Budget black chrono, £500 budget...

[Harry Flashman]

Hello all, and thank you for the help so far found and gratefully received on this forum. For a relative watch newbie, I have found this far more friendly, useful and informative than most resources. I like the fact that you don't have to own a particular brand or be into very expensive stuff to receive advice. Thanks for that.

Anyway, my holiday wear for over 10 years has been a dirt cheap Casio F-91 in black. The strap has broken. As I was about to click on a replacement watch for the princely sum of £6 on amazon, I thought "hang on, can I get something else?". The answer was obviously a big yes.

I looked at G-shocks but don't really fancy one. What I would like is an all black, metal/rubber banded Chronograph, that fits my girly slim wrist and won't get me too much attention when travelling in dicey places (which I do regularly, for both work and pleasure). It also needs to be able to deal with snorkelling/light diving.

I initially looked at a black Omega, but quickly decided that a £6k watch is no "beater", as I would be really upset if I dented, scratched or lost it.

I then fell in love with the solar powered Seiko Pronext Black, before realising that at 43mm, I would look as if I was wearing a grandfather clock on my arm (I genuinely have tiny wirsts - I had to have the strap on my latest watch punched with an extra hole a good distance away from the others for it to fit).

Any ideas? Quartz actually preferable for zero maintenance...and £500 budget.

The Seiko - I love it, but it's just too big...

[ZesPak]

A chronograph diver-style watch smaller than 42mm? That's going to be hard I think!

The Tissot T-Touch Classic might be a small variation, I like it and it will serve great as a chronograph.

[LordGrover]

Harry Flashman said:

The Seiko - I love it, but it's just too big...

Indeed, looks good. Have you tried one on?
You may be pleasantly surprised, many of the larger watches 'wear' smaller than their dimensions may suggest.

Edited by LordGrover on Tuesday 17th July 09:48

[Harry Flashman]

I'll do just that - thanks! And thanks ZesPak - I'll have a look.

How about a non-diver Chrono then: smaller due to no chunky bezel? Apologies for the questions - never had a diver's watch before.

[thehawkswoops]

If its a dive beater your after (no chrono though) save yourself around £450 and get this:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009KYJAJY/?coliid=I3E...

Casio Men's Core MDV106-1AV Black Resin Quartz Watch with Black Dial

Well regarded for £60 OR get a Vostok Amphibia sir.

[LordGrover]

This is a stunner, but out of stock.


Click.

[Phooey]

non chrono but worth a look https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/diver-watch/oce...

[ZesPak]

Harry Flashman said:

I'll do just that - thanks! And thanks ZesPak - I'll have a look.

How about a non-diver Chrono then: smaller due to no chunky bezel? Apologies for the questions - never had a diver's watch before.

Either I'm understanding the OP wrong, but he's clearly asking for a chrono.

Which is of course limiting your choice. Plenty of smaller divers out there that are non-chrono.
Not a lot of smaller chronos out there.
Timex do a range of 40mm chronographs which are quality products, and far below your budget.
https://www.timex.com/waterbury-40mm-classic-chron...

[Justayellowbadge]

https://www.jomashop.com/tissot-watch-t10041737201...

Next.

[LordGrover]

C60?



Click.

[Greendubber]

LordGrover said:

This is a stunner, but out of stock.


Click.

Nabbed one of those in the Ernest Jones sale for £215 a couple of weeks ago and it's the comfiest watch I have, looks great too.

[LordGrover]

I know. Y'bast'd.

[seefarr]

It's a tricky one to get all of the requirements but how about this one:

• 100M Water Resistant
• 39mm case
• Black on black.
• Chronograph
• < £500 (£173)
• Quartz Automatic

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Swiss-Military-Mens-Wri...

[Harry Flashman]

Thanks guys! The Swiss military and the Christopher Ward are front runners...

[ZesPak]

LordGrover said:

C60?

I like!

[dai1983]

Not a diver:


http://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-chro...

[cootuk]

As an outside choice, how about a Kickstarter Hoffman Racer (based on the VK64) for $189 plus whatever duty is added.

[vixen1700]

LordGrover said:

C60?

Massive piccie removed

Click.

O/T But was looking at those the other day on the CW site and fell in love with this which is now on my want list:

https://www.christopherward.co.uk/c65-trident-vint...

[Greendubber]

vixen1700 said:

LordGrover said:

C60?

Massive piccie removed

Click.

O/T But was looking at those the other day on the CW site and fell in love with this which is now on my want list:

https://www.christopherward.co.uk/c65-trident-vint...

That's lovely.

[lostkiwi]

Greendubber said:

vixen1700 said:

LordGrover said:

C60?

Massive piccie removed

Click.

O/T But was looking at those the other day on the CW site and fell in love with this which is now on my want list:

https://www.christopherward.co.uk/c65-trident-vint...

That's lovely.

I had one of those on pre order and cancelled it in favour of a Magrette Moana Pacific Kara.
I have an 8" wrist and was a bit concerned about the 41mm size. Very pleased with the Magrette. The Magrette Tiki is on sale at Forasec for €499 - not a chrono nor a true dive watch nor quartz but good quality (and black).