for around that price.

Junghans Max Bill is a beautiful minimalist designed watch. The Botta Uno might be great for retirement since it is a one handed watch (kind of tells the time to the nearest 5 minutes and who needs more accurate then that after retirement). Frederique Constant makes some really nice stuff around that price. Doxa dive watches are awesome if he is into more sport watches and the Sub200 is around that price.

I am sure I will think of some more that are a bit more unique and add them. There are just so many watches out there in different shapes, sizes, styles, etc it is really hard to pick one for someone if they are into watches without knowing more about what they like.

You could strike up a casual conversation with him about watches, since he's an enthusiast he'll probably volunteer what kinds he owns and what he likes.

"volunteer", that's such a nice way to put the outpouring of minutiae that happens when an enthusiast is prompted about their enthusiasm.

I say that knowing that all of us here are enthusiasts :)

When my work mentor retired I gave him something really cheap but from the heart.

He had a saying for years that he had "one more berkeley to give", then when he put his paperwork in it changed to "I've given my last berkeley". Blue collar shipyard job so saying stuff like that is pretty common/accepted. This guy would give you the shirt off his back, and would 1000% have your back if you worked for him.

I had a 5-axis machine "berkeley" and gave it to him with a card that simply said "Here, have one of mine. You may need it." Tough Kentucky red neck had water in his eyes for a minute then laughed his ass off.

I was one of three people invited to his private retirement party.

Maybe you can find something that would be appreciated in such a way.

Long time lurker here,but time for my first post. Might be a bit over budget but check out https://www.recwatches.com. Might be perfect for what his interests are.