Watch nerds please help me

[robmcleod82]

Well boys, I have decided its time for a watch. Ive always had a thing for watches since I was a kid but havent worn one since I was in high school. Being a industrial mechanic is hard on stuff so I never purchased a decent watch as it would get worn about as often as my wedding ring maybe 5 days a year. Now that I have been primarily riding a desk for the last couple years I feel like i could wear a watch without destroying it.
Now unlike OWG i dont need my fiance's permission but due to my scottish ancestry I tend to be fiscally frugal. As much as i want a seamaster I just cant rationalize spending 2 nightforce atacr scopes worth of fun tickets on a watch when I could really use the scopes.
I'm thinking the Seiko prospex line is more in the price range I can justify to myself at this point in my life.
Id imagine the FE sangin would be cool but probably slim to fuck all chances of grabbing one when they come up.

I have also seen some "mods" for sale that were pretty neat looking. Not sure buying something that someone customized is a good plan though?

Another thing im curious about seems alotta guys wear nato bands over stainless ones. Is this a comfort thing, a durability thing? Both?

Sorry for my ignorance guys but Im well outside my depth with this stuff. Are there other brands around the 1k give or take price point that are worth a shit?

Thanks fellas!

 

[wolf.369]

What do you want the watch to do? That’s your first question… do you want just time? Do you want time and date? Time/date/day of the week? GPS and maps? Heart rate or Physical Fitness calculations? If you work in any Department of______ capacity, throw out any “smart” watch (Apple,Garmin,etc) even if you’re not SCIF-read in-SIPR- etc etc. it’s not worth it. What space and terrain? Land-Sea-Air (piloting, diving, speed calculations).

In general a watch is like any tool bru. Sure you can use a Victorinox to cut a steak, but a steak knife works better… don’t buy a watch just because…. Unless you want to keep buying watches regularly.

Just my two cents.

 

[robmcleod82]

Time and date is all I need. Spend as much time as possible on/in the water all summer and often after dark so Lume is a must have for me. Im just not into the whole smartwatch thing, some of the garmins look pretty cool but the last damned thing i need is another screen in my life.

 

[josephpbaker]

Doxa and Ball both have cool heritages and can be picked up for reasonable prices. I’m a believer is buy once. Not saying you have to go full out but stretch the budget a bit to buy quality. Chrono24 is an app where you can find used watches, different people have different views on buying used, but it he best thing you can do starting out in the watch game is to not give a shit what anyone else thinks and do whatever you want.

 

[josephpbaker]

If you want something with a ton of character and some space history check this out: https://www.chrono24.com/seiko/seik...947--id35553600.htm?SETLANG=en_US&SETCURR=USD

 

[jeff]

Another good resource is the WatchUSeek forums. https://www.watchuseek.com/. Good place to get inspiration.

You mention time on the water so probably a “diving” / tool watch. Something that can go can go in the water and also be tough as nails.

Do you want something that can sit in the drawer for a week? Then grab it and go? Maybe a quartz movement then. Will have to battery swap every 5-10 years. You’re going to have that done at a jeweler that can pressure test after the swap to maintain waterproof

An automatic can be self-winding or hand wound only. Self wind keeps it powered just by wearing it or you can get into watchwinders, cases that mimic wrist movement.

Welcome to the rabbit hole. You cannot go wrong with any decent Seiko IMHO.

 

[Godfather]

@robmcleod82

I would break band and watch apart, as choices, because any watch this group suggests will be able to handle most straps and they can be changed with little effort and variety enjoyed.

Nothing wrong with a Seiko.

Nothing wrong with a Seiko Mod, using a Seiko movement but different case, other than the long term value won’t be there, but if you like it, who gives two fucks.

There are many great choices, and this group will give you many recommendations.

One to add to that list is Sangin Instruments. Aside from what will be a tight market for the upcoming FE collab, he makes many styles and versions. I own his Neptune and run a leather band with rubber insole and a Hirsch deployment clasp (versus standard band), I have worn that watch to many unfriendly places. I also own his Overlord and wear the NATO strap with that - my son wears the same, but the unique variant only for paratroopers, he’s a sniper in the 82nd, and thank you for tolerating the proud papa reference.

I think his Kinetic may be one of the coolest watches designed.

All very affordable.

All food for thought.

Well boys, I have decided its time for a watch. Ive always had a thing for watches since I was a kid but havent worn one since I was in high school. Being a industrial mechanic is hard on stuff so I never purchased a decent watch as it would get worn about as often as my wedding ring maybe 5 days a year. Now that I have been primarily riding a desk for the last couple years I feel like i could wear a watch without destroying it.
Now unlike OWG i dont need my fiance's permission but due to my scottish ancestry I tend to be fiscally frugal. As much as i want a seamaster I just cant rationalize spending 2 nightforce atacr scopes worth of fun tickets on a watch when I could really use the scopes.
I'm thinking the Seiko prospex line is more in the price range I can justify to myself at this point in my life.
Id imagine the FE sangin would be cool but probably slim to fuck all chances of grabbing one when they come up.

I have also seen some "mods" for sale that were pretty neat looking. Not sure buying something that someone customized is a good plan though?

Another thing im curious about seems alotta guys wear nato bands over stainless ones. Is this a comfort thing, a durability thing? Both?

Sorry for my ignorance guys but Im well outside my depth with this stuff. Are there other brands around the 1k give or take price point that are worth a shit?

Thanks fellas!

 

[jcupdrew]

Well boys, I have decided its time for a watch. Ive always had a thing for watches since I was a kid but havent worn one since I was in high school. Being a industrial mechanic is hard on stuff so I never purchased a decent watch as it would get worn about as often as my wedding ring maybe 5 days a year. Now that I have been primarily riding a desk for the last couple years I feel like i could wear a watch without destroying it.
Now unlike OWG i dont need my fiance's permission but due to my scottish ancestry I tend to be fiscally frugal. As much as i want a seamaster I just cant rationalize spending 2 nightforce atacr scopes worth of fun tickets on a watch when I could really use the scopes.
I'm thinking the Seiko prospex line is more in the price range I can justify to myself at this point in my life.
Id imagine the FE sangin would be cool but probably slim to fuck all chances of grabbing one when they come up.

I have also seen some "mods" for sale that were pretty neat looking. Not sure buying something that someone customized is a good plan though?

Another thing im curious about seems alotta guys wear nato bands over stainless ones. Is this a comfort thing, a durability thing? Both?

Sorry for my ignorance guys but Im well outside my depth with this stuff. Are there other brands around the 1k give or take price point that are worth a shit?

Thanks fellas!

I’m a big fan of Hamilton, Longines. A lot of the bigger watch companies (Swatch) own several brands and use the same movements. Exception would be Rolex (Tudor as well) and some of the higher end watches which have in-house movements. Both can be good quality. Will pay more for Swiss certified, but not necessarily better. Ironically Swatch owns Omega and Hamilton, Longines, Tissot. They share some similarities and even components, but Omega goes a step further with in house refinement and going through certification process.

If you don’t wear often, will need watch winder. Screw down crown huge step up in durability imo if constantly having to reset time when power reserve dies from lack of wearing. Quartz keep time, are low maintenance and generally cheaper. NATO for comfort. Leather or rubber straps pretty comfortable as well and sporty. Citizens eco drive are reasonable and pretty cool technology

 

[robmcleod82]

I think I grossly underestimated the depth of this rabbit hole.... my concern with a mod is will the case actually be waterproof? Will have to look more into the sangin line. I am deffinately looking at diving/tool watches. Hoping to find one i like for everyday. Pros/cons to a solar movement? Sorry for all the rookie questions but this seems more informative to me than a google search.
Thanks so far guys

 

[jeff]

Citizen may be the best, known to me, solar option. I wouldn’t personally pick a solar. It just doesn’t add anything to me.

Sangin’s are legit.

 

[jcupdrew]

I think I grossly underestimated the depth of this rabbit hole.... my concern with a mod is will the case actually be waterproof? Will have to look more into the sangin line. I am deffinately looking at diving/tool watches. Hoping to find one i like for everyday. Pros/cons to a solar movement? Sorry for all the rookie questions but this seems more informative to me than a google search.
Thanks so far guys

I wouldn’t overthink it. First question, Automatic or Quartz. Sapphire crystal. Can check the depth rating. I wear my Hamilton to the beach all the time. Only downside is have to put it on winder or wear frequently. Doesn’t have screw down crown like Rolex/Tudor.

 

[jeff]

I wouldn’t overthink it. First question, Automatic or Quartz. Sapphire crystal. Can check the depth rating. I wear my Hamilton to the beach all the time. Only downside is have to put it on winder or wear frequently. Doesn’t have screw down crown like Rolex/Tudor.

Look for anti-reflective (AR), or even double AR, coating on the crystal too.

 

[drewmrigsby]

Nato straps are highly comfortable and allow you easily change it out for other strap choices on a daily basis. There have been some great suggestions here but I would also add that the CWC MK2 is a great affordable quartz movement with heritage and it is a tank.

 

[badgererickson]

Well boys, I have decided its time for a watch. Ive always had a thing for watches since I was a kid but havent worn one since I was in high school. Being a industrial mechanic is hard on stuff so I never purchased a decent watch as it would get worn about as often as my wedding ring maybe 5 days a year. Now that I have been primarily riding a desk for the last couple years I feel like i could wear a watch without destroying it.
Now unlike OWG i dont need my fiance's permission but due to my scottish ancestry I tend to be fiscally frugal. As much as i want a seamaster I just cant rationalize spending 2 nightforce atacr scopes worth of fun tickets on a watch when I could really use the scopes.
I'm thinking the Seiko prospex line is more in the price range I can justify to myself at this point in my life.
Id imagine the FE sangin would be cool but probably slim to fuck all chances of grabbing one when they come up.

I have also seen some "mods" for sale that were pretty neat looking. Not sure buying something that someone customized is a good plan though?

Another thing im curious about seems alotta guys wear nato bands over stainless ones. Is this a comfort thing, a durability thing? Both?

Sorry for my ignorance guys but Im well outside my depth with this stuff. Are there other brands around the 1k give or take price point that are worth a shit?

Thanks fellas!

One factor, as you note, is where/what am I doing? I switch A LOT over to NATO bands as the bracelets are bulk/heavy/loud, and the NATO helps the watch better fit say under a jacket or shirt cuff. Riding moto I'll run the Glycine Combat as it easily fits under cuff of riding jacket and the gloves, w/o any binding. I keep going back to an older CITIZEN Navihawk I have, have a couple actually, no matter what I'm doing and IMHO has the only reliable solar charge unit out there. Check out the Citizen Promaster section of their website, brand new stuff, in the $3-900 range. If nothing grabs your eye, move on; When it doesn't tickle THAT part of your brain, you probably won't wear it. When you're ready to make that next steps up to the Rolex, etc., these guys here already have put out great info, but that Sangin FE Collab might be doable for you too! IIRC, there's a pretty cool watch in the classifieds now, ask him some questions?

 

[j_conrad_00]

Just to complicated things there are several "micro brands" to consider. Entry levels like Vaer, bolder, Winfield... mid level like Jack Mason, Nomadic etc. I think that given all the oddities in the markets right now some of these smaller brands are offering watches way above the brand labels
I've literally been collecting watches for about 30 years. I'm a huge fan of the Seiko Luxe line (that's a level within Seiko). Sinn is another brand that makes absolute stellar watches. Hamilton makes some fine watches as does Aquastar and Doxa if you want some history.
Luckily I've been blessed in the last several years to step into some more "luxury" models. I've got 3 Tudors and a Rolex. These brands have real history and when you wear them you can tell they are special. I suspect it's the same with Breitling and Omega and the like.
I suggest picking your style. Pilot, field, gmt, diver etc... and then pursuing the brands.
I'm looking at a Longines Zulu and my new "grail" is a Grand Seiko Shun Bun or an IWC Mark XX.
Welcome to the madness!

 

[Charlie Benton]

Nothing wrong with a Seiko. IWCs are also dope. I've been rocking a Sangin Kinetic K2 Pilot DLC for about 2 years now and love it. It's spent plenty of time under water, at altitude, covered in blood, and everywhere in between. Very solid watch.

 

[torresdavid09]

Agree with @Charlie Benton, Seikos are a solid choice for everyday wear, field/water use, and for dinner.

Other good options to consider are Luminox and Longines.

 

[jeff]

I just want to know if the OP has a top 5 yet? Or, has he been paralyzed with infinite amount of choices out there.