Watch me

Drez

So I've been wanting a nice analog watch for a few years. A family member is offering to buy me one for Christmas. It needs to be something that can be ordered online and somewhere in the vicinity of $50-100, with $100 being a hard cap on the price.

Any suggestions? I want something classy-ish. I am totally not sure what to go for, in that (or any other price range). To be honest, I'm not even totally sure if I want something gold or silver, or a metal or leather band, or what color the face should be.

I've always kind of wanted a watch with a compass on it too, but I can live without that. I'd rather have a nice analog watch that looks nice. And costs less than $100.

So...any suggestions? Also, my wrists are kind of biggish (I'm not that fat or anything I don't think but I've always had irritation problems with watch bands). I'm not sure what kind of band would be best but I'm looking for suggestions in that regard too.

L Ron Howard

I have an Invicta Watch, and I really like it. They have a billion styles, and most are within that price range. I don't know what catches your fancy, but that's what I recommend.

Midshipman

This is very similar to my first high quality watch.

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/citizen-watch-mens-stainless-steel-bracelet-bf0580-57l?ID=558718

There aren't any frills, but it is whisper quiet and very durable. I got annoyed with my previous Timex watch because it would make a very noticeable ticking when you hold it near your ear. You'd need a stethoscope to hear this one.

I'm a big fan of Citizen and Seiko brand watches.

Drez

I actually like that Citizen watch a lot! It's very simple, which is kind of what I want.

L Ron Howard: Thanks for pointing me toward Invicta. I browsed a few on Amazon and I'm not sure that style is really jumping out at me but I'll look at some more.

Thanatos

I have a nice Kenneth Cole. They make good, reasonably-priced, reasonably-classy watches.

WildEEP

Have you thought about a pocket watch? Super classy..and no fitting/wrist problems.

Next year you can ask for the optional monacle.

billwill

I collect watches and the one I wear most is actually a Timex.

http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T2E581-Classic-Brown-Leather/dp/B000936JGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322816627&sr=8-1

It's lasted close to three years now and it has my favorite design by far.

Plus, I'm 6'4" and it still fits on my wrist.

Fyndir

Drez wrote:

I've always had irritation problems with watch bands).

This was always an issue for me, so I didn't own a watch for several years, just used my phone for telling the time.

Earlier this year I was gifted a nice pocket watch, and it is absolutely marvelous for getting around the band issue.

This might be a route you could look into, and see if it interests you at all, for reference mine is one of these, but the material / style etc can be pretty different, shop around if it's of any interest to you.

godmode

Thanatos wrote:

I have a nice Kenneth Cole. They make good, reasonably-priced, reasonably-classy watches.

This, but I have Fossil watches. One leather band, one steel, both under $75.

Organichu

if this'll be your only watch for a while, i recommend leather or canvas over metal. i won't say that as i've aged i've 'outgrown' steel bracelets, exactly, but i will say that i think leather fits more often than metal. quite a few times i've gone out and for various reasons just felt kind of ill dressed with a bright looking bracelet. i guess my general opinion is that very nice metal bracelets look good... but in your price range leather will look classy regardless. mid-range metal settings often look tawdry.

this is my everyday watch



it is rugged and a bit outdoorsy (with the canvas and the military-looking olive green dial) but the band is also rather matte, and i've worn it with suits to a wedding and gotten compliments.

in terms of leather, kenneth cole makes a very simple, elegant leather watch. the scalloped hands and chrome ring are bold enough to look good in a casual night out but it's still a very simply constructed watch and could definitely work in a formal environments.



stuhrling puts out an even simpler iteration:

bowen

That timex with leather bands is the way to go. By far the best, anything with leather straps gets around that "HEY FUCK YOU THATS MY ARM HAIR YOU BITCH" issues with the clasps.

illusive01

for an extra twist, why not go for a mechanical watch? Alpha watches makes hommage watches to most of the big brands for under 100$ with usually excellent quality. only issues is you need to order them online.

jefe414

L Ron Howard wrote:

I have an Invicta Watch, and I really like it. They have a billion styles, and most are within that price range. I don't know what catches your fancy, but that's what I recommend.

Invicta makes some nice stuff. Diesel makes great ones too plus they have some really funky looking ones too, if that's your thing.

amateurhour

Thanatos wrote:

I have a nice Kenneth Cole. They make good, reasonably-priced, reasonably-classy watches.

I've still got mine from 10 years ago... I'm wearing it right now. They hold up remarkably well.

Also if it's something you're into there's a lot of great automatic watches in the ~$100 price range. You're not going to get a Citizen Eco Drive for that unless you find it clearance somewhere, but other brands do a pretty good job of it. I'm a fan of automatic watches though, especially ones where I can see the gears inside.

Drez

Thanks all! Some food for thought.

Pocket watches do indeed seem classy, but I'm worried about losing it. As it is I dislike having things in my pockets, and I'm always obsessively checking them to make sure I haven't lost anything. I've lost my wallet multiple times by it just pushing itself out of my pocket. Lost a phone and a camera that way too.

As it is, I basically just use a phone as my timepiece. So this isn't exactly about getting a new timepiece, it's about slapping something on my wrist and telling the world that I am a man who wears a watch.

Melodramatic fantasies aside, you guys have given me some great suggestions. I do like the simpler designs over, say, chronograph designs. But I dunno, what do you guys think?

matt has a problem

If you're ok waiting and checking daily, http://www.sharkstores.com/Watches is a deal-a-day watch store, like Woot but just for watches. I got a nice Kenneth Cole watch for 70% off a few years back.

Djeet

If I'd wanted to go named watch brand I'd probably spring for a Seiko minimum. In the $100 range it's going to be tough to get something that wasn't assembled in China and rebadged with a purchased name (Invicta watches for example is from an American company trading on the original swiss watchmakers name) where the movement is made in Japan/Switzerland, but everything else (case, bracelet, ancillary parts) and the assembly are Chinese.

Personally I got myself a knockoff (homage they like to call it when they use an existing watch design but don't use counterfeit brand names) as I wanted a very traditional rolex chronograph style (milsub, with sword hands and no crystal) but don't have the scratch to buy an original. Casually it looks nice (though I use a NATO bracelet, not metal, so it can only look so nice), but doesn't hold up to close inspection to anyone who knows what it's supposed to be. Loses about 10 seconds a month, which is about standard for a $50-100 chinese knockoff. Most fashion brand watches are built the same way as lot of knockoff or the swiss rebadges you see at the online watch discount retailers, and the difference in price is largely fro the design.

useless4

I wouldn't go Invicta unless you can get an Invicta Reserve (which is possible on that shark site) because they tend to have a little bit more quality control in that line.

Alphas make some nice watches.

Seriously under 100 you are looking at about the same insides and just different outsides/name on the front. The next jump is the 300ish range. It's a dark hole don't go down watch collecting.

One thing I would do is see if there is a Timex outlet near you. You can get ridiculous deals on watches there. You might even find a TX for around 100 dollars (that was their latest attempt at a serious time keeping affordable brand). If you find one jump at it, it's a deal.

Thanatos

godmode wrote:

Thanatos wrote:

I have a nice Kenneth Cole. They make good, reasonably-priced, reasonably-classy watches.

This, but I have Fossil watches. One leather band, one steel, both under $75.

Yeah, I had my choices narrowed down to two KCs and two Fossils, and just liked the particular style of the one KC a bit better. It really just depends on what they have available at that particular time.

japan

I have a mechanical Seiko 5. This one, I think:
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNK649K-Automatic-Black-Stainless/dp/B001Z89H6O/ref=pd_sbs_watch_1

I like it partly because it's a simple and nice watch, and partly because it has an entirely mechanical (no batteries, no quartz) self-winding movement and a display (glass) back so you can see the workings if you take it off. It can be a little inaccurate (mine gains about fifteen minutes a month) but since I'm surrounded by accurate clocks I thought of it primarily as an item of jewellery that also happens to tell time.

Zenitram

I'm a big fan of Swiss Army watches like Wenger. Had a good one from Costco that lasted me forever: was $75, a "brushed" silver look and a navy blue face. I can't find an exact portrait, but imagine this watch with a navy blue face and navy blue ring bezel:

Wenger AquaGraph

Drez

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the large numbers on the outer rim of the watch.

I do like black as a face color though.

Drez

japan wrote:

I have a mechanical Seiko 5. This one, I think:
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNK649K-Automatic-Black-Stainless/dp/B001Z89H6O/ref=pd_sbs_watch_1

I like it partly because it's a simple and nice watch, and partly because it has an entirely mechanical (no batteries, no quartz) self-winding movement and a display (glass) back so you can see the workings if you take it off. It can be a little inaccurate (mine gains about fifteen minutes a month) but since I'm surrounded by accurate clocks I thought of it primarily as an item of jewellery that also happens to tell time.

Yeah, I like the look of that a lot.

I'm really torn because after looking at lots of photos you guys have presented I think I like the all-metal look better, but I think a leather band would be more comfortable. Hmm...

useless4

metal bands that are properly adjusted are actually more comfortable to me.
I have only had one leather band break in properly to be comfortable then it went and split on me at the pin so it was unusable.

Loxx

You said classy-ish, so something subtle like this?

Or do you like the sport look like this?

I'm a fan of Fossil. Have 2 of their sport type watches, one since 2002ish and one since 2008ish. All I've ever had to do for the '02 watch was replace the battery and it is still in fantastic shape. The '08 watch had one of the tick marks on the edge pop out a couple weeks ago. Took it to the store in the mall and they said everything under the crystal was covered under warranty. Shipped it to their factory, fixed, and mailed it back to me. No charge and they even replaced the battery.

Drez

Loxx wrote:

You said classy-ish, so something subtle like this?

Or do you like the sport look like this?

I'm a fan of Fossil. Have 2 of their sport type watches, one since 2002ish and one since 2008ish. All I've ever had to do for the '02 watch was replace the battery and it is still in fantastic shape. The '08 watch had one of the tick marks on the edge pop out a couple weeks ago. Took it to the store in the mall and they said everything under the crystal was covered under warranty. Shipped it to their factory, fixed, and mailed it back to me. No charge and they even replaced the battery.

That first one is nice. Not really looking for a sporty watch, but I really like the face of that first watch.

Hewn

Zenitram wrote:

I'm a big fan of Swiss Army watches like Wenger. Had a good one from Costco that lasted me forever: was $75, a "brushed" silver look and a navy blue face. I can't find an exact portrait, but imagine this watch with a navy blue face and navy blue ring bezel:

Wenger AquaGraph

I have one of those, too. It's nice. Makes me feel a shade classy, despite the fact I rarely dress up.

I also have a Timex I use for outdoor activities like camping or hikes. It's nothing fancy, but I like it has an analog face with digital functions, like a stopwatch and alarm (useful for camping, eh?) Plus the band is rubber, not leather or fabric, so when I'm getting my sweat on it doesn't get soggy on me. Same with small dips in the stream.

http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T49742-Analog-Digital-Expedition-Rubber/dp/B001RNOB2M/ref=sr_1_47?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1323017679&sr=1-47


Although I also have a few different styles of field watch, both leather bands and cloth straps, and they all pretty much work the same. Find one that fits your wrist comfortable and you think you'll like and run with it.