Help buying a watch

B

Brian.Evans

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Aug 20, 2011
Messages
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My wife gave me a $150 budget for my Christmas present.

I want a simple watch for every day and work wear. I'd really like a military style (all numbers or close to it).

I need
1. 100m WR
2. Decent quality movement, manual, auto, quartz or ecodrive.
3. Simple, easy to read dial
4. Non-cluttered dial!
5. Decent (5 HR+) lume. I need my watch to work when it needs to work.
6. No larger than 40mm, 38mm is perfect.
7. At least date, day and date ok.

I don't need 24 time markers. I'm a paramedic and we use 24 HR time exclusively, so I don't need reminded that 5 pm is 1700. :)

I have looked at the Seiko SNZG series, but dang! The dial is very busy, the numbers just seem like an afterthought.

I have an 8 1/4" wrist, which makes 18mm lugs hard to find bands. I'd much prefer 20 or 22m

I'd love to hear your ideas. My short list is
Seiko SBCA0001
Citizen BM8180
Precista PRS-10
Bertucci A-2?

I would like to see wrist shots if you have them.
 
Check out this place for a great selection of Seikos.
http://www.pmwf.com/Watches/Watch%20Sales%20Table.htm
I used to be into high end watches like IWC, Rolex, Omega etc.
Got rid of all of them and bought a nice Automatic Seiko Diver for a little over $200.
Here it is:
http://www.pmwf.com/Watches/WATCHSALES03/SEIKOSNM0011K1BLACKSTEELSamurai/SEIKOSNM011K1BLACKSamuraiStainlessSteel.htm
Unfortunately, they don't make that particular model any more.
I'm a big fan of Seikos, specially the Automatics.
Fit and finish on them is just about as good as the brands I mentioned above.
If you bump up your budget another $50-100 or so, you can get a very nice one.
If the $150 budget is set in stone, check out the Seiko 5 line.
They have a separate page on the site I mentioned above.
Good luck.
Lenny
 
^^^^ The Seiko 5's should be right up your alley. They come in a plethora of different styles, everything from Military to very contemporary. I like the larger Sport series myself.
 
If you're willing to buy grey market or pre-owned, you should be able to afford. Most of these are available in either automatic or quarts movements. And, also look at the previous versions of these exact model names.

Victorinox Infantry
1298423_fpx.tif


Victorinox Officer
victorinox-classic-officers-day-date-mechanical-watch-241546.jpg


Hamilton Khaki
esq-hamilton-khaki-automatic-0711-lg.jpg


Tissot PRS 516
192747d1244473572-show-off-your-tissot-prs516-auto-quartz-here-tissotprs5161yb4.jpg
 
CEM65009D-2.jpg


The Orient Ray can be found for less of what you're willing to pay.

Orient%20Ray%20Pure%2010-08-2012%203.jpg


(not my photo) and comes in black if you like it.
 
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Pulsar PXH035

IMG_0099.JPG


You have to order this from a UK dealer, it is definitely available but not distributed here. Well under your budget.

The only wrist shot I could find was on Prince Harry. He's wearing the G10 (UK MOD) version of this watch.

4056254119_c9f5aaaa30_o.jpg


Citizen BM6400-00E

0440534a.jpg


120953d1218296192-citizen-bm6400-00e-hands-small-eco3.jpg


Good lume

Citizen%2520BM6400-00E%2520Eco-Drive%255B5%255D.jpg


200M WR, 40mm case, $110 online, but there's one catch and that's the strap. It's a wider version of the strap on BM8180 and you will probably want to change it, but lug width is 21mm — an oddball size. Nylon and leather are forgiving about 1mm but steel is unyielding. Tung Choy has 21mm if you want steel, but his Super Engineer bracelet would put you $35 over budget.
 
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Well, if it's good enough for Prince Harry........

Anyone know what his wrist size is? Maybe I will write him? Any of our UK members know how to do that?

:)
 
The orient blue mako that was posted is a fantastic watch that you can buy directly from the manufacturer for 100.00. In house automatic movement for that price is pretty good. I have one,runs just as good as my Hamilton does,but doesn't have a sapphire crystal or hackable second hand.
 
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