First watch $500 budget

[H2T]

Originally Posted by boxdiver

Looking at purchasing my first watch....and would like to keep the budget at around $500.

I would be wearing the watch mainly for nights out and possibly to work. I really don't know what kind of band...so I guess I would say any kind.

Basically my wrist is naked...I'd like to get a good-looking watch...and I'd like to spend around $500.

Thanks.
Get an older Omega sports or dress watch. I like the dress watch with the automatic movements. It may cost more than a new watch but will serve you longer for all occasions, I think.

 

[JayJay]

^^^I'd go in this direction as well.

 

[FidelCashflow]

Originally Posted by Ich_Dien

Don't waste your money. Anything between $10-1000 is pointless when it comes to watches.

So your watch is probably $1,001, right?

 

[NoVaguy]

I own a Hamilton Khaki king and put it on a deadstock Hamilton black croc-style leather strap; I also have the Hamilton Dodson in gold/tan croc. Both retail in the $600 to $800 range, but can easily be had for less than $500.

I also own and recommend the Seiko 5 (I have 4 seiko 5's) and the Orient Mako in blue, but these are more like $50 to $130 watches, if purchased on ebay, and the MSRP is probably from $190 (Orient) to $400 (Seiko 5 Atlas). But it is easy to get these for 50% to 75% of retail.

I also have a couple of cheap quartz watches from few years ago that had been dead for quite a while. I ordered new batteries and a set of 18mm/20mm colored straps and then just fixed and dressed them up into cheap and colorful watches to play around with when going casual. I don't really wear them, but batteries are like $1 on ebay and so they're nice for a change of pace.

 

[Jerome]

Originally Posted by boxdiver

Looking at purchasing my first watch....and would like to keep the budget at around $500.

I would be wearing the watch mainly for nights out and possibly to work. I really don't know what kind of band...so I guess I would say any kind.

Basically my wrist is naked...I'd like to get a good-looking watch...and I'd like to spend around $500.

Thanks.
A vintage wristwatch from the late 50s or 60s by Omega, Longines, Tourist, Oris, Movado, Doxa...you'd have to look around a bit...

 

[boredofthis]

Hey I bought a Tissot PRC about a year and a half ago. I managed to get this watch for £190, original price is like £250 i think.
I am pretty pleased with it, good for the money anyway thats for sure.

 

[Hard2Fit]

Nice watch.

 

[tcnjbanker123]

Originally Posted by Ich_Dien

Don't waste your money. Anything between $10-1000 is pointless when it comes to watches.

I agree completely, that's why I use the Royal Oak Offshore to run intervals and for track practice

 

[intfxdx]

for $500 if you are looking for a classic looking watch you can consider longines, tissot, swatch. if you are looking for a sport watch then tag heuer (in sale ) or victorinox swiss army. all these are swiss made.

 

[Mannix]

Buy a vintage watch from ebay. There are some great timepieces on there for under $500.

 

[office drone]

Originally Posted by Mannix

Buy a vintage watch from ebay. There are some great timepieces on there for under $500.

That's what I did for my first real watch, and got a 70's Omega Seamaster. I lucked out though and the watch works fine, all genuine.

 

[Eustace]

A friend just got one of these and has been raving about it. For $180 it doesn't look bad.

 

[Mentos]

[QUOTE/] A friend just got one of these and has been raving about it. For $180 it doesn't look bad.[/quote]

Well, there's a reason for that...

 

[IBJanky]

Originally Posted by Eustace

A friend just got one of these and has been raving about it. For $180 it doesn't look bad.

Looks like a Rolex Submariner clone.

Kinda like my $60 Invicta:

myke

 

[TheWraith]

Originally Posted by audiophilia

I read they've been having some quality issues since the split from Steinhart. YMMV
That's funny, some say the exact opposite.