Learn me: A decent watch

I'm looking for a watch. I'm cheap but I like the cool stuff I see on here. I would much, much prefer to have no battery. I bought my wife a really nice fancy solar watch last year that she loves, that would be cool. Prefer a leather or cloth or rubber wristband. Time only is fine, doesn't need other crap (that's what the smartphone is for). Important bits:

• Has numbers on the face and 3 actual hands
• Tells time correctly
• No battery
• No digital face stuff
• Non-metallic band

What's good under, say $50? that's still cool looking and reliable? Extra bonus points if it's made in the US or Canada, eh.

The Seiko 5 fits all of the bulleted criteria, but is $70, and isn't US made.

I have a Seiko 5...

Love it!

It's a pretty neat watch... I had the same criteria and it fits the bill perfectly...It is a quite a bit heavier than my old timex garbage but has a good feel, its quiet, maybe because its 21 jewels idk. It goes tick tick tick tick not slam bang like my timex so I can sleep with it still on...

I do wish it were a bit more accurate... about once a week I have to adjust it to the work clock, however, you can get it adjusted but not really worth it for a 70 dollar watch...

The face has held up to my abuse, I work in a grocery store so it is banged around a lot more ( read bagging groceries) than you would expect but save for some scratches it looks great!

I would probably buy another one if it were even $150.

I know, I know, it doesn't make them any faster, but automatic and manual watches are just cool. The second hand has that nice sweep. Plus some have a clear back so you can see the guts.

If you're talking new, it's going to be hard to find an automatic for less than a Seiko5. I have one--cool watch line that's available in a ton of styles. If there's a catch, it's that most aren't officially imported into the U.S. I got mine through Bodying.com. (They have an Amazon store, too, or at least they did.) Last time I checked, average retail was closer to $100 than $50, though.

Lately I have been wearing my Slava Soviet medical watch.

(I hotlinked this photo because I'm a terrible person; mine is identical but is on a different strap.)

I paid about $80 for it via the Poor Man's Watch Forum's classified. It tends to run a little fast, but it's cool and funky and didn't cost me too much.

And I just poked around. I don't see any Seiko5s at Bodying, but there's a bunch at Amazon. Prices seem to have come down, too. One more thought about them: Some of them are a little on the small side, so check the dimensions and make sure that's cool with you.

Wore my Seiko5 today! It's my beater watch!

Got mine off of Amazon, looks a lot like this one:

^That's my beater watch, too. Looks excellent on the leather strap!

I'm on a bit of a Russian watch kick at the moment. Just bought this ~'60s Vostok from a Ukranian ebay'er for $50. I love the big, stylized numerals.

If you're looking for US made under $50, that probably means going vintage. Elgin, Hamilton and Bulova watches pre ~1950 seem to have US movements, and can occasionally be had for 50 bucks on ebay if you shop carefully.

< plug > I've got this '60s Hamilton listed at the moment. It's a Swiss movement, though. < / plug > http://www.ebay.com/itm/150695660465?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I also have a Seiko5 thanks to Dave discussing them in a similar thread a couple years ago, but not nearly as cool as Osterkraut's. I also have a cheap Invicta automatic that I like which is larger than the smallish Seiko5. Mine is the submariner style but they have a lot of options. Invictashark.com has daily deals.

Osterkraut wrote: Wore my Seiko5 today! It's my beater watch! Got mine off of Amazon, looks a lot like this one:

Man, that's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for! Seiko5 it is, $70 isn't bad at all.

These Seiko 5s are very good looking and affordable. I might have to pull the trigger on one down the road. How scratch prone are they? I ask because I work outside sometimes and bang my watch against things.

David S. Wallens wrote: It tends to run a little fast, but it's cool and funky and didn't cost me too much.

It isn't fast - the units are in metric time

Been keeping my eyes open for a classy, leather band, lightweight, manual wind watch. All the ones I like tend to be big money though. Strange how that works...

92dxman wrote: These Seiko 5s are very good looking and affordable. I might have to pull the trigger on one down the road. How scratch prone are they? I ask because I work outside sometimes and bang my watch against things.

At least somewhat scratch prone. I've put a few good scrapes on mine through general wear and tear. More expensive models may have a scratch resistant crystal, but the cheaper ones certainly don't.

I recently purchased a Kenneth Cole Automatic watch. Its self winding, no battery, all mechanical. You can see the guts. The one I have is the all stainless version of this

You can see the movement which is pretty cool. But it being an Automatic, if I leave it off for a few days (like if I have a weekend reno project, or I spend a few days turning wrenches, I wear my $5Ironman knockoff from the gas station), it will go dead. A small price to pay...

Anyway, looks like they are getting cheaper - mine was over $100, but I bought it at the counter in a pricey dept store with a giftcard. Online hey start around $65.

Kenneth Cole KC1514

Javelin wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: Wore my Seiko5 today! It's my beater watch! Got mine off of Amazon, looks a lot like this one:

Man, that's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for! Seiko5 it is, $70 isn't bad at all.

I used to have one just like that, but it was on a blue woven band. Last time I saw it, it was on JG's wrist.

Javelin wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: Wore my Seiko5 today! It's my beater watch! Got mine off of Amazon, looks a lot like this one:

Man, that's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for! Seiko5 it is, $70 isn't bad at all.

Watch (I'm addicted to Amazon Prime...two day shipping!) Clasp

And the band I bought local. Buy the band first, so you can see what size clasp you need.

Seiko SNZ427K2 Citizen Eco Drive BM8180

More than $50, but I got it in St Thomas so it was a good deal. Automatic, waterproof, easy to read. Fossil has some nice stuff, worth a look.

Seiko or probably fossil would be close to your criteria. I've snagged some good deals on seiko automatics the poor man's watch forum shop or various ebay retailers out of hong kong or singapore. But shipping will usually get you pretty good on those.

In reply to PHeller:

I like the Citizen EcoDrive watches - there's one on my wrist right now - but they're not going to hit the $50 price target that a cheap automatic will.

OP - the Seiko5 is a smallish watch - works fine with my thin wrists but if you've got larger wrists it can look like a kids'/ladies' watch.

Damn you guys, now I'll be off trolling PMWF again for a new watch. I suppose that's better than what I was doing yesterday, checking out the Tag Hauer F&F sale - great "deals" on those watches but a Grand Carrera is still $2k

Any suggestions on manual winders in the $50 range? I really like the watches PHeller posted. Small, classy, not ornate. Some kind of stop watch like feature would be amazing but certainly not required.

Citizen EcoDrive is what I got the wife unit. It is very, very nice and a bit much for daily use.

I have a Coast Guard Fossil watch that was given to me after I graduated basic. It's also really nice and I break it out for special occasions. It's never the right time though, so it's purely for looks.

I think I'm sold on the Seiko5...

Not exactly a watch... but really cool

Javelin wrote: Citizen EcoDrive is what I got the wife unit. It is very, very nice and a bit much for daily use. I have a Coast Guard Fossil watch that was given to me after I graduated basic. It's also really nice and I break it out for special occasions. It's *never* the right time though, so it's purely for looks. I think I'm sold on the Seiko5...

Dude, that Citizen that was posted is $87 on Amazon and will probably be a better fit for your wrist. I know this because it's been in my Amazon wishlist for awhile now, as I love my "daily driver" Nighthawk and have been looking for a more outdoorsy watch to compliment it. Proof.

Osterkraut wrote:

Javelin wrote: Citizen EcoDrive is what I got the wife unit. It is very, very nice and a bit much for daily use. I have a Coast Guard Fossil watch that was given to me after I graduated basic. It's also really nice and I break it out for special occasions. It's *never* the right time though, so it's purely for looks. I think I'm sold on the Seiko5...

Dude, that Citizen that was posted is $87 on Amazon and will probably be a better fit for your wrist. I know this because it's been in my Amazon wishlist for awhile now, as I love my "daily driver" Nighthawk and have been looking for a more outdoorsy watch to compliment it. Proof.

Oi! I missed that one! Hmmmm.... looks excellent!