Mid-priced watches

[xxguitarist]

I currently own a very basic Seiko for dress, Pulsar chrono for everyday, and a gifted "RELIC wet" which is currently serving surf/saliing/etc duty- don't care too much if I lose it.
I was hoping for some input on what I'd think of as mid-priced watches, ones available for maybe 200-400. I was browsing overstock.com for them, as they seem to bring a number of brands down into my potential price range.
I've heard of invicta, but I'm unaware of the quality.
This was my first time hearing of haurex and swiss legend. Any opinions there?
Seiko would be my fallback as I'm comfortable with their quality and durability.
This watch should be fairly durable, waterproof, and something extra on the face like a chronograph would be nice.

I used a google search & browsed the last 10 pages- I'm sure this has been asked before but I just can't find it.

 

[RLR]

Citizen Eco Drives are nice. Go to their website and click your parameters and it'll spit out all the watches that match your criteria. What I like is that with no battery to change, the case never really has to be opened. There are TONS of features and they are nice looking, accurate and reliable.

citizenwatch.com

Enjoy your search.

 

[pilotmx5]

bought a TX 700 series about a year ago. love it! Dressy yet rugged, has a overall divers look, a stopwatch, easy to read and my favorite feature: a compass. Use it all the time in unfamiliar cities/ bets with friends and the such. Paid about 500$ for it at the time. Only thing i don't like.. the gitd isn't that great at night.

 

[sffar]

I agree Citizen Eco Drives are nice. So are Seikos. Overstock has some very nice deals on Hamilton's. One real nice one (I've got my eye on) is the Khaki Navy Diver with the internal rotating bezel. http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...avy-Mens-Automatic-Watch/2582116/product.html Hamilton's are excellent watches for the money, and this one's got a good solid ETA 2824 automatic movement. It's said to be much darker than in the photograph. The strap looks so-so, but you can always change that. Good luck!

 

[xxguitarist]

I hadn't realized that there were citizens quite that affordable, actually.
The citizen eco-drive 200m BM6210-56E looks nice!

As does the eco drive wr100 AT0400-57E

 

[RLR]

I just got that last one you posted! It's nice, BUT, super light and more dressy than rugged. Just so you are aware, but you do have excellent taste!

 

[Pshrynk]

Invicta, Swiss legend Haurex are all pretty much fashion watches -- Meehhh not so great.

Lots of different Seiko automatics out there -- always the best bang for the buck.

Hamilton perhaps?

... or spend a little more and get a Marathon -- not chronographs at that price -- but very cool looking, bullet proof watches.

http://www.broadarrow.net/sale.htm

Go look at some of the unique brands in the forums here http://www.timetechtalk.com/ -- Debaufre, Dievas, Orsa, Boschett -- all affordable small production watches that are pretty unique.

Go to watchuseek forums and poke around a bit lots of ideas there.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/index.php

 

[ADD]

Invicta?

Walk quickly away, keep your head down and don't turn around...

Seikos, Citizens, and Hamiltons are all great recommendations. :thumbup:
Also, Alba, Orient, and Sandoz.

 

[xxguitarist]

Invicta, Swiss legend Haurex are all pretty much fashion watches -- Meehhh not so great.

Lots of different Seiko automatics out there -- always the best bang for the buck.

Hamilton perhaps?

... or spend a little more and get a Marathon -- not chronographs at that price -- but very cool looking, bullet proof watches.

http://www.broadarrow.net/sale.htm

By the Seiko automatics, do you mean true (mechanical) autos or their electronic auto type thing?

Invicta?

Walk quickly away, keep your head down and don't turn around...

Seikos, Citizens, and Hamiltons are all great recommendations. :thumbup:
Also, Alba, Orient, and Sandoz.

Exactly the types of feedback I was looking for from you two, thanks!
I'll take a look at marathon.



[edit]

This shows my current pulsar for purposes of my taste. I wear it hard enough that the bezel is worn to brass on the high points, and the crystal has a few small chips at the edges.
That kind of wear is why my current Seiko doesn't get worn every day.

 

[Pshrynk]

^^^^

I mean the Seiko mechanical autos -- all cool. The only downside of autos is that you need to wear them to keep em wound.

Look at the SKX 779 Black or SKX781 Orange Monsters to begin with or the SKX 007's or 009's all great affordable automatics.

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-Black-Monster-Automatic-SKX779K1/dp/B0006IHHN4

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-Orange-...r_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=watches&qid=1221495727&sr=1-1

http://www.caranfil.org/review_skx781_orange_monster.html

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-Divers-...r_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=watches&qid=1221495850&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-Automat...r_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=watches&qid=1221495877&sr=1-2

Can even get better prices than Amazon from grey market sellers in Asia.

The Marathons are freekin cool -- and the "REAL DEAL" in tactical watches.

http://www.marathonwatch.com/


I just ordered the Marathon SAR w/o Cyclops with the Maple Leaf steel band from http://www.chronoworld.com/new/product_details.php?product_id=244 It's the same watch the Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue techs are issued. http://www.ninanet.net/watches/others04/Mediums/mmarathon.html

It's cool because as it is missing the Cyclops and is hard to find.

 

[xxguitarist]

Marathons sure do look nice, but they get pricey with the stainless bracelet that I'd want.
I guess I'll have to chat with the checkbook a bit before deciding.

I like the look of the seiko monster, though that orange is a bit much for me. The bezel looks a little on the heavy/wide side, but perhaps that would grow on me. Sounds like it's a true water performance diver, which would be a big plus for me even if I generally grab my relic for the surfing/swimming/sailing duty. I soak/rinse it after salt water, but it's still corroding- don't care on this watch, though!

I knew this group would be a good one to ask for ideas on the watch, even if the marathon is akin to telling me to buy a sebbie rather than the CRKT S-2 I have on order.

 

[glockman99]

Get yourself a Citizen Eco-Drive. Period.

 

[Pshrynk]

Sounds like it's a true water performance diver, which would be a big plus for me even if I generally grab my relic for the surfing/swimming/sailing duty. I soak/rinse it after salt water, but it's still corroding- don't care on this watch, though!

I knew this group would be a good one to ask for ideas on the watch, even if the marathon is akin to telling me to buy a sebbie rather than the CRKT S-2 I have on order.

Yeah but for the water use you're talking about the Marathon SAR would be peeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrfect!!!!



http://www.ninanet.net/watches/other...mmarathon.html

The Monsters and 007 would be a good fit too -- but not as cool.

 

[R.H.Clark]

I've had a Citizen Echo-Drive all stainless wr200 with perpetual calender for about 8 years.I've treated it rough with no problems.I highly recommend one.

I bought mine at Zales on a 60% clearence sale.My local store runs a big clearence at least once a year.I think mine was about $140 on sale.

 

[sffar]

I's agree with Pshrynk, check out the watch forums. I like PMWF and Timezone especially. I enjoy my watches about as much as my knives, and have no problem buying used stuff. There are some great deals to be had that way. You might find a nice Marathon SAR for a few hundred bucks. A good watch is built to last, but plenty of people buy and sell 'em after wearing them in a rotation so they're in great shape. These forums have lots of good advice–much of which you've already heard in the responses to your thread!

 

[mycroftt]

Get yourself a Citizen Eco-Drive. Period.

I'm a big fan of the Citizen Eco-drive line too.

At home I have a Stilletto in gold-toned stainless - very thin and classy, and a WR100 in stainless with a black leather band with white stitching - nice looking watch.

On my wrist right now is my favorite, a Perpetual calendar watch with titanium case, bezel, and bracelet. It's a huge (45mm diameter, 13mm thick) great-looking sports watch.

All of these watches were in the $200 - $400 range.

 

[xxguitarist]

On my wrist right now is my favorite, a Perpetual calendar watch with titanium case, bezel, and bracelet. It's a huge (45mm diameter, 13mm thick) great-looking sports watch.

Thats a nice looking watch- Missed it because my searches didnt go that high in $$, I guess with discounts from MSRP it could come down into the upper range of my budget.

Is the SAR crystal recessed from the bezel?

By the way, Pshrynk, your link is broken.

Are virtually all current citizens the eco-drive? Is this a true (mechanical) automatic movement, or is it electronic like some of Seikos? I assume that the SAR is a true mechanical auto.

 

[ohen cepel]

A Zodiac maybe?

They had a good rep, haven't kept up with them in the last few years though.

 

[mycroftt]

On my wrist right now is my favorite, a Perpetual calendar watch with titanium case, bezel, and bracelet. It's a huge (45mm diameter, 13mm thick) great-looking sports watch.

All of these watches were in the $200 - $400 range.

Thats a nice looking watch- Missed it because my searches didnt go that high in $$, I guess with discounts from MSRP it could come down into the upper range of my budget.

Is the SAR crystal recessed from the bezel?

Right in the middle of your range - everybody is selling it for $280 - $300 now.

The crystal is not recessed from the bezel.

I like the BL5350-59L, too. If you wanted to stretch your range a bit you can get them for less than $420.

Oh - just saw your question about movement...electronic.

 

[xxguitarist]

Right in the middle of your range - everybody is selling it for $280 - $300 now.

The crystal is not recessed from the bezel.

Not being recessed worries me since I chipped the crystal on my pulsar, though I'm not sure how that happened!