Which watch?

[ctbrew]

I'm trying to find a new watch for casual everyday wear and need help deciding between these two. I'm looking for a somewhat military looking watch under $200. My requirements are prominent minute and hour hands, not too cluttered of a background, and hands and markers must be luminescent. I prefer a steel band. Here are my two main contenders but I'm willing to look at others:

Seiko Snn229P1:

Seiko SND449P1:

Right now I'm leaning towards the first one. Both have a case diameter of 43MM and I have average size forearms, I'm afraid they might be too big. I think the second watch would look a little smaller because its face is a bit smaller, also it's thinner and lighter. But I like the look of the first one.
Your opinions would be appreciated.

 

[thunderthighs]

If you're looking for simplicity and legibility then I would go for an aviator-style dial all the way. Both of the watches you listed are quartz, but if you don't mind automatics then check out the SRP043K1 and the SRP025K1:

 

[AB01]

Second is more unique with the crown. Also nice gold with blue.

First one looks like a common style I see everywhere.

 

[gwolf]

i like thunderthighs' first rec... going with the same flieger theme..

 

[SirGrotius]

The first one you posted all the way. I don't like the second one. It almost looks like a knock-off.

 

[acridsheep]

If you are deciding between the first and the second, go with the first. If you are open to suggestions, I'll second thunderthighs suggestion, and add the classic Black Monster (staying in the Seiko family):

 

[ctbrew]

Thanks for your suggestions gentlemen. Thunderthighs I was really looking hard at this watch, it's definitely the style I want, but do you need to constantly adjust automatics? I don't mind sticking a battery in every once in a while. And I like my first choice better than this one, I really like the gunmetal band. Acridsheep I don't like rotating bezels or bezels of any kind, I don't need them and they add bulk I think, which took out all the dive watches for me. I had a Wenger that had the bezel and I kept thinking what's the point of this thing? As for the one with the military numbers, I WOULD buy that watch if it didn't have the military numbers, but they throw me off for some reason. Otherwise it really is perfect. I was looking at this one in that line but it is 19MM thick!

 

[Kaplan]

Originally Posted by gwolf

going with the same flieger theme..
Good suggestion.

How about a Hamilton?

They have quartz versions as well and some have steel bracelets. Might be a little bit more than $200 though.

 

[thunderthighs]

Originally Posted by ctbrew

Thanks for your suggestions gentlemen. Thunderthighs I was really looking hard at this watch, it's definitely the style I want, but do you need to constantly adjust automatics? I don't mind sticking a battery in every once in a while. And I like my first choice better than this one, I really like the gunmetal band.
One of the charms (pitfalls) of automatics is that they are not as accurate and do need occasional adjustment. However, I just adjust mine whenever I need to adjust the calendar or DST anyway, and the rest of the time it's close enough that if I need atomic accuracy I just check my cell phone. I dunno, the attraction for me is this little device that depends on me to work, and like me, has a little beating heart inside it (balance wheel) and, like me, isn't perfect. Almost like having a little pet on your wrist. If none of this makes any sense to you and leaves you wondering why anyone would bother, then definitely stick to quartz, in which case I recommend a solar-atomic. Set your timezone and forget it, and you don't even need to change batteries as long as it sees light every so often. I like the high-end Casio's such as the OCEANUS series. The OCW-T100TD-1AJF for example is solar powered and receives signals from all available (as of today) atomic clock stations in the world (Multiband 6):

Nicely reviewed here. Made in Japan, if that matters to you. EDIT: Well shoot, I just blew your budget by $300. Sorry.

 

[Pieceofsand]

 

[ktrp]

I bought a seiko 5 automatic last fall, its currently running within 1 second/day. Which is pretty ridiculous for a $120 automatic, but there it is.

 

[texican]

Originally Posted by Pieceofsand

Nice! Details please?

Many thanks!

 

[benitahesson]

I also agree AB01 because of second is more unique with the crown and gold with blue also very nice and there really nice collection.

 

[ter1413]

Originally Posted by SirGrotius

The first one you posted all the way. I don't like the second one. It almost looks like a knock-off.

what he said^^

 

[robinsongreen68]

^ +1