Inexpensive Watches

[Gamecock]

I have a nice company watch for dress up. Most of the time, I wear a Casio Pathfinder. About $150. On my third. I've been using it for over 5 years. I think I killed the first two by over charging the battery.

I like the features. Barometer and compass. It has altitude, but it's useless, as reading changes sharply with barometric pressure. Thermometer, too, but it is useless while wearing, as it picks up body heat.

 

[DWalt]

Are Victorinox watches any good?

Does the Swiss military use thm?

I can't be that broad in responding, but my Vix SAW has been functioning since sometime in the mid-1990s. It has a Swiss Ronda 515 quartz movement (battery). My SAW is not complex, just time and date, somewhat similar to the one pictured above (#80). Does the Swiss military use them? Who knows - not me.

I don't know what other movements were used by Vix, but I'd bet most of them were Rondas. There are a multitude of different Ronda movements available, and Ronda has an on-line catalog showing all of them. Movements are marked showing the model number, which can be seen using a magnifying glass or loupe if the back is removed.

One advantage - The (cheaper) naked Ronda time/date movements are fairly inexpensive (new ones are listed on eBay in the $20 range for mine), and it is not too difficult to swap one out with an new one (videos are on YouTube showing how it is done), but you would need a hand puller, which I don't have. It's not too expensive to buy what tools you need. I have never attempted to do it myself, but I wouldn't be afraid to try it if it ever came to that. Or let some local watch repairman do it, probably not much more than a 10 minute job for someone with a little experience in movement replacement.

 

[03hemi]

I think in general that is true — and I defer to your clearly more knowledgable understanding than my own — but it used to be, in my experience, that Rolex would not even look at one of its watches for less than something like $600. I think you can find well trained horologists who will perform a simple cleaning and lubricating maintenance job for considerably less, no?

Sure you could, all I know is they have a rate per hour like a mechanic and they have a rate manual that breaks jobs down to various degrees of difficulty. There's always "shade tree" experts in every field I'd imagine.

 

[03hemi]

I have had a couple people recognize my Omega. It's a Seamaster Professional Planet Ocean, Co-Axial Chronometer rated to 600 meters. Since I seldom go deeper than a swimming pool, I figure it will be fine.

Black dial and bezel make it fairly low profile.

Yeah, that's just a cheap 5-6k dollar watch, who'll notice? lol

 

[03hemi]

Texas Star, don't get me started on those prosperity pimp preachers! My blood pressure will spike and I'm sure to get dinged.

You mean Creflo Dollar is only in it for the money?

 

[Moo Moo]

Anymore suggestions on Inexpensive (but decent) watches. I need to buy something a little more classy for going out rather than my Casio G Shock. I like Seiko and Citizen. I wouldn't mind something like a dive watch but without all those gauges on the face as I'm no diver and just gets in my way when trying to read the time. Something in silver would be preferable although I do also like those black stainless steel ones too.

Anything come to mind that would be recommended? I was thinking about the $500 mark.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Classy is a pocket watch in your vest pocket, hanging from a nice gold chain.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[s&wchad]

Anymore suggestions on Inexpensive (but decent) watches. I need to buy something a little more classy for going out rather than my Casio G Shock. I like Seiko and Citizen. I wouldn't mind something like a dive watch but without all those gauges on the face as I'm no diver and just gets in my way when trying to read the time. Something in silver would be preferable although I do also like those black stainless steel ones too.

Anything come to mind that would be recommended? I was thinking about the $500 mark.

I'm not sure if they'll ship to Australia, but Certiied Watch Store has the Seiko Automatic Turtle diver on sale for under $200. MSRP is over $500 and it's a great watch!

 

[Gabby-Bill]

Timex Expedition, easy reading white face with big black numerals or vice versa. push the stem and the face backlights at night for great visibility.
Easy DIY change battery lasts several years.
The gold Rolex, a real beauty, lives in the sock drawer.
Steve W

My old Timex Indiglo WR 30M with day and date, I've had it well over 30 years, so long I really don't remember when I got it,
(the light for the dial quit long ago) maybe a little less than 30,
but who's counting? As the old saying goes it takes a licking and keeps on ticking and keeps good time stays right with my computer clock.
I have small wrists and since it measure right at 36mm outside to outside including the stem, it fits me!
What more can I say?

I really hurt my wife's feeling when she brought back from a cruise she went on,
a multi function watch with all sorts of buttons to push that
weighed a quarter pound,
and was so big you could read it from across the room. (slight exaggeration )
I tried it on then showed her how much bigger than my wrist it was and told her I couldn't wear it.
P'ed her off so she gave it to one of her sons.
I doubt if he wears it, but I never bring it up,
I don't want rat poison in my dinner. LOL
Gabby

 

[Ron In MD]

I was finished with watches when I got my first cell phone.
Time and date right on the face.

Lost weight and my wedding band doesn't fit anymore.
Stopped wearing that too.

I'm finished with jewelry of any kind.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Anymore suggestions on Inexpensive (but decent) watches...I was thinking about the $500 mark.

 

[mauser9]

Enjoyed the posts and the watch pics. Love to own a Doxa but on my income have to be a Seiko man!

 

[DWalt]

"I wouldn't mind something like a dive watch but without all those gauges on the face as I'm no diver and just gets in my way when trying to read the time."

I also doubt that most people have any need for those small dials. I can't remember any occasion when I would have needed them. I mentioned earlier about coming into an Invicta auto wind several months ago. Presently I am wearing it to see if I want to make a permanent switch away from my Vix SAW. While the Invicta is a nice looking watch, I'm thinking that I will go back to the SAW for everyday wear as it is much more compact and lightweight.

 

[BigBill]

I been buying Russian pocket watches there rugged like Russian tanks. There copies of Swiss watches. They always run and keep good time. No batteries just wind up. I'm happy with just the time.

I have an older cell phone and still can't use all the bells and whistles. I could care less. Keep it old school simple for me.

 

[CustomChevyGuy]

I just picked up another Bulova, this one is model 98A195. I wasn't planning on it, but for $70 (original list $280), and a 3 year warranty from Bulova, I just couldn't pass it up. This one I believe pre-dates the Marine Star series. I like the fact that it's clean and classic.

I've been using it as my daily watch, and am debating finding a quality NATO strap, or maybe a silicone band to swap onto it. I accidentally put a big scratch in the clasp today at work. I guess it's only new once, right?

 

[31FordA]

I recently added a new mechanical Timex Marlin to my menagerie of watches. It cost $199, which is only inexpensive when compared to the $500 I paid for my last new Hamilton. The Marlin has run good so far, hopefully it will keep performing over the long term.

Paying $199 for the Timex reminded me that my first wrist watch, a Hamilton Khaki mechanical built when Hamilton was still a Lancaster Pa operation, only cost $50 in 1989. That was a great watch, ran non stop for over three years. Only serviced twice in 30 years, and still runs great. I'm wearing it as I type this.

 

[Sistema1927]

I would stay far away from Invicta, EXCEPT for the dive watches with the NH35a movement, like the 8926OB. I have had one for several years now, and it is a very good timepiece.

Orient makes some decent watches at a good price point. Seiko and Citizen have both their jewels and their clunkers.

Prior to this week, my most expensive watch was a Hamilton automatic. I just took a big step up with a Tag Heuer Formula 1.

 

[BC38]

Been wearing a watch every day for over 50 years since I got my first one at about 6 years old. Feel naked without one.
I don't buy expensive watches.
I like Timexs - they are durable and very reasonably priced.
I'm way to hard on watches to buy an expensive one.

 

[DWalt]

I would stay far away from Invicta, EXCEPT for the dive watches with the NH35a movement, like the 8926OB. I have had one for several years now, and it is a very good timepiece.

Exactly the one I have. I have been wearing it for about three weeks, seems to have not gained or lost much during that time. I think the movement is a Seiko, although not marked as such.

 

[Moo Moo]

Sorry, I was talking $500 AUD. Thanks about $345 USD in today's currency market.