Inexpensive Watches

I no longer wear a watch. I always went through a couple of them a year due to the nature of my work. Once I started carrying a cellphone I realized there was no need for a watch.

I do have a couple of old Seikos and an Invicta "Russian Army" watch I bought on closeout for around $69 a few years ago,
 
Back when I was a wee lad (maybe 10 or 12), someone gave me a pocket watch. I think it was a cheap Ingraham but can't remember. I was very curious about all things mechanical at the time, and I took it completely apart and reassembled it. It even worked after I finally got it back together. It was a great learning experience. No idea where it went.

My grandfather was a gentleman of the old school. He always wore a blue pinstripe vested suit and tie, even when he was at home. He always carried an Illinois watch with chain and fob in the vest pocket. I still have it. It doesn't look so good but it still runs.
fU9UnV0.jpg
 
muddocktor said:
Wow, some of you have a rather different opinion of "inexpensive watch" than me. :eek:

I've been wearing Casio G-Shock watches since the late 80's/early 90's myself, as I find they are good digital watches that hold up well while working in the oilfield. I just bought a replacement in 2018 so that I could have a backup watch in case something happens to the new one. The model number I buy is the DW5600. This newest Casio just so happens to be the most accurate watch I've ever bought too. Since I got it, the only time adjustments I have done are to set daylight savings up or down an hour.
Click to expand...
I'm going to get one of their all stainless cheap G-Shocks.
I haven't seen it nor would I waste this kind of money on one, but there's supposed to be a $5,000 G-Shock on the market!?
5 grand for an Omega or a Rolex yes, for a G-Shock no way.
 
...I own a couple of automatics (aka self winding)...

...an Orient Blue Mako that I paid around $100 for...

EM65005D-4.jpg


...and the bargain watch of all time...an Invicta 8930...that I bought from Amazon for $55.80 delivered to my door...

...I probably wouldn't have bought the Invicta...but I found out that it has a Seiko NH35A movement that is windable and hacking...a proven excellent movement...

invicta-mako-pro-diver-men_s-watch-8930_1.jpg


...both have been reliable...fun...and satisfying watches...
 
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Speaking about Invicta Watches, my B-I-L recently died. He had four watches that he probably never wore that I now have. Three are Stauers which I understand is about the quality level of a Timex. But one is an Invicta self-winder which looks much like the one pictured above, except it's stainless steel. I really don't know what to do with the Invicta as I am perfectly happy with my old Swiss Army which probably weighs about half as much as the Invicta (and I am not in love with the idea of wearing a clunky larger watch anyway). Is the Invicta worth hanging onto? I'll probably just give the Stauers away to friends.
-----------------
After pulling the Invicta out of the dresser drawer and looking at it, it strongly appears to be an Invicta 8928OB Pro Diver with a Seiko (SII) NH35A automatic movement. Selling new for around $66 on Amazon so I guess it's not that much of a prize. I'll probably put it on Craigslist for $50 and see if anyone bites.
 
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Bought a Timex battery operated watch with large numbers. It lasted ten years without a battery change. When it quit, I went to WalMart and bought the same thing for $30. That was about six years ago.

For dress I have a nice Tissot.
 
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I normally use my phone for my time piece. I have a Elgin Deluxe that my maternal grandmother and aunts bought me for my birthday in Feb. 1946. It has a gold filled case and back and years ago I had the face made black. I just had it cleaned and repaired about a year ago. It is a pretty watch.
I also have a Benrus that has a very old gold filled expansion band with onyx inserts. I am guessing that I have had the watch at least forty years and the Speidel band a little longer. i just had this one cleaned also.
I have a seven jewel gold filled pocket watch that my paternal grandfather bought me whe I graduated from the eight grade. It does not run and I doubt if it can be repaired.
I also have a Times pocket watch. I have no idea how long that I have had it.
Some of those watches that you guys are showing are really tempting and I would buy one if I thought that I would wear it.
 
Watches are my soft spot and I have had a few. The Seiko Baby monster with orange dial and the Ice Monster can be had for slightly over $150 on-line. Next on my list.
 
When I was a kid I really liked pocket watches. Not having much money, I bought a Westclox pocket watch for (if I recall) $3. Loved that watch. Carried it everywhere. It was reliable and pretty accurate. For some reason (probably couldn't afford one) I didn't have it on a chain, and one day in the boat - you guessed it - I dropped it over the side.

Well, next time I saved up enough for a new one I bought a chain to go with it.
 
Finally got a solar Casio - got tired of paying $13 for new battery. Used to be able to get battery changed at drug store etc. - then suddenly no one would touch them .
 
TX-Dennis said:
When I was a kid I really liked pocket watches. Not having much money, I bought a Westclox pocket watch for (if I recall) $3. Loved that watch. Carried it everywhere. It was reliable and pretty accurate. For some reason (probably couldn't afford one) I didn't have it on a chain, and one day in the boat - you guessed it - I dropped it over the side.

Well, next time I saved up enough for a new one I bought a chain to go with it.
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My Dad always carried a Westclox pocket watch. He and my grandfather refused to wear a wrist watch because they worked in construction and a wrist watch wouldn't survive long. Grandpop carried an Elgin pocket watch most of his life, although he switched to the Westclox in his 80's. I was also a Westclox user as a kid until I started learning to fly. I got a Hamilton Khaki mechanical to use flying, and got used to a wristwatch. I still carry a pocket watch working out in the yard. There are about a dozen no longer functional Westclox pocket watches in my dresser that belonged to Dad and Grandpop. I've got the Elgin too, it still works.
 
DWalt said:
Speaking about Invicta Watches, my B-I-L recently died. He had four watches that he probably never wore that I now have. Three are Stauers which I understand is about the quality level of a Timex. But one is an Invicta self-winder which looks much like the one pictured above, except it's stainless steel. I really don't know what to do with the Invicta as I am perfectly happy with my old Swiss Army which probably weighs about half as much as the Invicta (and I am not in love with the idea of wearing a clunky larger watch anyway). Is the Invicta worth hanging onto? I'll probably just give the Stauers away to friends.
-----------------
After pulling the Invicta out of the dresser drawer and looking at it, it strongly appears to be an Invicta 8928OB Pro Diver with a Seiko (SII) NH35A automatic movement. Selling new for around $66 on Amazon so I guess it's not that much of a prize. I'll probably put it on Craigslist for $50 and see if anyone bites.
Click to expand...

Invicta's are about the same quality as Stauers in quality, I have an all stainless Invicta that's a copy of a Rolex, Daytona with the Swiss Rhonda Startech quartz mvt. Personally, I love mine, but there's a reason why they're so cheap. That Seiko mvt. in yours is a much better mvt. though.
 
Speaking about pocket watches, I remember reading about tricks the old private detectives used during surveillance. If they wanted to know when their subject moved a car, they would stick a cheap dollar pocket watch under a tire of the subject's parked car. They would return later and see at what time the watch stopped.
 
DWalt said:
Speaking about pocket watches, I remember reading about tricks the old private detectives used during surveillance. If they wanted to know when their subject moved a car, they would stick a cheap dollar pocket watch under a tire of the subject's parked car. They would return later and see at what time the watch stopped.
Click to expand...

I think I saw that in the movie, "Chinatown."
 
My everyday carry watch is a Timex Indeglo. I've had
two. Last one broke and I sent it in to Timex. They sent it back with a note that it couldn't be fixed. Said I could have a new one for $10. I looked online and they were going for $80.
I have three nice watches. One is a Tag Heur that my folks bought in the '80s in the Virgin Islands. It's prolly worth about $500. Another is a Hamilton Automatic that my Dad got as a graduation presnt in 1956. Had to have it overhauled three times and it needs it again.
Best one is a Rolex Datejust that my late Father bought new in 1985. He died in '94 and it sat in the safe. I am a Private Investigator and I had an undercover assignment that I had to look like a high roller on. I asked Mom if I could use it and she agreed. It had not been running for about 10 years. I wound it up ad it worked perfectly.
It still works today. I have been told they are supposed to be overhauled every five years at a cost of $500.
Not this one.
Jim
 
Not that I ever lusted for a Rolex, but even if I had, the cost of the periodic service would kill the lust. I could easily afford to buy a Rolex, but to me that amounts to just throwing money away as I have no interest in impressing anyone by wearing a bauble. I am not in the habit of doing that.
 
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