I agree on GP. My advice would be slightly different. I would gift him a watch but get it together. I say this because everyone has a particular esthetic and watches even more than shoes and glasses are highly personal. Also it would be fun to take him on that journey. Sport or Dress ? Leather strap or Steel? We bought our son a Reverso for his graduation and it’s been in a safe for 10 years. Lesson learned.
If that doesn’t sound like a plan, then I would also consider the Moser Pioneer. Or a Parmigiani 1950. Both cool,both respectable, both contemporary.