First post!!! In need of watch suggestions

Long post warning(I go on quite a bit of a rant;)

Hi everyone, this is my first post on here so I thought I would do a little self-introduction:

I'm a teenager from the Netherlands and I started really getting into watches about two months ago.

I'll tell you why I'm making this post. I recently got my first job at a home goods store:)

And because of that I'm looking for a new watch with the following criteria (going from most to least important) :

  1. Price: somewhere in and around 150 euros (I can stretch my budget to a little over 200, but it has to basically the best watch ever created).

  2. Size: ideally ranging from 34mm to 40mm at the absolute max for diameter and probably 45mm is the biggest for the lug to lug. I don't mind thickness to much as long as it's not a skyscraper.

  3. Watch type: as I currently already own a dress watch (I'll put a pic somewhere above) I'm looking more in the direction of dive and GADA watches, but i still love dress watches:)

  4. Dial colour: I would like something like a white/cream dial just because I already have a watch with a black dial.

  5. Water resistance: I would ideally want something with over 100 meters, but with dress watches that isn't realistic in the slightest.

  6. Movement: I would prefer an automatic, but I don't mind a quartz movement.

  7. Complications: I really like the date complications and a gmt, but a gmt in that price range isn't very realistic.

  8. Bracelet/strap: I would prefer a leather strap but if it comes on a bracelet/rubber strap it's not a deal breaker. Since I can just buy aftermarket straps.

  9. Brand: prefer heritage brands just because of a pretty much guarantee of quality. And I like Seiko :)

You can break almost every request if the watch is good enough. And I would prefer if it doesn't look too much like the watch I own right now (pic above).

The stuff I've been looking at for the most part were great watches (orient Bambino v2 and kamasu) but they were just to big for my tiny wrist. So that's why I've come to WC for help.

This section is just me explaining my self so feel free to skip this if you don't want to read a boatload of nothing.

  1. Starting with number 1 price: I'm a broke teen... nothing more to it.

  2. Number 2 watch size I've got tiny wrists(6.1 to 6.3 inches depending on the weather) so bigger than 40mm usually looks quite peculiar.

  3. Number 3 as I said before I already own a dress watch and would like something different. But I still love them!!!

  4. Number 4 same thing as number 3 I already own a black dial watch so I wanted something that was different.

  5. Number 5 as my current watch only has 30 meters of water resistance I would like something I could use in the water. Because I often do nautical activities such as: swimmin, surfing and sailing:)

  6. I like automatic movements, just know that a dozen of tiny springs and gears turn motion into a way to tell time just makes me happy:)

  7. A date complication just makes my life way way easier and gmt's look good and are very functional.

  8. Since my current watch has a bracelet I would like something different.

  9. I just like Japanese brands:)

Reply
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Orient Bambino 38mm, Seiko 5 SRPE, and if you want to save up a bit more a Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical or a Tissot PRX Quartz.

SpecKTator

Orient Bambino 38mm, Seiko 5 SRPE, and if you want to save up a bit more a Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical or a Tissot PRX Quartz.

Everyone I know keeps saying the srpe looks identical to the watch I have now, but I know it's great.

I didn't know there were smaller versions of the Bambino, I'll definitely look into it:)

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A_kinda_budget_watchguy

Everyone I know keeps saying the srpe looks identical to the watch I have now, but I know it's great.

I didn't know there were smaller versions of the Bambino, I'll definitely look into it:)

Thank you for your help 🙏

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If you’re okay with quartz there’s quite a few choices. At that size and price point I normally suggest Timex. There is a 39mm quartz gmt in the Waterbury line.

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Or if you want something smaller and don’t like the idea of battery changes there’s a 36mm solar expedition within your budget.

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There’s also a 38mm one with a date complication. I’ve got a 41mm solar expedition and think it’s great.

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If you are not in a hurry to buy a watch right away and can wait for a month or two, you can pick up the new Orient Mako 40mm dive watches. These are getting released next month and will be available soon in Europe by September. Initially, it will be around $200-300 but you will get a solid option and could save up a little more by then.

Image

Check the link below for details.

https://www.watchcrunch.com/nightfury95/posts/new-orient-40mm-dive-watches-announced-officially-called-mako-40-39629

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nightfury95

If you are not in a hurry to buy a watch right away and can wait for a month or two, you can pick up the new Orient Mako 40mm dive watches. These are getting released next month and will be available soon in Europe by September. Initially, it will be around $200-300 but you will get a solid option and could save up a little more by then.

Image

Check the link below for details.

https://www.watchcrunch.com/nightfury95/posts/new-orient-40mm-dive-watches-announced-officially-called-mako-40-39629

Agreed, I was going to suggest this 👍

nightfury95

If you are not in a hurry to buy a watch right away and can wait for a month or two, you can pick up the new Orient Mako 40mm dive watches. These are getting released next month and will be available soon in Europe by September. Initially, it will be around $200-300 but you will get a solid option and could save up a little more by then.

Image

Check the link below for details.

https://www.watchcrunch.com/nightfury95/posts/new-orient-40mm-dive-watches-announced-officially-called-mako-40-39629

The specifications look amazing, I am a bit concerned about the lug to lug...

I will try and see if I can find a way to try it on.

Matt84

If you’re okay with quartz there’s quite a few choices. At that size and price point I normally suggest Timex. There is a 39mm quartz gmt in the Waterbury line.

Image

Or if you want something smaller and don’t like the idea of battery changes there’s a 36mm solar expedition within your budget.

Image

There’s also a 38mm one with a date complication. I’ve got a 41mm solar expedition and think it’s great.

I like the gmt, I would just have to try it on in a store because of the lug to lug:)

For the solar it has really good specifications and I like the design but I can't find the 38mm anywhere and 36mm is sold out everywhere except Amazon where it's €300.

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Excluding chinese microbrands since you want heritage, I think the best budget dive watches come from Orient.

There is a lot to choose from, from the budget Ray/Mako around 150€ to the more premium Kamasu around 250€. But they are specifically starting to roll out new 40mm models this year that would be worth waiting for since you have slimmer wrists. However, they might be a bit over your budget when they release. From one SNKL lover to another, the case of Orient divers are the best for us small wristed people. 👌

Alternatively, you should be on the look out for a sale on the 38mm SRPK31. Her sister 42mm watch SRPD often dips below 180-200€ on sale so maybe the newer SRPK will reach this price too in the next 6 months to a year.

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Finally, it might be tempting to look into the Invicta Pro Diver line for a budget option. But if you're prepared to buy an homage watch like the Invicta, you will find better bang for your bucks watches on Aliexpress.

Beanna

Excluding chinese microbrands since you want heritage, I think the best budget dive watches come from Orient.

There is a lot to choose from, from the budget Ray/Mako around 150€ to the more premium Kamasu around 250€. But they are specifically starting to roll out new 40mm models this year that would be worth waiting for since you have slimmer wrists. However, they might be a bit over your budget when they release. From one SNKL lover to another, the case of Orient divers are the best for us small wristed people. 👌

Alternatively, you should be on the look out for a sale on the 38mm SRPK31. Her sister 42mm watch SRPD often dips below 180-200€ on sale so maybe the newer SRPK will reach this price too in the next 6 months to a year.

Image

Finally, it might be tempting to look into the Invicta Pro Diver line for a budget option. But if you're prepared to buy an homage watch like the Invicta, you will find better bang for your bucks watches on Aliexpress.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to be out looking for sales. After I try one on in a boutique;)