[E90076]

Looking around for a new watch but I really dont know where to start.

Quality and style are obviously important.

Anyone have any reccomendations for something under $500? $250?

[SlammedR8]

Breitling!!

EDIT: You won't find a Breitling for $250-$500

[NPDAN]

What style you looking for?

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by E90076

Looking around for a new watch but I really dont know where to start.

Quality and style are obviously important.

Anyone have any reccomendations for something under $500? $250?

I like the clean look of Skagens.

[sparkyg]

Do they make nice watches under 500?

Swatch?

[325 Baller]

I would save up and get into the 1000-1200 range...you can get a decent TAG for that price but 250-500 doesnt give you alot of options.

[kennyg]

Amazon.com has ridiculous sales on Invicta watches. Invicta is a Japanese company, retail around $400-$1000, but you can get them for around $100. I have 3 watches now and one of them is my second Invicta. I wear that most of the time as my daily beater. Picture of my watches here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=579

They are high quality, very stylish. They don't sell them in any stores that I've ever found to date. They also tend to have big faces, 42-44mm which I love, but if you are a skinny guy they may look oversized on your wrist. They do make smaller faces too I believe. . .

The other one in that post is Zodiac. Very stylish watch but I prefer the Invicta to the Zodiac. The Baume et Mercier is in the 3k range.

Hope that helps.

[phantom330]

http://shnoop.com/ I like the one on the right, pretty good price for it. I'm with the others though, save up and get a really good watch, it'll last a lifetime. I've had one of my Tag's for over 15 years now and it still looks and operates like the day I got it.

[dipan]

Plenty of cool mechanical (automatics) that are affordable. Check out the Poor Man's Watch Forum ... pmwf.com

Obviously style is a personal thing, but some brands to check out are Stowa, Hamilton, Vostok, Marcello C, Nomos, Titoni, Ernst Borel ... Time for you to google (pun intended)

[DANMACINSD]

I'm a huge watch hound, with a couple of dozen watches ranging from $50 all the way to about $3000. The bulk of my collection is in the $300-$1200 range. You can find several good deals on ORIS watches through reputible dealers on eBay (price: $400-$2000) depending on model. I bought a nice automatic diver for $800. Another great watch is my TISSOT T-Touch. It's the one in Titanium with the Carbon fiber face. It was about $530. For watches under $1K, I recommend ORIS, TISSOT, HAMILTON and maybe even a Seiko automatic if you want to keep it real cheap (<$300).

[The_Blob]

Swiss Army makes decent quality watches at your price range. Although, I do think they should have spent less money on advertising and more on better build quality. They make watches with very good scratch resistance crystals but their mechanical and long term reliability is only so-so.

[bolinp78]

Originally Posted by dipan

Plenty of cool mechanical (automatics) that are affordable. Check out the Poor Man's Watch Forum ... pmwf.com

Obviously style is a personal thing, but some brands to check out are Stowa, Hamilton, Vostok, Marcello C, Nomos, Titoni, Ernst Borel ... Time for you to google (pun intended)

I would never EVER buy an automatic watch that is that inexpensive.

That is a no-no.

It completely defeats the purpose of buying an automatic... They are complicated pieces of art that are expensive, but well worth it to collectors or just people that appreciate the movement and work involved in creating it.


You are bound to get a poorly constructed automatic watch for $250. I can't imagine how bad the accuracy and/or durability would probably be. The amount of labor it takes to create a high quality automatic is astounding.

Not only that, you have to take into account the accuracy factor.. It is not going to be as accurate as a quartz watch. Are you OK with that? Also, you must take into account the durability factor. If you are doing anything that requires a lot of fast wrist movement, you generally want to stay away from automatic watches. Also, if this is not the only watch you will wear, you must take into account the fact that an automatic watch will only work unworn for about 36 hours (depending on the specific model) before it will need to be worn again so the spring can be wound. Obviously, if this is your only watch and you wear it every day, this shouldn't be a problem.


Bottom line, for your price range, stay away from automatics.

[dipan]

Originally Posted by bolinp78

I would never EVER buy an automatic watch that is that inexpensive.

That is a no-no.

It completely defeats the purpose of buying an automatic... They are complicated pieces of art that are expensive, but well worth it to collectors or just people that appreciate the movement and work involved in creating it.


You are bound to get a poorly constructed automatic watch for $250. I can't imagine how bad the accuracy and/or durability would probably be. The amount of labor it takes to create a high quality automatic is astounding.

Not only that, you have to take into account the accuracy factor.. It is not going to be as accurate as a quartz watch. Are you OK with that? Also, you must take into account the durability factor. If you are doing anything that requires a lot of fast wrist movement, you generally want to stay away from automatic watches. Also, if this is not the only watch you will wear, you must take into account the fact that an automatic watch will only work unworn for about 36 hours (depending on the specific model) before it will need to be worn again so the spring can be wound. Obviously, if this is your only watch and you wear it every day, this shouldn't be a problem.


Bottom line, for your price range, stay away from automatics.

Well I guess I have to disagree with everything you just said. Many of those automatics have the exact same Swiss ETA movement as the pricier watches. There are few watchmakers that actually make their own movements nowadays.

[ganeil]

I like Tissots in that range. I have a PRC100 Titanium Chronograph that can be had for around $500. It is my favorite everyday watch because it is light.

[155MPH]

Michael Kors

This watch looks even better in person. Price is right, it is well made and looks great.

http://www.michaelkors.com/store/cat...ndex=33&tid=V1

[bolinp78]

Originally Posted by dipan

Well I guess I have to disagree with everything you just said. Many of those automatics have the exact same Swiss ETA movement as the pricier watches. There are few watchmakers that actually make their own movements nowadays.

Ok, point me to a watch in the $250 range with the same movement that is in a Tag Heuer Carerra.

I agree with you, there are many cheaper watches that have ETA movements. But there is a difference between the quality of movement.

You may get a decent swiss movement, but the watch will not be swiss made, instead it will be made from Japan or Taiwan

[dipan]

Originally Posted by bolinp78

Ok, point me to a watch in the $250 range with the same movement that is in a Tag Heuer Carerra.

I agree with you, there are many cheaper watches that have ETA movements. But there is a difference between the quality of movement.

You may get a decent swiss movement, but the watch will not be swiss made, instead it will be made from Japan or Taiwan

I have a Borel Deep Blue diver on right now. ETA-2824 movement. Swiss made. Really. Paid $300 at a local Jeweler.

Yes this is a standard ETA movement, but has been fairly reliable. Is it as high quality as a Tag, Rolex, Patek, JLC? No, of course not, but it certainly is reasonably reliable for it's price. And looks nice to me also. Don't get me wrong, I like some of the high end watches too (got a few), but I get nervous when I've got a few thousand dollars on my wrist. IMO, the less expensive automatics from companies that you may not have heard of are not to simply be dismissed. There are others, too. I have a Titoni flieger and an Accutron that are similar values, IMO.

Even a $10 Casio keeps better time than a $30K JLC. That doesnt make it better. Automatics will need servicing every few years and doing so will keep them reasonably accurate.

[bolinp78]

Originally Posted by dipan

I have a Borel Deep Blue diver on right now. ETA-2824 movement. Swiss made. Really. Paid $300 at a local Jeweler.

Yes this is a standard ETA movement, but has been fairly reliable. Is it as high quality as a Tag, Rolex, Patek, JLC? No, of course not, but it certainly is reasonably reliable for it's price. And looks nice to me also. Don't get me wrong, I like some of the high end watches too (got a few), but I get nervous when I've got a few thousand dollars on my wrist. IMO, the less expensive automatics from companies that you may not have heard of are not to simply be dismissed. There are others, too. I have a Titoni flieger and an Accutron that are similar values, IMO.

Even a $10 Casio keeps better time than a $30K JLC. That doesnt make it better. Automatics will need servicing every few years and doing so will keep them reasonably accurate.

Good points. I say if you want an automatic, and this is all you can spend, go for it. But I would consider raising your budget before looking at them compared to quartz.

[mistermojorizin]

i got one like this but with a white dial. http://www.bluedial.com/FG/H32455135.htm

its got a swiss 25 jewel movement and a see through back. i love it.

i wouldn't get a quartz one, seeing the second hand sweep is awsome!

[dipan]

Originally Posted by mistermojorizin

i got one like this but with a white dial. http://www.bluedial.com/FG/H32455135.htm

its got a swiss 25 jewel movement and a see through back. i love it.

i wouldn't get a quartz one, seeing the second hand sweep is awsome!

Nice watch. I just couldn't wear one that's named "Jazzmaster"

[M3-ADDICT]

Citizen is usually up to $500. Go international, explore Ebay. You'll be surprised what type of sick watches you'll find for fraction of a cost.

[mistermojorizin]

Originally Posted by dipan

Nice watch. I just couldn't wear one that's named "Jazzmaster"

thanks!. It doesn't say jazzmaster anywhere on the watch, it just says hamilton viewmatic. and "swiss made" in tiny letters.