Recommend me an automatic watch under $200

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lifeobry

Golden Member
Oct 24, 2008
1,325
0
0
Originally posted by: Blackjack200
I have to say I don't understand the appeal of an automatic watch at all except for the novelty factor.

I think that's it. They don't keep time better than a digital or a quartz.
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Originally posted by: Fern
Croton... all Swiss watch companies.

Actually, Croton is an American company that assembles watches in Hong Kong with Swiss movement. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm still heart broken about having my rose gold Croton Chronograph with carbon fiber face stolen from me. :(

Ahh, OK. I've seen them with Swiss movements (but that alone doesn't qualify as a Swiis made watch). Now that you mention it I'm not sure that Android is either (although they too offer Swiss movements).

Fern
 

squirrel dog

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
5,564
48
91
Its nice having a mod that has some watch smarts . Some auto winders will run slow , or fast . Most quartz movements will also run slow or fast but so little that its almost nothing to notice . I have a Rolex sub that runs about 1 min a week slow . I have an Invicta
8936 that runs about a min slow a day . My Tag quartz seems to keep near perfect time(no watch keeps perfect time) its the Aquaracer that I got as a service anniversery.

I wear the invicta daily , the rolex for special stuff and the tag for when I need the exact time.I seem to be always upping the time on the invicta,I sent it back to them,6 weeks later it came back as slow as ever.Its my second invicta,I love their styling,but the inards
of the watch are not so good.A side note,the $1500 dollar tag when opened to replace the dead battery after 1 year showed the battery had'popped' or broken open,but had not leaked as I took it to my watch guy as soon as it stopped.So look at the Invicta's is my advice,they make a good entry level auto.Google Invicta watches , they have many styles to chose from , I like the diver watches , in auto mode . The swiss models cost a whole lot more,I would try a asian movement first .






 

jonnyGURU

Moderator <BR> Power Supplies
Moderator
Oct 30, 1999
11,815
104
106
Originally posted by: Fern
Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Originally posted by: Fern
Croton... all Swiss watch companies.

Actually, Croton is an American company that assembles watches in Hong Kong with Swiss movement. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm still heart broken about having my rose gold Croton Chronograph with carbon fiber face stolen from me. :(

Ahh, OK. I've seen them with Swiss movements (but that alone doesn't qualify as a Swiis made watch). Now that you mention it I'm not sure that Android is either (although they too offer Swiss movements).

Fern

FYI: When you mentioned Croton, I Google Croton Automatic and apparently they have a few and they are VERY reasonably priced. They actually have Japanese movt. (something I didn't know Croton did).

FYI Part 2: Croton's warranty is awesome. Lifetime on watches. All you have to do is send the watch in with a check to cover shipping back to you and they repair or replace your watch. No proof of purchase necessary, so even second hand watches can be covered.

As far as Invicta goes... they used to be Swiss, but were bought by a US investment firm and was moved to the US. But they have some US made watches out there (their "Made In USA" product line) which I think is pretty cool.
 

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
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Originally posted by: Fern
Originally posted by: Mo0o
Hey Fern, maybe you can give me a recommendation:

Know any watches that look like the IWC Portugese or Dornbluth and Sohns 99.# that's not 40mm+? I love the look but all these watches are way too big for my wrists and look like dinner plates. Ideally I need something around 30-32mm

IDK, I'm into 43/44mm and up (and I have small wrists too).

I haven't run across a men's watch that small in a long time.

I have one about that size but it's a vintage watch (an Eberhard & Co. I think), got it in a speacialty shop in Amsterdam about 25 yrs ago.

So how about a vintage watch? Way back then case sizes were quite small. There are a number of shops specializing in vintage watches, they're refurbished etc. Google for vintage watches and you'll see a number of dealers/repair shops specializing in them. There are also quite a few vintage watch forums (just google that).

As far as new watches in that size, well I suppose you'll just have to google. But if you LMK your price and other details I'll look around a bit at the sites I have bookmarked.

Fern

Oh oops, i think i may have gotten the measurements wrong. I think i need something around 35-38. I was looking at a Nomos Tangomat at Wempe Jewelers in NY and that size was about ideal for my wrists. I think the website says thats about 38. I must have read it wrong when i saw 30. But I think the IWC and Dornbluth are still way too big (and a bit too pricey). Ideally, something in the 1500-2500 range would be nice.
 

Koing

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator<br> Health and F
Oct 11, 2000
16,843
2
0
Originally posted by: Blackjack200
I have to say I don't understand the appeal of an automatic watch at all except for the novelty factor. I have three watches that I routinely wear: a dressy watch for work, a stylish watch for social settings, and a cheap digital sport watch for active stuff.

None of these watches are on my wrist more than 45 hours a week, and if any of them were automatics I would be constantly winding them. As it is, I've replaced the battery in my dressy watch once in ten years, the other watches I got recently, but I don't anticipate having to change the battery for them for years either.

My uncle has a whole bunch of automatic watches that he keeps in a giant walnut cabinet that does nothing but spin the watches around all day long so they stay wound. How crazy is that?

It's in the engineering of how the watch can keep time and not use a 'battery'. It's old skool and people enjoy their high end watches. Also if you go to high end restaurants you can get better tables if you have a better watch :p It's also par for some industrys to wear a high end watch.

It's like some people dropping a few 100's or 1000's on pieces of art. Why? They appreciate it, the art itself may appreciate over time but they enjoy it. Sure it's not for everyone and I would never spend 1000's on any art piece but I would drop that on a decent watch in the future.

Koing
 

thecrecarc

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2004
3,364
3
0
Quartz keeps far superior time at a much cheaper price than mechanical. But watches these days are mostly used as a status symbol, and thus, the actual time keeping ability often does not matter. You could always get a solar powered or automatic quartz if you dislike batteries.
 

LeetViet

Platinum Member
Mar 6, 2003
2,411
0
76
I went with the SEIKO5 SNK795K1 from pmwf.com's store (thank you for the recommendation).

Could anyone help me find a tutorial to resize the bracelet? I don't understand pmwf's page.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Originally posted by: Chryso
Originally posted by: LeetViet
I want an automatic because I'm lazy and it looks cool.

This would be my first watch purchase and I'd like to get an entry level automatic before moving up.

There are entry level watches?

Yeah, wtf is going on here?
 

LeetViet

Platinum Member
Mar 6, 2003
2,411
0
76
Maybe I worded it wrong but I wasn't looking for a Seiko Spring Drive or an Omega Speedmaster.

Still looking for help on resizing the bracelet. :(
 

Lounatik

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,845
1
0
I bought an O&W watch from Gnomonwatches. The one I have worn for the last 3 years is the Orange Ranger. I like the watches O&W makes. They still use the ETA movements and you get a really good bang for the buck. They also have some other off-beat watches on this site that may be in your price range. It's nice to wear a watch that isn't just a run of the mill timepiece.



Peace

Lounatik
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,188
17,887
126
Originally posted by: LeetViet
Maybe I worded it wrong but I wasn't looking for a Seiko Spring Drive or an Omega Speedmaster.

Still looking for help on resizing the bracelet. :(

RTFM
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
I have an automatic watch (Bulova). The thing I don't like is that if I don't wear it for more than a cuople days, I have to reset the time. I have 6 different watchs, and I rotate through 4 of them regularly. Sometimes I wear the automatic watch, sometimes I wear the leather band, usually I wear my tag, but lately I've been wearing my cheap $20 Coleman canvas velcro watch.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: Fern
Stay away from Chinese.

The Chinese movement in my Timex automatic has been just fine for the last two years. I need to have it regulated (it gains 1-2 min/week but it's consistent in its gains, so I know it's a regulation issue and not inaccuracy), but it's been solid and reliable. For a $100 watch I don't think it's really possible to do better unless you get a good deal on a Seiko 5.

ZV
 

LeetViet

Platinum Member
Mar 6, 2003
2,411
0
76
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: LeetViet
Maybe I worded it wrong but I wasn't looking for a Seiko Spring Drive or an Omega Speedmaster.

Still looking for help on resizing the bracelet. :(

RTFM

There was no manual included and the "instruction booklet" on Seiko's site does not help.