Best Affordable Style of 2011 – The Watch

Seiko Automatic SNZJ Stainless Series – $115 – $200

The end of the year means it’s time to hand out some awards.  But calling these “the dappys” would just sound terrible.  Instead, we’ll stick with a highly generalized “best of…” strategy, with the very best from the past year being highlighted all this week.
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The one drawback:  The crown that controls inner bezel is awfully touchy.  Other than that, it’s nails.

You can’t please everyone, especially when it comes to guys and their preference of watch style, but Seiko’s SNZJ series is as close to a universal crowd pleaser as it gets.  They’re automatic, they’re around $150, and the substantial but not enormous dial looks just as good with jeans and a t-shirt as it does with a suit.  Even leather band die-hards (my hand is raised) will be more than fine with the well proportioned brushed steel links.  Plus, it’s unique enough that it doesn’t look like just another Rolex Submariner wannabe.  If you could only wear one watch for the rest of your life, it’d be hard to do better for under $150 than the SNZJ.  (Full review here)