Current Events > Kinda debating getting a nice watch for myself.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Something to splurge on while not also breaking the bank. Thanks to the Youtube algorithm I recently got hooked onto wristwatch teardown/servicing videos, and recent video about a Seiko watch with a rather sad history behind it got me interested.

https://youtu.be/u-YhxMVuY5Y
FINGER CONDOMS

Seeing the precision and the intricacies of it, and the fact that it still worked after literal decades fascinated me, and I want something like that for myself.

https://seikousa.com/collections/seiko5sports/products/srpd55

I found this one on their website and really like the style of it. Watch bros of CE(if any), what's a good starting point for automatic winding watches with an absolute max budget of say. . . $300?

Bump for night CE

For $300, definitely Seiko. Check out Orient and Hamilton as well

If the watch has a good bar water resistance then it will last forever with some servicing every now and then.

Seiko is a very good brand though. I may be picking up an Alpinist in the near future.

https://seikousa.com/collections/presage/products/ssa423

I really like this one, but it's kinda hard to justify that price in my eyes.

Seiko is a great brand for getting into automatics. For a first watch, Id recommend a sports watch like in your first post as opposed to a dress watch like your second post.

dont sleep on JDM exclusive Seikos. Some of them are sick.

I would try to get a sapphire crystal, but that may not be possible with Seiko under $300 anymore.

I fell hard for the open heart style of watch, but that's just a bit too rich for my blood at the moment, yeah. And I'll keep an eye out for those, but yeah, don't think I'll find them at 300 without trading it for some other feature I want.

Yep, sure enough:
https://seikousa.com/collections/prospex/products/spb243

Sapphire crystal, but at 750 bucks.

Watch brothers, a question:

Is a sapphire crystal worth the general extra cost I'm noticing? From the looks of it, it seems people say mineral crystals are more impact resistant, while sapphire crystals are more scratch resistant. While I won't be treating any watch I get like a hammer, is there huge difference in terms of impact resistance between the two to try and spring for the sapphire?

@No_U_L7

You can replace the crystal on a watch for under $50. Its a nice feature to have but dont let it be a deal breaker.

Damn then youll always know what time it is

youll be unstoppable

https://teddybaldassarre.com/collections/watches/products/khaki-field-auto-leather-strap?variant=32870597689437

Dunno how I got here, but damn do I want it. I wanted just sorta ease into the hobby, start with something simple but still nice. So why the shit am I seriously considering this one?

Argh.

A $300 seiko is a great starting point for your first automatic watch. Do it!!!

https://www.shoppinginjapan.net/sbdc083

if youre looking at the Hamilton heres a $600 Seiko similar to the one you like.

Do it. If you want it, dont talk yourself out of it. A new accessory can give you confidence. I cannot recommend one, though, because Im an apple watch guy.

I dont understand the appeal of watches. Id rather just wear a cool bracelet with like moons or jewels on it

tc, is sapphire crystal and exhibition caseback important to you? Get a swiss, the hamiltons are some of the cheapest and best bang for your buck swiss watches, around

If I wanted a quality Swiss on a budget, I'm thinking Tissot.

TheSuperSilver posted...

If I wanted a quality Swiss on a budget, I'm thinking Tissot.

yeah they're a good budget swiss brand, hamilton too. What about swiss quartz?

VampireCoyote posted...

I dont understand the appeal of watches. Id rather just wear a cool bracelet with like moons or jewels on it

I love learning how things work, and how many small movements and actions can come together.

I'd say it's an appreciation of the effort put in.

Smallville posted...

tc, is sapphire crystal and exhibition caseback important to you? Get a swiss, the hamiltons are some of the cheapest and best bang for your buck swiss watches, around

I've barely just began this hobby to be honest, I haven't even seen these watches in person yet. I'm just in the thousands of questions, soaking up all the info I can phase right now.

Malcrasternus posted...

I've barely just began this hobby to be honest, I haven't even seen these watches in person yet. I'm just in the thousands of questions, soaking up all the info I can phase right now.

You would buy a watch you've never seen in person?

Smallville posted...

You would buy a watch you've never seen in person?

What I mean is, I haven't had the time on my days off to go out and look at them in person yet.

Im too deep with my Apple Watch conveniences now, but I like the idea of a luxury watch.

Well, after getting a chance to try out a few different styles and sizes of watches, I finally landed on the Seiko SRPG27. 230 bucks after taxes, free shipping. Should only be a few days out now.

https://i.imgur.com/5PqHMcL.jpg

Super simple, straightforward. My thought process is feel this one out first and build upwards, possibly even having this one upgraded to a sapphire crystal down the road if I do manage to get a scratch sizable enough to justify it.

AloneIBreak posted...

Im too deep with my Apple Watch conveniences now, but I like the idea of a luxury watch.

Can always do both.

My Galaxy Watch (which itself is made of sapphire and titanium) is my daily driver and I bust out the Breitling for weddings and other formal events.

Malcrasternus posted...

Well, after getting a chance to try out a few different styles and sizes of watches, I finally landed on the Seiko SRPG27. 230 bucks after taxes, free shipping. Should only be a few days out now.

https://i.imgur.com/5PqHMcL.jpg

Super simple, straightforward. My thought process is feel this one out first and build upwards, possibly even having this one upgraded to a sapphire crystal down the road if I do manage to get a scratch sizable enough to justify it.

tc, last i read though. The seiko 5s were not that accurate. I had a seiko 5 sport and it wasn't that accurate. You got it from amazon ? can you keep me updated on how accurate it is? I'd like to know if my seiko 5 was just a bad one. Iirc your seiko 5 doesn't have sapphire crystal, also

I heard the entry level Seikos tend to lose or gain a fair amount of time, yeah. And the crystal won't be as scratch resistant for sure. But I'll accept what the factory claims of about half a minute accuracy per day, and honestly the impact resistance I feel benefits me more than scratch resistance on a daily. Besides, I keep my phone on me so if I truly need down to the second precision I'm set there.

I'll keep an eye on it for sure(it's a watch afterall) and see how much time it loses or gains though.

tc, so you decided against the entry level swiss's like tissot and hamilton? were they kinda out of your price range? heard that the swiss automatics are better than japanese.

The Hamiltons I looked at were just a tad over what I wanted to spend, yeah. Maybe next year though.