$20 Watch vs. $100 Watch

[Piso Mojado]

You can buy a $50 Seiko that uses the same movement as the SKX007 and should last as long.

Can you recommend one? Specific model? Thanks.

Seiko SNK809 is a very popular Seiko 5 model currently sold in the USA for $50–$60. Amazon's price-of-the-day has gone as low as $39.

SNK809 is lower left. SNK803 is tan, SNK807 is blue, SNK805 is green like my watch and not like this image. All are similarly priced with SNK809 the most popular for historical reasons. This is my SNKH69, a similar but not identical Japanese home market version of SNK805.

It is the same size as most Timex Expeditions, Easy Readers, Weekenders, etc. The canvas strap is wearable but most people replace it. Water resistance in the industry's advertising lingo is "30 meters," meaning Seiko's quality control takes random watches off the assembly line and pressure tests them at 3 atmospheres. Three atmospheres is good for a spilled drink and hand washing, but it might not survive dish washing — like Timex Easy Readers and Weekenders (Expeditions are more water resistant). Not a good choice for backpacking, canoeing, rafting, any sport where you might go into the water.

No battery so no indiglo. Seiko's luminous paint is the best in the industry, but they don't use much on this watch.

It uses Seiko's old reliable 7S26 beater movement. Good short description of the movement here:

http://www.thepurists.com/watch/features/8ohms/7s26/

Accuracy is +/– 15-20 seconds per day and you cannot set ("hack") the second hand. The movement is self-winding ("automatic") and it can't be hand wound: start it by pumping your arm a few times like you're about to inject something. All quite acceptable for the price.

If this interests you, buy from a dealer with a good policy on returns. Most of these watches are sold "grey market" in the USA. I own one — not a Seiko but a Citizen — with a warranty good in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Not even Australia, dude! If the dealer accepts returns for exchange, this is not a problem.

 

[CARRERA50]

I have had everything from Timex to Rolex; don't wear the Rolex anymore as it needs servicing and I can't justify the $600 at the moment.
Current favorites include a Seiko Orange Monster, Seiko 5, Vostok Amphibia and Momentum Steelex. None of these cost more than $100
and all have been totally reliable.
Wear what you like, wear what you can afford.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I love this Casio, from Amazon for a reasonable price, Casio Men's MDV106-1AV 200M Duro Analog Watch, Black

Excellent time keeping and the lumen is pretty good too, if anything ever happened to it...I'm back there to get another one!

While the strap is a rubber strap, I had bought a leather one but ended up taking that off as the one that comes with it is very comfortable AND water proof ! The strap in the photo here was the leather one, I removed that and put the original back on !
G2

 

[Cypress]

I've owned a lot of watches over the years, and my own opinion is that $10 to ~$140 watches are mostly Chinese quartz with a few low-end Japanese movements. If it's mechanical, it's probably a Seiko or Vostok. Don't expect these mechanicals to be hugely accurate, especially when compared to a quartz. In fact, a $15 quartz will probably be more accurate than a $10000 Rolex. In this price range, I would stick to a quartz movement with a nicer build quality. I had a Citizen BM8180-03E that cost me $85, then I threw a NATO strap on it (stock strap was horrid). It was easily one of my favorite watches.

 

[CARRERA50]

I've owned a lot of watches over the years, and my own opinion is that $10 to ~$140 watches are mostly Chinese quartz with a few low-end Japanese movements. If it's mechanical, it's probably a Seiko or Vostok. Don't expect these mechanicals to be hugely accurate, especially when compared to a quartz. In fact, a $15 quartz will probably be more accurate than a $10000 Rolex. In this price range, I would stick to a quartz movement with a nicer build quality. I had a Citizen BM8180-03E that cost me $85, then I threw a NATO strap on it (stock strap was horrid). It was easily one of my favorite watches.

Neither of my 7s26 Seikos are particularly accurate, but my Vostok is amazing, running at less than a minute slow a week. Not bad for 45 bucks.

 

[Macchina]

If you're going for an inexpensive automatic that will last decades that is a Seiko for sure. You can pick up a Seiko 5 for $65 any day and they are a really cool, durable, good looking watch. An excellent watch for a "one watch guy" to wear every day!

 

[steve-in-kville]

Thanks for the great replies. For some reason I am hung on a Seiko. Not sure why....

 

[jaseman]

A little late to the party, but....

Like others here, I've owned my fair share of watches (my current collection is at about 12 or 13) all in different price ranges from $20 estate sale finds, to a couple in the $1000+ range. They all serve different purposes, regardless of price.

Can you tell the dif between a $20 and $100 watch? Maybe, maybe not. But in the $50-100 area, I'd say stick with the bigger names - Timex, Casio, or Seiko. They are generally the Kershaw/Buck/Vitrinox of that price point. Might not impress the 'watch snobs' but will do the job reliably. My current 'camp' watch is an old Timex Expedition my sister bought me for Christmas about 15 years ago. It's seen everything from hiking, camping, rafting, to just beating around the garage - and it shows the wear to prove it. I've replaced the strap two or three times, and the battery when needed, but the body just keeps working. Period.

In your price range, I'd probably steer clear of automatics/mechanicals. I've never had one under $100 work for more than about a year, and to have it fixed or serviced is gonna cost you the value of the watch if it's out of warranty. And a proper, well built auto will be well beyond your stated price range.

I'd also steer clear of any of the fashion brands in this range, at least if your gonna use them for camping, hiking, etc. I've owned a couple of good looking Fossils, Swiss Army, Skagens in the $100 range. They're fine for running around town, but I wouldn't subject them to hard use - even if they looked the part.


YMMV, and these are just my personal experiaances.

 

[robgmn]

You can buy a $50 Seiko that uses the same movement as the SKX007 and should last as long. Mechanical watches such as a Rolex sub are usually recommended to be cleaned every 5 years but I've read hints that some people are now saying you can go 10 years. The movement in the SKX007 is generally recognized to last much longer with no maintenance. I've owned at least 10 of them but I did have one that died before its time. But you don't buy a mechanical watch because you think it will last a long time, you buy it because you like the mechanism in a mechanical watch. For that reason I wear mechanical watches most of the time.

Going on 17 years with my Baume & Mercier (chrono, no less). Gonna' suck if it ever stops working.

To the OP: 60 seconds is 60 seconds no matter what watch you wear. If you need to be convinced to spend more than you have in the past (which you don't seem to complain about), then you should go with what works for you.

Then again, my wife got me a SECOND watch storage box that I half-filled just with the watches my primary box has no room for (it only holds 16)...

 

[crom]

Digging my $108 Invicta Grand Diver with the 24 jewel NH35A movement, same as found in the Seiko Monsters. I have watch freak friends, I am just not ready/able to spend the kind of money they do. But I do appreciate the watches they covet. Also, I am hard on gear, I wear this watch everywhere and do not baby it. Oceans, rivers, pools, beaches, kayaking, mountain biking and hiking, it's a tough good looking watch. The same can not be said for my friends who will spend $800 for a Rolex servicing, $800 for a tune up!!

 

[cchu518]

Going on 17 years with my Baume & Mercier (chrono, no less). Gonna' suck if it ever stops working.

To the OP: 60 seconds is 60 seconds no matter what watch you wear. If you need to be convinced to spend more than you have in the past (which you don't seem to complain about), then you should go with what works for you.

Then again, my wife got me a SECOND watch storage box that I half-filled just with the watches my primary box has no room for (it only holds 16)...

I think Rob has it spot on. I use to collect watches for fun. I had Omega Seamasters ome for each decade from the 50s through 90s, a few Rolexes. It ended up being a lot like knife collecting. I enjoyed learning all the differences between what makes a good watch and what makes a bad watch for me.

Your choice in the Timex weekender or a Seiko 5 in that $20 to under $100 price range gets you some of the most legible watch faces ever. They all accessorize well too.

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[Ronin_Jedi]

Being a watch enthusiast I've owned a lot of watches and still own a lot of watches.....

Seiko makes good watches, and a Seiko automatic might last 20 years.....

You might be able to buy a Seiko automatic for under $100 if you find the right place to buy it, but walk into your local mall jewelry store and it might be over $200.

Hi,

FYI: My Seiko dive watch has been running over 30 yrs. Only replaced the batteries, no other maintenance, though I did take a stainless steel band off of a cheap watch, which turned out very nice.

Questions: As I gave the watch to my son, looking for new watch. Know of any websites that offer searchable databases to filter what's out there? Can do this to some extent at Amazon but ....

Second, you mention paying higher for a (Seiko) watch at mall jewelry store. True. So any suggestions of better (fair price and reliable) places to buy from?

Thanks

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[BITEME]

Yes you will be able to tell the difference your wrist will automatically know that you are being a skin-flint,sorry very true though ....I like deep blue tritium watches,esp. the Swiss made, very nice watches ,I also have a casio g-shock atomic solar...super nice and rugged ,the one thing I don't like about the rubber watches is the watch far out lasts the band in my experience,that being said I do think the digital watches can take a bit more abuse(jogging,biking,hammering,etc..)

 

[Charlie Mike]

Get a Seiko Monster and be done.

The SKX007 lasted me through an infantry tour in Iraq and 5 more years until I have it to a friend.

 

[steve-in-kville]

Glad to see this thread still going. I need to get something ASAP. My old Timex is on its last leg. I have a few picked out, just need to decide.

 

[Ronin_Jedi]

Glad to see this thread still going. I need to get something ASAP. My old Timex is on its last leg. I have a few picked out, just need to decide.

Wrist-mounted sundial? LOL

Let us know what you get, inquiring minds want to know, and I for one am thinking of getting a new one. Haven't worn one in years.

Best

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[steve-in-kville]

Its come down to this:

Timex Expedition T49905. Quartz movement, chrono, most everything I want at an affordable price.

 

[Fanglekai]

I've had a Casio Waveceptor for years. Automatically keeps time and resets itself to the time from an atomic clock every night. It's solar rechargeable so i haven't changed a battery in years. It has a metal band that isn't wearing out. It has a bunch of features. I paid under $100 for it