Military style/ Pilots watch under £150

[Bumblebee7]

Hello,
Looking for some advice please, would like to buy an everyday watch that is not automatic. I have (and love) an Omega Seamaster that is my everyday watch but I'm recently spending a lot of time on a building site where I'm not taking it with me so by the time I get back it's stopped and then requires resetting to the correct time and date. I will get a winder for it in time but for now I would like something that I can wear to work that will also work as a holiday/travel watch that can ideally go under water as well. As this is a non essential purchase and it's meant to be to save my nice watch I'd like to keep the spend below £150, even better if it's below £100.

I did actually order a Casio Duro Marlin as this watch previously, but it's not been delivered in 3 months so I'm expecting a refund from PayPal in the next two days.

Since ordering that watch I've decided it would be nice to get something a little different looking than my Seamaster and even better if it's solar so I don't need to change the battery.

I love the look of many IWC's and from that idea I quite like the look of this Timex which I think looks great:


That being said I won't use the chrono features and came across the following two Citizens, I like the green strap but prefer the black case so would probably side with that and eventually swap out the strap.



Do you have any thoughts/feedback on the above watches and is there anything else I should consider?

Thank you

[AlexC1981]

A couple of things to bear in mind, black coated watches will scratch and show silver underneath. 100m water resistance is ok to swim in, but not ideal for jumping off a dive board or snorkelling.

In that price range you could consider Lorus and Pulsar too. Both are made by Seiko so should be reasonably well made.

[pjfry]

I have the chronograph version of that Citizen watch. It's been pretty good as a daily driver.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9023545?clickSR=sl...

[Bumblebee7]

Thanks for the replies. I've just had my refund confirmed in writing from PayPal so will most likely go for the Citizen with the beige strap. I actually already bought a green strap that I forgot about for the Duro Marlin that was never delivered so I can swap it out immediately if I want to (luckily they're the same size). Not too bothered if the black eventually wears off, but I'm not concerned that's a big risk. I like the look of the Chrono, so good to know you like it, I've got no use for the features though but it would be nice to have a quick reference to the day of the week.

[Barchettaman]

Yep, that Citizen looks just the ticket.

I await the thread ‘Where is the best place to sell my Seamaster?’ in about a year’s time, haha.

[Bumblebee7]

Barchettaman said:

Yep, that Citizen looks just the ticket.

I await the thread ‘Where is the best place to sell my Seamaster?’ in about a year’s time, haha.

No way! Got the Omega as an 18th Birthday gift from my mum (who I should hasten to add isn't wealthy but wanted to buy me something I would treasure forever). I'm 30 in a few months and with the exception of when I went traveling for 7 months it has been on my wrist at least 90% of the time for the last 12 years!

I do have a really crappy watch for heavy DIY but can't wear it work and have a Suunto for more serious mountaineering too. But this will be a nice addition to my modest collection

[996Type]

Bumblebee7 said:

Hello,
Looking for some advice please, would like to buy an everyday watch that is not automatic. I have (and love) an Omega Seamaster that is my everyday watch but I'm recently spending a lot of time on a building site where I'm not taking it with me so by the time I get back it's stopped and then requires resetting to the correct time and date. I will get a winder for it in time but for now I would like something that I can wear to work that will also work as a holiday/travel watch that can ideally go under water as well. As this is a non essential purchase and it's meant to be to save my nice watch I'd like to keep the spend below £150, even better if it's below £100.

I did actually order a Casio Duro Marlin as this watch previously, but it's not been delivered in 3 months so I'm expecting a refund from PayPal in the next two days.

Since ordering that watch I've decided it would be nice to get something a little different looking than my Seamaster and even better if it's solar so I don't need to change the battery.

I love the look of many IWC's and from that idea I quite like the look of this Timex which I think looks great:


That being said I won't use the chrono features and came across the following two Citizens, I like the green strap but prefer the black case so would probably side with that and eventually swap out the strap.



Do you have any thoughts/feedback on the above watches and is there anything else I should consider?

Thank you

Hi,

I have the Citizen in the middle I bought on a plane last year, it’s been great for the money.

I passed it on to my mum to use as it has large hands and dial and she wears it every day.

It’s had some heavy knocks and carries on regardless....

[Bumblebee7]

Just to conclude the thread, here's my new watch:

Very happy with the watch, jury is still out on the strap but easily changed in time if I feel like it.
Thanks for the advice!

[skirk]

If you just want a military style beater chrono....This is a decent little number.....


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pulsar-Gents-Military-W...

[GC8]

AlexC1981 said:

A couple of things to bear in mind, black coated watches will scratch and show silver underneath. 100m water resistance is ok to swim in, but not ideal for jumping off a dive board or snorkelling.

In that price range you could consider Lorus and Pulsar too. Both are made by Seiko so should be reasonably well made.

The way this advice is going, my 1,000m diver's watch will barely be fit to paddle in soon.

I suppose that the numerous ISO 150m diver's watches that I have, despite being suitable for professional diving at the massive pressure found at -150m, arent up to diving into the deep at at my local swimming pool?

[Bumblebee7]

GC8 said:

AlexC1981 said:

A couple of things to bear in mind, black coated watches will scratch and show silver underneath. 100m water resistance is ok to swim in, but not ideal for jumping off a dive board or snorkelling.

In that price range you could consider Lorus and Pulsar too. Both are made by Seiko so should be reasonably well made.

The way this advice is going, my 1,000m diver's watch will barely be fit to paddle in soon.

I suppose that the numerous ISO 150m diver's watches that I have, despite being suitable for professional diving at the massive pressure found at -150m, arent up to diving into the deep at at my local swimming pool?

Much as this is totally irrelevant to my needs but there is a valid point being made somehwere in there. A watch with a 100m waterproofing is actually 10BAR, which is the pressure whilst stationary at a depth of 100m underwater. It is however possible to generate a pressure exceeding 10BAR at a much smaller depth if subjected to significant movement. Most divers watches therefore start at 200m, which is a rating of 20BAR.

100m will do me fine though as this is an everyday/holiday watch so will never be used in very extreme underwater conditions. Mainly because despite having a PADI qualification I actually quite dislike diving.

[996Type]

Bumblebee7 said:

Just to conclude the thread, here's my new watch:

Very happy with the watch, jury is still out on the strap but easily changed in time if I feel like it.
Thanks for the advice!

Lovely, I think until you’ve worn one you don’t realise how well built they are and what fantastic value.

[Fallingup]

Most definitely the Citizen. Great lume, solar power and very nice strap. Good reliable watch.

[GC8]

Bumblebee7 said:

...Most divers watches therefore start at 200m...

I haven't quoted the bit where you state the bleeding obvious.

It is more common now, but it didn't used to be and there are many ISO standard diver's watches with a 150m rating. Let's remember that the Rolex Submariner was only rated at 100m...