Slim Cased Travel Watch Circa £200

[urquattroGus]

I'm looking for a watch to take on holiday etc, everyday I wear an Explorer 2 16750 and I'm not too precious about scratching it etc, but want something nice but perhaps less valuable for some occasions. Also like a steel bracelet for practicality reasons.

I thought I'd found an ideal candidate in this model of Seiko, which I bought lightly used for £170 which felt like good value

https://www.seikoboutique.co.uk/product/seiko-5-sp...

But I find the case and domed screen just far too deep and bulky. Had made me realise I like quite a thin watch, the Explorer is 12.5M thick but almost wears slimmer thanks to the profile of the case. The spec of the Seiko says 13.22 depth but it feels much chunkier as the case is one big thick sided barrel with a domed glass top.

Also not sure about the Milanese style bracelet after all.

Any suggestions? Might push budget a bit higher but don't want to get too carried away....

Used would be fine but needs to be water resistant and not some leaky old vintage watch.

Edited by urquattroGus on Wednesday 30th August 15:06

[r159]

Citizen Tsuyosa if want auto; under £300, sapphire crystal, 40mm less than 12mm, different colours and 50m water resistance.

Quartz will give you a lot more choices with thin cases including Tissot PRX, Citizen eco drive titanium, Seiko titanium all under £300.

[SWoll]

A above if you're happy with Quartz you'll get a better built watch for the budget that'll be considerably thinner and more wearable.

The Tissot PRX is a great bit of kit for the money and only 10.4mm thick.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305085907978?epid=30469...

[Fallingup]

https://www.ashford.com/glycine-gl1052.html



Don't be put off by the 42mm width. It's only 11mm thick and very comfortable.

Edited by Fallingup on Thursday 31st August 08:02

[Barchettaman]

….the non-GMT Glycine Combat Sub is only 10.5mm thick and wears beautifully with its downturned case lugs. Well worth a look.

[ZesPak]

SWoll said:

A above if you're happy with Quartz you'll get a better built watch for the budget that'll be considerably thinner and more wearable.

The Tissot PRX is a great bit of kit for the money and only 10.4mm thick.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305085907978?epid=30469...

Another shout for the PRX here, great watch, ticks all the boxes and wears slimmer even than the thickness suggests. Comes in a couple different sizes though, the chrono is quite chunky but the others wear very slim.
- Auto = 10.9mm
- Quartz = 9.6mm
- Auto chrono = 14.6mm

I love Seiko but IME they spend all the money on the watch and then don't have budget for a bracelet.
A SARB033 (11mm) or 035 would fit the bill but keep some budget for a strapcode bracelet. Great everyday watch I'd say.




Edit: just seen the budget in title... OOPS

Edited by ZesPak on Thursday 31st August 12:16

[urquattroGus]

Thank You - some great suggestions there!

[urquattroGus]

Fallingup said:

https://www.ashford.com/glycine-gl1052.html



Don't be put off by the 42mm width. It's only 11mm thick and very comfortable.

Edited by Fallingup on Thursday 31st August 08:02

This would have to come from the USA (+duties and tax), they do seem very cheap, why so cheap?

[urquattroGus]

ZesPak said:

SWoll said:

A above if you're happy with Quartz you'll get a better built watch for the budget that'll be considerably thinner and more wearable.

The Tissot PRX is a great bit of kit for the money and only 10.4mm thick.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305085907978?epid=30469...

Another shout for the PRX here, great watch, ticks all the boxes and wears slimmer even than the thickness suggests. Comes in a couple different sizes though, the chrono is quite chunky but the others wear very slim.
- Auto = 10.9mm
- Quartz = 9.6mm
- Auto chrono = 14.6mm

I love Seiko but IME they spend all the money on the watch and then don't have budget for a bracelet.
A SARB033 (11mm) or 035 would fit the bill but keep some budget for a strapcode bracelet. Great everyday watch I'd say.




Edit: just seen the budget in title... OOPS

Edited by ZesPak on Thursday 31st August 12:16

The Seiko SARB is a bit bland looking maybe, I was looking at Grand Seiko 1970's Quart watches for about £500 but not sure it's sensible to take such a punt on something that will probably not be waterproof. For example, I love the way these two look https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126071982486 and https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125997739237

I have a slight prejudice against Tissot, bought my wife a ladies one, about £600 for an automatic movement which stopped just 2 years after we bought it. Also my father had an unreliable Tissot although that was years ago in fairness.

Edited by urquattroGus on Thursday 31st August 15:36

[urquattroGus]

r159 said:

Citizen Tsuyosa if want auto; under £300, sapphire crystal, 40mm less than 12mm, different colours and 50m water resistance.

Quartz will give you a lot more choices with thin cases including Tissot PRX, Citizen eco drive titanium, Seiko titanium all under £300.

Tsuyosa does look smart and well proportioned

[Fallingup]

urquattroGus said:

This would have to come from the USA (+duties and tax), they do seem very cheap, why so cheap?

Not really sure. Been discussed in other forums. Seems to be mainly because they use off the shelf movements and don't market themselves aggressively.
Even at double the sale price they would be well worth it. I have two Combat Subs and they're excellent. Both purchased from Ashford with no problems.

[SWoll]

urquattroGus said:

I have a slight prejudice against Tissot, bought my wife a ladies one, about £600 for an automatic movement which stopped just 2 years after we bought it. Also my father had an unreliable Tissot although that was years ago in fairness.

Edited by urquattroGus on Thursday 31st August 15:36

All the more reason to get a quartz for an occasional use watch.

Fallingup said:

urquattroGus said:

This would have to come from the USA (+duties and tax), they do seem very cheap, why so cheap?

Not really sure. Been discussed in other forums. Seems to be mainly because they use off the shelf movements and don't market themselves aggressively.
Even at double the sale price they would be well worth it. I have two Combat Subs and they're excellent. Both purchased from Ashford with no problems.

They are great value watches when bought at realistic prices. Part of the Invicta group hence the silly RRP's.

[urquattroGus]

I’ve needed up ordering one of these, £290 for an unworn one.

https://www.citizenwatch.co.uk/bn0116-51l.html

Had a look at one in a shop. This whole experience has made me remind myself how
Important hands on is with this stuff!

Relatively thin, but also like the light and tough titanium nature of it, high water resistance and then solar power so should be able to use and abuse it for some time without any worries.

I think it’s referred to by some as the Ray Mears Watch.

[r159]

urquattroGus said:

I’ve needed up ordering one of these, £290 for an unworn one.

https://www.citizenwatch.co.uk/bn0116-51l.html

Had a look at one in a shop. This whole experience has made me remind myself how
Important hands on is with this stuff!

Relatively thin, but also like the light and tough titanium nature of it, high water resistance and then solar power so should be able to use and abuse it for some time without any worries.

I think it’s referred to by some as the Ray Mears Watch.

That’s a belter, don’t recall ever hearing a bad word on one of there.

[Fallingup]

Good choice.

[vixen1700]

r159 said:

Citizen Tsuyosa if want auto; under £300, sapphire crystal, 40mm less than 12mm, different colours and 50m water resistance.

Just been looking at those coincidently and thinking that the yellow one could be a nice holiday watch for about £260.

Add a nice rubber or silicone strap...

I also don't have a yellow watch...


Edited to say, just ordered a yellow one.

Edited by vixen1700 on Wednesday 6th September 13:05

[urquattroGus]

I have to say I’m delighted with this Citizen.

Once I put it on I don’t really want to take it off.

It feels great on the wrist and I’ve grown to like the looks, it feels tough and the legibility of the dial is great.

I keep it by my bed and chuck it on when it suits and I don’t want to damage another watch.

[Tom1312]

I've always loved the Citizen 'Tough' watches.

I went Cliff climbing/jumping in Cornwall and the guide was wearing one. Couldn't think of a better choice really.

Great choice.