Watch under 500?

[mygar]

I am looking for a dress watch under 500. Looking for an automatic, sapphire crystal, no diver type watch though.

Also, any reputable online retailers.?

I know we have some collectors here... hope to get some pointers!

I admit i do not know much about watches so any advice would be well appreciated!

[luvdunhill]

I would look at the Seiko Cocktail Time.

Perhaps a "grey market" dealer such as Jomashop and search around and see what strikes your fancy.

Have fun shopping!

[Fuzz]

26 minutes ago, mygar said:

I am looking for a dress watch under 500. Looking for an automatic, sapphire crystal, no diver type watch though.

Also, any reputable online retailers.?

I know we have some collectors here... hope to get some pointers!

I admit i do not know much about watches so any advice would be well appreciated!

These days "dress watch" can mean so many different styles. Do you have any specific style you are after? Square or round? Bracelet or strap? Plain dial or one with complications? Any watches you have seen that have caught your eye?

[Fuzz]

Tissot Le Locle

Orient Ray II

Melbourne Watch Co. Carlton

[mygar]

The Tissot watch is my style... been looking at those. Other than looks dont know anything to look for far as quality.

[mygar]

49 minutes ago, luvdunhill said:

I would look at the Seiko Cocktail Time.

Perhaps a "grey market" dealer such as Jomashop and search around and see what strikes your fancy.

Have fun shopping!

Thanks... for the online site will take a look!

[mygar]

31 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

These days "dress watch" can mean so many different styles. Do you have any specific style you are after? Square or round? Bracelet or strap? Plain dial or one with complications? Any watches you have seen that have caught your eye?

I like a leather strap... but a stainless band would seem to go with any shoes, belt, etc. So have not decided on bracelet or strap.

I seem to gravitate toward a round face... nothing too splashy... seems tissot makes a lot i like. Not sure of their quality... is there a mfr out there that produces best bang for the buck? Thanks!

[Stogieninja]

Seiko makes some great, very affordable watches.

The Seiko 5 line has lots of great choices in the sub-$100 range. Most are 36-37mm making them a classic size for dress watches.



The SARB033 and SARB035 are a touch bigger at 38mm, and have a little better fit and finish and movement, and are an amazing value for the $250-350 you can find them for (first one is mine, other two are pics from google):

If you want to go Swiss, Mido, Frederique Constant, and Edox all make silver dial beauties you can find for under your price point.

[Fuzz]

1 hour ago, mygar said:

I like a leather strap... but a stainless band would seem to go with any shoes, belt, etc. So have not decided on bracelet or strap.

I seem to gravitate toward a round face... nothing too splashy... seems tissot makes a lot i like. Not sure of their quality... is there a mfr out there that produces best bang for the buck? Thanks!

I've had several Tissot watches in the past, from quartz to automatics. Never had any problem with them. And they are relatively cheap to repair/service.

The Le Locle uses a modified ETA 2824-2 movement (power reserve bumped up to 80hrs). The 2824 movement is one of the most widely used ETA movements, from sub $500 to $4000+ watches.

[mygar]

1 hour ago, Stogieninja said:

Seiko makes some great, very affordable watches.

The Seiko 5 line has lots of great choices in the sub-$100 range. Most are 36-37mm making them a classic size for dress watches.



The SARB033 and SARB035 are a touch bigger at 38mm, and have a little better fit and finish and movement, and are an amazing value for the $250-350 you can find them for (first one is mine, other two are pics from google):

 

 

If you want to go Swiss, Mido, Frederique Constant, and Edox all make silver dial beauties you can find for under your price point.

 

 

Thank you. The blue face SARB033 does look nice. Will check that line out

[mygar]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

I've had several Tissot watches in the past, from quartz to automatics. Never had any problem with them. And they are relatively cheap to repair/service.

The Le Locle uses a modified ETA 2824-2 movement (power reserve bumped up to 80hrs). The 2824 movement is one of the most widely used ETA movements, from sub $500 to $4000+ watches.

This is very good info. Thanks. I like the power reserve at 80hrs.... Tissot definitely has my interest

[gweilgi]

2 hours ago, mygar said:

I like a leather strap... but a stainless band would seem to go with any shoes, belt, etc. So have not decided on bracelet or strap.

Bracelets tend to bump up the price.

 

2 hours ago, mygar said:

I seem to gravitate toward a round face... nothing too splashy... seems tissot makes a lot i like. Not sure of their quality... is there a mfr out there that produces best bang for the buck? Thanks!

Tissot are excellent value for money.  Can't go far wrong there ....

If you're not too hung-up on getting a brand-new watch, you could also take a look at second-hand watches on sites like chrono24dotcom -- that would increase your purchasing range to $900 or more, and there are some very decent watches to be had for that money.  

[Stogieninja]

Thank you. The blue face SARB033 does look nice. Will check that line out

Unfortunately that's sky reflected off my black dial.

[Auspaul]

This is  less than $500  https://www.jomashop.com/glycine-watch-gl0105.html

[mygar]

4 hours ago, gweilgi said:

Bracelets tend to bump up the price.

 

Tissot are excellent value for money.  Can't go far wrong there ....

If you're not too hung-up on getting a brand-new watch, you could also take a look at second-hand watches on sites like chrono24dotcom -- that would increase your purchasing range to $900 or more, and there are some very decent watches to be had for that money.  

Wow lots of watches on that site. Thanks!

[mygar]

1 hour ago, Auspaul said:

This is  less than $500  https://www.jomashop.com/glycine-watch-gl0105.html

Thats a nic looking watch. Looks a bit too similar to my current watch. I currently wear a tag that was given to me by my brother. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Seiko's as posted are nice watches.  Glycine is down the street from my cousin's house and do a good job for a Swiss watch at that price point.  May want to check out Steinhart; they may have something in your range.  It's a ton of watch for the money.

[Fugu]

Good info here, gents. Let them come, I am interested, too. 

[El Hoze]

For what it's worth, a very common consistent response to this question if you asked a big group of watch geeks would be Seiko Cocktail Time. Hard to beat if you like the styling. 

Funny, just a couple of days ago one of the more-respected watch websites had a piece written about a variation of the Cocktail Time: 

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-seiko-presage-cocktail-time-srpb43

 

[treberty]

7 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Seiko's as posted are nice watches.  Glycine is down the street from my cousin's house and do a good job for a Swiss watch at that price point.  May want to check out Steinhart; they may have something in your range.  It's a ton of watch for the money.

Steinhart makes great pilot watches - great value indeed imo.

[mygar]

Thanks for all the help. Have been looking at all the watches and online sites suggested. 

I gravitate towards tissot, mido, hamilton, oris... some models slighlty above my price point. 

Any pluses or minuses when considering these brands?

Looking for a stainless case and bracelet, 38 to 40 mm sizes.. with a silver or white face. Simple but elegant ... maybe "timeless" style? 

Thanks!

[CooGAR]

Take a look at the Orient Bambino line.  I have the black dialed Bambino on the right.  I love the look of the domed crystal.  Lots of different faces,bands, etc....  Usually about $175-199.

 

[BrightonCorgi]

19 hours ago, mygar said:

Thanks for all the help. Have been looking at all the watches and online sites suggested. 

I gravitate towards tissot, mido, hamilton, oris... some models slighlty above my price point. 

Any pluses or minuses when considering these brands?

Looking for a stainless case and bracelet, 38 to 40 mm sizes.. with a silver or white face. Simple but elegant ... maybe "timeless" style? 

Thanks!

Mido is cool if you are in the US.  You're unlikely to see many wearing one. 

[Fuzz]

Certina DS-1 Powermatic 80 (also a titanium version, but not powermatic)

Orient Bambino V4

Tissot Visodate

[Puros Y Vino]

Lots of interesting suggestions here. I like Tissot myself.  This is my baby.

Tissot Perpetual Calendar