Recommend a Watch

[slayer202]

someone turn on the perk-symbol

 

[RPD]

Round face styling, ok. What are your reasons for not liking battery powered watches? I myself own and wear everyday a Seiko Quartz 3003 from 1975. I have no issues with the battery so far. I although I am a bit weary of trying to test its water proofness. lol

Because batteries need to be replaced. I've had horrible luck in that department. I take it somewhere to get replaced and either it costs half as much as a new watch or they don't reseal it properly and no longer is as water resistant as before.

 

[timosyy]

Here is my personal recommendation based on what I've seen in this thread:

Certina DS-1, Ref: C006.407.16.051.00

Alternatively, maybe a Hamilton Jazzmaster: http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-H38655785-Jazzmaster-Petite-Seconde/dp/B004FD38X4/ref=pd_sbs_watch_5

Both are something like double your price range, though. Automatic Swiss movement, date window.

Edit: Oh, I just saw your reasoning for wanting an auto. You should be fine with one of those Citizen eco-drives, then. They'll be faaaaar cheaper and include things like chronographs/power indicators that cost excessive amounts of $$ to pair with an automatic movement.

2nd Edit: There are two types of movements, mechanical & battery (quartz). Under mechanical, you have manual (hand-wound), and automatic (there's a counterweight attached to the gears which winds it as you walk around). Automatics will still stop after maybe 40 hours or so once it's off your wrist. Side note: Mechanical watches have "sweeping" seconds hands as opposed to "ticking" (quartz). Some people prefer this aesthetic.

Watch enthusiasts/elitists/snobs will almost always trend toward mechanical watches because they appreciate the craftsmanship behind it/complexity of the movement. Quartz uses a battery but is far cheaper, tends to be slimmer, and keeps better time (automatics are expected to gain or lose a few seconds a day or so... still relatively accurate but nowhere near quartz). Eco-drive seems to charge the quartz battery via movement/sunlight.

You will pay a premium for a mechanical movement-- and if the only reason is because you're concerned about the battery stopping... You may want to check out those Citizens (as much as it pains me to recommend a quartz).

 

[RPD]

Here is my personal recommendation based on what I've seen in this thread:

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-H38655785-Jazzmaster-Petite-Seconde/dp/B004FD38X4/ref=pd_sbs_watch_5

It's something like double your price range, though. Automatic Swiss movement, date window.

Edit: Oh, I just saw your reasoning for wanting an auto. You should be fine with one of those Citizen eco-drives, then. They'll be faaaaar cheaper and include things like chronographs/power indicators that cost excessive amounts of $$ to pair with an automatic movement.

2nd Edit: There are two types of movements, mechanical & battery (quartz). Under mechanical, you have manual (hand-wound), and automatic (there's a counterweight attached to the gears which winds it as you walk around). Automatics will still stop after maybe 40 hours or so once it's off your wrist. Side note: Mechanical watches have "sweeping" seconds hands as opposed to "ticking" (quartz). Some people prefer this aesthetic.

Watch enthusiasts/elitists/snobs will almost always trend toward mechanical watches because they appreciate the craftsmanship behind it/complexity of the movement. Quartz uses a battery but is far cheaper, tends to be slimmer, and keeps better time (automatics are expected to gain or lose a few seconds a day or so... still relatively accurate but nowhere near quartz). Eco-drive seems to charge the quartz battery via movement/sunlight.

You will pay a premium for a mechanical movement-- and if the only reason is because you're concerned about the battery stopping... You may want to check out those Citizens (as much as it pains me to recommend a quartz).

Thanks for the explainations. I knew quartez type watches "ticked", but thought the sweeping type were UBER expensive and not just mechanical in general.

I've just grown tired of replacing dead batteries.

 

[EvilYoda]

You'll still notice a mechanical watch "tick" - it'll just be much finer and not for every second. If you want to see a nice sweeping watch, look at a video of a Grand Seiko Spring Drive. It's one of my candidates for my next watch!

 

[timosyy]

You'll still notice a mechanical watch "tick" - it'll just be much finer and not for every second. If you want to see a nice sweeping watch, look at a video of a Grand Seiko Spring Drive. It's one of my candidates for my next watch!

Funny you mention the Spring Drive. I was just bemoaning the fact that this post is two years old: http://www.thewatchsite.com/index.php?topic=13157.0

The Seiko 5S21 was a smooth-sweeping quartz movement.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Does it have to be motion powered, or just not battery?

How about this Citizen Eco-drive Calibre 8700? It's powered by a solar cell that recharges a capacitor inside. $277 at Newegg. There are other colors too.

If you like something with even simpler face, Citizen 7080 might fit the bill. It has titanium body and bracelet, sapphire crystal, and eco-drive as well. Titanium and sapphire at this pricepoint is pretty amazing. I wish it had perpetual calendar though. $178 at Newegg

I second this. I have one I've had of these for a few years now and even after a few months sitting in a drawer I put it on my wrist and within a few hours I can set it and it is keeping accurate time.

They are stylish and not overly expensive. I've found that expensive watches tend to be the more problematic. I'm not one for jewelry though so cheap watches appeal to me if I'm even going to wear one at all.

 

[dighn]

You'll still notice a mechanical watch "tick" - it'll just be much finer and not for every second. If you want to see a nice sweeping watch, look at a video of a Grand Seiko Spring Drive. It's one of my candidates for my next watch!

I really want a Spring Drive. Quartz precision but powered completely by a spring (citizen eco-drive/seiko kinetic have internal rechargeable batteries), and that smooth sweeping! It's such an innovative & elegant movement. Expensive though (several grand, maybe not so much by luxury watch standards, but still). If I want to buy myself a really nice watch for a special occasion, this is it.

Oh and another vote for the Citizen 8700. I bought one a couple of years ago; very nice looking and solid watch.

 

[Fern]

Go over here and have a look:

http://www.shopnbc.com/SearchM/Default.aspx?&prop=Watches|229&prop=Automatic|2505

These are all automatics. Pick out a few you like then focus on which movement they use. I'm a bit of watch geek and prefer automatic movements (mechanical that self winds) too. Mine is a Swiss made ETA movement (#2824). They are relatively inexpensive for a Swiss movement.

Here's info about the ETA company: https://www.bernardwatch.com/ETA-2824-and-ETA-2892-Comparison

If you cannot find any ETA's in your price range you might look into some watches with a Japanese movement. I have heard some pretty good things about them but don't actually own any.

Edit: Since you're concerned about water resistance you may want to look at Dive watches. No watches are allowed to be called "Water proof" anymore because there is actually no such thing. My dive watch is guaranteed/certified down to 1,000 ft which is more than I'll ever need.

Fern

 

[Tiamat]

best bets: Seiko and Citizen Ecodrive.

My ecodrive has been flawlessly functioning without any maintenance for over 12 years.

 

[Tiamat]

You'll still notice a mechanical watch "tick" - it'll just be much finer and not for every second. If you want to see a nice sweeping watch, look at a video of a Grand Seiko Spring Drive. It's one of my candidates for my next watch!

Yup, Ive been looking at that GS Spring drive in titanium but it goes for ~8k$ and I have to go to Japan to buy it and send it to Japan every ~3 years for maintenance. The US shops that sell it look pretty sketchy...

Seems like a pita...

 

[RPD]

What is a good scratch resistant face material?

 

[RPD]

Hmm seems there is no easy way to sort by the glass type, is sapphire glass the most scratch resistant? Barring some super exotic expensive material?

Edit - Yup seems to be the case... why won't they let me sort by this blah..

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I personally do not have problems replacing my batteries... I hope you find the watch you are looking for.

My watch...

 

[Gintaras]

With built in cell phone

http://gizmodo.com/5492783/celsius-...nical-cellphone-gets-slightly-less-mysterious

 

[herm0016]

i have one of these:

http://countycomm.com/maratacpilotlarge.html

i am very happy with it. a black band for use with suit, orange for most other occasions.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

i have one of these:

http://countycomm.com/maratacpilotlarge.html

i am very happy with it. a black band for use with suit, orange for most other occasions.

Very nice clean looking watch. I think it will look good with a black leather band.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Dad just got this (Seiko SNE047) :

 

[ed21x]

ecodrives are great! here is mine:

a citizen stiletto which can be had for around $300, and will never need new batteries. The watch has sapphire.

Aristo, around $400, fully automatic ETA 2824 movement.

for something more interesting, and $300. Love the Rotary Skeleton.

 

[dighn]

ecodrives are great! here is mine:

a citizen stiletto which can be had for around $300, and will never need new batteries. The watch has sapphire.

never say never the rechargeable inside will die, probably after 20 years or so. that's well beyond the service intervals of mechanicals, but still. very nice looking watch btw.

on the issue of battery replacement: some better quartz movements have surprisingly good battery life. I have a seiko diver that has a battery life of 8 years (also accurate to about 10 seconds per year! sbcm023). some variants of the same movement have 10 years. yeah you still replace the battery, but that's not very often at all.

 

[RPD]

I guess I've had horrible luck with batteries, granted the watches were around the $75-$125 range, but still had to change them after about 2 years.

Thanks for the help everyone, I just have to find an Eco drive I like, under $400 with sapphire face

 

[halik]

Yup, Ive been looking at that GS Spring drive in titanium but it goes for ~8k$ and I have to go to Japan to buy it and send it to Japan every ~3 years for maintenance. The US shops that sell it look pretty sketchy...

Seems like a pita...

Wow not sure if I would spend that kind of money on a seiko.

 

[EvilYoda]

Wow not sure if I would spend that kind of money on a seiko.

Seiko doesn't have much of a following here in the US but they're very well regarded elsewhere...and their spring drive watches really are something else. You're not going to buy one to show off though - I doubt anyone will ever notice it and explaining why it's unique will only bring on yawns. It's just a watch for watch people.

 

[Invisible Evil]

You may can find some nice TISSOT watches around your price point online.

I have a shit ton of watches...But 3 are TISSOT and these are really good watches. They look nice as well.

Legit SWISS MADE....

 

[Tiamat]

Wow not sure if I would spend that kind of money on a seiko.

Gran Seiko : Seiko is sort of akin to Lexus : Toyota.

The worksmanship of the Gran Seiko (esp. the spring drive) is excellent, everything is done in house with exceeding amount of attention paid to detail. The standard person would probably not appreciate that, it is more of a watch-person thing. The standard person would most likely go for a rolex for that money for the name/prestige and ultimate resale value.

Unfortunately, for me, I wear the watch everyday, so the thought of sending it back to Japan for maintenence and not having the watch for a period of time is unacceptable. So, I'm stuck with, in that price range, Omega and maybe a couple others since Rolex, Tag, Breitling, Cartier, just don't appeal to me.