Amazon’s Columbus Day Watch Sale 2012 
Top Picture Credit: Sebastiano del Piombo
If Columbus had an accurate timepiece somewhere on the Nina, Pinta, or Santa Maria, he wouldn’t have clumsily groped his way about the ocean looking for anything that wasn’t water. But that was the case for everyone until John Harrison came along a few hundred years later, since sailors couldn’t keep precise track of their longitude.
…probably has nothing to do with why Amazon is having a Columbus Day watch sale.
Usually their watch sales & clearances are only so-so, with real limited selection and “huh?” brands. That’s not the case this time. It’s not blow your mind, but there’s some options and better than good prices worth a closer look.
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Seiko SNZG15 Automatic 40mm – $99.37
($250)
The affordable star of this show. Rock solid automatic movement, great looks, and a well balanced 40mm diameter matte stainless case. Seiko’s Hardlex crystal on this one. Obviously leans casual, but tough to beat at this price. Was just going for $112. Full review over here.
Tissot PRS 200 Chronograph – $314.20
($495)
If the Seiko is the subtle smart play, then this is the toothy splurge. Maybe one of the best looking black chronographs out there. Tissots usually get a good sized markdown on Amazon, but this price drop to just north of $300 seems especially good. Swiss made Quartz chronograph, sapphire crystal, 200 m water resistance rating. And look at that crown. Pic via the official Tissot site.
Seiko Solar Rectangle Case – $105.32
($195)
The complete opposite of the Tissot. Not going to look right on everyone’s wrist, but brings some classic/retro flare with the gold detail and rectangular dial. Solar powered too. 28mm in diameter.
Skagen Moon Phase Chronograph – $187.65
($325)
The top end for Skagen and runs $325 on their site. Finding a moon-phase is difficult enough (hey, some guys like to know if it’s waxing or waning… y’know?). But this one is incredibly unique, blending Skagen’s modern looks with that decidedly old-school function. Black on black on black keeps it sleek. Not everyone’s taste. Certainly the favorite of the trio that was given away last year.
Orient Hammerhead – $152.97
($275)
An automatic with a real beefy bezel. (The one pictured above has a black bezel, Amazon is selling the version with a silver one.) Thicker looking and feeling than Orient’s flagship Mako. 40-hr power reserve automatic, 100m water resistance. Usually goes for $192.50 via Orient with a 30% off code.
Orient Aviator – $160.66
($305) | Orca – $100
($210)
Both of these are candidates for replacing the stainless bracelet with a leather band. The black dial Aviator is nowhere near as cheap as what the blue dial version was going for two weeks back (it’s now over $200 again), but it’s still a solid watch for $160. Full review on that one here. The Orca, while not the prettiest girl at the dance, is a bargain at a hundred bucks. Put a brown leather band on there with some contrast stitching and you’ve got a real smart looking casual timepiece.
Revue Thommen Wall Street – $520.98
| Heritage – $544.98
Not the most well known name on the block, but not some fly-by-night operation either. Was purchased in 2001 but was purchased by one of the big Swiss watch companies. Five hundred bucks might not be much to the watch aficionado, but half a grand is half a grand. And half a grand is Christopher Ward territory. So, ehhhhhhh….
The Amazon Columbus Day Watch Sale is set to expire on, you guessed it, 10/8/12, which is Columbus Day.
100 bucks for the blue faced Orca? SOLD!
Just a heads up that the Skagen Moon Phase you link to is through a third party seller. Much better to buy from Amazon @ $187, which gets you the two year Amazon warranty and prevents most worries about the product being genuine.
Yeah, always try to go direct, with “fulfilled” being the line in the sand I don’t like to cross. I honestly don’t know why Amazon hangs themself out there on 3rd party stuff that they don’t even fulfill. Updated above.
Anyone have any experience with this Seiko Diver?
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNZF15-Automatic-Stainless-Steel-Bracelet/dp/B006ITF0AW/ref=sr_1_1?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1349289137&sr=1-1
For a good read about John Harrison and keeping time (more accurately about the quest to accurately determine longitude) check out Longitude by Dava Sobel, short and interesting.
Not this one specifically, but I would highly Highly rec’d the Seiko 007 Diver (007=black, 009=blue/red like this one). It’s only a little higher in price than this diver and is a solid entry level diver. Authentic screw down crown (most Seiko 5’s wont have this feature), great classic style and very good time keeping.
Hard to go wrong with Seiko. No matter the price range, they always feel like a solid watch for the money.
I second the 007. Here’s mine with a modded sapphire crystal:
Great model. Sapphire looks great.
I’ve always wondered why Seiko doesn’t release a slightly up-market version of this watch with higher dive tolerances and a sapphire crystal. It would slay if they could get it to market around $250-300 retail.