Watch Recommendation

[jmflem]

I never wear a watch on a day to day basis, but I'm thinking I might change that. I know nothing about watches, so any information you might have would be helpful (good and bad brands, etc.). I'm looking for a watch as a time telling device more than for fashion. I'd like something simple and unobtrusive, since I'm not used to wearing a watch and I have small wrists. A date counter would be nice. I may consider putting a paracord band on the watch head also so a removable band would be nice. My budget is around $30-$50ish. If you have any recommendations please let me know. Thanks!

 

[texas gun person]

I'll toss out a Seiko 5 at $49 over on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNK809-...e=UTF8&qid=1404094431&sr=8-1&keywords=seiko+5

They're also pretty small as far as a watch goes, and that can be important to someone who doesn't wear a watch. Prepare for G-Shock recommendations, and I have 2, but they're just big and clunky in my opinion.

Check out the Timex Weekender too. Very casual. They don't have a date window, but hey, it's $30. They are good little watches for the price, and they look good too.

 

[jmflem]

I'll toss out a Seiko 5 at $49 over on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNK809-...e=UTF8&qid=1404094431&sr=8-1&keywords=seiko+5

They're also pretty small as far as a watch goes, and that can be important to someone who doesn't wear a watch. Prepare for G-Shock recommendations, and I have 2, but they're just big and clunky in my opinion.

Check out the Timex Weekender too. Very casual. They don't have a date window, but hey, it's $30. They are good little watches for the price, and they look good too.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll have to look into this one. Like I said I don't know much about watches, so how is Seiko's quality and reliability?

 

[joepa150]

In your price range it might be tough. I personally like Citizen, then Seiko for everyday watches.
You might be able to find a Citizen online as well as Seiko like listed above.
http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Quart...&qid=1404097063&sr=8-9&keywords=Citizen+watch

OR http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Quart...qid=1404097119&sr=8-11&keywords=Citizen+watch

For a rugged watch that isn't really dressy so it might not go with your work attire if you are in a field that dresses up, is Casio Gshock watches. Rugged and many varieties.

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-G100-1B...ie=UTF8&qid=1404097215&sr=8-1&keywords=Gshock

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-DW9052-...ie=UTF8&qid=1404097215&sr=8-3&keywords=Gshock

 

[KrabbyKakes]

If you are completely new to watches, than the best thing to learn is the difference between mechanical and quartz watches (If you don't know already ).

A mechanical watch uses gears to keep time. You either manually wind the crown (the thing sticking out of the case, usually by the 3 or 4 o'clock position) or buy a weight that swings back and forth when your arm moves. Most are powered by swinging weights, and will usually be described as a hand winding watch if it isn't.

Quartz is just a fancy term for battery operated. Every couple of years or so they will need to be replaced, but other than that, you have nothing to worry about.

Quartz watches are usually more accurate, because there are no moving parts. That's not to say that mechanicals are extremely inaccurate. High end watches can lose only a couple of seconds every month, lower end ones will obviously not do as well. I lost about 20 seconds a day with my Seiko SNK807.


Mechanicals

Seikos are highly recommended for low cost and beginners watches. I started with the same model that Texas posted, except it was the blue version.

Another popular brand is Citizen, but they are a little more expensive. Most are over $100.

Another brand is Vostok. They are a Russian brand that some like, I personally think that most of their watches are ugly.


Quartz

I don't know many quartz watches. Casio is a very respectable brand. Timex is also another good brand.


Try some watch forums for more info. Most people on there are going to point you to the Seiko that Texas posted, but you can always try.

Good Luck! - Kris

 

[texas gun person]

Hey, I like all my Vostoks. ^^ Actually wearing one of my Komandirskies right now.

 

[jmflem]

In your price range it might be tough. I personally like Citizen, then Seiko for everyday watches.
You might be able to find a Citizen online as well as Seiko like listed above.
http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Quart...&qid=1404097063&sr=8-9&keywords=Citizen+watch

OR http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Quart...qid=1404097119&sr=8-11&keywords=Citizen+watch

For a rugged watch that isn't really dressy so it might not go with your work attire if you are in a field that dresses up, is Casio Gshock watches. Rugged and many varieties.

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-G100-1B...ie=UTF8&qid=1404097215&sr=8-1&keywords=Gshock

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-DW9052-...ie=UTF8&qid=1404097215&sr=8-3&keywords=Gshock

Thanks for your recommendations. The Citizens seem a little too dressy and the G-Shock a little too "tactical" and way too big for me. Personally, I'd prefer something more casual. I'm quite liking the automatic feature of the Seiko 5, just I feel like I'd have to fiddle with adjusting it quite often (maybe not, I don't know).

 

[jmflem]

If you are completely new to watches, than the best thing to learn is the difference between mechanical and quartz watches (If you don't know already ).

A mechanical watch uses gears to keep time. You either manually wind the crown (the thing sticking out of the case, usually by the 3 or 4 o'clock position) or buy a weight that swings back and forth when your arm moves. Most are powered by swinging weights, and will usually be described as a hand winding watch if it isn't.

Quartz is just a fancy term for battery operated. Every couple of years or so they will need to be replaced, but other than that, you have nothing to worry about.

Quartz watches are usually more accurate, because there are no moving parts. That's not to say that mechanicals are extremely inaccurate. High end watches can lose only a couple of seconds every month, lower end ones will obviously not do as well. I lost about 20 seconds a day with my Seiko SNK807.


Mechanicals

Seikos are highly recommended for low cost and beginners watches. I started with the same model that Texas posted, except it was the blue version.

Another popular brand is Citizen, but they are a little more expensive. Most are over $100.

Another brand is Vostok. They are a Russian brand that some like, I personally think that most of their watches are ugly.


Quartz

I don't know many quartz watches. Casio is a very respectable brand. Timex is also another good brand.


Try some watch forums for more info. Most people on there are going to point you to the Seiko that Texas posted, but you can always try.

Good Luck! - Kris

How often would you have to readjust your Seiko 5? Can you just readjust the time or do you have to take the back plate off and adjust it to faster/slower (I looked up a video on YT for info on automatic watch adjusting). I would prefer not having to replace batteries but if I have to fiddle with removing the back plate of the watch every couple weeks or so with an auto I'd find that annoying as well.

 

[cchu518]

Timex weekender!

 

[texas gun person]

I'm quite liking the automatic feature of the Seiko 5, just I feel like I'd have to fiddle with adjusting it quite often (maybe not, I don't know).

I'm not familiar with the accuracy of the movement (the time keeping mechanism) in the Seiko 5, but after a quick look through watchuseek (a very large watch forum) most people report around 5 seconds all the way to 20 seconds a day that is lost. Pretty standard for automatics.

I rotate my watches enough that any automatics I have have stopped and I have to adjust the time again anyway... no winders here.

 

[Metal Made Fox]

I never wear a watch on a day to day basis, but I'm thinking I might change that.

Smart thinking. I'm happy to see someone taking the first step into upping their style.

I'm looking for a watch as a time telling device more than for fashion.

Good... A smart man NEVER thinks of his watch as a fashion or status symbol. However a smart man also knows that his watch does not only tell time but represents his relationship with time.

I may consider putting a paracord band on the watch head also so a removable band would be nice.

This is an utter sin in the world of horology, please never do this to a timepiece. You need a leather strap my friend, or at least a brushed stainless steel bracelet.

My budget is around $30-$50ish. If you have any recommendations please let me know. Thanks!

:barf: Stop right there and reconsider! You're going to need to spend at least $5,000 for a real watch.

If you're going to purchase a timepiece to use and cherish everyday don't cheap yourself out like that. Buy at least one GOOD timepiece that will last you a lifetime and be historically/horologically meaningful. By that I mean buy from a company that has a well established and respected history/reputation and makes their movements in house. Omega and Rolex are decent brands to start off with. Hopefully you realize that a watch is an essential piece to a man's style and I don't mean any watch. I am talking about watches with horological value. Look up these brands: Patek Phillipe, A Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin. These are arguably the best watch brands in the world, and no they are not status symbols. They are works of art. When I wear my $92,000 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, I don't wear it to impress anyone but myself.

However if you truly do not want to spend that money for a timepiece then do yourself a favor and just buy a good Seiko or Orient. They are good watches with in house movements and a moderately respectable history. Just for the love of God please do not buy a quartz watch!

 

[Bob6794]

If you look around you can pick up a Citizen Eco Drive for around $70, and these are some very nice solidly built watches. Practically no maintence on them as long as you let them soak up light occasionally or even better wear them or put them on top of the dresser so they can continue soaking up light. I have one of the cheapest ones which have a 6month reserve on the battery if you toss it in a drawel with a full charge and it never sees daylight again.

G-Shocks are an easy reccomendation as already stated and in your budget. So is a Timix Weekender, a very simple easy to read face. I've heard good things about Seiko's solar powered watches as well so I would look into that though that may also be a bit out of your budget.

If you think this will be a purchase you will carry with you till it dies than may I suggest increasing the budget another $30-100 and you can get a lot more options in what is essentially maintenance free watches with some of the nice quality solar powered watches. Well worth it in my opinion. I plan on wearing my 2 citizens I bought till they are completely dead, which may take awhile as they say in 20 years they still have 80% max capacity, and in 40 the battery or whatever they are using will probably die. So far the eco drives came out in the 90's I believe and the early adopters have no issue with them as long as they didn't abuse the dang thing and let it soak up light occasionally.

 

[KrabbyKakes]

To set the time on an automatic, all you do is pull the crown out a little bit, maybe about .5mm. You should hear an audible and feel as it clicks into place. That usually adjusts the day and date. Pull it out a little bit more and you can adjust the time. There is no need to take the case back off unless you are going to modify the watch.

Be careful about Eco-Drives. I have had multiple people tell me that after a several years, you have to replace the Eco-Drive battery. They last longer than normal batteries but seem like they would be quite a bit more expensive.

 

[Harayasu]

How often would you have to readjust your Seiko 5? Can you just readjust the time or do you have to take the back plate off and adjust it to faster/slower (I looked up a video on YT for info on automatic watch adjusting). I would prefer not having to replace batteries but if I have to fiddle with removing the back plate of the watch every couple weeks or so with an auto I'd find that annoying as well.

If you wear your Seiko 5 every day, you'll probably have to adjust it once a week. My least accurate Seiko 5 is about 10 seconds too slow each day, so after a week, it is about 1 minute behind. That's fine with me. Adjusting is easy, just pull out the crown, like on almost every analog watch, and adjust the time.

For quartz options you could also take a look at brands like Casio and Timex. Casio has a wide range of quartz watches and my experience with Casio is that they're really good quality. A lot of Casio watches are nowadays equipped with a battery which should last at least 10 year, depending on how you use it of course (especially the digital watches have a lot of functions which consume extra energy).

 

[jmflem]

:barf: Stop right there and reconsider! You're going to need to spend at least $5,000 for a real watch.

$5,000? You do realize that's a $4,950 difference from what I was originally willing to pay, which is a lot of money to normal people. That's like telling a man who wants to buy a Toyota to buy a Buggati instead if he wants a "real car". Thank you for your recommendations but I will not be considering any of them.

This is an utter sin in the world of horology, please never do this to a timepiece. You need a leather strap my friend, or at least a brushed stainless steel bracelet.

I can do what I please. Thank you.

 

[spicyshrimp]

There are good watches within your price range, and I also recommend Casio. It is a very good brand and has alot of selection within your price range. I especially like the solar powered ones, since I don't have to deal with changing battery ever.

 

[texas gun person]

$5,000? You do realize that's a $4,950 difference from what I was originally willing to pay, which is a lot of money to normal people. That's like telling a man who wants to buy a Toyota to buy a Buggati instead if he wants a "real car". Thank you for your recommendations but I will not be considering any of them.

.

<-- My feelings reading that post.

 

[cchu518]

Hey OP. Trust me on the Timex Weekender suggestion. I took your needs in consideration when recommending it. It's a no muss, no fuss battery operated watch. However in terms of style it has extremely clean lines and normally comes on a NATO strap.

The eco drives are very good but not in the price range you asked about and the mechanical watches only have about a 38 hour power reserve so you have to be constantly wearing it. The Weekender needs no adjustment and is pretty accurate. It also fits small to medium wrists really well. In general you are looking for a 38MM watch, these are medium size watches which is contrary to the long running recent trend of giant watches. You can wear the weekender with anything.

 

[Metal Made Fox]

$5,000? You do realize that's a $4,950 difference from what I was originally willing to pay, which is a lot of money to normal people.

You do realize that I'm trying to tell you that you NEED to spend much more than $50.00 for a true timepiece right? It's not about the money, it's about your SELF respect. Any man worth his salt knows that a significant timepiece is crucial to his persona.

Thank you for your recommendations but I will not be considering any of them.

For your own sake, at least consider spending an extra $150.00 for a Seiko or Orient.

I can do what I please. Thank you.

Hey, I'm just trying to prevent you from going outside and looking like an idiot. If you want to look like an idiot then by all means put your little paracord strap on whichever meaningless watch you choose to buy. It'll go great with your personality. :thumbup:

 

[W.M.B.]

$5,000? You do realize that's a $4,950 difference from what I was originally willing to pay, which is a lot of money to normal people. That's like telling a man who wants to buy a Toyota to buy a Buggati instead if he wants a "real car". Thank you for your recommendations but I will not be considering any of them.



I can do what I please. Thank you.

my Timex keeps great time, and has for many years. it gets a new battery every couple years and its good to go. and if I knew how to make a decent strap from para cord, I would consider this a viable option, as the leather strap is nearing the end of its useful life. I think of more people were strong enough to"do as they please," the world just might be a better place.