Show us your sub-high end watches

beed84 · September 2023

So I've started to collect watches. However, as I can't afford the latest Rolex, Patek Phillipe or IWC, I'm working within my means and choosing way more affordable options. To start me off here are two modest examples I've acquired in recent months. Both £26 and £35 respectively.

I've never heard of Manis before. But I like the name, the simple design and the fact it's really clean for its age. I'm no expert but the fairly ubiquitous Felsa 1560 automatic movement loses a minute or two each day, which isn't great. However, for the price of a week's worth of high street coffee, I don't think I can complain. I think the blue aftermarket strap contrasts with the gold nicely.

The Avia I recently got from Oxfam online. A few years ago I would have turned my nose up at quartz movement. But the retro design and the red second hand against a black dial ... I actually think it's quite stylish. I don't think £35 was too bad a price to pay.

For inspiration, what watches (or recommendations) do you have that don't break the bank? Vintage or modern. Maximum cost £500 (right now that's the most I'd be willing to spend when I've saved enough to "treat" myself).

BluesLover · September 2023

That Avia is lovely, well done!
I'm a fan of Seiko 5 watches.
Now pour a beverage and read this https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=187&t=1966393

Philly_Q · September 2023

Sub high end? Well you did ask.

Casio Classic Digital LCD Watch with Stopwatch Timer Alarm Water Resistant etc F-91W-1YER 7dayshop

roberty · September 2023

Watching (har har)

ThePrettyDamned · September 2023

I like field watches the most. Timex expedition models look the part for a bargain price (soem are automatic with a sapphire crystal and cost more.

Another one I like is the Hamilton Field.

I don't have either! Sadly. But I do have a seiko 5 field watch, which is pretty nice but doesn't have a sapphire crystal so scratches easily (I don't exactly go easy!).

stickyfiddle · September 2023

I have a 40mm Hamilton Khaki Field that I still really enjoy despite having others that cost far more.

It rarely gets any chat on watch forums but it has the perfect proportions compared to the 38 & 42mm versions.

Image: https://external-preview.redd.it/NVlFcUk9v6ziI8ZYXKYEIB4LL1rq_5P_DtXbH9y1-FI.jpg?width=1024&auto=webp&s=43f86e6b69ad83fde637a4ced28967af90a83270

SpoonMan · September 2023

Don't have any pics but I recently got an old casio edifice 2470 illuminator from a charity shop.

Like this...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186075398092?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=bfjrdszotdm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=_iD_8C0STP2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Didn't realise they were worth so much. I only paid like a tenner or something. Just liked the look.

CavemanGrogg · September 2023

Casio G-Shock GST-B400BB-1AER, the watch I wear all the time, cheap, cheerful, piece of piss to setup. Not to mention it doesn't look like a rugged utility watch, it can easily be worn as a dress watch, and is surprisingly discrete and a lot smaller on the wrist than one would expect from a G-Shock, or looking at photos of the watch would have you believe, and slim, not as slim as the CST-B500, it's less than 1mm thicker - I have the GST-500 as well for when my GST-400 needs its battery replaced if ever.

RaymondLin · September 2023

Some Chinese special, I think it was like £70

Steinhart Ocean 1, this was under £300.

Seiko 5, About 100

My favourite, from a kickstarter is this, I think it was about £200. It gets me the IWC vibe at like 1/20th of the cost.

Image: https://i.imgur.com/43g4mLK.jpg?1

Image: https://i.imgur.com/9EM0VGI.jpg?1

Adey · September 2023

As well as photos of your watches, can you also post your addresses and when you're next off on holiday please?

CavemanGrogg · September 2023

Adey said:

As well as photos of your watches, can you also post your addresses and when you're next off on holiday please?

Sure, here you go, just knock and let my man servants know Grogg said it's fine to come round:

5 Love Ln, Wakefield WF2 9AG

viz · September 2023

I love these Rip Curl ATS tide watches. I have five of them, all different colours but same layout. They have time, date, moon, tide height AND tidal range, which is really cool, plus they’re waterproof. I love tide watches.

Edit: here’s another - probably the nicest one I’ve got.

Aaand this one - it’s ok but rubber strap.

steer · September 2023

This Citizen is my main watch. I love it. Solar powered.

Citizen CA0427-08E Review

I also have a really cool Rolex that I got off ebay for £25. I'm afraid to wear it in case I am mugged. I am not 100% sure that it is genuine.

KKJale · September 2023

CWC G10, this one is from the 1990s, cost £80. They've gone up a bit now though.

https://i.imgur.com/rUQnI5f.jpg

equalsql · September 2023

Mines a Seiko SKX009 K 'Pepsi' model.
I just have always liked the red blue dial plus the offset crown with the proper screw down cap.
Very comfortable to wear.

boogieman · September 2023

My *cough* IWC Pilot. £180 from Turkey. Actually fools a few people and keeps really good time. My other semi decent watch is a Hamilton Khaki.

Dominic · September 2023

Can I post my Tiara collection here ?

Sporky · September 2023

This is my in-budget watch. Citizen Promaster Tough, on a Watch Gecko strap.

I don't have one of these, but I am tempted. The most handsome G-Shock I've ever seen.

Sassafras · September 2023

I've never understood the fascination for watches.
Ditto for jewellery.
Admittedly, watches are more useful than bling.

thermionic · September 2023

The legendary Seiko SKX007 on an Uncle Seiko waffle pattern rubber strap (one of the few straps that come in a shorter length - I have the wrists of a 12-year old girl). I wear this when cycling, on holiday, etc.

https://i.imgur.com/cBI71sF.jpg

My “nice” watch is a Seiko SPB143, which is a bit more refined and has a much better movement. The most expensive watch I’ve owned (and over the OP’s limit, oops), but still a small fraction of Rolex, Omega, Tudor etc.

https://i.imgur.com/y6vPs8K.jpg

Sporky · September 2023

Sassafras said:

I've never understood the fascination for watches.
Ditto for jewellery.
Admittedly, watches are more useful than bling.

For the mechanical ones, I think it's astounding that you can tell the time jolly accurately with a load of springs and levers and gears.

dindude · September 2023

I too like to have a few watches and not bothered at all by the status crap.

The Hamilton is what I wear to work, the G-Shock is my indestructible leisure watch, and the Yema Kavinski is just fun.

https://i.imgur.com/Foywq9y.jpg

thermionic · September 2023

My gateway drug to automatic mechanical watches was a Vostok Amphibia. I had a couple of them from an ebay seller in Russia, they cost about £36 about ten years ago.

https://i.imgur.com/xy0NYCK.jpg

stimpsonslostson · September 2023

Sporky said:

I don't have one of these, but I am tempted. The most handsome G-Shock I've ever seen.

My watch is the Bluetooth version of this. It's brilliant- slim, light, great looking, solar powered and keeps perfect time.

My other watch is a pink F-91W. Cheap and cheerful.

maltingsaudio · September 2023

My 2nd hand Hamilton Kharki automatic with a Victorinox para cord strap both scored off eBay. Oh and the band is my Wale see here https://tracking.clubocean.org/animal/malou

beed84 · September 2023

Seiko, Hamilton and Casio G-Shock are definitely on the list, so I'll look further into some of the ones listed here – @Sporky I agree, that G-Shock is very tidy. But I like the unusual too. @RaymondLin where can I get those Meshable watches? I can't find them for sale anywhere.

Some lovely watches chaps, thanks for sharing. I look forward to seeing more

CavemanGrogg · September 2023

I've always fancied and thought about buying myself a eone Bradley watch since I fist saw one, specifically one of these models:

Bradley Mesh Black 40mm

Bradley Edge Black

Bradley Apex Leather Black

They're simple,clean, uncluttered, discrete, cheap, and don't attract attention, not to mention you can check the time on them very discretely without anybody noticing.

Kittyfrisk · September 2023

CavemanGrogg said:

I've always fancied and thought about buying myself a eone Bradley watch since I fist saw one, specifically one of these models:

Bradley Mesh Black 40mm

Bradley Edge Black

Bradley Apex Leather Black

They're simple,clean, uncluttered, discrete, cheap, and don't attract attention, not to mention you can check the time on them very discretely without anybody noticing.

Not to mention that it has zero lume & you can't tell the time at a glance without doing mental gymnastics and/or using two hands while having braille reading skills...

As for 'The Bradley will easily withstand brief contact with water, like getting caught in the rain or washing hands. It is not intended for submersion in water or high intensity sports.'
It is barely splash proof at best, sod that for a game of soldiers.

beed84 · September 2023

BluesLover said:

That Avia is lovely, well done!
I'm a fan of Seiko 5 watches.
Now pour a beverage and read this https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=187&t=1966393

Thank you. I'm wearing it now and really chuffed with it. And thanks for the 500 page thread. That should get me through a box of Yorkshire Tea!

Some are out of my price range, but I kinda want all of these:

https://www.defakto-watches.com/kollektion/

CavemanGrogg · September 2023

Kittyfrisk said:

CavemanGrogg said:

I've always fancied and thought about buying myself a eone Bradley watch since I fist saw one, specifically one of these models:

Bradley Mesh Black 40mm

Bradley Edge Black

Bradley Apex Leather Black

They're simple,clean, uncluttered, discrete, cheap, and don't attract attention, not to mention you can check the time on them very discretely without anybody noticing.

Not to mention that it has zero lume & you can't tell the time at a glance without doing mental gymnastics and/or using two hands while having braille reading skills...
As for 'The Bradley will easily withstand brief contact with water, like getting caught in the rain or washing hands. It is not intended for submersion in water or high intensity sports.'
It is barely splash proof at best, sod that for a game of soldiers.

Do you honestly think a metal detecting, beach comber who maybe dares to go into the sea to about ankle deep, tea jenny needs a watch capable of surviving a direct nuclear strike? I currently wear a G-Shock rated to 200 meters, the deepest I've ever taken it is in the bath tub. And the lack of lume is not an issue for me, I actually consider it to be a bonus as it doesn't glow in the dark, and Braille is not an issue for me, I learnt how to read Braille, American Sign Language, as well as British Sign Language at school - they where counted as languages just like French, German or Mandarin, so as a severely dyslexic person, it was a very easy way for me to to get IGCSEs and A levels in a second language, not to mention you don't need to feel the face to tell the time, you can tell the time by looking at it too, though that is not as discrete as simply sliding a finger over the watch face. And more importantly, in my opinion, they look understated cool and classy, so it can be worn for every occasion from casual to formal.

Kittyfrisk · September 2023

^ Fair enough, we're all differently abled.
Although how you can view separate ball bearing hour minute markers in two separate races without the mental gymnastics I mentioned, I don't know

I would stick to your excellent functional Casio's.

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Show us your sub-high end watches

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Bradley Mesh Black 40mm

Bradley Edge Black

Bradley Apex Leather Black

Bradley Mesh Black 40mm

Bradley Edge Black

Bradley Apex Leather Black

Bradley Mesh Black 40mm

Bradley Edge Black

Bradley Apex Leather Black