[Closed] Watch fans - sub £100 smartish watch?

I went for a Seiko5 mod from Harold [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/yobokies-watchesanyone ]My experience of this.[/url]
By the way - that RRP of £250 is complete Mickey Mouse - £80/£100 more like.

From Argos:

[img] http://argos.scene7.com/is/image/Argos/9247792_R_Z001A_UC1505997?$TMB$&wid=312&hei=312 [/img]

Would suit you nicely geoffers!

dd - we had a name for watches like that when I was growing up and it wasn't nice!

Bit of Versus (By Versace)

Sorry, £15 over budget.

[img] http://argos.scene7.com/is/image/Argos/1226319_R_Z002A_UC1545703?$TMB$&wid=312&hei=312 [/img]

You may also like...

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Stop, we've found one, at £20 under budget,

[img] http://argos.scene7.com/is/image/Argos/9158403_R_SET?$Listers$ [/img]

Leaving you some spare cash for this wallet (from "You may also like...")

[img] [/img]

👿

[url= http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2778103.htm#pdpFullProductInformation ]Pulsar Kinetic Stainless Steel on offer for £55 at Argos[/url]

I just got one of these for work - smart enough to wear with a suit, cheap enough that it won't be the end of the world if it gets wrecked. Apparently Pulsar is a sub brand of Seiko.

Seiko>Pulsar>Lorus all same house.

Yobokies Custom Seiko 5? They're about £100

Sorry - I was not very clear - Yobokies (Seikoboy) is Harold.
He is very direct and honest to deal with.

Accurist are generally good bang for buck as well

http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/d/9230882/accurist+men%27s+black+rubber+strap+watch/

Seiko 5

[url= http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/9152557/Trail/searchtext%3ECITIZEN.htm ]The best value watch under £100[/url]

Look no further. Anyone who tells you anything else doesn't know what they are talking about.

i used this company http://watchhubs.com/en/ and bought this http://watchhubs.com/en/military/454-seiko-military-stainless-steel-band-mens-snk809k1-snk809.html at the time only £40. Fast delivery and no tax paid (under declared value on customs) . Plenty of watches under £100.

Skagen do some lovely watches that are generally under £100.

They also do some awful ones, but you can filter those ones out...

[url= http://www.skagenwatch.co.uk/en_GB/shop/mens/mens_watches/black_leather_and_steel_watch-233xxlslbp.html?departmentCategoryId=&solrMetaData=cHJpY2VfR0JQOls1MCAxMDBd&N=0&Nf=p_min_price%7CBTWN+50+100&pn=c&rec=3&imagePath=233XXLSLB ]Here's one...[/url]

[url= http://www.skagenwatch.co.uk/en_GB/shop/mens/mens_watches/super_slim_black-858xlslbp.html?departmentCategoryId=&solrMetaData=cHJpY2VfR0JQOlswIDEwMF0%3D&N=0&Nf=p_min_price%7CBTWN+0+100&pn=c&rec=5&imagePath=858XLSLB ]Here's another one...[/url]

[url= http://www.skagenwatch.co.uk/en_GB/shop/mens/mens_watches/black_white_steel_mens_watch-691lslsp.html?departmentCategoryId=&solrMetaData=cHJpY2VfR0JQOlswIDE1MF0%3D&N=0&maxRecPerPg=80&Ns=p_min_price&Nf=p_min_price%7CBTWN+0+150&pn=c&rec=11&imagePath=691LSLS ]Square one for a tenner over 100...[/url]

[url= http://www.skagenwatch.co.uk/en_GB/shop/mens/mens_watches/brown_pebble_straps-331xlsl1p.html?departmentCategoryId=&solrMetaData=cHJpY2VfR0JQOlswIDE1MF0%3D&N=0&maxRecPerPg=80&Ns=p_min_price&Nf=p_min_price%7CBTWN+0+150&pn=c&rec=21&imagePath=331XLSL1 ]Bit more money, but nice...[/url]

[url= http://www.rotarywatches.com/en/the-rotary-collection/rotary-watches/gs02622-06-dd ]This Rotary is nice...[/url]

Mondaine.

+1 Mondaine, but not sure you can get one for a ton....

I have got 3 watches currently, 2 of them fairly cheap but decent everyday watches and a more expensive (but still pretty reasonable in the scheme of things) Rotary that my OH got me as a wedding present.

But, I still want to get a Skagen and a Mondaine watch. Oh, and I need a new digital watch! Hmmm.

Seiko 5 SNK809K2 of Amazon, that gives you £40 for a leather strap. Job done.

A little over budget at £150ish, but this is teh shizznizz

[img] [/img]

Seiko SNDA57P1

I bought this one from harold/yobokies, slightly more than your £100 budget at $315/£195 but have a look around his site and i'm sure you can find something that little bit different for your budget.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

For what's it worth (very little in the real world) i've had numerous comments regarding the watch and i've always been of a mindset that i don't need a watch as i've got the time on my phone but since buying it in march this year now i feel kinda lost without it if i don't wear it, and being mechanical it self winds so i do nothing to it apart from perhaps manually change the date if the months have 30 days and i occasionally knock it back a minute or two every month as it runs slightly fast.

I'm sure a £10 casio digital would tell the time more precisely but coming from a "i like nice things" perspective this wins hands down, no pun intended 😉

Thanks folks - plenty to consider there.

[img] [/img]

+ £93 change in your pocket

Orient Bambino or Symphony. I've got a Bambino and it's a great watch for the price and fairly distinctive looking - like a classic Omega but with a domed crystal.

Happy Skagen owner here too, not a watch wearer but was given it as a gift and it suits me fine, super slim and unobtrusive. Has drawn a surprising number of compliments too, but maybe that's just Vancouver folks.

Another Yokobies customer here. The Seiko 5 Military with a Yokobies face and hands mod is a lovely subtle watch, especially if you have the case polished.
This is what mine looks like, only it now has a stainless mesh bracelet; I need to take a photo of it as it now appears, along with my Seiko SPORK, which has a Stainless 'shark-skin' mesh bracelet now as well.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Another Yokobies customer here. The Seiko 5 Military with a Yokobies face and hands mod is a lovely subtle watch, especially if you have the case polished.
This is what mine looks like, only it now has a stainless mesh bracelet; I need to take a photo of it as it now appears, along with my Seiko SPORK, which has a Stainless 'shark-skin' mesh bracelet now as well.

[IMG] [/IMG]

Costco usually have a nice looking Citizen Chronograph type thingy in for under £100.

The Orient review which tipped me over the edge...

http://wornandwound.com/2012/08/29/review-orient-bambino-er24004b/

Go for something fairly plain - a lot of the more ornate cheap watches are heavily "inspired" by stuff in the ££££ bracket...

Seiko and Orient make the best cheap mechanicals watches. They also make the entire watch, which pretty unusual - most Swiss makers will buy in the mechanical movement. I can vouch that the movement used in Seiko 5 is incredibly reliable and is capable of being very accurate - I think I've had my 5 for at least 5 years, worn it whilst working on cars, dropped it etc. and it's still ticking along nicely. That said, out of the box, there aren't many Seiko 5s which are knock out good looking.

The nicest looking cheap watches I've seen in a while are the Accurist vintage range and the Daniel Wellington range:

[img] [/img]

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I have to say that the DW range looks great, with very thin cases akin to a vintage dress watch, but they have zero water resistance, so they'll need treating like a vintage dress watch...

If you fancy a vintage dress watch, the Poljot / Sekonda De Luxe is nice and can be picked up for under £100 on ebay. Lots of these were sold in the UK as Sekondas, so repairs etc. shouldn't be a major issue.

[img] [/img]

That said, I own several nice mechanical watches, including a Poljot like the above, but the watch I most regularly wear is one of these:

[img] [/img]

I love the juxtaposition of a bog basic Casio with a gold tone finish... It's a kosher Casio (people do make fakes!), and was £16 from Singapore via Ebay. The time keeping is stupidly good, and the day and date is always right, which is ultimately the reason it gets a lot of wear.

Swatch?

+1 on Skagen. I got this one for £100ish and it looks good against much more expensive watches. It's lasted a year so far which doesn't sound much but most watches I have owned before die much faster than that...

Skagen Men's 809XLTTM
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001WAKR3C

[img] [/img]

There's a Seiko Chronograph model SSB105P1 on offer in Costco until 24/11 for £99.99

This is my Yokobies mod Seiko 5, with a 70's Tissot stainless mesh bracelet, Breigtling versions of which cost around £600!

[IMG] [/IMG]

There's always this one:
http://www.millersjewellers.co.uk/Citizen_Watches/BM6400_00E.html?price=2

I rather like this one ...
http://www.braun-clocks.com/watch/BN0024WHBKG

...If you shop around, you can get it within budget 🙂

Was about to buy one myself when the battery recently went in my Mondaine - decided to just have a new battery fitted - it was actually a close call despite the price difference between a battery and a new watch.

Some nice good value watches listed. If it were me I'd go for either a Seiko automatic or a Citizen Ecodrive. The last thing I need is another watch, kind of wish I hadn't bothered looking at this thread...

I'd like one of those Yobokies, is £100 a realistic budget for one?

The last thing I need is another watch, kind of wish I hadn't bothered looking at this thread...

Me too 🙂

I always like looking at this site:

[url= http://www.wernersflyingwatches.com ]Werners Flying Watches[/url]

this looks interesting:

[url= http://www.wernersflyingwatches.com/products.asp?ProID=127 ]a watch[/url]

£100 would get you a modded yobokies Seiko easily.

Ok I'm going to mail this yobokies.

Damn this thread.

I'd like one of those Yobokies, is £100 a realistic budget for one?

I got one of these cheap 6 years back. Stuck a black NATO strap on it and all still good.
http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/2513306/Trail/searchtext%3ECITIZEN+ECO+DRIVE.htm

Don't by a Nite watch bought one off the classifieds on my 3rd strap, made of cheese the last one from Nite is supposedly made of better rubber. Strap pins keep coming loose to 🙁

Not bad for an automatic Seiko metal bracelet Divers watch

[url= http://www.a-watches.com/skx009k2-jubs/ ]£ 100 pound Seiko metal braclet divers watch[/url]

[url= http://www.a-watches.com/skx009k1-rub/ ]Same watch with rubber strap £ 90.00p[/url]

I'd like one of those Yobokies, is £100 a realistic budget for one?

I think I paid £89 for mine or about that. Plus £20 for a leather strap.

He will mix and match hands and faces, that's what I got anyway, didn't like the tie shaped hands so got straight ones like he had shown on another watch

No offence meant but none suggested are smartish unless you go for a simple/plain watch? Swatch are sooooo 90's though!

As CountZero.
I got a Seiko pilot watch for about £45 the other week from http://www.sports-watch-store.com/snk805k2-snk805-nylon-seiko-5-military-automatic-mens-watch/

I use it as a day to day watch 'cause its cheap. Got a Seinhart on order for special occasions 🙂

[img] http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp359/mogulsea/snk809k21.jp g" target="_blank">http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp359/mogulsea/snk809k21.jp g"/> [/img]

Casio £7. Seiko £50.

Thanks off the additional suggestions.
I already have a Seiko automatic diver, but I find it too bulky to wear everyday.
I can't make my mind up on the Skagens, but something from Yokoobies (Harold) might fit the bill.
Chronographs are ok, but the dials are a bit too busy for me.

Any more for any more ?

I had a seiko 5 and found it noisy and it just felt a bit rattly or loose, it was also a terrible time keeper.

My latest is the seconda titanium chronograph and for the money it is great, looks more expensive than it's price tag and as it's full titanium it is surprisingly light

[url= http://www.watchshop.com/mens-sekonda-titanium-chronograph-watch-3057-p99933479.html ]Sekonda titanium[/url]

Thanks OP, I've just ordered:
http://watchhubs.com/en/military/454-seiko-military-stainless-steel-band-mens-snk809k1-snk809.html

I had a seiko 5 and found it noisy and it just felt a bit rattly or loose, it was also a terrible time keeper.

I would suggest that there was something wrong with it ,I have a oldish one that is pretty quiet the only time I here anything is either when holding it directly to my ear ,or giving it a swing in a quiet room then I can just about here the rotor winding.

Mines good for a few seconds a week and is worn for everything at work including hammering,drilling with a Bosch Hammer drill etc.

Seiko 5's are great for the money.

I had a seiko 5 and found it noisy and it just felt a bit rattly or loose, it was also a terrible time keeper.

Got 2 Seikos. 1 5 military in black and the one that Captainflasheart posted.

Both excellent. Really excellent.

Just recieved my watch, ordered from watch hubs in HK with their free post option.

I've decided to go for one of these

[img] [/img]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Casio-Analogue-Stainless-Bracelet-EFR-100SB-1AVEF/dp/B008R52I3C/

Ticks all the boxes for me and well under budget.