Sub-$200 Significance

The Timex Handwind Marlin reissue.  It's a classic watch and goes great with a suit.  The dial is sophisticated and timeless.  It goes for $199 but they always have sales.  You can probably get one fr $165

Nice suggestion!

Classic, and classy watch, perfect for a wedding and the follow on anniversary dinners. 

Orient Bambino for a dress watch. https://smile.amazon.com/Orient-Bambino-Japanese-Automatic-Stainless/dp/B01MTS5BFN/ref=sr_1_4?crid=9EXAEHK2OI67&keywords=orient%2Bbambino&qid=1651843845&sprefix=Orient%2B%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-4&th=1
 

Orient Kamasu  for diver.  https://smile.amazon.com/ORIENT-RA-AA0003R19B-Orient-Mens/dp/B07JGNC1C5/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1XZPA5UORI8RE&keywords=orient+kamasu&qid=1651844074&sprefix=orient+%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-2

Orient has many choices:

Orient Kamasu in green

The Bambino sure is pretty. 

I couldn't agree more with @Aurelian, this bambino is, IMHO, the most beautiful dress watch you can for that money.

Depends what you really mean by "significance" or "horological value". If you just mean brand name watch enthusiast will nod approvingly to then Seiko or Orient would be the obvious choices; Timex is less universally acclaimed. If you want the watch itself to have such credentials, on a technical/historical level, then this is a bit trickier. Orient isn't really renowned as an innovator, and any "significant" Seiko will be pricy. You could go though for a vintage-style Seagull or perhaps a Citizen eco-drive, e.g. this one.

You‘re right. I wasn’t very specific. I guess I meant more in line with your first idea: something that an enthusiast would appreciate.

Mark over at Long Island Watch has some great choices in the $200 - $300 if there is a little room to stretch.

This one comes in at $200

There are a lot of choices in the Seiko 5 range too (this one is $220 but can probably be had for less)

Orient bambino v1/2 that looks like a longines conquest from 1950s would be a nice wedding gift. I saw one in person and its worth 1k to me instead of 150 usd. https://wornandwound.com/review/review-orient-bambino-er24004b/

Any seiko cocktail would work too but more at 300 https://www.ebay.com/itm/234460388437?epid=25043766719&hash=item3696ed9c55:g:29EAAOSwvApaCak7

Probably not appropriate as a wedding gift but under $200 and significant 🙌

I also vote on Orient 😁

Hey @BogBass, I just remember another one on that price-rage. I am considering horological value with this Sun and Moon complication. Sorry @Aurelian, I take it back what I said 😜🙄

I would like to suggest you the Orient Sun & Moon (around USD 270.00 but never pay retail for it, you can find discounts everywhere 😉). Here are a few nice photos that I gathered for you.

Things I liked on this watch:

• "horological value 01"- Elegant Son and Moon complication.
• "horological value 02"-  In House movement.
• "horological value 03"-  The use of traditional Breguet hands on the seconds hand.
• "horological value 04"-  The use of traditional Guilloché dial (only in a few colors).

I hope that is useful.

Something from #tissot should do the trick! 

https://www.seikoboutique.es/seiko/colecciones-seiko/seiko-5-sports/srph21k1-5-sports-suit-style-flieger-beige

I saw it today at a Seiko Boutique, it's beautiful in real life, the way its champagne dial plays with the light is just 🤩

Congratulations on the wedding btw! 🥳

SARV001... JDM cool factor... day/date with kanji... automatic... not part of the budget oriented '5' range... and a fantastic sports watch design that goes with casual or business clothing. 42mm gives it presence without being massive. And I see it right now on at least one popular Japanese site for US$170. Total no brainer. SARV003 is the same but with a black dial.

I think @HoneyBadger nailed it. Another option is Seiko SWR052. Good luck on the watch decision and congratulations on the upcoming nuptials!!!

Seconding the G Shock. A true wonder.

Congrats on the upcoming wedding!  My daughter married in December, and her husband needed a watch for work.  I gave him a super inexpensive Orient Tri-Star that uses an in-house movement like the rest of Orient's watches.  Certain models are really nice, but bands aren't great (easily replaced).

The Bambino like the one @Aurelian picked is a better choice for a wedding / dress watch.  For their wedding, I twisted the "something old" and gave the groom a Tag Heuer Aquaracer that I picked up 12 years ago when his then-future wife dragged me to a midnight Black Friday sale at an outlet mall.

BTW: be careful with online / grey market retailers like Jomashop - even if it's in stock, it might not ever get delivered - not good for a wedding.  I got a great deal on a Citizen Promaster. It was so great, they couldn't "source" the order, and it was cancelled...

Great if the guy likes tiny watches. Even people who are into the 'smaller is better' aesthetic baulk a bit at 34mm.

True, but fits under a suit nicely.  I have a big wrist, but the domed crystal makes it feel bigger.  You can always go with the 40 mm Marlin, but it's not as elegant

Know the feeling about Jomashop. Over two months ago, I ordered a Citizen from them. Still hasn't shipped.

Good luck...  If it's not generally available from other sellers, they'll likely cancel with a $10 discount on a future purchase (can't be combined with other discounts).  Like that's an incentive to buy again... 😜

There a decent number of options for your price point. I think it is best to suggest brands at that price point and then you can check for yourself.

Look at Tissot, Seiko, Timex. These brands are quite different from each other so they suit a variety of tastes. 

Orient Bambino.

Anything by Merkur.

Love my bambino. One note: I found the black face tough to read due to glare so I exchanged it for a white face. Amazing value. You could buy this and combo it with a less expensive g-shock for $200 total!

The key with Jomashop is only buy if it says "In Stock." When it says "ships in X days" that means it is NOT in stock but they think they can source it within that period. And it's always overly optimistic. 1-2 days is actually a week. 3-4 days can be almost 2 weeks. Once it lists more than a week, that could be months if ever. I've bought maybe 2-3 watches from them, and the ones that weren't in stock each took a week to 10 days, and I also had to call and complain both times to get them to check on the status. 

Thanks, everyone for your contributions! My fiancee ended up picking out a lovely blue dial Seiko 5 Sport, that I'm eagerly waiting to receive on our wedding day 😀