From the Mailbag: Watch picks for under $150.00
I’ve been an avid Dappered reader now for some time and have completely revamped my style according to a lot of the tips from this website. People have started to notice and have paid me some nice compliments. However, I am still missing something…a watch. There are a lot of articles posted about watches, but I don’t have the budget for a $200+ watch. I just need something that tells the time and looks good, but wish to spend no more than $150. Can you help me?
Thanks,
Rob
First, thanks to Rob for the kind words. It’s flattering and honestly still sort of odd to hear that level of praise. Glad we could be of assistance. And second, thanks to him for the reality check. It’s been awhile since a watch in Rob’s price range has been featured. Some guys like to spend a little more on shoes. Others (cough: me) like to spend a little more on watches. Looks like my personal preference has caused the starting price on our featured timepieces to bloat.
But not this time. The max price has been ratcheted back down to a highly affordable $150. Here’s five watches in different categories that won’t cost a dime more than the top end of Rob’s timepiece budget:
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The Leather Strap Sport Watch: Pulsar PF8305 Chronograph – $131.25
Pulsar is the step-down brand of Seiko but there’s nothing second rate about the quality. One of my first “nicer” watches was a Pulsar. And I still have it. I’d still be wearing it too but after a few beers one evening I tried to put a new grosgrain strap on it. I was using nothing but a tweezers and what I thought was a steady hand… and I promptly lost the spring bars. It’s been sitting on a desk ever since awaiting a new strap. Anyway, they’re almost indestructible and the combination of the black case, off white accents, and red second hand and band stitching is incredible. A steal at $130.
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The Fabric Strap Sport Watch: Tommy Hilfiger Nylon Multi Strap Watch – $115.00
The striped fabric strap watch came out of nowhere this summer and there’s no reason why you can’t wear it straight on through the colder months. Especially if the stripes are a more muted gray and black like they are on this one from Hilifger. Nice big numbers on the dial, perfect color scheme, and is it fair to assume that it comes with not one but two straps? Being that two are featured on the product page? Maybe?
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The Brown Leather Casual Watch: Nautica N14582G – $98.82
You’ll be wearing a brown belt more often than not on your down time. And thus, you’ll want a brown leather strap watch. Usually it’s a good idea to stay away from brown watches that match the face and band because it blends in too much. But thanks to the silver textured sub dials on this Nautica, that parade of brown is broken up. Extra points for the coin edge rotating bezel and stand out crown. You could easily wear this with a suit.
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The Black Leather Strap Dress Watch: Bulova Silver Dial 96B120 – $149.25
Speaking of suits, when you’re wearing one (or God forbid a Tux) your watch can act like a pocket square. You’ll be draped in dark cloth, so a simple white or silver dial will stand out in all the right ways. This one from Bulova is clean, sharp, and the right case size for dressed up events at a mid size 40mm.
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The Stainless Steel Watch – Wenger Battalion II Diver – $142.50
There are some hideous, absolutely hideous stainless steel band watches out there. And it seems like the lower in price you go, the more gaudy they get. Not the case with this one from Wenger. It’s simple, with good size links, a Swiss quartz movement, and it’s from a dependable mid-price brand. Usually these run about $200. On sale for under $150.
Any other suggestions for Rob? Leave them in the comments section below…
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Nice post Joe. I’ve been looking for an affordable brown leather watch and plan to pick up the Nautica watch featured here.
Thank you for the great post Joe! These are some nice choices. That Pulsar model is my favorite, so I think I’m gonna have to make a trip to the mall and see if I can find it, I have pretty small wrists, so I want to see if it fits my wrist nicely before buying one. Just on a side note, why no love for Fossil watches? I’m just curious because I see them everywhere. I don’t know anything about watches, so does it have something to do with the quality of them? Anyway, thanks again for another great post!
Rob, perhaps the reason they are not featured is exactly because you see them everywhere :). Fossil are one of the cheaper, common-place brands out there (beat only by Timex maybe?). The brands Joe features are usually a bit more upscale and not AS common as those 2, which is a good thing I think.
I also like that Pulsar. I’ve been looking for a black-out watch like that but need to figure out how to wear it. I wear brown shoes 98% of the time, so not sure how I would fit it in. Though I get the feeling a watch like that may be able to break the “match your leathers” rule.
Joe,
Great post, 2 things though:
1) Invicta 8926 “coin edge”
is a great watch for $60 to $75.00 (on sale via on line channels), it is an “automatic” vs. battery pays homage to IMO one of the all time classiest watches the Submariner (formal dress, business casual or sports). I travel a lot for my job and numerous conversations haven taken place w/ Rolex owners who think I am sporting that brand at a substantially price!
2) Fabric straps – this has been a “trend” for the past 18 months with the trend toward “military inspired” watches! Fabric straps are a requirement for this style watch (field watches, some divers, etc), the strap in the picture was inspired (some would argue) to James Bond, wearing a strap on a Submariner. J Crew really introduced this to the “mainstream” w/ their Timex Field watch + additional straps for sale via their website.
Just my $.02 worth, really love the website, keep up the great work!
OhioHead
@OhioHead: I didn’t realize the Invicta pro-diver with the coin edge is an automatic. Nice call on that one. Although, I own an Invicta and even though I do like it, I think the Wenger might (might?) hold up better over time. As far as the fabric straps go, yeah… I’ve seen them come round much earlier than this past summer, but it really seems like striped watch bands came on extremely strong April – July. Thanks for the comment!
Joe,
Thanks for the response, yes the striped fabric strap is the “rage” right now! My new “over sized” Timex Camper came w/ a cheap but cool red and black band that needs to be replaced already, w/ a different striped band.
Again just my $.02 worth, some people love Invicta, some hate on the brand. The 8926 CE is one of the best made Invicta’s available and it generally “highly rated” by “most” watch fans (google John Holbrook + 8926)! The auto movement is a Japan Miyota which is pretty darn rugged/reliable! At the price price point something happens to the watch you buy another one – Wengers are cool but not soul!
They also make a 9937 w/ a “swiss made” automatic movement as well, but that is in the $175.00 – $300.00 range though.