Well made inexpensive watches?

Z

ZipTieNinja

Joined
Mar 17, 2001
Messages
83
I am in the market for a new watch, and I don't want to pay more than $75. I just need the basics of most digital watchs, and to be water proof and tough. I used to have a Casio Triple Sensor, but it never lasted past the batteries that came in it! 3 years was it. It just quit working for no reason on my way to work one day....

I need a stopwatch function, alarm, date, time, and water proof to 100meters or better, with a backlight. I think the Timex Iron Man fits, but I have gone though 2 of them....

I saw a timex expedition with the digital compass, very nice looking, but how good is it? Also the Casio G-Shock, and another timex with a thermometer, no compass. I also saw a Fossil made of Titanium, with everything but the backlight and maybe the alarm.... $160, 11 year warranty! Cheapest model is 60 bucks, but just tells time and date... so thats out... Any suggestions? bI just can't afford a $100+ watch that wont last but a year or 2.... HELP! Please...

For those that don't know, the Triple sensor I used to have, had the following:
5 alarms, 2 time zones.
Date and time on the same screen
thermometer
altimeter/barometer
digital compass
backlight
ect....

I got used to having all that info at my finger tips, but its out off the question for now. $250 and up now! :eek: And the one I had just quit, flat out.h

Any help would be great, and most appreciated.

Thanks for help,
Zip. :cool:
 
For the money G-shocks are hard to beat. They are super tough. My only beef is the size. I would wear one more often if it would fit under a long sleeved shirt.
 
Mate, Look at Pulsar watches. They offer a simple line that
tells day/date and time and are very durable. I asked for a tough
watch in my local jeweler that cost no more than $100 tops. He
reached in the case and handed me a plain stainless steel Pulsar
day/date white face that has proven to be bullet proof in daily
workware in a factory. I've been wearing everyday for three years
and it still cleans up like new.
 
What about a Luminox Navy Seal? I have one I got on the web for
$129 and I love it. No more guessing at the time at night. It glows
very bright. Non-metal case doesn't scratch either.
Mike
 
I think that for the $75 price-limit, you really can't do better than a Casio G-Shock. (The Protection or Illuminator series are a good place to start.). Take your check-book down to your local Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc., and take a look. I'm SURE you'll find one that will suit your needs.
 
Thanks for thr feedback.

No I have go research Pulsar and Luminox.... :D
I will also go lookup all the diff G-Shocks as well... I thought there was just one model per year...

Anyway, off to the net to read stuff....

Anyone else have any suggestions? They are most appreciated. ;)
 
Timex expedition is my vote. I can get a "basic" for $24 here on base. I have had the one I am wearing now for almost three years. One of the buttons died but that is the only complaint. Of course, I did change the leather/nylon strap after boot camp. Too much sweat in the leather made it smell whaenever it got wet.

"basic" has
2nd time zone
timer
countdown timer (my only requirement)
backlight
alarm

Been thinking about a replacement, but, timex just released new models. I was going to swap like for like, but I don't want to miss out on the new stuff:D

thermometer
altimeter/barometer
digital compass
I am looking at these two but, I think a no frills watch will serve me better. And I won't mind beating it up. The pulsar looks good too; no damage, hard use in a factory? Yes, that is good.
 
You might want to take a look at this Timex

I got one a year ago for less than 40 dollars and it has held up very well so far. It was originally purchased for a vacation where I didn't want to lose my usual "high quality" watch, which now sits in a drawer because the Timex is better. I was more impressed with it than I thought I would be. It has all the features you requested, a very sturdy design, and is still relatively small and comfortable. I believe that the analog and digital functions operate on two seperate circuits, so if one were to fail the other would still be completely functional.

Looks nice enough to wear to the office, too.

I have found that for me Indiglo is superior to more expensive low-light viewing options, especially when combined with traditional glow paint hands like on this watch.
 
Zip, if you can possibly fork over about $220-$250 you can get a Swiss Made Tissot chronograph with a sapphire crystal, quartz movement, and water resistant to 200 meters. I don't have one yet as I am still in the selection process, but I understand they rule.
 
At all cost avoid Fossil. They are the absolute worst of any watch listed. I used to repair watches and was always amazed how some of those fossils were made. Get a G-Shock. It is by far the best for the money. Anyone want to know what the worst expensive watch is? TAG, biggest POS I have ever seen. And, I have seen quite a few!
 
I don't really agree with avoiding Fossil, as I have had a perfect-running one for a while now, but I've never repaired one either, so...

BTW I'm lovin' the username. zipties rock.
 
BTW I'm lovin' the username. zipties rock.
Click to expand...
I got from using zip ties to fasten a sword(katana) not my back pack for hiking, and it stuck.... :D

That a nice watch in the link. I have to have a light though, or that one would bee near the top of the list. I have gone through 3 timex watches, and a $160 casio though...

At the moment money is tight, and I need a good , cheap watch for now. Looks like the G-shock is my best bet for now. not real expensive, and very tough from what everyone is saying. I use a chain saw alot, and split the wood by hand with an axe and a splitting mall, so shock proof might be the way to go...

As for Fossil, they do have an 11 year warranty.... better than 90 days on a $250 Casio.... But they are too much like a dress watch.... And if the warranty is going to be worn out from it failing, it not worth it...

Thanks for the help. I am off to look up the Casio site, and timex. If the storm waits a little longer to come that is... I thought I heard thunder... ;)
 
Originally posted by ZipTieNinja

I got from using zip ties to fasten a sword(katana) not my back pack for hiking, and it stuck.... :D
Click to expand...

You take a katana hiking?

Cool.

If you were refering to my link, it does have a light. Two, actually. There is both the Indiglo light and glow paint on the hands, which is very bright and lasts a decent amount of time between chargings.
 
Let me explain my exact problem with Fossil watches. First they are made to the same specs as the cheap $15-$20 watches you see in mall kiosks. The warranty on a Fossil only covers manufacturers defects. Some of the watches they sell are sold as divers watches and sport watches, yet they use a small mini-seal to keep water and particles out.......I had a lot more here, but I realized I am starting to rant. Before you buy a watch that is not a VERY good brand name, pop off the back and take a look at the inner compartment. If it uses a plastic brace to keep the face and gears in place, AVOID IT!! If the seal is so thin that it is already stretched out or broken, Buy a better watch. And if the battery utilized is anything smaller than a 364 size battery (on a mens watch), throw it back at the seller. Just my advice.
 
Ok, I have a model from Casio picked, and I am looking for a Timex now to see if they can match it. Question is, where is the cheapest place to get a specific model from each maker? The Casio is a G-Shock, and is $90 from Casio. I can get the $70 one for 55 at Wall-Mart... Maybe I can get the one I picked for 75? But Where do I go? Wall Mart won't order them will they? Where is a good place to go online? Timex and Casio?
 
Originally posted by Bandit
If it uses a plastic brace to keep the face and gears in place, AVOID IT!! If the seal is so thin that it is already stretched out or broken, Buy a better watch.
Click to expand...

The plastic thing you're referring to is called a movement spacer, and what that does is allows the smaller movement to sit in a larger watch body (called a case). You will find that quite a few very expensive and well made watches have them. As a matter of fact, the very spacers provide a bit of shock protection for the movement. One of the sturdiest watches to have as spacer like this as well as other plastic parts are Nato Pilots Watches sporting the Lemania 5100 movement which comprises one of the most famous and reliable watches in the world. Manufactured by Porche Design, Sinn, Tutima and Fortis, these watches have been official issue to Nato Pilots, Russian Cosmonauts, German Astronauts, Fighter pilots, GsG9, and various other High-Speed Low-Drag people. These watches go for anywhere from $1500 USD to $3000 and are considered relatively inexpensive.

<img src=http://www.chronometrie.com/chronomovs/images/lemania5100.jpg>
Lemania 5100 movement... Notice plastic parts...shown without spacer that fits movement to larger cases.

As for the seal, it's just that, a Gasket. Size does not really matter although a larger seal with a screw-down caseback is almist necessary for good water resistance, all that's really necessary is that the seal be in good condition. Since the gasket is really not under any sort of stretch tension, it should not actually break. However, being made of rubber, it will deteriorate over time, or if exposed to oils or chemicals. Keep in mind that there's also a tiny gasket in the crown of the watch as well as on the stem, so there are quite a few gaskets to look after... Change the Caseback Gasket whenever you change your batteries and the other gaskets every 5 years or so.
 
These guys carry some G-shocks at good prices, yours may be among 'em. I've ordered gear from them several times, no complaints.
 
THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU, !!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

I found my Triple Sensor at that link for less than 90 bucks!!! :eek: You made my day, no week!, no....

Everyone else,

Thankyou as well. The Triple Sensor is not the toughest watch out there, so I will be geting a G-Shock (base model) for the times I have to have a watch on while doing hard work. You all where most helpfull, and I truely apreciate all the tips! Thankyou again!

:D :D :D :D
 
I think the Timex Iron Man fits, but I have gone though 2 of them....
Click to expand...

I'm still wearing the Timex IronMan I bought in 1989. I've had to replace the strap a few times and the batteries maybe twice. Either I got lucky or perhaps they just made them better back then.

What was the failure on your two IronMans?
 
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