I need a new watch!

kien · #1 07-28-2014, 07:50 PM

OOPS! Sorry, yes those are all very good questions !

I'll start off by saying I don't really have a budget. When it comes to watch I am very particular about 3 things, in this order.

1. Fit and feel.
2. Aesthetics
3. function.

I've been wearing my tried and true Esquire for the past 28 years because it fit all three criteria perfectly. I've been shopping for a new watch for a better part of the past year but haven't found anything suitable to replace it.

I have a fairly small wrist so the watch face can't be too big. 35-40mm (max). The band has to be adjustable enough to fit just write on my dainty wrists. Not so loose that the watch can roll around or rattle too much. Not so tight that it chokes my wrist.

I don't want the watch face to be too cluttered with tonnes of lettering, numbers, etc. I'm particular about how I want my watch to look. I realize this is all very subjective.

The three functions I use most in a watch are 1. Time. 2. Date. 3. countdown bezel (via rotatable bezel).

Steve, are you a watch collector? :-)

Dearth · #2 07-28-2014, 08:19 PM

My favourite place to shop for watches is Watch It! They have taken my money more than once my next favourite place to shop for watches is surprisingly The Bay I have found they have a very good collection of watches. Watches are to me what shoes are to women.

Police
Casio
Timex
Diesel

All 4 of those brands have what your looking for but prices start at about $130 for what your looking for

Scythanith · #3 07-28-2014, 08:24 PM

Omega Speedmaster - Dark Side of the Moon edition

don.ald · #4 07-28-2014, 08:29 PM

http://humanitiesperiod6.tumblr.com/...ey-mouse-watch

StirCrazy · #5 07-28-2014, 09:11 PM

I am sporting one of these, best watch I have ever found. I wanted to go back to simplicity when I got it.

http://www.citizenwatch.com/en-ca/wa...del=BM6560-54H

Steve

sphelps · #6 07-28-2014, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scythanith

Omega Speedmaster - Dark Side of the Moon edition

That almost made my list until I saw the list price

Very cool watch.

straightrazorguy · #7 07-28-2014, 09:52 PM

If you want to buy a Swiss-made automatic, but don't want to spend your kid's inheritance, look at a Hamilton. They are serious watches, at reasonable prices. Here's an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE1gGoTC5lo

I have a Khaki Navy (not the GMT), and I love it!

kien · #8 07-28-2014, 10:56 PM

I've actually been curious about the Automatics and Solar Powered watches. Both very interesting features that I never considered before. After reading watch forums (OMG I'm on watch forums now!), I read that the automatics can be more maintenance in that the oils can tend to dry out? Also there is the danger of over wearing out the auto-winder? I have absolutely no experience with them so I don't know how they are in reality.

The Citizen solar powered watches are interesting, but after reading a bit I did read some posts echoing a knee-jerk concern I would have and that is the constant charge-discharge cycling of the rechargeable battery. I know from electronics that rechargeable batteries have a life expectancy. I don't know how often or easy it is to replace the batteries in those suckers.

A friend suggested an Omega Seamaster Pro in a 36mm casing that seems like it suits my needs. Simple 3 hands, date and rotating bezel and built to last (I think). I have never put one on my wrist though so I may have to try one out to see how it feels.

I do have a Mickey Mouse watch actually :-) That battery has been dead for a number of years though. I should put a new battery in it.

Steve, you must have auto-winders for all your automatics? Aren't you concerned about prematurely wearing them out ? Or maybe you don't use auto-winders.

Slick Fork · #9 07-28-2014, 11:32 PM

I've got a citizen solar powered watch and love it. The claim is 11 hours of sunlight provides enough juice for 6 months. No idea how true that is, I don't go out of my way to expose it to sunlight and never had a problem all winter. Only had it a year so I can't speak to its longevity though. My understanding is that battery replacement should be done via sending it in so they can re-waterproof the watch.

When I was researching, what swayed me to the citizen brand was primarily price point. An automatic would be nice, but out of my league at the moment. I had the same battery concerns as you, but from doing a lot of reading I got the impression that the batteries lasted quite a while. The big advantage to solar seems to be they are a little more durable than automatics (no shock sensitivity), and that not having to change the battery all the time means the waterproof seals stay intact for much longer.

sphelps · #10 07-29-2014, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien

Steve, you must have auto-winders for all your automatics? Aren't you concerned about prematurely wearing them out ? Or maybe you don't use auto-winders.

Nah I just wind and set when I put them on, it's a pretty simple task so I don't see the need for such a gimmick. Some will last a few days without being worn so if it's the only watch you wear you won't need to ever wind it but there are others that may not last the night. I've never had problems or preformed such said maintenance but I'm not on a watch forum so probably don't have to