Looking for a new watch.

sph3ric pyramid

sph3ric pyramid

Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
861
I have a couple of Seiko Monsters and a G-Shock that I wear regularly, but I've decided to look for a higher-end, more versatile watch. Budget of around $500 or so, automatic is a plus. If there's something decent in a lower price range, that's always good too.
 
There are actually quite a few choices out there for that budget. Depends on what styling you want. For a basic pilot style watch you can go with Fortis. I think they are around $400-$600.

If you want rugged watches you can also go for Oris. I think they have several in your price range for the F1 models. They are good quality swiss made watches.

Also look at Hamilton watches. They have quite nice automatics.

For a gadget factor you can go with the Tissot T-Touch range. My bro-in-law has one in titanium and it is cool. It's not an auto though.

If you don't mind not having an auto go for Citizen. The E210 is quite a nice chrono. Not sure about price though...maybe just a bit over your budget but it has all the features a person could want. Eco-drive, sapphire glass, titanium bracelet and a chrono. You should also look at the Citizen Navihawk.
 
I have one of these, which is fairly "cheap" and really light weight:
http://www.boccia.com/500watchseries.html

They use Titanium for even the little parts (clasp and rear cap, which are steel on a lot of other "titanium" watches), unless otherwise specified (like a steel band). The bands on most are leather, but you can get a solid titanium link band for $70.

Mine is not too thick and looks tastefully simple. Unfortunately they don't have an automatic date option that I know of. Unless you meant auto winding, in which case I don't know if they have those either. :)


Another watch I have is a Skagen, which is a little heavier but also slicker looking and cheaper. A little "common" though. See them in every danged mall cart.


St. Moritz is (I think) a Canadian company. They have a whole variety of nice dress and field watches. I have seen a very nice Rolex knockoff design they make. They use a variety of movements (quarts, windup, auto). Last I really looked they had some autos, but that was years ago. I never owned one.
http://www.st-moritz.com/pages/products.php
 
What do you guys think of the custom watches on Bill Yao's site? I particularly like the looks of the O&W based pilot watch, and everything's around $400, more or less.

The real basic Fortis pieces look great, too, and I'll look into the Oris pieces.

How do the higher-end Seikos and Citizens compare in quality? Also, how do O&W pieces compare? I've seen them for very reasonable prices.
 
Bill's watches are VERY trick. Not to mention pretty reasonable for what you get. A note: he's on vacation for the month of September. PLUS he's coming out with a Benrus tribute watch soon. His work is very much worth recommending.

Don't know anything about Fortis really, just that its supposed to be a good swiss watch.

As for high end Seiko, it depends on what you're talking about. The 7s26 movement is proprietary to Seiko, whereas the myota movement in a lot of Citizen autos is sold to a lot of other companies (I believe the low-end Invicta watches have the Myota). I like the 7s26 just for the proprietary aspect. Although, I think the spring-drive seikos are nice as well- if a bit pricey. As for the REAL high-end Seikos (Credor, and King Seiko), I don't think Citizen really makes anything in that class.

Oh, the Tissot Seastar is a nice watch for an auto as well.

Just my .02, and worth what you paid for it.

Oh, and the next watch I plan to buy is the Orsa Sea Angler. Anyhoo, lots of great watches for your price range, good luck with the decision and let us know what you get.

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
Hi sph3ric pyramid-

Do a search with "watch" as the keyword and you'll be rewarded with these results for your reading pleasure. Good luck!

~ Blue Jays ~
 
I also had a Tissot that I really enjoyed. Sold it to upgrade to an Omega SMP...but still miss it and if things were different, would still be wearing it.
 
Bill Yao is a real person, making real watches, not some corporate conglomerate bent on making the almighty dollar. He's got quality work, giving you choices you would not have in any other watch (although I wish he would make a chrono) and is an all around nice guy. If none of that matters, one day, maybe a hundred years from now, some nut like one of us is gonna sit there and pay ten times what watches are worth at the time for a "Bill Yao original from 2005"...
That's my take...
 
Well, you didn't say what KIND of watch you wanted. (Sort of like saying, "I want to buy a knife..." ;-) You have a couple of "dive" style watches. Are you looing for more of a pilot's watch, or looking to stick with the "diver" genre.

I just bought a Marathon, the new quartz is cheaper (AND tritium!) but I wanted the auto. They are built like tanks!

SAR

A good selection of good watches at good prices is also:

West Coast Time

He carries some of the Yao's as well.

also check: CountyComm

I'm also a big fan of the Zulu nylon straps...

It was also good advice to check the Hamilton lines. You can get a good automatic movement with a SAPPHIRE crystal for about $400. It won't be flashy, but it will be solid and dependable. I also have the Hamilton version of the T-Touch watch. It is very cool, but it lacks a backlight for the LCD portion.

Hope this all help....

BillB
 
GarageBoy said:
TAG Heuer is one to avoid. Too much money for not enough watch
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree with that one, Personally if you're going to buy Swiss I'd stick with Rolex (my preferrence) or Omega (especially the Seamaster Pro). Also there is nothing at all wrong with buying a pre-owned Omega or Rolex and saving plenty of money.

Seiko auto divers ROCK (I have one and love it). But as of late I have become a fan of Citizen eco-drive, it runs without wearing it, is scary accurate, even for a quartz and they are very durable. I've got a Skyhawk (EXCELLENT watch, which actually replaced the Seiko as my every day watch, something I thought would never happen) retails for like 400 dollars, but you can beat that I got mine for like 150. My next watch purchase will be the eco-drive Nighthawk (similar to a WWII pilot's watch) if I'd seen it before buying the Skyhawk I'd have it now instead, they also make a 300M professional diver in eco-drive that is an absolute tank. Just one thing, if you go eco-drive make sure you DON'T store the watch in a drawer, they can run for 6 months without light but I have heard storing them in total darkness for prolonged periods can mess them up, mine however has ran perfectly for about 2 years, but I always store it on my dresser, not in a box or drawer. ;) good luck a man can't have too many watches
 
how about a vostok europe K3 submariner dive watch

31 jewels...automatic....super luminova....real nice blue face and bezel...can be manually wound or use automatic......$185
 
Get yourself a Casio Protrek Tough Solar SPF-70-1V...Unless you are hung-up on getting a "name watch", such as Rolex, Tissot, Omega, etc...
 
I have one of the Casio Protrek's as well. I consider it my "Jeeping" watch.

Dang durable and has most everything you need out-of-doors and also doesn't have one thing you DON'T need - a dead battery.

Compass, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, backlight - I keep it next to me in my tent to see just how bad I'm freezing my butt of, or if I'm just being a wimp.

BillB
 
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