Need Help Finding a watch

[KosstAmojan]

I am not a watch guy so I need some help with this. I'm not even a huge fan of watches but I do admit they look good on me so I'd like some help finding one that fits me.

Looking for a dress watch, gold colored case with a black leather strap. Thing is, I need it cheap, preferably under $100. It's not something I'm going to particularly treasure and I'll just treat it as necessary accessory. I'd rather spend money on almost anything else. The only reason I have a steel metal banded watch now is because it was a gift.

The reason I haven't just gone on ebay and gotten one is that I also need it not to be made in China or Vietnam. Non-negotiable. Ive learned country of labeling on watches, even expensive ones, is mostly none existent online. And yes I do know that some otherwise unavailable parts may come from there. Internet searches just keep bringing up the same japanese or Swiss expensive watches.

The best I've found is Orient watches for around $200 but I'd still like to drop that some. Thank you

 

[TLW '90]

I don't think you'll be able to find something under $100 that exactly mmeets your parameters if at all, unless it's 2nd hand.
The Seiko SUR434 is currently on sale for $119 from ****azon.
It's made in Japan, and Gold colored, but it also has a matching gold tone bracelet so you would also have to buy a black leather band for it.

Timex has some black band gold tone options that are definitely under $100, but I'm not positive where they're made.
I know some of their modules are made in Indonesia or Singapore, and I believe they also use some Japanese quartz modules.
The cases are probably made in China regardless of where the module comes from though.

Another thing to keep in mind is that at this price range you're pretty much guaranteed to get a low quality strap that's barely leather if at all, so you'll probably want to focus on the watch / case itself and upgrade the strap.

 

[KosstAmojan]

I don't think you'll be able to find something under $100 that exactly mmeets your parameters if at all, unless it's 2nd hand.
The Seiko SUR434 is currently on sale for $119 from ****azon.
It's made in Japan, and Gold colored, but it also has a matching gold tone bracelet so you would also have to buy a black leather band for it.

Timex has some black band gold tone options that are definitely under $100, but I'm not positive where they're made.
I know some of their modules are made in Indonesia or Singapore, and I believe they also use some Japanese quartz modules.
The cases are probably made in China regardless of where the module comes from though.

Another thing to keep in mind is that at this price range you're pretty much guaranteed to get a low quality strap that's barely leather if at all, so you'll probably want to focus on the watch / case itself and upgrade the strap.

Thanks, I'll try ebay. It'll be a cold day in hell before I use Amazon again.

 

[TLW '90]

Thanks, I'll try ebay. It'll be a cold day in hell before I use Amazon again.

I refuse to shop on ****azon as well.

 

[Monte]

Hello,

I'm in the market for a new watch and would appreciate some recommendations. I'm looking for something versatile that can be worn both casually and formally. Budget-wise, I'm flexible but aiming for good value. Ideally, it should be durable with a classic design that won't look outdated too quickly. I'm interested in both analog and smartwatch options, so any insights on functionality and battery life would be great.

Please share your experiences and suggestions! What watches have you found reliable and stylish? Your input will help me make an informed decision. Thanks in advance for your help

Firstly, there are thousands of companies and price ranges. My Seiko Sport is a dive model and I think it works w any dress. My Vario is a basic military replica model. Goes w anything, imo.

 

[handymike]

Seiko makes many different designs, and are reliable. I have a couple vintage Seikos. They are great, and get compliments.

I typically wear a Tag/ Heuer. Battery life is about 1.5 years. This is the 1000 model from the 80s (I think).

These 2 are later models- 1990s

 

[Olumin]

Try vintage Seiko Quartz on eBay. Many great ones for under $100.

 

[Coveragro]

I’m not a watch expert either, but I once went on a hunt for a simple yet elegant piece myself. I ended up finding a nice gold-colored watch with a black leather strap from a brand that wasn't too mainstream, and it was under $100!

 

[Coveragro]

I’m not a watch expert either, but I once went on a hunt for a simple yet elegant piece myself. I ended up finding a nice gold-colored watch with a black leather strap from a brand that wasn't too mainstream, and it was under $100!

You might want to check out brands like Timex or Seiko; they have some affordable options that fit the classic look. I even came across a replica Patek Philippe once that looked so good, I thought it was better than the real deal for what I needed. It had that sophisticated vibe without breaking the bank.

 

[Bfd70]

https://www.jomashop.com/invicta-i-by-invicta-black-dial-mens-watch-ibi29865.html

 

[Edward]

https://www.jomashop.com/invicta-i-by-invicta-black-dial-mens-watch-ibi29865.html

I had an Invicta as a daily wearer a few years ago. I enjoyed that it had the look of a Submariner, however the branding on it was distinct and it was not attempting to pass itself off as a Rolex. Kept decent time, though it did have a tendency to gain five minutes across a fortnight. I recall getting into the habit of setting it by my classroom clock just ahead of my 9am lecture on a Friday morning at the time.


For Christmas 2020, my wife bought me the watch that has been my daily wear ever since (indeed, the only watch I've worn other than a pocket watch). It's a Vostok. The Vostok factory in Russia made watches for the Russian military for decades. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, they also expanded into the Western market selling to consumers. A watch equivalent of the venerable Swiss Army knife. I've owned a couple of their watches over the years, and always found them reliable (particularly the automatics). The one my wife bought me is in the same, general 'diver' type design vibe. In particular, it has a separate, smaller dial for seconds, and the hand that would normally be a second hand rotates within 24 hours. With the swivelling of the numbered bevel in the correct direction and degree, this allows me to tell at a glance what time it is in two different timezones. At home I generally keep it set to Beijing time (seven hours ahead during BST, eight Hours ahead in Winter on GMT), switching that up when I travel. Purists I gather don't regard this arrangement as a 'true' GMT watch, but it works for me. Always wear it on one of multiple nylon NATO style straps, which I change as they get dirty (they machine wash beautifully at 30 degrees, tucked together in a sock) or to colour-match to outfit where desired. Price of these varies a lot; with patience I find they can get as cheap as about £20 each, though inevitably you do pay more for particular colours (especially the straps that imitate Connery's in From Russia With Love).

I've owned either three or four Vostoks over the years. The one the wife bought me is the best, though it was markedly more expensive. The standard, military style amphibious automatic can be had on eBay for as little as GBP50 or less from new. Reliable, robust watches you can wear out and not worry about. Great for those of us without big money to invest in a watch but who still prefer mechanical over Quartz. Which is a subjective choice, really - I can't knock the accuracy of quartz, but I have a romantic attachment to time pieces that don't require any electronic intervention or batteries.

MY GMT hand Vostok is all the watch I need day to day. I'd love to pick up a couple of nice dress watches at some point - a square-bodied one for evening wear (I tend to go wristwatch for black tie, pocket watch for full formal), and I'd love to have one of the Hamilton Ventura Automatics they started doing a few years ago. I love the design of the Ventura, and putting an automatic movement in one is an anachronism to the design that feels entirely fitting for my own out-of-time style choices. But as a functional timepiece, the Vostok is 'my' watch. If I won the lottery I might be tempted by a Tudor Black Bay (I'd buy one of those in preference to a Rolex, as they're closer the vintaged spec and size that I prefer), but chances are I'd mostly keep it in a drawer and still wear the Vostok.