Watches

[Josh K]

To the watch aficionados, I really want an automatic that also has either tritium or some other lighted method other than light absorbing paint(not sure if that even exist in an automatic) for a budget no more than $350 and that's pushing it. I'm probably only fooling my self since it probably doesn't exist in that price range with those options but I thought I would see if anyone knew of such a watch. thanks, Trevor~

You can probably find someone (on a watch forum) that will install trit. tubes in an existing watch. Grab a cheap-er automatic and have it done. I saw a couple of pictures of someone who had it done to a Lum-Tec, that one looked sweet.

 

[truun]

Well there Sidetechnik, you have been blessed with a storm of excellent suggestions. IMHO, the results may may be summarized as :

1. have one or two EDC watches that provide the functions you want for day-to-day and perhaps 'hobby' situations (camping, jogging, etc.); and

2. have x number of watches suitable for special events where the prime purpose is status-enhancement (usually social and business).

Like a knife, the watch is a tool and it should be matched to the requirements for the 'job'!

That said, for an EDC i would support the choice of a Casio Wavemaker as it is a set-and-forget piece that never needs a battery or time adjustment. There are other Casio models with the wireless time-setting and solar charging features so you can get a design you like with little effort.

For a 'status' watch, i'd get a used mechanical Swiss movement item made by a top maker, but NOT Rolex (too 'common' and too many are knock-offs). Do not buy a quartz if status is the purpose. Almost all such movements are made by just two or three massive factories who supply the world! With a quartz, past the first $50 - and i am being generous - all the extra goes for the case and profit. A Girard-Perregaux, Baume & Mercier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, etc., are all fine choices, and there are many more honoured brands but please avoid 'designer' brands if you truly require status. If you use a 'status' piece frequently, then consider buying new, but the added cost isn't worth it if it only for occasional use. A ton of quality advice is available in various watch forums about 'mechanicals' and the recommended manufacturers. You will discover which well-known brands are basically 'hollow' and which ones are regarded as 'real' - revealing and interesting stuff! I just went through the same exercise that you are doing now and i had a fun time and learned a lot!

 

[trevytrev]

Thanks Josh, I'll have to search around and see who does something like that. I really like the Seiko 5 design and wish they had something along the lines of tritium dials. I might just save a bit more and step up to a watch that has it already. Any good suggetions for automatics with tritium? Thanks, Trevor~

 

[65535]

http://www.gnomonwatches.com/Ollech&WajsMP2063.htm

I ran across that watch the other day on another forum, it says tritium, not sure if that is accurate, but it's a good looking watch.

 

[somber]

trevytrev:

Ball watches have tritium and can be had for around $1k+, the movements are good and the company has some pretty great looking designs.

 

[spiralarchitect]

I have a Marathon GSAR with tritium... I like tritium, but, a quality watch with a nice lume can be darn near as good or better. My suggestions would be a Seiko Monster or 007 for every day and something nicer for the status.... I don't do the status thing, or dress up all that often, so, for "nice" watches I tend to go more for my GSAR or a Lum Tec... I'm just tacticool like that though

Another good thing about many Seiko divers (certain movements) and some watches with ETA movements is that there are a great many folks out there that will customize them with new dials, hands, crystals, case mods et.... You can get a good reliable automatic movement and change everything around it to your taste.

I have a Seiko Monster inbound that has been modded with Pilot Hands, Sapphire Crystal and a OD coated case and bezel. If I had planned better it would have had a new dial and chapter ring for an even more custom look, but, my dial order got screwed up and they guy was having issues with getting the chapter rings cut to the right dimentions....anyway, back to the point, a watch is a great way to reflect your personality... if you go with a readily available, respected movement you can go nuts on making it yours all for a reasonable price.

 

[trevytrev]

Thanks for the info guys. Now this Ollech & Wajs watch looks interesting, it's an automatic, has Swiss movement and tritium and is fairly cheap for the features. Anyone have any knowledge or experience with this watch? any good? Thanks, Trevor~

http://www.gnomonwatches.com/Ollech&WajsMP2063.htm

I ran across that watch the other day on another forum, it says tritium, not sure if that is accurate, but it's a good looking watch.

 

[BlackHills]

To the watch aficionados, I really want an automatic that also has either tritium or some other lighted method other than light absorbing paint(not sure if that even exist in an automatic) for a budget no more than $350 and that's pushing it. I'm probably only fooling my self since it probably doesn't exist in that price range with those options but I thought I would see if anyone knew of such a watch. thanks, Trevor~

If you can settle for a manual instead of an auto then I'd suggest a SandY (Stocker & Yale) 490. They can be found for under $150 when they come up for sale. It has an ETA 2801 manual movement and mine is amazingly accurate; it gained 2 seconds over a period of 15 days after I reset it when the time changed. The Post Exchange at the Mil Watch Forum is a good place to look for one.

It's the one on the right (left is a SandY 590 quartz).

 

[untamed]

So when it's time to play all grown up and look the part of a responsible adult, I fall back on my Citizen Eco-Drive BM8420-52A....

I've went through alot of different watches over the years, but this one seems to be THE ONE.
Here's why:

A very comfortable bracelet
Neither too big nor too small
Very accurate
Solar recharged
Day and date
Very legible dial
Great water resistance
Looks nice with a suit or with shorts and t-shirt
Masculine without overdoing it
Handy diver's bezel for timing things
The silvery-gray dial looks very nice (my pictures can't do it justice)
And it was only about $180.00



So, I guess I'm recommending a Citizen Eco-Drive.


Good luck,
Allen

Nice! Really liking the simplicity of that one. Not "busy" with superfluous features I really don't need and readily readable :thumbup:

Reminds me of like my G-Shock and why I liked it. My beater for 6 years -