Need opinions - buying a man's watch

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Danelle O'Shea

Joined
Mar 22, 2001
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I know many of you are avid watch collectors, or know a thing or two about men's watches...I do NOT.

Mark currently wears a POS that came from Kmart. I think it was $10.

I'd like to get him something nice for Christmas, and am looking on ebay, but I really don't know what's good and what's crap. I'd like to get a good deal on one, but I need to know some good brand names (Not Rolex..doh) and how much I can expect to pay.

He likes the two tone gold/silver jobbies with a simple face and a second hand.

I'd like to pay around $60. Maybe a little more.

Any suggestions?
 
I bought a Seiko watch two years ago when I started college. Gold and titanium, with a kinetic movement, simple face and a date window. I have had no problems with it, so you might want to look at Seiko's.

One warning, I am by no means a watch expert so don't take this advice as having to much weight.;)
 
You cant really go wrong with a Casio G-Shock,there are a few that I am sure fall in to the price range you mentioned. Ebay has a ton of them. Good luck:)
 
Perhaps a Pulsar? Made by Seiko so you know it's good. My cousin has had one for about 2 months and really likes it.
Good luck,
Matt
 
Originally posted by Danelle O'Shea
I know many of you are avid watch collectors, or know a thing or two about men's watches...I do NOT.

Mark currently wears a POS that came from Kmart. I think it was $10.

I'd like to get him something nice for Christmas, and am looking on ebay, but I really don't know what's good and what's crap. I'd like to get a good deal on one, but I need to know some good brand names (Not Rolex..doh) and how much I can expect to pay.

He likes the two tone gold/silver jobbies with a simple face and a second hand.

I'd like to pay around $60. Maybe a little more.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
You might want to take a look at Citizen watches, as some of their models are exactly what you are looking for...HOWEVER, I would go with the Casio G-Shock suggestion myself, as those are much more "manly" than those 2-tone sissy watches.:D.

PS...Get him a Casio G-Shock DW-6600. I have one, and it's one of my favorites.
 
eBay is a good place to look and get a good deal. You might try a search for some of the name brands like Citizen, Seiko, even Invicta, although they might end up being a bit over the $60 mark. Here's an example, just on the Citizens:

eBay Citizen Two Tone--men

I like the Eco-Drive or Kinetic watches since it means no battery maintenance, and unlike an automatic, no winding or paying attention to them, just getting the time :)
 
Great suggestions so far. I like the Citizen two tones, and am "watching" a few. The g-shock ones are totally not his style...

I knew I could count on y'all!
 
I don't know if this will help, but I saw some very tasteful Swiss Army watches out there in that price range.
 
Look for Fossil Watches too. I've had mine for years and never had a problem. They come in hundreds of styles so I'm sure you can find one that will suit him nicely.
 
Bought my friend a Fossil that was about 140CDN, and it was discounted to 80CDN.
I use a Casio Water Resistant watch with calculator. It's very similar to the one that my mom bought me back in Grade 2 (that thing never did need a battery change, something is screwed up and they no longer make the parts). I got it for $20 CDN.
I don't mind to get an analog one myself.
 
I'll move this thread to Gadgets & Gear -- and Danelle, you might want to search that forum; there's quite a bit of discussion of watches there.
 
Invicta, Seiko, Pulsar, and Citizen all have models that should be suitable. Good luck.

Paul
 
I love Seikos although I don't currently own one, but my boy just bought himself a kinetic Diver and really likes it. I think in your price range a better Casio is the way to go. I have a Casio beater that's not even a G Shock but has taken a pounding over the tears and just keeps going.

Fossil makes over 60% of all the fashion watches currently available and the quality varies widely. They have a huge market share but are all about the look, not the substance. I read an interesting article in Wired magazine a few months ago about watches and they were one of the featured manufacturer's.

As far as Citizen goes, the one my wife bought me for our fourth (dating) anniversary has been back to the factory four times and still can't seem to go more than nine months on a battery, but everyone thinks it looks great! It just sits on a shelf these days.

I seem to be having much better luck with the Omega Seamaster Pro she got me for my 40th a little over a year ago. Gotta love mechanicals, no batteries to wear out...:)

Someone above mentioned Invicta. I believe you can get into an Invicta or a Poljot mechanical watch for under $200.00, but nowhere near $60.00.

jmx
 
Hello Danelle,

You say you don't know much about watches. You're on the right track asking about them here. I would say two things to you.

1) $60 is a little on the low end for a watch. Yes, I know you can get many bargains, but you truly do get what you pay for. I know there are some that pay thousands of dollars for watches (count me in that group), but I seriously think you might need to revise your estimate a little bit. There is nothing wrong with Seiko or Citizen for a budget conscious watch buyer.

2) Two-tone watches at this price point tend to be really cheap. For $60 or so, you have to understand the plating is going to be really thin, and probably start to wear off in short order. There are many watch afficianados who do not like two-tones at all, however, I would especially shy away from two-tones on a sub $100 watch. The bracelet is going to be a thinly plated piece of *junk* at the price point.

So in answer to your question, I'd take a look at Seiko or Citizen. You can buy an honest watch for not much more than your figure. I'd stay clear of junk fashion watches put out by Fossil, Guess, Kenneth Cole and the like.
 
Call Fossil "junk" all you want, I've had mine for over a year and never had ANY problems with it, never replaced a battery, lost time, nothing, and it has a classic look to it.

I have owned junk watches in my life, this is not one of them. I had a pulsar for a few years that gave me more trouble and in the end the crown fell out and the cheapest estimate I got to repair it was $70. I think I'll stick with what I know works.

Oh, just food for though, My dad has an older Omega that stopped, but no one has the parts for it anymore. We even sent it to Omega who kept it for 6 months before telling us there was nothing we could do. Sure, it was a great watch when it was working, but now it's nothing more than a pretty package. With the number of Fossil watches out there, I'm pretty sure if mine breaks I can either find parts to fix it, or just get another one without being upset about having my $1000 watch stop.
 
There is no such thing as an Omega that can't be fixed for lack of parts. The factories don't keep parts for vintage watches, but good watchmakers can get them (can make any part themselves if necessary, but it's not going to be necessary for an Omega of any age). Post on the Watchmaking & Repair forum or the Vintage forum at www.timezone.com -- somebody there can help you.

Saying a Fossil ran for over a year with no problem is not much of a testimony; any $5 junk watch can do that these days. A Fossil is better than a $5 watch, of course. "Junk" is a relative term ... by the standards of watch buffs, a Fossil is a little like a Franklin Mint knife, something made for looks and overpriced for the quality, but it'll work; if you already own it and you like the looks of it, by all means wear it.
 
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