Which watch for £500 or less?

[Lavo84]

Good afternoon guys,

My fiancé has let slip that she wants to get me a nice watch for our upcoming wedding and has been looking at Tag Heurs. Whilst I love the sentiment I really don’t want her to spend so much on something for me however I would love a nice watch to wear as I haven’t had one for yeeeears! What recommendations do you have for a watch around the £500 mark preferably with a metal/link strap rather than leather.

[r159]

Do you have a preference in style with the bracelet?

Diver
Chronograph
Dressy
Field

Automatic or quartz

Hamilton, Seiko, Certina, Tissot all have nice decent quality watches. You can get a new Longines Conquest quartz on bracelet for £545.

Have a look at Seiko Pressage, they are very good looking watches which have dial finishes above their price
https://www.watchnation.com/product/seiko-presage-...
https://amjwatches.co.uk/seiko-presage-cocktail-ti...

Edited by r159 on Sunday 22 August 15:58

[Lavo84]

I do like a chronograph style watch but I am absolutely no expert about these things haha
Ok I shall check those out Thankyou

[Sheetmaself]

Does it need to be new?
Plenty of reputable second hand websites that would help stretch the cash.

Watchfinder
Hackettwatches, may not be anything as normally a bit pricier end of the market but DomH on here.
Watches.co.uk

To name just three.

[Jamescrs]

I'd be looking at something from Seiko personally at your budget.

[gregs656]

There are loads of chronos using the mechaquartz movement in this budget. Yema for example.

[redrabbit]

r159 said:

Do you have a preference in style with the bracelet?

Diver
Chronograph
Dressy
Field

Automatic or quartz

Hamilton, Seiko, *Certina*, Tissot all have nice decent quality watches. You can get a new Longines Conquest quartz on bracelet for £545.

Have a look at Seiko Pressage, they are very good looking watches which have dial finishes above their price
https://www.watchnation.com/product/seiko-presage-...
https://amjwatches.co.uk/seiko-presage-cocktail-ti...

Edited by r159 on Sunday 22 August 15:58

I have one of these, a lovely watch for the money. Above budget, but covers all bases imho. That one's at CW Sellors..

[Boringvolvodriver]

Would second a Certina- they have some good value watches with all styles catered for.

I have this one

https://www.francisandgaye.co.uk/certina-mens-ds-a...

[blingybongy]

Have a butcher's on here.

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/

[mcmigo]

Hamilton khaki field automatic on a metal strap can be had for 520 quid.

A classic watch with huge history and very well made for the money.

[Barchettaman]

^ that’s a very good call.

[944 Man]

Hamilton would be my choice. Originally an American brand, now Swiss and part of Swatch. ETA movements, and reasonably down to earth prices. To get something a little more special within, or around about budget, you may need to buy from further afield.

If used is an option, then Id be looking at Oris or Longines. You used to be able to buy a Mk1 Hydroconquest for £350 and I bought a lightly worn column wheel 7750 chronograph Hydroconquest for about £500 a couple of years ago.

[Alex_225]

Jamescrs said:

I'd be looking at something from Seiko personally at your budget.

That would be my choice as well. They're great quality watches and there's so many to choose from. I also think they're just an unpretentious brand that can look good regardless of the occasion.

Second on my list would likely be a Citizen

[944 Man]

That was £350 new(!) btw.

[ZesPak]

If it's a diver at that budget, my money would be in either of these
Seiko Save Ocean


For a bit more left-field, Magrette have got some nice pieces just within budget.



But in all honesty, few will get close to Seiko for quality at that price point (or at nearly any other price point).

[Zoon]

Alex_225 said:

That would be my choice as well. They're great quality watches and there's so many to choose from. I also think they're just an unpretentious brand that can look good regardless of the occasion.

Second on my list would likely be a Citizen

Seiko quality control isn't what it used to be on the lower end stuff.
Citizen are great value and well made.

[mikeveal]

A fiancé is a bloke (nothing wrong with that, if that's what floats your boat), but if you're being all conventional and marrying a woman, it's fiancée.

There are very few new, mechanical chronographs for £500. Check out the Seagull 1963 re-issue, it's about the only one that comes to mind.

There are a ton of meca-quartz chrono's available in that price bracket from micro brands. Take a look at Dan Henry, Geckota, Omologato.