Nice everyday office / dress watch for £500
Discussion
Have just been lucky enough to have my expenses paid. I have accounted for them already so it's a lucky bonus. And have just had a 3 month extension offered so it's time to buy my first nice timepiece. I have a sieko squareish blue face from 2002 that i like because it's the first present my now wife bought me and it means a lot, but I have broken the strap twice and it needs a good polish as I have worn it most days when it was't broken.
I have been watching these threads with a mixture of lust for the watches and shock at the price. Maybe in a couple of years i can afford 6k + for a watch but for now I think max £500 as I'm also looking at a £500 mbk for fitness.
The one cheaper watch that I have seen that makes me think wow is this
But am i being to greedy in wanting the same style but with automatic movement?
Also on this watch, do the hands move smoothly like an expensive watch? Or does the second hand 'flick' like my Seiko?
Sorry for my ignorance. I'm only now starting to think seriously about good quality watches, as they were only a pipe dream glimpsed in the pages of Top Gear and Octane .
P.s. I'm not a Tag Heur lover, I don't know why and cannot explain why.
I have been watching these threads with a mixture of lust for the watches and shock at the price. Maybe in a couple of years i can afford 6k + for a watch but for now I think max £500 as I'm also looking at a £500 mbk for fitness.
The one cheaper watch that I have seen that makes me think wow is this
But am i being to greedy in wanting the same style but with automatic movement?
Also on this watch, do the hands move smoothly like an expensive watch? Or does the second hand 'flick' like my Seiko?
Sorry for my ignorance. I'm only now starting to think seriously about good quality watches, as they were only a pipe dream glimpsed in the pages of Top Gear and Octane .
P.s. I'm not a Tag Heur lover, I don't know why and cannot explain why.
Edited by Zaxxon on Wednesday 6th April 23:32
That CW definitely 'ticks' because I have one.
As a generalisation (there are a few exceptions but they are relatively rare) all quartz powered watches will tick.
There are masses of automatic watches available for <£500.
What sort of watch do you want; does it have to be a chrono like above (with a stopwatch), have a date, strap or bracelet and size (the above is 42mm off the top of my head)?
At your budget and being new to watches, I'd definitely recommend a decent Seiko auto, it will teach you all you want to know about watches!
As a generalisation (there are a few exceptions but they are relatively rare) all quartz powered watches will tick.
There are masses of automatic watches available for <£500.
What sort of watch do you want; does it have to be a chrono like above (with a stopwatch), have a date, strap or bracelet and size (the above is 42mm off the top of my head)?
At your budget and being new to watches, I'd definitely recommend a decent Seiko auto, it will teach you all you want to know about watches!
LukeBird said:
That CW definitely 'ticks' because I have one.
As a generalisation (there are a few exceptions but they are relatively rare) all quartz powered watches will tick.
There are masses of automatic watches available for <£500.
What sort of watch do you want; does it have to be a chrono like above (with a stopwatch), have a date, strap or bracelet and size (the above is 42mm off the top of my head)?
At your budget and being new to watches, I'd definitely recommend a decent Seiko auto, it will teach you all you want to know about watches!
Thanks for the reply.As a generalisation (there are a few exceptions but they are relatively rare) all quartz powered watches will tick.
There are masses of automatic watches available for <£500.
What sort of watch do you want; does it have to be a chrono like above (with a stopwatch), have a date, strap or bracelet and size (the above is 42mm off the top of my head)?
At your budget and being new to watches, I'd definitely recommend a decent Seiko auto, it will teach you all you want to know about watches!
Strap I think with think, but with the bracelet style clasp. I'll look at the Seiko watches. I didn't realise until watching this forum that Seiko was held in such high regard.
It's not so much the functionality that is important, it may get wet by accident so no need for a divers watch. And i wouldn't use it for timekeeping, I just like the chrono (complicated style).
It's the only piece of 'jewelry' that i would wear ( don't wear rings etc)
I have always liked watches and their inner workings. Guess I'll have to wait till the next watch till I get something where I can see whats going on.
Slightly different style, but my Sinn 556 is around that price bracket and was bought for similar everday use. Not showy in any serious way, but I think it's quite an elegant watch in its' simplicity. Nice display back and great quality all round. Auto with a nice second hand sweep, by the way.
Ok, a bit of a curve ball choice but I tried one of the auto versions of these on a couple of months ago and thought it quite good looking, though I appreciate that they're not going to be everyone's cup of cha. Bit of history with these as well - the Hamilton Ventura was the first ever electronically powered watch.
Black is quartz, silver dialed is auto and is also available with different faces.
Black is quartz, silver dialed is auto and is also available with different faces.
Dan_1981 said:
Hamilton X wind.
I realy really like them and wish I coudl afford one right now.
Might be a little bit over budget but not by a great deal.
They do it in a veriety of differnet face colours so becareful googling and instantly saying "no don't like it"
The only issue I have with some of the X winds is the height of the watch doesn't fit under some shirts well - my Hamilton Navy is a bit like that, I can't wear it with some double cuff shirts. However, well worth a look at Hamilton, I've been really impressed by it (esp since changing the strap to a Toshi, it now gets more wear than anything I have!)I realy really like them and wish I coudl afford one right now.
Might be a little bit over budget but not by a great deal.
They do it in a veriety of differnet face colours so becareful googling and instantly saying "no don't like it"
CommanderJameson said:
Max Bill hand-wound, £495 from Chronomaster.
Available in steel or gold plate, with black or white faces. Neil at Chronomaster is a great guy to buy from (deal in confidence, etc), but his pictures don't do the watches justice.
That's a lovely one - must have glanced past these on their website but that pic is much better.Available in steel or gold plate, with black or white faces. Neil at Chronomaster is a great guy to buy from (deal in confidence, etc), but his pictures don't do the watches justice.
Zaxxon said:
But am i being to greedy in wanting the same style but with automatic movement?
I bought the C7 pictured earlier this year and I'm very happy with it. Certainly doesn't feel like a £250 watch.I loved the style and whilst looking for similar I found the Tissot PRC200 which can be automatic for under £500.
Or for just over £500 there's the Tissot Couturier.
Looked at a few watches in this thread and others like them last year. Ended up going for a CW C70 rapide. Cream face and stainless bracelet. Looked at watches up to £1,500 and having seen the CW they just seemed too much for no advantage generally. I have some far more expensive watches but the CW is my daily watch, gets loads of compliments, looks fantastic, keeps perfect time and the service from CW was just brilliant.
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