What watch for under £500

[TheHighlander]

Hi All,

Looking for a watch for £500 or under.

Open to new or used.

What I am looking for,

I was thinking about this but ideally don't want to spend more than £500
http://www.chisholmhunter.co.uk/oris-aquis-date-di...

I was looking at the Seiko Sportura today for £379
http://en.worldtempus.com/sites/default/files/seik...

So looking for watches similar to this, with the date on it, steel bracelet.

Any help would be great as I don't know much about watches.

[checkmate91]

Does it have to have a divers bezel? I'm close to pulling the trigger on a Seiko SARB033 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-MECHANICAL-SARB033-W... but possibly not from Amazon...

[grumbledoak]

You don't say much about what you want. There's a few fundamental differences (manual, automatic, quartz, kinetic, solar) and millions of designs.

The original diver's watch is the Fifty Fathoms:
http://www.blancpain.com/en/category/collections/f...
It's a touch over your budget. And then some.

But there are many, many copies - e.g. the ubiquitous Rolex Submariner. That's still above your budget.

Nothing at all wrong with a Seiko - e.g. this one at £332 looks nice - manual wind or automatic wind and hacking (second hand stops when you adjust the time for better accuracy):
http://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-japa...

And that was just a quick google.

[sad61t]

The Oris and Seiko are quite different watches:

- The Oris is a 36mm case, with a mechanical automatic movement, so is a dress watch with a discreet diver's bezel. Full details here:
http://www.oris.ch/en/watches/oris-aquis-date/01-7...

- The Seiko is a 42mm case, with a quartz mechatronic movement (the rotor is connected to a dynamo that charges a capacitor to power the electronics), so is a sport divers watch with a GMT complication. It has a subtle power reserve display too; there's a good video review of a similar model here: https://youtu.be/Ox4Fq0ZAcG0

Both are respected brands, though Oris is known for fine case finishing and will get subtle applause for good taste. It will still be working in 60 years and so, for size and longevity, would be my pick of the two.

If you like the extra features of the Seiko, have a wrist that isn't embarrassed by a large dial, and don't intend wearing it every day (the capacitor has about three months standby if fully charged when you put it in the drawer), then go for it.

Edit: changed discrete (separate) to discreet (subtle) diver's bezel

Edited by sad61t on Saturday 11th July 19:48

[Janesy B]

Longines Hyrdroconquest perhaps?

[Hoofy]

Janesy B said:

Longines Hyrdroconquest perhaps?

Could pick up a used automatic for the budgeted price.

[TheHighlander]

Thanks for the info lads.

I don't know a great deal about watches if I'm honest, been meaning to treat myself to one for a while.

I'm going back into town tomorrow for a look at some watches.

I do like the divers style watches with the date function.

I say £500 is my limit its not really as it something I will be keeping for a long time, the Oris one I like a friend works in the watch shop and Im awaiting a "good" price back on it.

[BluemaniacGrant]

TheHighlander said:

Thanks for the info lads.

I don't know a great deal about watches if I'm honest, been meaning to treat myself to one for a while.

I'm going back into town tomorrow for a look at some watches.

I do like the divers style watches with the date function.

I say £500 is my limit its not really as it something I will be keeping for a long time, the Oris one I like a friend works in the watch shop and Im awaiting a "good" price back on it.

I recommend you take a look at this...

http://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/OCEAN-1-BLACK,14...

I bought one of these a few months ago and I am very impressed, it's a lovely little automatic, which I now wear everyday.

[Rich_AR]

BluemaniacGrant said:

I recommend you take a look at this...

http://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/OCEAN-1-BLACK,14...

I bought one of these a few months ago and I am very impressed, it's a lovely little automatic, which I now wear everyday.

Another vote for Steinhart at this price point. I've had my Ocean GMT for 5 years. Runs really well and keeps great time, taken a decent beating and still looks fresh. For the money you pay the quality is amazing.

Neil (aka Chronomaster) supplies them in the UK or you can buy directly (also great service)

[walsh]

I'm looking for something similar at the moment.

Currently leaning toward this.

http://www.christopherward.co.uk/watches/dive/c60-...

[SPS]

Try these - Swiss Military Hanowa - good strong/robust watches.

[Jayho]

I just made an impulse buy and bought this one;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diver-professional-divers-...

Incredibly under budget and been getting a lot of attention from the guys across in the US. In house movement and the lesser known of the big 3 Japanese brands. I got a heap of Amazon vouchers to use up, so with a couple of NATO Strap, it only ended up costing me £30. Granted, it may not be to everyones taste as it's not a big known brand.

Steinharts are good shout too. From what I remember, they did use ETA movements, but have recently started developing in house movements too? Friend of mine has a Steinhart Divers, an early one, and gets a little frustrated at the Bezel as it's an odd number of clicks, but I just tell him to forget it as he doesn't actually dive.

At Christmas I may be treating myself to a Steinhart Marine Arabic.