How about a good watch for $50. Thats what I spent on my last one -- though its hard to find cheap watches anymore and almost impossible to get them fixed. But my last cheap watch lasted 10 years and it keeps pretty good time if you remember to change the battery
The Karlskrona version of the classic Benrus "Seal"watch of the 70s can be had for less than $300 and it's become my daily "beater," rather than wearing my collectibles. In some ways better than the original, w/sapphire crystal, ceramic timing bezel insert, great lume, and a rear-opening screw-in case rather than the Benrus original with its split crown stem weakness and access thru the crystal. The Sellita automatic runs great, too. jon c
This post is where I’m at, recently purchased my first mech watch, a Seiko 5 SRPE63… a path I wouldn’t be on without JVL’s occasional watch talk in the triad… a year ago the suggestion I’d ever view an hour plus long ny horological society lecture on spring drive technology, ha ha
Definitely plan to check out the island watch brand… I can recommend the Seiko 5 line - while the accuracy rating of +45/-35 seconds per day seemed ridic, in my experience with the SRPE63 it hasn’t exceeded +5/-5 sec per day, which I can live with… wish I had know about island watch as a legit online source, many Seiko 5s appear to be 20% off there… recently saw Macy’s watch sale prior to Mother’s Day had many of their entry level Seikos 10%+25% off
A word of caution if anyone is interested in the Bayport. For all the reasons JVL wrote about, it's a stunning watch. Extremely comfortable, well-made, visually appealing, and an overall amazing value. However, it has what seems to be a small design error. The lume in the hands is significantly dimmer than the lume in the hour markers. Because of this, you can find yourself in the situation of being able to see all the hour markers clearly, but not being able to tell the time because you can't see the hands at all. Ideally, I think that the lume on the markers and the hands should have been the same. But if they have to be different, then the lume should be brighter on the hands, because you can certainly tell the time just by looking at the hands, even if the markers are no longer visible.
I've always been curious about the crown being at 4 o'clock. Just more comfortable? I don't think it would make a difference for me, since I am left-handed and wear my watch on my right hand.
Some day I may show you the custom Bulwark watches I had made by Marc using one of his Islander models. They're true rarities.
Cannot go wrong with a Seiko monster and samurai as well for something in the $300ish range
How about a good watch for $50. Thats what I spent on my last one -- though its hard to find cheap watches anymore and almost impossible to get them fixed. But my last cheap watch lasted 10 years and it keeps pretty good time if you remember to change the battery
The Karlskrona version of the classic Benrus "Seal"watch of the 70s can be had for less than $300 and it's become my daily "beater," rather than wearing my collectibles. In some ways better than the original, w/sapphire crystal, ceramic timing bezel insert, great lume, and a rear-opening screw-in case rather than the Benrus original with its split crown stem weakness and access thru the crystal. The Sellita automatic runs great, too. jon c
This post is where I’m at, recently purchased my first mech watch, a Seiko 5 SRPE63… a path I wouldn’t be on without JVL’s occasional watch talk in the triad… a year ago the suggestion I’d ever view an hour plus long ny horological society lecture on spring drive technology, ha ha
Definitely plan to check out the island watch brand… I can recommend the Seiko 5 line - while the accuracy rating of +45/-35 seconds per day seemed ridic, in my experience with the SRPE63 it hasn’t exceeded +5/-5 sec per day, which I can live with… wish I had know about island watch as a legit online source, many Seiko 5s appear to be 20% off there… recently saw Macy’s watch sale prior to Mother’s Day had many of their entry level Seikos 10%+25% off
A word of caution if anyone is interested in the Bayport. For all the reasons JVL wrote about, it's a stunning watch. Extremely comfortable, well-made, visually appealing, and an overall amazing value. However, it has what seems to be a small design error. The lume in the hands is significantly dimmer than the lume in the hour markers. Because of this, you can find yourself in the situation of being able to see all the hour markers clearly, but not being able to tell the time because you can't see the hands at all. Ideally, I think that the lume on the markers and the hands should have been the same. But if they have to be different, then the lume should be brighter on the hands, because you can certainly tell the time just by looking at the hands, even if the markers are no longer visible.
So you buy a watch that has to be adjusted to correct time periodically using the iPhone you already carry?
I've always been curious about the crown being at 4 o'clock. Just more comfortable? I don't think it would make a difference for me, since I am left-handed and wear my watch on my right hand.
Not even a shoutout for the king of affordable great watches, Orient? Shame.