My EDC watch is an ArmourLite Operator. It has been excellent so far and reasonably priced.

Since said Seamaster, I gotta say, the Seamaster 300 with the white wave dial and black bezel is soooooo nice. I love that color way on the Seamaster! But, under $1k, I really like Unimatics. Yeah, they’re a micro brand, but their simplistic clean designs really speak to me. I have one on a nato that is the watch I wear when I know I’m bound to jack one up.

Closer to $2k I’ve been on a Monta kick lately. Again, a micro, but man do they make nice watches. I picked up three last month and am blown away. I am going to compare them to a Tudor soon, I just haven’t had tome to take the macro pics. Bottom line, monta goes toe to toe with Tudor.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:

quote:

Originally posted by 71 TRUCK:
I guess the big question is how much are you looking to spend?

Ideally, less than $1500. (Really, less than $1000, but can go to $1500. Obviously, no issue with used.)

A good place to go do some research is Chrono 24. You can go into their advanced search "in the buy a watch section" option and put in the dollar range,style,location of the Lister and other parameters you are looking at.
Just remember they are like the Ebay of watches. They do not sell, they are just a listing platform.
People use their platform from all over the world not just the U.S. to list their watches.
You would have to be comfortable spending that kind of money using that kind of a platform. If I were to buy using them I would only deal with a U.S seller. I am not sure how customs is handled.
I am sure you would also have to be careful looking out for possible scammers.

You may also want to look at Jomas Shop. They are a grey market dealer and they do sell preowned watches.
There are other grey market dealers like Watchmax and authenticwatches.
I have also seen some good deals on Amazon however they are in most cases just a listing platform. Some watches are provided by other companies.
I have never used any of these sellers.
You should also check your local jewelers.

My wife and I have purchased most of our watches while on Caribbean Cruises however that is not happening any time soon. We have a friend who is an ADs in the Caribbean and we always get great deals.

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Why not something a little cheaper like a Hamilton Khaki?

I just ordered one of these for daily wear myself.

The Powermatic 80 in the newer Hamilton Khaki is a superb movement. Way more accurate than I was expecting and that 80 hour power reserve is very nice. It punches way above its price tag.

Another watch to consider is Mido. The Mido Multifort Chronometer is in my opinion THE best sub $1000 automatic watch on the market. It has it all, gorgeous looks, a display caseback to showcase its gorgeous movement, a screw down crown & 100m WR.

Anyone know anything about Hook And Gaff's Fleetmaster? Looks like a GSAR, with a GMT hand, in a way.

Debating about if going with a "local boy" makes sense.

It seems every time I don’t buy what I really want and settle for something else, it costs me much more in the long run.... always end up buying my first choice...eventually...Get the Speedmaster.

I have an Omega Seamaster that I love (its my fancy watch). My personal working watches are an Orient Ray II automatic (fantastic!), a Victorinox Air Boss, Invicta automatic diver, and a Citizen diver. I love them all.

I've loved this watch for travel and the capacitor lasts forever. I have left it in a drawer for weeks and the battery gauge never moved. It's titanium so it's light as well.

Aglifter, I know it’s not on your list but I got a Citizen eco drive dive watch for my everyday watch. I didn’t want to risk losing either of my GMT Masters overboard plus I was just beating them up.
The citizen is a great watch and if I lose it or it gets too rough looking I’ll just get another, from Dave Troung of course....

As we have observed in the past, Casio, Citizen and Seiko (to name three manufactures) offer solar powered watches that daily sinc via radio wave with the NF2 atomic clock in Boulder, CO. The NF2 atomic clock is said to be so accurate that the keepers thereof can only estimate how much time it may eventually gain or lose, which is estimated at +/- one (1) second in 300,000,000 (that's three hundred million) years. We find this technology intriguing and own two such (both Casios). We know of examples of these that are in excess of fifteen years old that have yet to require anything other than an occasional exposure to the sun.

Of course, these cannot begin to compete with the upscale Swiss autos in terms of bling and prestige (whatever that is). But for a trouble free, zero maintenance, accurate time piece that can be had for well under $1large, they are difficult to beat.

We trudge on (accurately timed).

Check out Tag Formula 1's (Jomashop has a big selection). I have a black face one; quartz, good level of water resistance, comfortable band. It's a good go to when doing outdoor activities or traveling.

My everyday beater is a $30 Casio from Walmart . Kinda like carrying a cheap pocketknife . Your not scared to abuse it but for some reason it always works when you need it and it's hard to lose .

$1200 is the best deal on a Rolex you could get!

A used Sub is @ $8k.

I realize you already own the Sub, but looking at it from a value standpoint - fix the Rolex!

Most durable watch, good for daily wear.

ONLY get it serviced from Rolex Service Center!
Do not go to someone that says they are authorized - they aren't.

Contact RSC NY for your closest service center.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
Of those you mention I'd go with Marathon. I have one of their original SAR mechanical watches (Oct 2001 military contract) and it has been bulletproof.

Pictured here next to my ~1975 Aquastar Benthos I 1000m diver.

I have a 2008 J-SAR quartz.

Looks like a tank.

Built like a tank.

Can take the crap like a tank.

Accurate as hell - I only check it when the battery needs changing.

It could have been the only watch I ever needed, if it wasn't for the other 38.

Oh, my sub is getting serviced. I realize it is a “working” watch. Someone told me it’s from 1969, I know it was bought, new, in 1974. (The same dealer did have quite a bit of old stock.)

It was my father’s sailing watch, which was given to me when I was 15. It’s had many years of being banged, smashed during ranch work, covered in corrosive chemicals, etc.

I get a surprising number of compliments on it, I think because it has a “patina”.

But, it was also my father’s, so I do not wear it while traveling overseas. Perhaps I should stop wearing it while fishing, but I do keep the spring bars replaced, and wear it in a NATO strap.

The Speedmaster is “cool”, and something I would wear, regardless of finances, but it’s not very tough, from what I read.

I may have a split purpose. The correct answer may be something equivalent to a Glock. (Good value, tough, and easily replaced), and then get the Speedmaster, or something like it, to wear while traveling.

(I hate the whole “economic signaling” thing. And it drives me nuts that I respond to it the way that I do - but life does go smoother in $2000 shoes, with a few grand of watch on your wrist.)

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:.

I may have a split purpose. The correct answer may be something equivalent to a Glock. (Good value, tough, and easily replaced), and then get the Speedmaster, or something like it, to wear while traveling.

As far as the Glock equivalent, I’d probably say Gshocks. But I’m partial to an analog face, and automatic movements.

The Seiko Sports 5 watches fit that bill. But there are truly endless options. But that price point vs function is hard to beat. And no tears if it falls off or breaks.

Chongo, if you want the Glock of the watch world I agree it is a G-shock. If you are interested in the Glock of the watch worlds best competition I recommend checking out Seiko’s brilliantly designed Digital Tuna aka the “Digi tuna”.

This watch has very much flown under the radar and is not well known even among watch enthusiasts. I happen to adore its design and struggle to find many flaws with this watch.

I cannot begin to tell you guys how much I adore this watch. It’s user interface is absolutely fantastic. It is intuitive, simple and so easy to operate my 10 year old son was able to use its alarm and timer function without instructions.

It has dual time and it’s easy to change the second time zone on the fly. The watch also and has an alarm, timer, battery gauge and even a minute track around the outer LCD so the rotating bezel is functional. It pays homage to its automatic predecessors with that rotating bezel and it’s overall appearance and I just LOVE that Seiko found a way to make the bezel functional.

The function I like most though is the solar intensity function. What is that? It’s a gauge that tells you how efficient the small solar cell is inside the watch and the rate at which it is charging. Just now I walked outside and it’s pouring here in NC in my neck of the woods and my Digi tuna informed me it was charging at 60% efficiency or solar power. On a sunny day it’s of course 100% but I love to see the difference between rainy, cloudy, and sunny when it comes to solar charging.. It’s not an incredibly necessary function but I love that Seiko added it to the watch. They also added a more detailed power gauge on that function so you basically have two power gauges with this watch a basic one on the home screen and a more detailed one on the charging/ power reserve screen.

If I was only allowed to own two watches this would be one of them due to its accuracy, multiple useful and easy to use functions and fact that it’s light, comfy and can take a beating and keep on going just like a G-shock but with WAAAAAAY MORE personality and joy of ownership.

I have two Benhardt watches.

Family business
Automatic Miyota movements
Assembled in the US

The left one is a Binnacle Diver



Right one is a limited edition Corsair II.

They have several watches that are in the wear everyday price range. Yet are high-quality automatic movements.

Corsair Diver $319
https://www.bernhardtwatch.com...s/corsair-diver-blue

Binnacle Diver $269 Currently 20% off on sale
https://www.bernhardtwatch.com...nacle-diver-burgundy

Another company in the US.
Assemble the watches here
Swiss movements
Good prices

https://www.mcdowelltime.com/collections/tidewater