(Part 4) Best products from r/Watches

Three completely different watches I'll recommend for you because I'm not really sure of your style or what you want and I'm not sure you are either. All of these are from good brands and have good movements at a good value and you can't go wrong with any of them.

Tissot Le Locle
http://www.amazon.com/Tissot-TIST41142333-Analog-Display-Automatic/dp/B000JKSS8M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421482962&sr=8-1&keywords=tissot+le+locle
Great movement from a good brand, available in several color combinations. Don't own one yet but I plan on it. Fantastic watch and a beautiful piece.

Hamilton Field Khaki Auto 42mm
http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-H70555533-Khaki-Field-Black/dp/B000EQ0BM2
Another fantastic piece. Very very versatile, not really sure if it's your style as its more of a military design but it's built like a tank and has a very iconic history. The Hamilton field Khaki was commonly worn in WW2 and a couple other wars. Same great movement as the Tissot, highly recommended.

Obris Morgan Explorer II
http://www.obrismorgan.com/explorerii.html
Going a completely different direction is a divers watch. Also very versatile and sporty at the same time. This one is from a smaller brand but it has a very respectable movement in it and the brand has been highly regarded in what they have put out. While it is the cheapest that doesn't mean it's the worst by any means it's just the best value of the three. It comes with a Miyota 9015 which is just as good if not better as the ETA 2824 which the other two have and a sapphire crystal. It's a great value if you like the looks of it I would highly recommend it.

While I wouldn't recommend the Versace or really any fashion brand at all it's your choice in the end. If you like it but it, wear it, and love it but I would highly recommend any of the three above. There's plenty of options out there but these three should give you a good variety. If I had $1100 to spend on watch(es) I would buy these three in a heart beat because with these three you would have a watch for every possible occasion in your life. Obviously you're not going to buy all three but any of these three are versatile enough to wear pretty much anywhere. Best of luck!

First off, congratulations on your impending graduation! Secondly, good on you for wanting to do you research into a watch before dropping that sort of money on one.

I will say, your stipulation of a work and play watch made this a fun search for me. I tried to find brands that I had researched well into and felt good enough about to suggest for you and ones that had a reliable name. Of those i have four brands you may like (arranged from highest to lowest in price and last is a leather one)[Brands will be italicized and the watches themselves will be bolded for viewing sake]:

1. Hamilton is a very notable brand and this watch is what some consider to be their "grail watch." At $590 is the Hamilton Jazzmaster. It is simplistic for that business/work aspect, has personality, and i felt the complications added to the play part of its appeal. It is 10mm thick so it would sit well on any wrist and not interfere with a suit or long sleeve shirt; at 44mm wide it isn't too big for most wrists either.
   
   
2. Orient has some lower end watches that are very much loved by this community and i have felt that this one maintains that quality. For your consideration at $417 is the Orient 22-Jewel Automatic which has a couple complications to not make the face so busy, a lovely face design, and its style seems a little more inclined to be dressy but it would be well suited as a casual watch. It is 12mm thick so nearing what some consider to be "too thick" and it is 40.40mm wide which makes it smaller than the Hamilton Jazzmaster which makes it nice for people with small wrists but on larger ones it would look a little off.
   
   
3. TX is Timex's higher end brand which may give you some peace of mind with a name brand but some would be a little wary because it is Timex. Nonetheless at $300 this is one watch you wouldn't feel too bad about scuffing up slightly, the TX classic Fly-Back. A few complications, lovely blue second hand to draw but not captivate you attention, and simple face with only the complications adding to its personality. At 13mm thick this is the thickest one of the bunch and with a diameter of 44.5mm it certainly isn't the smallest. It pushes the limits of my suggestions but i figured you deserved a ranged of watches to compare.
   
   
4. Junkers (pronounced YOO-nkers) is my personal favorite. This watch brand has been on my radar since i started looking at watches and since it is German made you can be assured of its quality. At $549 the Junkers Bauhaus is a favorite of some people in this community and every time it gets posted you can be assured an angel has gotten its wings. A very simple face (the bauhaus style), a few complications, and a nice appeal to it make it an all around wonderful watch. At 10mm thick and 40mm wide it fit best into the "butter zone" pf watches that aren't too big or too small, but just right. The company that makes these also makes the Zepplin brand mentioned by u/ThisTitleisUseless.
   
   Other notable brands that didn't strike a fancy with me but may with you are Tissot and Citizen. Please feel inclined to look through other watches each brand offers and do your research on each one. You can usually find out a lot about particular brands through a quick Google search. All of the brands i have suggested for you are on my wishlist in some form or another and my fiancee says that my list is never ending so if you would like any other suggestions i am happy to oblige.
   
   Good luck choosing a watch!

GW-B5600BC-1B is not bad. It's more subdued than most other G-Shock watches, including the vintage models. I tend to dislike branding or writing on my clothes, I guess watches are not an exception. The thing that bothers me the most with G-Shock is all the writing. Yeah, I get it, it's shock resistant and resists water up to 200m, this button is start/stop and the other is mode. I don't need it to be written on the face.

Citizen Tough : doesn't really do it for me. I find the hands too chunky.

CASIO MDV106-1A : same as above. I also really dislike the "arrow" style hands.

Seiko SKX007K2 : same as above.

Victorinox INOX : I like this style better.

Orient Defender : not too bad, but the seconds arrow pisses me off. I like simple hands, like the seconds being just a line for instance.

Hamilton khaki field : doesn't really do it for me.

Seiko SNE331 : this is pretty good too. A higher quality verson of this kind of design would be pretty nice.

Citizen BM8180 : arrows :(

Another example of a watch I find pretty attractive is this one that was posted : https://www.amazon.ca/Citizen-Eco-Drive-Perpetual-Timekeeping-AT4010-50E/dp/B005BS2ENC

The dial is busier, but it's (mostly) useful information. It also has a perpetual calendar and radio time calibration. My favourite colours are blue and grey, so all blue, all grey or a mix of blue and grey are winners in my eyes.

One other thing to keep in mind, I had a cheaper analog watch years and years ago, now lost, and my biggest trigger was the date. It wouldn't do 30 or 28-29 days months, so I had to manually adjust it each time. Common enough to be annoying, uncommon enough to skip your mind until you realize it and get annoyed. That's why I'm looking for something with a bit of tech in it.

I'm not a person who enjoys fiddling with things until they work. Don't want to adjust for DST, don't want to adjust calendar because it thinks February 31 is a thing, don't want to have to hold it with rubber gloves so it doesn't break. Changing the battery is tolerable since I won't have to do it often. I want something utilitarian, that keeps track of time, that does it well and reliably, and that looks good while doing it. As you noted, I want a tool more than a piece of jewelry, but there's no reason for tools not to look nice. Before I got my Leatherman, I used a simple knife to cut things like cable insulation, it was a Ferrum Forge Crux. Great steel, cut like hell, super easy to skin cables, but also looked awesome.

In resume, the points that came up in my exploration of the world of watches would be :

• under CDN$800 preferred; at this point, $200 more wouldn't kill me but I'd really prefer if I didn't have to go there
  
• imports are fine
  
• digital/analog doesn't matter, in fact ana-digi could be nice, but anything works as long as it works
  
• titanium preferred (grey/silvery and lighter), steel not a dealbreaker, too bling is bad
  
• good quality glass to avoid scratches, this will be a daily runner
  
• simple hands, no arrows, pointers, balls or anything like that. Line for seconds, slightly thicker lines for minutes and hours would be ideal, but of course I can compromise
  
• blue or grey face, which fits pretty much all of my clothes and grey/silver band. Not white, probably looks too dressy
  
• face can have multiple dials, as long as it's useful info and presented succinctly. Doesn't have to be minimalist as in bare, but the presentation would be on the simpler side, if that makes sense
  
• hours on dial can be notches, numbers, a mix of both, not too bothered
  
• utilitarian/tool-like, put on wrist and forget until you need it. Features like radio calibration, perpetual calendar are all big pluses, anything that makes my life easier as a tool should. Think about something that wouldn't look stupid on somebody in a hoodie at the best of times, and other times in just a t-shirt. No suits or dress shirts, not even polos. T-shirts, hoodies and jeans, and sneakers. My clothes fit me well, I don't look unkempt or frumpy, I just look, well, utilitarian, so my watch should match that
  
  Thank you very much for your answer.

Hi All, thanks in advance for any advice.

I'm interested in something like the Citizen Eco Drive atomic clock chronograph watch (AT4010-50E), Amazon link here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005BS2ENC/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

​

Things I love:

solar powered, no battery issues. automatic time synchronization, day/date (and auto synchronization so no worries about leap years or February etc), nifty gadgets (like showing battery charge), chronograph/tachymeter. Good night luminosity. analog, something I can wear more casually or dressed up.


Things I like less:

-it seems so silly that to operate the chronograph, rather than pressing the upper function button, you have to move the crown to the chronograph position first and cycle through the different modes. In theory that's quick, but in practice (watching youtube video examples) it seems JUST cumbersome enough that it would make more sense to just pull out the ol' smartphone where I have a quick swipe without even having to unlock my phone and I can start a timer or stopwatch.

-I don't actually need a tachymeter, probably, since I can't remember the last time I was timing something that was exactly one "unit" long. Maybe if I have one, I'll find reasons to use it. To be honest, a "pulsometer" scale would make more sense since I do frequently need to check heart and respiratory rates

-setting the alarm: watching YT videos, again it seems like it takes a fair amount of time to set since the hour/minute hands for some reason move much more slowly to get into this position than when you are just setting the clock

​

Overall, I'm interested in a "gadgety" watch, but I don't need another device that needs to plug or charge or manually wind or re-set or anything like that and feel my smartphone probably functions better than a smart watch anyway.

My other main concern would be that I've got tiny wrists (between 6.5-7 inches), so I also want to make sure I'm not buying something so large that it looks cartoon-ish when wearing, and a lot of these nifty feature-rich watches can be on the bigger side (I love the idea of having one of those slide-rule watches, but I'm pretty sure wrist-size alone rules them out...). The linked Citizen watch is probably as large as I could go at 42mm (unless you think that's already on the larger side).

​

Basically, my question for you guys is if you have recommendations for similar types of watches that "improve" upon the things I "like less." Other "feature-rich" watches to compare against, in a similar price range (the above is around $300), with perhaps easier-to-use chronographs, perhaps slightly smaller face sizes, and the only other thing I didn't mention was something overall where it's still easy to tell the time. Thanks again!

That's awesome. You definitely don't have to drop tons of money to get an automatic. There are good automatics less than $100. Check out the Seiko "SNK" line (ref/model #s SNK803, SNK805, etc.), which are great, reliable autos usually for $60–80. (Edit: I see other commenters have beat me to it!)

I'd avoid Daniel Wellington. They're overpriced for the quality.
If you like that minimalist-style dress watch, there are lots of options from better brands.

Here's the Tissot Everytime. Tissot is a well-respected brand that makes solid watches. This is going to be a more reliable movement and better-built watch than the DW, looks nearly identical, and is almost $100 less. They even threw in a second hand for you.

Here's the automatic version, on a metal bracelet (you can easily swap it for leather if you prefer, but it's more expensive to go the other way), and it has a date window. It's just $50 more than the Daniel Wellington: Everytime Swissmatic.

Slightly less modern looking, but very similar is this Orient Bambino, another high-quality brand. Automatic, date window, and only $150. These watches are an amazing deal, and they're the first automatic dress watch for a lot of people.

So you can almost certainly get a decent automatic in the style you like for near or less than that DW. If you want to stick closer to 100, look at some of the Tissot quartz models, and also brands like Oriental, Seiko, Citizen, Timex, and Bulova. This sub, and lots of other places online have good resources for good value watches in the $100–300 range. Stick to brands that show up in this sub, and avoid the Daniel Wellingtons, MVMTs, Michael Kors, etc.

Hope this was helpful. Good luck! There's great fun and learning in the search. Feel free to ask questions as you go along.

After reading some comments I think quartz is for you. People seem to suggest mechanicals, but they really aren't for everyone. They do not offer anything over a quartz watch as far as simple time telling goes. Like a finely aged whiskey, Mechanical watches are really about the nuance and if you don't care about that then spending the extra money is wasted when Jim Beam Black Label is good enough. Here we like to steer you in the right direction regardless of your preference, but try not to fault us if we occasionally recommend a Laguvulin 16 or Blanton's, sometimes nuance is nice. So onto the Quartz watch. If you like the way this watch looks go for it, although I advise you to consider a cheaper quartz. Wenger is hardly a name brand worth paying a premium for. It is the lesser Victorinox in the watch world if you were curious.

You could find a decent Quartz diver for around 100 on amazon no doubt. Try to steer clear of the brands like stuhrling, invicta, android, and such. If you see a deal like "75% of $1000! only $250 today!" it is not a good deal, just companies that inflate their MSRP to lure in people who think they are getting a more prestigious brand for a bargain.

I recommend a G-shock, if you can handle the ridiculous style. They are great quartz watches that are durable and have tons of functions. For 200 you can get one that is Atomic and Solar Powered so you will never need to change the battery or set the watch. The best part: if you somehow kill the tank of a watch, they are so cheap you can just replace them.

Quartz make great beater watches. If the G-Shock isn't your thing, here is a Citizen I found that isn't quite as sporty as the Wenger, but comes from a reliable company with a long history in watchmaking. It has the Eco-drive movement that will charge with sunlight and is an ISO certified diver rated to 300 meters. Only $192. Best of luck to you and I hope you find a watch you will love every day for years to come.

do you know when the watch was serviced last? it might need a servicing (which can be quite expensive) before you want to wind it too much.

you wind the crown clockwise (away from you) and its all done by feel. it'll wind freely for quite a few turns, then you will start to feel it get tighter and tighter. when I had a hand winder, I would wind it very gently, using a soft grip of the crown, and eventually I'd "hit a wall" and my fingers would slip off the crown. this is fully wound. it took me like 40 winds to get there. so, now that I knew how many winds it took, I wanted to find out the power reserve. once I knew that, I could fairly accurately predict when I'd "hit the wall" again....I would just stop winding like 5 turns before that and I'd be good.

whatever you do, NEVER give it a wind if you feel resistance. it should be fairly smooth all the way until it's fully wound.

as for the glass, it might by acrylic (plastic) in which case a tube of Polywatch should take out most scratches. you say it's damaged, but unless its chipped or cracked, you still have hope of restoring it for cheap.

I'm no expert on vintage Timex's, but it looks like a Marlin. but then again, all vintage hand winders look like a Marlin to me :)

it looks like it's on a Rally strap (big holes in it) which doesn't fit the watch IMO. I'd throw it on a Croco leather, or just a regular smooth leather strap. I've been happy with clockwork synergy leather straps. the dapper and gentleman collection are great, but the leather is quite thick.....might look weird with the svelt lugs that watch has. but their croco leather is nice from what I've heard and should fit much nicer. you can use code CWSSMR for 10% off too.

At your budget I would concentrate on the brands; TImex and Casio. Both of these brands make inexpensive, but good quality watches. Anything you get from either of these brands will likely be a good watch, it's just a matter of finding the style and features you like. You will have a large number of models to choose from.

You are not likely to find a good automatic for under $50, so you might want to stick to quartz watches. (You can get a very nice quartz watch for under $50.) If you want to swim with it, look for a watch with 100m water resistance (200m is obviously better, but unnecessary unless you scuba dive).

A few ideas...Casio MRWS310H-9BV solar powered, and 100m water resistant.

Casio Dive watches, the best divers you will find for under $50 or under $20

Timex Weekender a great inexpensive watch. It is very versatile and looks good on a variety of straps.

There are tons of offerings for very classy dress watches these days. I'm slightly biased towards Seiko, and have never owned an Orient. I do know a lot of guys who swear by them however.

check out this Seiko which is really classy, very minimalistic, with a great throwback bracelet (though it'd look excellent on a strap as well). It's only $78, and that's a great deal for a brand-new mechanical automatic watch.

What's particularly cool about it is that Seiko went with a watch style that they produced from the mid-60s all the way up to the late 70s. It's a great vintage style, timeless. The dial design is a direct 1:1 of some of the great 60s dials. The hands appear nearly identical to the ones used on many great vintage models including the 6139 auto chronographs and also the 70m sport divers produced at the same time.

The great thing about Seiko generally (and this one in particular) is that they make a great, durable, sturdy movement that is worth far more than the ticket price.

Hell, I think I talked myself into buying one!

Anyway, happy hunting.

So I was quite excited when this came in the mail yesterday as this is only my second purchased mechanical watch and my first auto chronograph which happens to also be my first swiss watch. I was able to get some Kohl's gift cards from my work and decided I would get a cheap dress watch initially, but then I saw this watch and changed my mind. So from what I could gather Bulova is getting out of the swiss mechanicals and discontinued this line (if someone could verify that would be great)? Because of this the watch is listed at around 75% msrp and even 50% below amazon which was quite surprising, plus Kohl's has the advantage of being non grey market for Bulova, Seiko, and Citizen. So between my gift cards, the percent off, and my wife's additional coupons (because it's Kohl's, and you never buy anything there without discounts) I only paid ~ $200 out of pocket for the watch which I think is a pretty damn good deal. I'm happy with it so far but I did have some questions for you fine folks. In looking online before I purchased I couldn't hammer down what movement was actually in it. There seemed to be some debate on if it was a ETA Valjoux 7750 or a Sellita movement. If anyone has the answer to this I would love to know, if not I guess I will just have to wait a few years until I have it serviced to find out. In terms of design I really like the watch but I will probably put it on a nice black leather strap to dress it up a bit. I think the only thing I don't like about it is how cheesy Accu Swiss sounds and looks lol but it's rather small and for the price I can definitely live with it.

Side note: The second lume pic is next to a Citizen Eco-Drive for comparison

>The firm that hired me requires that I pass, making this even higher stakes. I'm pretty confident, though.

congrats on the pre-passing hire! with the legal market in the kind of compression it is right now, that's certainly an accomplishment. best of luck. keep that confidence high, sometimes attitude alone makes the differences.

lawyer now, law student longer ago than i care to remember haha. and i've always been oddly interested in law school numbers; i still buy a copy of the latest rankings each year for fun. following them over the last decade or so has been nothing short of confounding.

EDIT: btw, i do love the watch. i'm actually thinking of picking one up now after seeing your post. what made you go with the white face over the black version?

http://www.amazon.com/Tissot-T-Classic-Locle-Watch-T41-1-423-33/dp/B000JKSS8M/ref=sr_1_2?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1341261300&sr=1-2&keywords=locle

http://www.amazon.com/Tissot-T-Classic-Locle-Leather-T41-1-423-53/dp/B003P5K2N2/ref=sr_1_5?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1341261300&sr=1-5&keywords=locle

Help finding a kind of specific looking watch?

First, I really want it to be automatic. There are a ton of Quartz movement options that are, I suppose something I might be interested in, if it weren't for the movement. I don't know if I appreciate automatic movement for the "right" reasons, but just something about having that constantly moving, intricate, piece of literal clockwork on my wrist, I appreciate. As a photographer, I would liken it to shooting film over digital.

Second, I adore the sort of, and I will use the term loosely, Bauhaus aesthetic as offered in something like the Junkers Bauhaus 6060-5, or the more pricey Junghans MAX BILL Chronoscrope


I do prefer the Junkers, and it is cheaper which is in my favor, but it's still a bit our of the range I want to spend.

Enter the infamous Ingersoll brand. I know, I have read the posts on here about their cheap movement and shoddy construction, but I haven't actually seen evidence of it. Perhaps I haven't looked as hard because I don't want it to be true, but all I seem to read is just an echo chamber of people saying, "It's cheap Chinese movement and it's no good."

Can someone explain to me why? This watch has caught my eye, and I really like the look for the price (with a different strap), but I am hung up on people claiming the brand is no good. I realize there has to be some sort of truth to the notion, but when searching for actual reviews, I come up short.

This leads me to my final question. Can anyone help me, or does one even exist, find a watch that meets this criteria? I'd like to spend $250 or so. It's not so much a matter of financial ability at the moment on getting the Junkers, I just want to know if the criticism of the Ingersoll watch is truly warranted.

I don't know what the price is supposed to be, as it says 9999.99 right now, but that looks a lot like a Hamilton Khaki Field to me, but a bit more simplified.

The Hamiltons have a little more going on on the dial usually, but you can get a Khaki Field brand new for well under 500 USD. The dial isn't as simple on the Hamiltons as what you posted, but they're similar in design, have decent automatic movements, and are pretty decent mid-level watches IMO.

If you'd be okay with something with a date window...
Khaki Field

Day / Date
Khaki King





Aviation / Pilot (with day/date) Khaki Aviation


Not quite what you're looking for, but a much cheaper option with a similar style would be the Seiko 5 SNK809, which can be had for around $60 brand new.


Seiko 5 SNK809


I just bought a Seiko 5 Sports SNZF17K1, a step or two up from the SNK809 in Seiko 5's and I love it so far. But it doesn't look anything like what you want...

Seiko's 5 and 5 sport series are great, fairly inexpensive, automatic watches.


I've seen some reallllllly cool Soviet and Russian watches that are really simple like what you want, but I honestly don't know what to tell you to look for as far as those go.

I agree that the Movado is not such a great value for the money, but I completely disagree with the general idea that automatic at 800$ is superior to quartz at 800$ - at any same price quartz is VASTLY superior to mechanical watches in accuracy and at at most similar prices is superior in solidity and has lower associated costs over time.

That being said from the above suggestions and assuming it 'must' be a mechanical I like the Hamilton but I wonder if a vintage model might not be a better choice (solid-gold maybe?).

But to get back to quartz watches - probably the best watch for the money that he can get right now is something like Citizen World Perpetual A-T Watch (there is also a steel version, which tends to be about 100$ cheaper and might last better if you tend to be rough with your watches).

In the same price range he could get a Citizen Signature 300m Perpetual Calendar - which has a better finish than any Swiss watch you will get under 1000-2000$.

If he is a fan of small/elegant watches things are slightly more complex but he might be able to find something like Stilleto AR1060-09A or similar.

I agree with LawsListens on this, and we have very similar opinions. I think this is a case where you need to determine what makes it seem cheap to you. For some it is the seemingly random colors on many of the plastic models.

My favorite cheap black model is the Casio F105, but they got it down to blue and grey on black. I think putting these on a nato strap makes them look really sharp, and much less cheap. If you want a silver case look at the Casio A158, or the Royale ( AE1200 ). I have the F105 ( and a couple G-Shocks, but these are way too thick based on what you said ).

There are some nice "Ana-Digi" models that have a small LCD display on an analog watch, and might give you some of what you want, like this AW49, or this AW80. I have never bought any of this, but they seem like a good middle ground.

If you want something a bit more "office acceptable", you probably need to go pure analog, but you are going to give up a number of cool functions that you may use from your digital. If you want something that is inexpensive and tough Casio Duro MDV106, it is a 200m diver, with a stainless steel case, and a screw down crown. These can usually be found for $45-60, but it has some size to it at 44mm. Probably my favorite, under the radar pick is the SNK80x, personally I like the SNK807 ( navy blue ) or the 803 ( beige ), but they are all the same great watch, and usually under $70. I own both of these.

If you want to go for the original look, I believe that the Big Zero crystals were flat-topped, so they were more cylindrical than domed. You can typically find that style on ebay if you search for "Big Zero Crystal" (here, for example). It's not a horribly common style, so I doubt that most watchmakers would have one.

Alternatively, a standard domed crystal would also work. A local watchmaker might have one in stock in the right size (or could certainly order one if they don't have it); you can also get them at Esslingers.com. Getting the right size can be tricky, though; I don't know what size crystal it takes (the ebay link above says 35.5mm, FWIW). You can get a cheap caliper to measure the opening, but the crystal needs to be slightly larger than the opening (as it need to be compressed when it is installed).

Acrylic crystals can be a bit tricky to install (if you do it yourself). Ideally, you'll want to use an actual crystal insertion tool, but they aren't particularly cheap. The cheaper alternative is a crystal lift. I'm not a huge fan of the lifts, as they seem to be best for scratching and/or breaking crystals, but some others have had better luck. If you're just looking to have this single crystal installed, you will probably want to have a watchmaker do it; if you want the original look, buy a crystal on ebay to supply to them, and if not, let them supply a domed crystal for you.

I'd also recommend that you pick up a tube of polywatch from Amazon; it is fantastic for taking out light to medium scratches.

The Timex Fairfield Chrono is a good pick, though at your budget I would recommend the upgrade to either one of the Tissot Everytimes for the sapphire crystal or one of the Citizen AU1080 for sapphire in addition to solar power. For something a little more "sophisticated" looking there's the Tisell Bauhaus or one of the Junkers quartz Bauhaus watches.

Clean dials (Bauhaus, especially) are usually pretty versatile because they blend better with more outfits without clashing, though they can get a little dressy. For more simple dials that aren't too formal:

-Seiko SNKN47

-Citizen "Chandler"

-Citizen "Corso"

-Citizen "CTO"

-Messerschmitt KR200-SS

-Bulova Accutron - Quartz movement, but has a nice sweeping seconds hand similar to that of a mechanical watch instead of the ticking motion of a standard quartz.

You could go another route which is the dressy chronograph. You don't want it to be too big though. Depending on wrist size and your overall build I would say 42mm tops, around 40mm or less is best. For example:

-Citizen AO9000-06B

-Bulova 96B262

-Orient Panda

-Seiko SNDC31 and SNDC33 - These two would be my top pick for the dressy chronograph, or the Orient Panda.

You could probably get away with wearing a diver too. Divers are tool watches so I personally wouldn't wear them with anything past maybe business casual (James Bond wears his diver in a tux on a Nato strap no less, but he's fucking James Bond so he gets a pass). Some popular ones are:

-Seiko SKX

-Orient Mako II

-Orient Ray II

Edited for spelling and link fails

> He has a charcoal tux and I'd like for him to be able to wear the watch on his wedding day and for formal nights on our cruise.

For this I would suggest a classic men's dress watch, which are generally smaller, thinner and more traditional or elegant looking.

A few suggestions;

Tissot Classic dress watch

Citizen Eco Drive dress chrono

Seiko dress watch

> He has mentioned NUMEROUS times that he wants a nicer, casual watch.

Casual, to me, usually means something less dressy, thicker, chunkier like dive watch or a big aviator/military style watch.

Some possibilities;

Seiko military auto

Seiko Monster automatic diver

Hamilton Khaki

Citizen Eco Drive chrono

General tips and suggestions;

• If you like the watch, but, don't care for the strap, you can often replace it with the strap of your choice. If there's an choice, I usual go with the watch on the steel/bracelet and then order an after market leather or rubber strap.
  
  
• Brands to check out in your price range; Citizen, Seiko, Tissot, Hamilton, ESQ, Orient.
  
  
• Brands I would steer you away from; Fossil, Struhrling, Invicta, any designer/fashion brand; Kenneth Cole, Micheal Kors, etc
  
  
• Quartz is cheaper, more reliable, & accurate than mechanical/automatic watches, but, many high-end, luxury watch are mechanical. Why? Mechanical watches are general viewed as more interesting mechanical works of art & craftsmanship.
  
  
• if you are shopping online, I recommend; Amazon, Jomashop, BlueDial, AuthenticWatches.
  
  > what watch would you like to receive as a gift for that price point?
  
  If I was really interested in getting a casual watch, but, also in need of a dress watch, I would probably want to shop for a casual watch myself and be gifted the dress watch.
  
  

The following are recommendations based off your minimalist style.

• You may like a Daniel Wellington. They're very clean-cut and ultra thin. Amazon has them with a bunch of different band styles.
  
  
• If you want a few more features, but still want overall cleanliness, check out Strela. This guy (link) and this guy (link) may be particularly interesting.
  
  
• Junkers makes some pretty cool looking watches that are minimalist yet functional. This one is nice (link), and so is this one (link).
  
  
• Hamilton has some watches in your upper price range. Stylistically they're different from the previous watches I've listed, but I figured variation in choices is always worthwhile when it comes to deciding on a new watch. These (link) are (link) nice (link) watches (link).
  
  I hope you find what you're looking for. Good luck in the search!

I'm a big believer in bauhaus style for an elegant watch that looks classy as hell for work and also stylish for jeans + polo, etc. Just an incredibly versatile look.

Best bauhaus watch in your budget is the Junkers (unfortunate brand name -- it's German)

https://smile.amazon.com/JUNKERS-Watches-Junkers-Bauhaus-6060-5/dp/B0066GKTM6/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1487353123&sr=1-1&nodeID=6358539011

https://smile.amazon.com/Junkers-Bauhaus-Automatic-Analog-6056-5/dp/B00IIK1EL8/ref=sr_1_4?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1487353188&sr=1-4&nodeID=6358539011

The Seiko SARB033 and SARB035 are also great watches under your budget. If you want something a bit flashier and dressier, the Seiko Cocktail Time / SARB065. As /u/patk35 said, the Alpinist (SARB017) is a good, versatile option -- a bit more casual than the Seikos I listed, but still workplace appropriate. The bright green may not be your style and doesn't always go with everything, however.

e: Just saw you have a preference for divers and want a more rugged watch. You can look at Bernhardt watches, their diver is very reasonably priced and their bracelets are well regarded. Similarly, you can look at Steinhart watches. Their divers are by and large Rolex homages, which you might regard positively or negatively. Classic look, but know what you're getting is a well-made watch with great value for the parts that some will regard as a Rolex knockoff rather than an homage.

The dad you describe isn't pretentious. He cares about function, sure, and style isn't unimportant, but he's rugged, no-nonsense, and prepared for everything. He's the epitome of the former boy-scout. Always prepared, always willing to pitch in with whatever his kids really need. He's embarrassing to his eldest, a teenager. His youngest idolizes him. Dad really is a superhero. His jokes are famously unbearable. His barbecue is neat, tidy, and almost certainly gas-fired for practicality. He drives whatever gets good gas mileage and scores well on safety. There are fourteen identical baseball caps in different states of disrepair hanging on a hook inside his wardrobe.

Twenty years ago, he would have worn a Rolex. Perhaps he even owns one. But these days, it doesn't get out much. It's too fragile. It's too cliche. It sends the wrong message, and dang it, it just doesn't have thirty-seven extra features that you might need, well, just because.

That doesn't mean that its successor isn't a "good" watch. It'll be something sturdy. Something feature rich. Reliable above all else. Almost certainly waterproof to cope with disaster and adventure, with a chronograph to time the important things - Bobby's 100m sprint, or time spent playing catch with the dog on a summer's day. It's big, solid, and protective. Just like him.

My two cents? He wears a Citizen Eco-Drive Chrono. Like this.

Why everybody, I am looking to buy a everyday watch for under $100. I’m really just looking for a watch that will go with everything and I can always wear. So far the ones I’m considering in no particular order

Timex Weekender

This is nice because it’s cheap, and I could swap straps. However a lot of people complained of how loud it ticks, and it’s not water resistant

Timex Weekender Chronograph

This was my initial choice, but I have since second guessed myself and now am leaning elsewhere. I feel like the case is too thick, and it’s not too water resistant.

Invicta Pro Diver

I’m iffy on the metal band. I do enjoy the actual look of this, just not sure if it’s too classy.

Seiko 5 Automatic

This is the watch that’s in first right now. I would definitely purchase a leather strap for it off top, but some people reported it didn’t keep time well.


That’s my list. Overall, I’m just really looking for advice. I’m not very watch savvy, and would appreciate help by some of you pros. Let me know why these watches are good or bad, and offer some insight. I appreciate it!

Not really sure exactly what style you want but a nice Seiko 5 field watch would be cool. As far as divers go, quartz is prob your only option under 100. Casio Diver Here is a pretty classic dress watch Citizen Dress or an automatic just over 100 Orient Dress For something ultra-casual G-Shocks are super nice and durable. G-Shock Timex also has some great options

I need some help deciding on my next watch. I am a pretty active guy and love to go camping/backpacking and am looking for something that I can wear while being a weekend warrior and coming back to my engineering internship and still look somewhat classy. My boss is a big watch guy and he has opened me up to a few watches that I have been really interested in.

1. Suunto Core All Black - I like this one because it seems to be great for outdoor activities and I can stil wear it around work and school as an everyday. Cons seem to be that the battery is atomic and needs to be replaced roughly every 6-12months. I hear it is an otherwise excellent watch.
   
   
2. Orient Mako II - I have to be honest here, I love the look of this watch but have never worn a stainless steel band before. I don't know how well I could pull it off and thats why I am afraid to take the leap. Also, is this a bit too dressy for my purposes? Can this watch be worn casually?
   
   I already own a G-Shock so I am really not interested in having another one. My price range is sub $200, can you guys suggest anything else or at least help me decide between the two? Thanks!!!

There's some discussion of that topic here, but unless you're looking at the really entry level Junghans and you are more concerned with aesthetics (i.e. you just like the way Junghans looks) or brand name, Citizen and Casio both offer more value. IMHO (as an owner of a Citizen World Perpetual A-T) Citizen offers the best value in this category, both in terms of reliability, and in bang for the buck, plus they've been making solar watches for a really long time. However, the Citizen A-T offerings all have very busy dials, so if you want something more sterile, Junghans' offerings might make more sense.

Casio's offerings would probably be the best "tool" watches, but I'm not a fan of Casio's aesthetics over a similar functionality Citizen.

Hey OP,

I personally do not like Daniel Wellington as it is more of a fashion watch that takes classic styling from other brands. You buy a Daniel Wellington for "brand name" (even though it has no really history in watchmaking).

I would recommend entry level dress watch companies like Seiko or Tissot as they will fit the budget, are well renowned/ loved, and have plenty of options to choose from.

I found these peices on Amazon that fit the dress and minimalist style as the Daniel Wellington and under your budget:

https://www.amazon.com/Tissot-Everytime-T109-610-16-031-00-Silver-Leather/dp/B01IRYD5XY/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1496604767&sr=1-1&nodeID=6358540011&psd=1&keywords=tissot

https://www.amazon.com/Tissot-T-Classic-Tradition-Silver-T063-610-16-037-00/dp/B005DL3R8S/ref=sr_1_2?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1496604767&sr=1-2&nodeID=6358540011&psd=1&keywords=tissot

Hope you enjoy them and let me know what you think!

Cheers,
FRM_FNCTN

It would help to have more information, but try to avoid fashion brands like fossil, DKNY or Calvin Klein. It's not thay they are bad but they tend to be overpriced. Brands like Citizen, Tissot, Seiko, Hamilton, Oris, Bulova are a good place to start.

Curiosly the watches I see people like your father wear where I live are either G shocks or Diver watches, perhaps because I see them near tourist areas. From the top of my head the tissot le locle has a nice old school style.

Edit: forgot to mention that I would prefer a brand new watch with a proper warranty. You can get good classic, second hand watches with that budget but better not be surprised.

Gotta agree with the other comments in here, the argument could be made for basically anything in life.

Anyhow I still try: How'bout spending that 400 into something you can liquidate easily later on? I'm not talking about profit, but it might make the purchasing easier if you know that you can sell it later for even $300? And if you really like it a lot, then you'll be just happy forever.

In that case the Junkers you linked might not be the easiest watch to sell, the automatic version could move faster but it's quite a lot more expensive. Just as an example, there are watches like Seiko Cocktail time which are in your price point and would be really easy to resell.

edits: ~200 typos.

although it's a quartz and certainly doesn't compare to an automatic, i've had a strange afinity for this bulova for the longest time:

http://www.amazon.com/Bulova-96B104-Strap-Silver-Watch/dp/B002IDTUHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1333055693&sr=1-1

i even think a seiko like this, especially on a brown/reddish leather croc strap would look awesome:

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNXS79K-Automatic-Stainless-Steel/dp/B000G12Y8O/ref=sr_1_26?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1333056102&sr=1-26

also, very simple and kind of boring, but i think the nordstrom line of timex are great. quartz, yes, but they have a bigger face and a much cleaner, more sleek look:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/timex-easy-reader-leather-strap-watch/3208475?origin=category&resultback=1596

and, finally, although known for being somewhat flimsy and not a lot of street cred in the realm of horologists, skagen has a lot of what you're looking for--mostly leather strap, clean face and well priced:

http://www.amazon.com/Skagen-958XLSL-Steel-Matte-Silver/dp/B004RD4DWC/ref=sr_1_15?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1333055840&sr=1-15

That's really awesome. I can relate to this pretty strongly since my father collects watches and got me into them as well. His piece of choice for every day wear when I was a kid was a Submariner that he still uses - maybe one day it'll be mine too! :D

What you mentioned about the clasps feeling cheap is quite true. If I understand correctly, for a long time it was more-or-less a trademark of Rolex, despite how counter-intuitive that may seem. More modern Rolex pieces have machined (as opposed to stamped) clasps which feel much more solid and less cheap.

As far as scratches, you can buff out a lot of the ones on the crystal with polywatch. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Polywatch-Plastic-Lens-Scratch-Remover/dp/B0014R9V9O

I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but enjoy the piece and take good care of it!

Sweet. Citizen makes a lot of cool chronographs, with eco drive (their solar name) and also throw an atomic clock radio in it that will set the exact time to the watch so you don't have to do it yourself. It literally is a watch that doesn't need you (at least after you set it initially).

Here's a basic example. This one's titanium too.
http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-AT4010-50E-Titanium-Dress-Watch/dp/B005BS2ENC/

Depending on how you like that, you can add more letters and numbers.
http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-JY0000-53E-Skyhawk-Eco-Drive-Watch/dp/B000ZPMYQI/

Or chill it out:
http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Eco-Drive-World-Perpetual-CB0026-53E/dp/B00GS8BHP0/

I pretty much promise you can narrow it down from there and get anything you'd like. Your budget is real healthy. I'd just make sure it's eco drive and atomic (if you like that idea).

They may not be as preferred here as many other brands since they're not automatics, but I think everyone respects Casio, and has probably owned one at some point. You'd be hard-pressed to find a watch company that packs as much value and as many features into a quartz watch as Casio does, and their Edifice line excels at doing that while looking attractive to boot.

To me, they represent the democratization of watches more so than any company, even Timex. Not everyone can afford a Rolex or Hamilton, but anyone with ten bucks to spare (Heck, you can pick up a dive watch for $16) can afford a good, reliable Casio.

Congrats on your promotion buddy!
If you really want to stick to your budget, one of the best budget watches that will last a long time, have an automatic movement, numbered dial and a beautiful but small face is the SNK807. You could also use the remainder of your budget and purchase a nice metal bracelet to complete your criteria and end up with something like this.Other than that I would suggest purchasing this Invicta however there are no numbers on the actual dial. Happy hunting!

Here are some options.

1. Swatch Very inexpensive watch. Swiss made.
   
   
2. Bulova This is more of a silver dial.
   
   
3. Bulova Same watch as above, but in gold.
   
   
4. Tissot Very nice minimalistic watch, other options with different numerals and indices available. Swiss made.
   
   
5. Swatch Very cool mechanical watch, single screw holding everything together. Swiss made.
   
   
6. Citizen Kind of a translucent white, solar powered.
   
   
7. Tissot Very nice looking time piece. Swiss made.

I have the WOLF Windsor 5 Piece, but they also make a 10 piece. I mean I don't exactly stress test the box, but I think it's nice and the black purple combination looks nice. The 10 piece has a drawer option too, I wish the 5 piece had the same option.

I have a feeling if I bought the 10 piece, I'd be more incline to buy more watches and fill up the box. :)

Unless you have something like a perpetual or annual calendar watch, you really don't need a watch winder. (Although, if you really want one, there's nothing wrong with that, either.) The good ones by Wolf and Orbita are, as you've discovered, expensive. Cheaper workalikes may exist, but you should make sure that they are not noisy and will not magnetize your watch (sorry, don't know of any).

As for storage boxes:

• Some mid-range boxes are this 6-piece Wolf box or this 10-piece one. Although these use faux leather, they still seem pretty decent (I have both).
  
  Whatever you do, don't get a box with magnets in the lid or elsewhere. If you search amazon, you can find lots of cheap alternatives.
  
  
• If you really want to go all-out, you can get some nice custom wood boxes on etsy, like these. However, less-expensive options also exist there.
  

Here's the deal. You're looking for a unicorn that doesn't exist but I think you already know that. So, you're going to have to make comprimises. This Citizen CB0020-50E World Perpetual comprimises virtually all of your aesthetic requirements. But on the other hand, it has a great amount of features while still maintaining (in my opinion) an elegant look. It could pass as a bit of a dressy watch or a casual watch. This review goes through all the features of the watch.

OK... this is an often-visited topic here. Most high-end watches are mechanical movements, but many non-watch people wear quartz watches. (here is the section of the FAQ that explains this)

If mechanical sounds good to you, the go-to suggestions for cheap blue-dialed diver's watches are:

• Orient Mako
  
• Orient Mako "Pepsi"
  
• Orient Mako XL - it is really huge at 46mm diameter!
  
• Seiko SKX009 "Pepsi"
  
• Seiko SNZH53 - this doesn't have a screw-down crown, but gives the look of a diver.
  
  The two bold-text choices are far and away the most popular blue-dialed diver's watches for under $500.
  
  I hope this helps.

Hamilton do a few skeleton watches that are a bit more affordable that the Tissot / Oris.

Jazzmaster Viewmatic Automatic Skeleton

Railroad Silver Skeleton

Honestly, my advice is not to spend too much on a skeleton watch. I found (and the same with many other people) that the novelty gets old pretty quickly and you're left with a watch that's just generally a bit hard to read the time from.

Stick with the Akribos. Sure, it's not a great brand. But I imagine it'll last as long, if not longer, than your appreciation of the skeleton style. Very little actually moves inside a watch at any visible speed. Just the balance wheel really. Everything else is just slow-moving cogs.

The interesting stuff in a watch tends to happen at the back anyway (the front is really just a frame for holding the dial / hands). Get yourself a cheap Seiko 5 with a display back. That way you get a watch that is perfectly readable and usable that'll last you years, and if you want to get a peek at the internals you just take it off and look at the back.

Hello all; thanks for doing this. I'm looking for a watch, around $500 which is durable and tasteful. I need a rotating bezel, perpetual calendar (if it has date complications) and luminous hands. I have a large wrist so large watches are preferred and not an issue. I prefer metal bracelets, so if it doesn't come with one, it would need to be able to take one (any recommendations for a bracelet would be appreciate as well).

I currently have this Citizen Eco-Drive 43 mm case watch and really like it. Quality, reliability, ability to take a knock, and looks are most important. Complications are always nice, but not required. Dual Time zone would be handy (L-TM on Citizen).

Thanks again, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Hey all. Never worn a watch once in my life let alone owned one. I’m getting married soon and I wanted a nice compliment to the suit, and also to be a bit more adult in my style.

I’ve looked online at various models and brands and I’m leaning towards a Citizen Eco Drive with a radio. Here’s what I’ve come up with but I’m not sure why they include a tachymeter

Citizen Eco-Drive Men's AT4010-50E Titanium Perpetual Chrono A-T Watch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BS2ENC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dRMVAbPHS0R2G

Reasoning-

Auto-Adjustment to the nuclear clock.
Solar Powered = Less Replacement Batteries
Perpetual Calendar.
Waterproof.
Titanium -light and durable.

Price point is between 0-$400 but spending anymore than $300 for a timepiece kinda irks me out. This one at $360 is kinda already pushing me away. I’m a simple-styled man.

Do you guys think it’s a good buy? Recommend something a bit cheaper (but still durable like a good Craftsman tool) that still has the cool radio feature and calendar? Let me know... I’m lost.

Got a new job in a casual/business casual environment (one of the guys that interviewed me wore a polo and khakis). I want to spend ~$300-$500 on an automatic non-seiko that I can wear there and casually. I am not looking for a pilot or anything that's skeletal.

I love the Tissot Visodate but I'm afraid it's too dressy.

I have also like Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic.

Another watch I've been looking at is the Hamilton Khaki King but that is my least favorite of the three.

I also love vintage Seamasters but I don't think I'm ready for that kind of commitment to servicing and validating authenticity.

Questions

1. Is the Visodate too dressy?
   
2. Can you recommend watches of a similar style?

You can try a Quartz Mondaine. I believe they look nice and they are pretty cheap.

Another alternative would be to buy a Zeno Watch like this - this one is under 500$ and is automatic.

If you really like an automatic, you can also pick this Hamilton which is a little bit over your budget (~72$) but I believe worth every cent.

If you really like Bauhaus watches, but you don't have the money to spend on a Nomos or a Junghans, you can also take a look at those two brands: Zeppelin and Junkers (still I don't think those two are that sturdy). Examples:

• Graf Zeppelin LZ129 Hindenburg Series Swiss Quartz Dress Watch 7046-1
  
  
• JUNKERS - Men's Watches - Junkers Bauhaus - This one is automatic.
  
  
• JUNKERS - Men's Watches - Junkers Bauhaus - Ref. 6046-5
  
  
• JUNKERS - Men's Watches - Junkers Bauhaus
  
  Now, you must take in consideration if you work in a kitchen water will deteriorate very quickly any leather strap. A rubber strap won't look so good on a "Bauhaus" watch, so you need to replace your strap with something "metal" - like this.
  
  

The Seiko 5 SNZH53 Automatic is pretty close on price and color (though the blue may be a bit darker), not sure about the angled bezel though.

The Invicta Pro Diver 9094OB is the blue bezel/dial version of the 8926OB. Cheaper than the Orient Ray (and the above Seiko), but it has a nice Seiko NH35A hacking & hand-winding 24 jewel movement. The blue color looks brighter than the Orient, but it does have an angled coin-edge bezel like the Orient.

You definitely have options here. As the other person said there are a lot of different Seiko 5's that are pretty minimalist and under $100, so you could just pick any one and buy with confidence. All of the Seiko 5's will be mechanical automatics.

​

I also second the Timex recommendation. You should check out the Fairfield Collection and the Metropolitan which are both quartz. One thing to note about Timex is that the ticking can be pretty loud on some of their watches. It bothers some people, some it doesn't. Just take that into account if you work in a quiet environment because it will be audible. The Metropolitan does not have this problem as it lacks a second's hand, and neither do many of their chronographs or sub-seconds.

​

For something a little more dressy there's the Orient Capital v2 quartz. Idk how flexible you are on price, but for a little but more you can get the Orient gen. 2 v3 Bambino. The Bambino line are automatics, and come in a variety of different styles and colors all for around $100 - $200.

​

From Citizen in that style take a look at the BE9170 which is a standard quartz sub-seconds. But what Citizen has really become known for is their Eco-Drive movement, which is a fancy way of saying solar-powered (Seiko and some other brands do solar-powered watches, but Citizen arguably does it the best). My picks for you would be the Chandler (also comes in black and a dark blue), or the AU1040-08E/AU1043-00E which are all solar. Again, not sure if you're flexible on pricing, but for a bit more you have the NH8350 line which are mechanical automatics, and for a bit more than that there's the AU1080 line which are solar, and also net you a very scratch resistant sapphire crystal.

​

Some that are a little above budget, but worth mentioning is the Tissot Everytime line to scratch that "Swiss Made" itch, which are Swiss quartz and have sapphire crystals, and the more obscure Tisell Bauhaus, a Miyota mechanical automatic coming from a Korean watchmaker and which is pretty much a direct copy of the Nomos Tangente, but is still a reputable brand nonetheless.

​

In general for under or around $100 the main brands you're probably going to want to be looking at are Casio, Timex, Bulova (the 96B104 and 97B100, for example), Citizen, Seiko, and Orient.

Sure. The Japanese are kings of value at that price point, and you'll have a fair share of selections from a few brands, types of movement (automatic/mechanicals, quartz, UHF quartz, solar quartz, etc.) and styles (diver, field, pilot, chrono, etc.) all good for day-to-day wear.

A good place to start is look through listings from Seiko, Orient, Citizen, and Casio's Edifice line.

A few examples:

Seiko SNZG13 - automatic field/military style

Orient Defender - automatic field style - also comes in blue

Seiko SNZF17(black) / SNZF15(blue/pepsi bezel) - automatic diver style

Seiko SNZH55/53/57 - automatic black, blue, and black/gold diver style

Various Seiko chronographs on bracelets - quartz movements

Orient Mako II and Ray II - automatic diver style watches with an upgraded movement over the Seiko automatics

Various Casio Edifice chronographs on bracelets - quartz movements

There's a lot more not limited to these brands as well - I'm sure other people can recommend you something nice. I've excluded models not on a bracelet - but if you change your mind you can also look through Citizen and Bulova's offerings.

Here's the current buying guide on $0-$250 watches.

If you really like the MVMT, just buy it, but do so knowing what you're actually getting. The particular model you linked has a chronograph but doesn't even have markings on the subdials, so the chronograph is kinda pointless - how can you tell which dial is which?

Obaku is what watch enthusiasts would call a "fashion" brand, which are cheaply made watches sold on the strength of their design/marketing. These brands use movements that will break quickly, and crystals (the transparent "glass" part of the watch face) that are scratch magnets. I've bought two Daniel Wellington watches and they both scratched up almost immediately. A particular red flag on the Obaku website is their watch specs don't even list the crystal material - almost certainly means the lowest grade plastic crystal possible.

You can get a sense of how enthusiasts feel about these brands in this subreddit's all-time highest upvoted post, which is a satirical take on this type of company:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/comments/618a13/guide_how_to_create_a_unique_and_successful/

If you like the minimalist design - which many new watch buyers do - you have a few good options.

1) Buy a highly discounted fashion watch. Daniel Wellington or MVMT are a terrible deal at $200+ MSRP. If you can find one at $75, it's not such a bad deal... it's basically disposable at this price. Check MVMT on ebay, Obaku is imitating MVMT's design. But again, if you want to buy a gift that will last the recipient some time, then this is a bad choice as fundamentally these brands are not building for longevity.

2) Buy something from an established brand in that style. Note that most of these will be cheaper sub-$100 mark watches, because frankly that's the price bracket for the minimalist watch market. Examples:

https://www.amazon.com/Timex-TW2P91300CM-Weekender-Fairfield-Display/dp/B01DG2XYME

https://www.amazon.com/Timex-Mens-Metropolitan-40mm-Watch/dp/B074Y1KQ2F

So the thing about these Timexes is that yes, they are cheap watches. But they will get the recommendation from informed watch enthusiasts over fashion brands just because they are priced accurately - Timex isn't trying to sell you a $20 watch movement for $200 the way fashion brands do, they're selling you a $20 watch for an "honest" markup at $50.

3) If you want something that will last a while, get something with a sapphire crystal (best) or at least mineral crystal, with a Japanese or Swiss movement. If they don't tell you what kind of crystal is used, assume it's cheap plastic (ie, bad.) Examples:

https://www.amazon.com/Tissot-Mens-Everytime-Large-T1096101603100/dp/B01IRYD5XY

https://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Eco-Drive-Stainless-Steel-BM7251-53L/dp/B00PXVTU5C

4) If you can stretch your budget a little further, you start being able to get into mechanical Hamiltons and quartz Junghans , which are highly respected brands.

https://www.amazon.com/Junghans-Chronscope-Quartz-Calfskin-4775-00/dp/B06Y4B3SS1/

https://www.jomashop.com/hamilton-mens-watch-h38455151.html

Be aware of the difference between quartz and mechanical. The smooth sweeping seconds hand of mechanical watches has the stronger luxury connotation, while quartz is more practical, cheaper, and keeps time better - but the batteries need to be replaced every 1-2 years. At your price range you're basically looking at either pricier quartz pieces, or entry-level mechanical pieces.

You're looking for a Bauhaus/minimalist style watch. Most companies will have an option but the Germans invented the Bauhaus style and the Japanese are also very adept at minimalist beauty.

Orient Bambino:
Orient Men's 2nd Gen. Bambino Ver. 3 Stainless Steel Japanese-Automatic Watch with Leather Calfskin Strap, Brown, 21 (Model: FAC0000EW0) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K5JSF5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8qGpDb0KX2HKW

Casio (this is quartz):
Casio Collection Unisex Adults Watch LTP-E148L-1AEF https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0786QLW88/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_uNGpDbMSG9TJK

Junkers (pronounced "yoonkers"):
JUNKERS - Men's Watches - Junkers Bauhaus - Ref. 6070-5 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006DDHQOQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_eIGpDb2N1RDRR

Junghans is the sex but the most expensive of these choices:
Junghans Max Bill 2018 Edition Graphic Series Mens Watch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078XB17FJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MKGpDbS2KTGN3

These are all solid choices that you can be sure are well worth your money.

Invictas have a similar look to the Aragons, but quality is a risk. That being said I love my Invicta Pro-divider and is a great beater watch.

Also no need to mod an SKX to look like a Fifty Fathoms, because Seiko makes a watch called the Fifty-Five Fathoms as a sort of tongue in cheek joke, though it is hard to find. Non-limited adition

I think the Oceanus is actually a really good option.

Looking at your last paragraph, here's the watch that I thought of:
https://www.amazon.ca/Citizen-Eco-Drive-Perpetual-Timekeeping-AT4010-50E/dp/B005BS2ENC

It's Titanium, which is lighter - I find this to be nice when I'm working on something, the watch doesn't seem as much in the way.

It has a sapphire crystal, which means it is much less likely (not impossible, but unlikely) to get scratched.

It has 200m water resistance, which is actually pretty solid (100m is more standard).

It's EcoDrive, so in theory you shouldn't need to change the battery, and it's also radio-controlled, which you thought would be a good feature to have.

I'd argue that Citizen has more cache than Casio, and is generally better regarded. I have a very similar Citizen (but without the radio control), and it's one of my go-tos with jeans and a hoodie.

[Mod] So I really want a Mako II with the seconds hand from the Ray II, the bezel from a SKX007K and enclosed with sapphire glass.

Where do I begin? What's a good watch modding form to buy/trade parts from?

I haven't looked at the sizes of the cases to see if I could potentially drop the movement from the Mako II into the case of an SKX007 after swapping the seconds hand from the Ray II.

I wish the SK007 hacked and had a lume pip on the indicator instead of the counter weight. Like the SKX013 does.

The SNZH55 would be perfect with a hacking movement and a bezel with more graduations.

Edit: I guess at the end of the day "saving" up for a Prospex SRPB51 would probably be easier and probably cost less in the long run but I still prefer the hour/minute hands from the Mako, and the seconds hand from the Ray.

Edit 2: This photoshopped watch is basically my "perfect" dive watch except with this bezel I just didn't want to do more photoshopping than necessary and the SEIKO SAMURAI bezel insert already lined up with the other watches.

When you have companies like Moscow Classic selling a watch with a dirt-cheap russian movement for $300, or Stuhrling wanting $280 for a watch with an even cheaper chinese movement in it...both with mineral crystals...Hamilton wanting $266 for a hand-wind swiss movement with sapphire is a big difference.

Or them wanting $366 for one with an automatic swiss movement. Or $555 for one with the aforementioned ETA 2892.

The ETA 2892 is used as a base for movements from IWC, Tag Heuer, Breitling, Omega, and Cartier. It's a slim movement of high quality. Yes, the version used in the $555 Hamilton won't be of quite as high quality as those used in the more prestige brands, but it's still a superb movement. More on the 2892 here (pdf link).

If you look at other subreddit+watch forum-favorite brands like Stowa or Steinhart they're largely using ETA 2824s at the same or higher price points. Stowa is starting to move to the Soprod A10, a very high quality movement based off a Seiko ébauche, though.

Skip the armanis. they are cheap "designer" watches. basicly they make the case and drop a citizen movement inside (if you´re lucky. you could find a cheap generic chinese movement inside)

the Victorinox is nice becuase it carries a ETA movement.

you can also have a citizen eco drive one which are pretty reliable and solar powered. Citizen movements are a dime a dozen and half the non swiss made industry uses them, but if you buy citizen directly insted of a 3rd party that using citizen movements, you usualy get a better movement at a lower price.

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BL5250-02L-Eco-Drive-Perpetual-Chronograph/dp/B000EQS0WK/ref=sr_1_2?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1320801509&sr=1-2

Or if you want swiss you can have a nice tissot V8 for cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/Tissot-T0394171105700-Black-Chronograph-Watch/dp/B002IVGKJY/ref=sr_1_2?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1320801621&sr=1-2

Some suggestions off the top of my head, most of them /r/watches favourites:

Similar to the first example: Orient Symphony/Bambino and so on, Tissot Visodate and LeLocle, some of the dressier Seikos like SARB033 and Cocktail time, some of the dressier citizen Eco-Drives like this

Similar to the second example: Braun watches, Mondaine watches, also some Citizen Eco-Drives

Similar to the Submariner: Orient Mako/Ray

Except for Braun and Mondaine and some Orient models those are all automatics, but that is just what you will get in this sub.

If you don't care about either of those and just want to buy a stylish quartz, do buy from a respected watch brand, not just any store/fashion brand. Fossil and Skagen make okay watches, Nixon are okay too (a bit overpriced). Casio, Timex, Citizen, Seiko would be better.

Well you aren't going to get an automatic chrono for $150-$200. You can get a manual mechanical chrono that looks similar for $500ish from Techne, but it has a display back without much room for engraving.

You could try this eco drive which won't require battery change, but it is a quartz movement (and also $40 over your limit), and doesn't have much room for engraving.

I just honestly don't think you're going to get everything you want, so it'd be helpful if you could identify which factors are most important.

There is at least one titanium Oceanus, but yes, there are other Oceanus models that are not titanium.

edit: and another, and this one above your price range, and this one right at your price limit

edit 2: in fact many are titanium - here's what seems like a pretty comprehensive listing of the models

Also, I just noticed this Citizen, and unless I am overlooking something it hits all your requirements.

I bought this watch from Amazon a few weeks ago for about $170. My whole life I have been wearing big chunky stainless steel monstrosities from Swatch and Fossil and I finally realized I wanted something slim and sexy.

I looked into Skagen and Timex but I was a bit turned off by their small diameter faces. I'm a pretty big dude so small watch faces look awkward on my wrist, but I still wanted something that looked refined and sexy.

I considered automatic movement but ultimately decided against it due to accuracy reasons. Needing to adjust my watch every two weeks would drive me nuts. I am a "set it and forget it" type of guy. Plus, I was impressed by Eco-drive technology and wanted to give it a shot.

Although this watch could be considered a dress watch, I wear it everyday. I find that it goes well with nearly anything and actually adds a bit of sophistication to T shirt and jeans.

http://amzn.com/B00843L6ZI

It's a little over your $500 budget but the Archimede Klassik 42mm comes in a blue sunray dial: http://www.archimede-watches.com/watches/klassik/automatic-42.html

I have the sold out silver version (the older version with the ETA movement, they use the Selita SW-200 now) and it's a really nice looking watch.

Edit: There's also the Junkers Mountain Wave line, the non-chronos are in your budget if you like the classy fleiger style: http://www.pointtec.de/junkers/mountain_wave_project/

Another edit: If you don't mind a classy dive watch style there's the Seiko SNZH53 too. Well within your budget.

Invicta; Pro Diver 8926

Price: 70-80 dollars

Movement: Seiko NH35A movement w/ Handwinding & Hacking (Aka, seiko 4r36)

Style: Diver

Size: 40mm

Link: Amazon Black, Amazon Blue

Description: One of the few Invicta watches I'd actually recommend. Yes, it's a blatant homage of the Rolex Submariner, but you're still getting pretty decent build quality for what you're paying. It's a solid movement seen in watches three times it's price range and is a solid all around watch. I'd personally recommend removing the cyclops, mainly to make it less homage-like. It's also basically the only diver under 40mm at this price point. Actually, it might be the only automatic diver at it's price point period

I would recommend sticking to brands like Casio, Timex, Citizen, or Orient. Brands like Sturhling, Invicta, Nixon, Fossil etc. aren't quite as good quality and frankly won't be too well received here, not that you should care too much what other people think. Citizen makes really good pieces in that price range, check out these:

1

2

3

4

5

6

You're really limited to Orient and Seiko if you want an auto under $200. Not saying they're bad choices, they're actually pretty great. But I get the feeling they're not your thing.

In that case, how about the Timex Weekender Chrono line?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072L3ZW39/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Or the Timex Weekender Fairfield?

https://www.amazon.com/Timex-Unisex-TW2P91100-Fairfield-Slip-Thru/dp/B0194L6AMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1510954734&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=weekender+fairfield&dpID=51YwXkJEf9L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Or the Timex Easy Reader?

https://www.amazon.com/Timex-Reader-Black-Leather-T2N794/dp/B0078QGSDC/ref=sr_1_11?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1510954754&sr=1-11&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=timex+easy+reader

Or this sexy Tissot if you want a Swiss made quartz

https://www.amazon.com/Tissot-Everytime-T109-610-16-031-00-Silver-Leather/dp/B01IRYD5XY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1510954838&sr=8-3&keywords=tissot+quartz

I can't say I particularly like that color in particular, but I think this one looks very good. Thanks for pointing me in that direction. It's definitely going on the list of potentials.

You need some Polywatch, a few microfiber polishing cloth and a few minutes.

Wipe the crystal with a clean cloth to ensure that nothing remains that could scratch the crystal more. Apply a small drop of Polywatch to the crystal and polish with a clean cloth for two or three minutes with gentle pressure. Remove all residue with a clean cloth. Be happy.

I find most of the Citizen stuff not to my taste, a little fussy/over-designed. Some of their stuff is nice, I like their divers especially this mono-block one. The eco-drive movement is pretty well respected here as far as I can tell.

Anything sold and fulfilled by Amazon is usually fine. They have great customer service and usually pretty legit dealers. I bought this Tissot last week from them and it actually ended up coming from Jomashop. It was $215 at the time too.

I've been looking for the same step up in my watch game. The Timex Marlin is my favorite at the moment. (Really, the Snoopy version is what I'd want, looks like around 300 on eBay)

The Orient Bambino I've been seeing as a popular alternative to the Marlin. Altho I've found a couple different versions on Amazon that I prefer.

I would also be curious as to what others recommend.

Weekenders check all the boxes of iconic, presentable, and affordable. Probably the best watch in its class.
For a slight step up from the Casio 91w, I like the 105w, which has a slightly cleaner face and a much better lume.
The Seiko SNK809 and its variants are also classic for a reason, and still well under a hundred bucks.

Hamilton Khaki King

Price: $330-350

Movement: Automatic (H64455133)

Style: Military

Size: 40mm

Link: Hamilton page, Mine, Amazon, Jomashop

Description: Hamilton is a historic brand that was once based in the US and now is under the Swatch group. They make fantastic first-time automatic purchases. The military styling is simple and functional. The 24hr hours on the watch is a nice touch especially for a military watch. A major distinction on this watch over other Khakis and other watches of this price range is the Day-of-the-Week and Date window at 12. With a leather band this can be a great day to day watch and swap out a bracelet for a more dressy look. You can't go wrong with this purchase.

My best guesses would be a Breitling Colt Skyracer, or like the other guy said maybe a Luminox Navy Seal model like this or this. Also, the more I look at it, the more it starts looking like this Casio.

I picked up this wooden poker chip and card holder from a Goodwill for $3. I'm so happy with how it displays my humble collection of watches and EDC. Watches from left to right:

• Pavlok - link is to newer version - I bought this to try to stop yelling at my kids. It didn't work for me because charging it (every night via USB) and wearing it (too big for dress shirts) was inconvenient.
  
• Klokers - I love the rotating dials and the pop of color.
  
• Citizen Eco Drive World Atomic - I wear this travelling because I can adjust it quickly to local time, the atomic timekeeping, and charged by light / no batteries needed wow!
  
• Stowa Flieger - A beautiful classic
  
• Seiko Bishop - I love Aliens and the asymmetry of this watch.
  
  Other items include a vintage turquoise ring, Benchmade knife, and Leatherman multi-tool.

Have you taken the Khaki King into consideration? I love the Day display at the top. It's also offered on a bracelet.

In addition, Christopher Ward has a significantly discounted Nearly New sale for refurbished returns and the like. Be sure to check it out if you're a fan of the C60 Trident.

Personally, I like the updated version of the Khaki Field Mechanical. It has a lot better readability and looks cleaner on the wrist even with the date window. Personally, I like the Khaki KING even better with the day date complication and a little more detailing on the dial:

Most really rugged watches will be durable, like a Casio G-Shock. The Casio DW-5600 is excellent for that. I'll make a list of some other options!

Dressy-

Orient Bambino ~$130-$200

Seiko SARB035 ~$400

Citizen Eco-Drive AW1236-03A ~$100

Rugged-

Cadio G-Shock DW-5600 ~$50

Casio G-Shock GA100A-7A ~$70

Victorinox 241675 ~$150

Digital-

Casio F91W ~$10

Casio "World Time" ~$25

Timex Marathon ~$15-$20

Entry Level Mechanical-

Seiko SNK809 ~$60-$75

Orient Mako II ~$150

Invicta Pro-Diver (Submariner Homage) ~$80

Fantastic Quartz-

Timex Weekender ~$20-$30

Timex Expedition ~$50

Casio "Duro" MDV-106 ~$45

Not worth the price.

Get this instead:

Tissot Everytime

or any of it's variants -

...for these reasons:

• This recent post showing Brathwait's quality
  
  
• Tissot is a real Swiss watch brand with a long, long history
  
  
• The Tissot is almost certainly better quality, and is cheaper on top of that
  
  
• While both use Swiss quartz movements which are pretty cheap, I'd take an ETA quartz over a Ronda quartz any day
  
  Or, if you're open minded to other styles/options, there's many, many other things that are a lot better (quality wise) in the same price range as the Brathwait.

Thanks, these are beautiful, but it looks like they all have hacking seconds. This one is definitely a maybe if I can't find one with sweeping seconds.

Seems my first reply contained a link that wasn't allowed ... copied and pasted below with a different link ....

That should be hesalite - tap it with your fingernail and see if it's plastic or glass. If it's glass, then take it to a pro to polish out. If it's plastic, then it's really easy and you can do it at home in just a few minutes.

Now, given that the bezel looks great, cover it first with some low-tack masking tape. Rub the glass all over with 2000 grit wet and dry paper. It's going to look far worse before it looks better but have faith. There's no need to apply lots of pressure but 2000 grit wears out fast, so keep folding it over and keep sanding in a circular motion. Once all the big scratches are gone and you have a consistent "cloudy" glass, reach for this. I use a chamois leather but any clean cotton rag will do. Put a few drops on the glass and polish away. It won't take a minute to go from cloudy to as new.

If you haven't got the major scratches out, repeat all the above. After you're done this once, you'll get more confidence to do it again.

As for the servicing, I'm guessing with the LHD car that you're not in the UK? If so, can't really help on that one.

This is true! If it's the same model that I saw the crystal is Hesalite plastic! You should be able to easily remove most scratches with a bit of love and some Polywatch: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0014R9V9O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1463377873&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=polywatch&dpPl=1&dpID=419qrOEjfNL&ref=plSrch

Hey everyone, trying to get started in the world of watches and I'm having a tough time deciding. I've been interested in the [Orient Bambino] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072K5JSF5/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1CONDXEICPYZS), but I'm concerned it's going to be either too big (~6.5 inch wrist) or too dressy for my normal day (I rarely get more formal than jeans or chinos.
Also looking at the basic Seiko SNK809 but not as sure about it. I'm looking for something that can be an everyday watch for the next couple years. Any info/recommendations would be amazing. Thank you!

I really like the metal bracelet on that Orient but it has far too much going on on the dial I think? I was contemplating the Orient Bambino like this but it is slightly above my price range. And yes, Amazon would be convenient.

Exactly. A watch is like a pair of shoes: you wouldn't wear penny loafers when going out for a run, and you wouldn't wear sneakers at a funeral. There are a ton of different kinds of watches (like the Rolex Submariner compared to an Omega Speedster...different functions for different types of people and different activities), and within those categories there are different stylistic choices that are based on personal tastes (modern and sleek, big and bulky, etc).

I could recommend something like the Hamilton Khaki Field, or something like a Seiko diver, or a Citizen Eco-Drive chronograph, or the popular Seiko SARB065. Very different watches for different types of people and different occasions.

Looking for something similar to the Junkers Bauhaus Ref - 6060-5 but with a sapphire glass, preferably under $1000, but flexible. Anything out there? I really love the face on that junkers, so hoping to be close to that. Amazon

My personal choice would be a Tissot Tradition. It's the non-perpetual calendar version of the one I gave my father for his 50th this past February.

Most people will probably scoff at the fact that it's quartz, but since your father has two other choices, he might find having to set this new watch every time he wants to wear it a bit of a pain with an automatic. I think it will go well in between the two he currently has, and is a good everyday style.

All the best to you and your father!

Hello,

So I think I'm set on purchasing this watch (Seiko SNXS79K https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-SNXS79K-Automatic-Analogue-Bracelet/dp/B000G12Y8O/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8).

Although I'd like a leather strap for this. I'm a newbie in the watch world so looking for help on which leather straps to buy or specific 'compatible' strap brands that tend to work well with Seiko watches like this one?

Its a cheap Chinese quartz watch with a generic movement. You get what you pay for, so it might run for less than a month or it might run for a few years. It's almost certainly not waterproof and the sub dials don't do anything, and are probably painted on. You would probably be better off with something like this or this. This search will help you find more.

Not a whole lot of reputable companies really tend to make two-tone watches in that price range because that inherently involves the use of cheap materials (like "gold" plating) which do not hold up or very expensive materials (like actual gold). However, Citizen and Bulova are pretty well respected and do make some models similar to what you are looking for.

Bulova

Citizen

That Citizen will probably be bigger than what you're looking for.

If you are willing to go with an all-stainless and blue dial without the gold accents, you open yourself up to a wide range of quality options, many with automatic movements. Such as-

Orient

Seiko

Seiko

Orient

Invicta. Everyone rides the hate wagon, but the truth is they are really cheap (Amazon) and great quality. I got a SS Rolex Sub "homage" for $65 on Amazon
This

It’s hard to beat the Invicta 8926OB for the price. It’s a great watch if someone isn’t used to wearing a watch and just wants to try one out to see if they like it.

Turns out, I liked it. Now the collection continues to grow!

For a quartz chronograph, I personally like the Tissot PR100 and the Citizen Eco-Drive BL5250-02L.

As you may know, true automatic chronographs can be a little pricey ($500+) so it may be more difficult to find them based on your price point. Nevertheless, my favourite black-faced automatic watch (roughly) in your price point is definitely the Hamilton Khaki Field.

Hope you find what you're looking for!

I know this is probably heresy here but I just want to buy one watch and wear it for everything for the next decade. Is the blue orient mako II good for uni, work, formal, parties, etc? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AK5TQRM/ref=s9_hps_bw_g241_i6

Looking for a new watch, just wondering if there are brands or model suggestions I've overlooked:

Price: Cheaper the better, not beyond $300ish

Features I'd like, in descending order of importance

• sapphire face
  
• no numbers or extremely discreet numbers
  
• 'paper' looking face with thin lines (im not against other colors, this is just what I've found I liked)
  
• discreet complications
  
• relatively large on the wrist
  
• water proof
  
• not breaking the bank
  
  Style I like:
  
  
• Nomos lambda
  
• Junghans MAX BILL
  
• Bauhaus junker
  
• Just the blue hands on this omega speedmaster '57
  
• IWC Regulateur
  
• skagen hagen steel mesh watch
  
• seiko spirit svce003
  

Sorry I couldn't provide details earlier, I've been busy with work.

The watch is a Citizen BL5250-02L. I've always wanted an Eco-Drive and decided to pull the trigger on this one as a birthday gift to myself. It's just so beautiful! If you're looking for nice quartz in the $250 range, I highly recommend this watch.

The shirt is from Land's End (ON SALE for $20!)

I'm treating myself to my first real watch after graduating and am deciding between two different Hamilton watches. If you could comment below whether you would buy 1 or 2 and maybe a reason why, that would be amazing!

Thanks guys!

1. http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-H64455533-Stainless-Automatic-Leather/dp/B000AONZWQ?ie=UTF8&keywords=hamilton%20watch&nodeID=7141123011&qid=1465323058&ref_=sr_1_1&s=apparel&sr=1-1
   
   
2. http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-HML-H70455533-Khaki-Field-Black/dp/B000J179X6?ie=UTF8&keywords=hamilton%20watch&nodeID=7141123011&qid=1465323058&ref_=sr_1_2&s=apparel&sr=1-2
   

I've got this one, which I like quite a bit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002S0NM82

The only real complaint I have about it is that I'd like the pillows that hold the watches to fit more tightly in their slots. As it is, they're free to move around a bit .

I'm looking for a watch and have never bought one before. I came across this Invicta and was intrigued, but I'm not sure. I know they often mark them up like crazy so it has nothing to do with the "amount I'm saving", but I kind of like the look of the watch. Would it be better to go with something more classic, like the Invicta 8926OB or this Seiko? It would likely be an everyday watch, and I don't have big wrists if that makes any difference.

I don't know why you would want to buy a watch at Kohl's unless you have some sorta super secret discount coupon, but all of their watches are inflated 50-100% more than what they are worth. So in the end, if you're trying to do their "Buy one, get one half off" deal, you're not saving much money, if any at all.

• In my opinion, if you're looking for a formal (a.k.a. "dress") watch, I would go with an Orient Symphony: http://www.amazon.com/Orient-ER27007W-Classic-Automatic-Watch/dp/B00A6GFCJC/ref=sr_1_2?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1406009658&sr=1-2
  
  
• Another option for a dress watch would be the Orient Bambino (my preference): http://www.longislandwatch.com/Orient_ER24005W_Dress_Watch_p/er24005w.htm
  
  
• And my preference for an everyday watch would be a Seiko SKX007 (this can easily do double duty for a more formal watch, though it is usually against etiquette to wear dive watches to a black tie event but it's more common since James Bond popularized it): http://www.longislandwatch.com/Seiko_SKX007K2_Watch_p/skx007k2.htm
  
  
• A close second contender for an everyday watch would be the Bernhardt Binnacle Diver: https://www.bernhardtwatch.com/index.php?id=31
  
  
  
  Keep in mind that these are all automatic/mechanical watches, which means you do have to wear them once every 40 hours or else they'll lose their power, unwind down, and stop ticking. Otherwise you should look for quartz watches since they run on a battery for 2-3 years and you don't need to worry about winding them.

Amazon.ca just put up some great deals on the blue Ray 2 and blue Mako 2.

https://www.amazon.ca/Orient-Japanese-Automatic-Stainless-Diving/dp/B01AK5TQE0/ref=sr_1_2?s=watch&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1511632536&sr=1-2&nodeID=2235620011&psd=1

https://www.amazon.ca/Orient-Japanese-Automatic-Stainless-Diving/dp/B01AK5TQRM/ref=sr_1_7?s=watch&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1511632536&sr=1-7&nodeID=2235620011&psd=1

Much better than American deals when you factor in currency conversion.

In addition to the other two replies: As alternatives you might want to look into Seiko. They have a lot of watches that might suite you.
This or this from Bulova look similar to the DW ones.
Maybe even a Tissot Watch although they might be more expensive, but have Sapphire Crystals which are more scratch resistant.

I linked to Amazon because it has quite a nice panel showing pictures of the watches.

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BM7190-05A-Eco-Drive-Stainless-Steel/dp/B00843L6ZI/ref=sr_1_32?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1371519657&sr=1-32

How about this one? Seems to fit what you listed pretty well.

I agree with the other person who said Orient, as they make great quality watches in this price bracket. Alternatively, I might look at the Tissot Le Locle. Slightly out of your price range new, but you should be able to get a good deal used.

So I was looking at this watch and I was confused about the watch. This Kenneth Cole Watch claims to be automatic, yet in the description it says it uses japanese quartz movement. I thought automatic was different from quartz which is battery powered. Am I confusing the concepts?

Also I am looking for recommendations that are similar. I chose KC because they were relatively cheap for my taste as seikos and the other recommended watches don't bring any interest due to their lacklusterish designs that i checked on amazon (i did like the seikos with lines instead of numbers). I'm just looking for a nice automatic watch since I have a few quartz and I understand automatics require more care. Also are any of the invictas even worth it? I want an invicta only because I wont care if it gets the shit beaten out of it. The youtube reviews look good, but online all the text reviews are bad. I dont give a shit about skeleton watches, but the ones like the kenneth cole one and a few others catch my eye. My budget is ~150 as I want to find a nice daily watch and I can get to the more expensive further down the road when it fits my needs.

Here are a few more examples of watches I think are cool but I am unsure if they are shit or not:
Seiko

Invicta

Orient
If possible I would like to find one fashion brand watch just for looks and one that i can beat the ever living fuck out of. I would be worried to do that to the orient or seikos above but if the invicta is going to break then i may as well take it for a ride.

I was going to share my Citizen, which has a lot of the design cues, http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-CA0265-59E-Eco-Drive-Titanium-Watch/dp/B005MKGPC0 but it doesn't have the tach.

This one, http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BL5250-02L-Eco-Drive-Leather-Titanium/dp/B000EQS0WK is pretty sweet, has the tach on leather strap. But, no sapphire crystal.

Orient has the Ray II and Mako II which are very similar. Same movement and features, and they each come in black and blue versions (I linked the blue ones because I like them, but its easy to find the black if that's your preference). An older model will be almost the same, but not have the hacking or hand-winding movement, and they have a pushbutton at the 2 o' clock. They might be a bit cheaper on Amazon though so that's your call.

Casio Men's MRW200H-1BV Black Resin Dive Watch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JVP0LE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_c4yAzbKEMJ81K

This is actually a great watch that fits your criteria. I use it as a swimming/beater watch. It looks way better than it's price and you can use the bezel as a timer.

Sadly, I just returned my Junkers (http://www.amazon.com/JUNKERS-Watches-Junkers-Bauhaus-6060-5/dp/B0066GKTM6) because of the cheap raised, plastic crystal. It looked much better online.

Is there a difference between Junghans and Junkers? Is your crystal actual glass? It certainly looks great from your photos.

Thank you haha. I'm rocking this Eco-Drive at the moment BL5250-02L. I'm a big fan of the perpetual calendar.

Yeah I just ordered bunch of seiko 5 sports , blue dial. It looked soo nice, almost brought one for myself too. Lol https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041LG08U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.xYtxbGRMW8P8

I have this Orient watch in my cart on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072K5JSF5/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2WOL1ZX5JC3OX&psc=1

I think it's a pretty good looking watch and not much money.

You could go with something like this from Citizen (add a 20mm mesh band and a spring bar tool and you'd be right at budget). However I'd suggest the Tissot Everytime then add the mesh band in a month or two when your budget allows. Great swiss entry level watch.

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BL5250-02L-Titanium-Eco-Drive-Leather/dp/B000EQS0WK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1408076493&sr=8-4&keywords=eco+drive

best $280 you can spend. Dressy and casual!

I am a student who wants something that is a good everyday watch but also dressy enough for special occasions. I wanted to get an automatic under $300 and I also want to be able to check the date and I prefer the look of leather straps, but I could of course change the stock one. I was looking at this fossil(which I'm not sure I want because I have heard bad things about fossil watches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7VDS8R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ipi6AbNRS4C7A
And this Hamilton (but it's more than I want to spend) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AONZWQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Vqi6Ab2HC28D4

Any suggestions for watches or things I should be looking into would be greatly appreciated?

I'm also finding it difficult to find one. How do you feel about Citizen?

BM6730-56L

BM6400-00E

CB0020-50E

BM7100-16E

BV1080-18A

Not automatic but still they're solar powered so no battery changes, and accuracy. I'm thinking about this diver too, BN0000-04H. They all look better than the amazon pic, up close

edit:might also check out Christopher Ward. They make pilot watches

Is movement accuracy generally described by using the seconds per day gained or lost, as you wrote in your post? If not, how can I tell the quality of movement on any particular watch? For instance, I was looking at this Citizen Men's BL5250-02L Eco-Drive Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch, which lists the movement as Japanese quartz. It seems that Japan and Switzerland have the best quartz movements, but do you think it's worth it to a Swiss ETA? Also, how can I tell the +/- accuracy simply by looking at a description on a website?

Save up for the real thing, and in the mean time if you are willing to bump your size up to 42mm you can get a Seiko SKX007.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-seiko-skx007-divers-watch

If you still want a sub look a like after reading that, I believe the Invicta is what you're looking for

https://www.amazon.com/Invicta-8926OB-Analog-Japanese-Automatic-Stainless/dp/B000JQFX1G

Citizen Eco Drive would be a good option if you just want a set-and-forget watch for special occasions

Edit: didn't notice it was already suggested, so I'll add the Orient Bambino/Symphony to the list of suggestions

Where would you guys recommend to buy watches from? I got my eyes set on the Hamilton Khaki King Auto, and while it retails for $545 (strap version) on Hamilton's website and at Macy's, it's selling for $383 on Amazon and $340 on Jomashop

Why is the watch so much cheaper on Amazon and Jomashop? I read that they are not AD sellers for watches. Does that mean if I buy from Amazon or Jomashop, and the watch breaks soon after arrival, am I out of 300 bucks? I would of course prefer to have the 2 year warranty. Is Macy's an AD for all of the watches they sell? What is the return policy on watches in general?

Oh and does anyone know what strap this is? i.e. what is this material called. Also, where I can buy this strap or straps similar to it?

This one is really clean looking. Throw on a leather strap for more formal events and you're there.

I also like the looks of this Citizen.

I really wouldn't recommend either of those, because while they're only 50 pounds I'll bet they won't last more than a year. Instead, how about one of thise?

Seiko Men's SNXS79K - Pair this with a leather or nato strap and it'll be gorgeous! My own pic of a similar watch for reference.

Timex Weekender

Timex Expedition

If he learns saturation diving, he will need a dive watch with a helium release valve. Otherwise, the crystal will pop out when he equilibrates to surface pressure and the air inside the watch expands. That said, my personal favorite beater dive watch (no saturation diving), is the Citizen BN0000-04H. He may appreciate the ISO 300m dive certification and 5 year warranty. The single-piece case and solar movement also means that the watch won't need to be opened up for service, which would risk the integrity of the waterproofing.

Gotcha - I'd say a Tissot would make a great first watch with a lot of versatility.

Given that you want to minimize "hassle" around service, you might want to look at Seiko's and Citizen's solar quartz watches, which will never require a battery change at all.

Hamilton Jazzmaster

Seiko Cocktail

Junkers

Frederique Constant

Or go with something vintage. Old Seamaster's like this one come up pretty frequently in /r/watchexchange

I'm not sure if this will be to your liking, or not. I have one and I think it's great. It is my go-to dress watch. I bought a brown leather strap for it that I swap as needed with the stock strap depending on what I'm wearing:

Citizen Men's BM7190-05A "Eco-Drive" Stainless Steel Watch Citizen http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00843L6ZI/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_YPSptb0KZPGR7


Also, this one is possibly way off the mark but in my opinion it's worth a look:

Casio Men's MQ24-7E Classic Analog Watch Casio http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00065FWR0/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_RSSptb1NHMSC0

At this point I am quite interested in the Orient too.

And I might get Citizen BM7190-05A in future, the face on it looks bigger, but not a lot.

Oh and I don't think I will be buying a Stuhrling. Thank you!

Pretty sure it can still be bought.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0045TI0UO/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1451174785&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=citizen+eco+drive+atomic&dpPl=1&dpID=51R5TOo7mML&ref=plSrch

Just a heads up, that exact model is a few bucks cheaper on amazon.

There is also a version that already has a black leather strap, but white case.

As for the seiko, there is also a cheaper option on Amazon.

Swapping bands is easy and inexpensive, you could look into Hadley Roma and Hirsch bands.

Nice watch. It looks a lot like this Citizen.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005BS2ENC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492713351&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=citizen+perpetual+calendar

Like the other user said, perpetual calendar watches show the day, month and year. This is a nice one from citizen.

I like both watches for their classic, simple looks. If you're interested in an automatic, here's an orient that is fairly close to those.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A6GFCJC/ref=mp_s_a_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1474347484&sr=8-27&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=orient+watch

I have two citizen chronographs and think they are pretty decent.

Citizen Men's AT4010-50E Titanium Dress Watch looks pretty similar to the Movado and has good reviews but is a little above the $400 dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-AT4010-50E-Titanium-Dress-Watch/dp/B005BS2ENC/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&qid=1412861387&sr=8-25&keywords=citizen+chronographs

if you don't mind quartz, Tissot is a great choice for the price.

Similar looking automatic, similar price range

The Seiko should be great. Just an alternative to consider.

There is indeed! Cream dial--very fine looking, IMHO. :)

Amazon link

Reddit thread

Hey buddy. Congrats on marriage!

At 50 quid a pop you won't get much. Could you drop the engraving and push the budget out ?

How about something like this :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-SNXS79K-Automatic-Analogue-Bracelet/dp/B000G12Y8O

I would recommend a Citizen with Eco Drive like this one or this one.

Orient mako ii with the blue dial could be considered a slightly more dressy option in the dive watch relm. The sunburst blue dial is beautiful and the applied numerals and indices are a litte classier than the skx.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01AK5TQRM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527615711&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=orient+mako

Not sure if it meets all of your requirements but here's the Hamilton Khaki King you can buy additional alligator straps from a site like crown and buckle.

There's a product called polywatch that's a miracle substance on acrylic/plexi crystals. Just apply a bit of that, rub it down with a microfiber cloth for a couple minutes, and good as new.

Also, nice choice. That's a hell of a first watch.

I'd say it's worth a cleaning, at the very least. Any competent watchmaker should be able to do it, or you could look into sending it to Tissot for a service. A basic cleaning shouldn't be too expensive, maybe a hundred bucks or so. In the meantime it might be worthwhile to invest in something called Polywatch, which you can use to take the scratches off the acrylic crystal. Then pick up a decent leather strap (generally anywhere between $30-$120, depending on whether you want genuine or imitation croc, what kind of stitching, buckle or deployant, etc) and it'll look great.

There's a couple of these on Chrono24, so if you want to know what these are going for here's a link. Yours might be worth a little more versus a stainless steel model because of the gold content, but the condition that your watch is in will hurt the value a bit. http://www.chrono24.com/en/search/index.htm?query=Tissot+PR516+Vintage&dosearch=true&searchexplain=true&goal_suggest=1