Categories: ReviewsWatches

Double Time: The Affordable Two Watch Collection – Under $700

About The Series: Double Time is for guys who like watches, but don’t necessarily want a big collection. What we’re going for here are two watches, at different affordable budgets, which as a team can fill just about any style need in every-day life. A casual watch and a dress watch. Those are basically the parameters. 

 

Made in Italy UNIMATIC UC2 Automatic Watch – $525

They don’t make them like they used to, unless it’s Unimatic. And then when you pick this thing up you think “I don’t know if they ever made watches like this.” It is SOLID. All caps. In bold. Feels like something Ron Swanson would appreciate, if he wasn’t already hand forging his own wristwatches in a waffle iron. Yet at 38.5 mm in diameter, it’s not some honking wrist-brick you would have seen on the likes of Arnie circa 2010. Assembled in Italy. Powered by Seiko’s NH35A automatic movement. Black matte dial. 300m water resistance. Double domed sapphire crystal. Easy to grip big crown. Super-LumiNova C3 pale green lume paint starts to reveal itself even in low-ish light conditions. Has a tendency to sell out stateside. Link above goes to Huckberry where they have a few left at post time, and Huckberry has a couple other models from the brand as well.

 

Orient Bambino V3 “Bauhaus” Automatic – $130

Looks substantially more expensive than its famously accessible price point. Simplicity. Class. Lots of clean space. Domed crystal. In-house, automatic movement. Maybe the best looking “cheap” dress watch on the market. Available in the not quite white, gentle silver dial shown above, as well as black, blue, and a sneaky handsome dark gray option. There’s just one small problem (for some). It’s 41mm. Which will fit most wrists just fine, but for those with slimmer wrists or those who prefer more classically sized dress watches, it runs a little big. Also, the strap width is a rare/odd 21mm, which can make sourcing after market straps a little difficult. But the matte brown leather band it comes on looks great, feels good, and wears just fine. Full review here.

Total Cost: $655

Got a wristwatch duo you’d like to recommend for Double Time? Send those in to joe@dappered.com. 

Want to see the entire series? Head here for the growing archive of our Double Time posts. 

Joe

Recent Posts

Huckberry: Up to 45% off Annual “See you out there” Sale

The Huck team is off on vacation. Which means their big winter clearance is very…

1 day ago

Charles Tyrwhitt’s Winter Clearance, Sanders Restock, & More – The Thursday Sales Handful

Brooks Brothers starts their winter clearance with an additional 25% off sale items.

3 days ago

10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Nike “JingleShots,” Cedar Scented Beard Balm, & more

Plus a Christmas album you probably haven't heard yet this year. Maybe.

4 days ago

1 Sale, 5 Outfits: J. Crew up to 60% off + add. 10% off Holiday Event

With a focus on holiday events. It's their last sale before their shipping cutoff.

5 days ago

How to look like you should be taken seriously – 10 Style tips

Style choices to make for those times when how you're perceived is critical.

5 days ago

In Review: The Timex Deepwater Reef 200 41mm Quartz Watch

Timex grows into a solid, grown-up dive watch design.

6 days ago