Dressy quartz query
For me, a quartz dress watch is very much a tool watch. I can play it on gigs (drums) and not worry about it. However, most of my favorite watches (dial design, high quality fit and finish, size etc…) are usually automatic.
But I’m having fun poking in he cracks of watches from $300 to $2500 and seeing what’s out there. I am digging the Junghans Max Bill solar mega, the Hamilton Boulton, the Vario dress Chrono, Dan Henry, and some 90’s Omega Aqua Terra’s (quartz)
What are some others I can look at that would be somewhat dressy or classy that are quartz and 36-39mm ? Just curious!
Thanks!
Midlife crisis is hitting me in the watch face. Wife and daughter have zero interest in watches so here I am. Crisis started with a cheap HMT watch from eBay, then a spin of the dreaded “wheel” got me...
I have a Dan Henry and love that thing. It wears perfect and there’s lots of different models and dials to choose from. The Vario Versa is amazing.
Though interestingly for about the same price, you can get an automatic Orient Bambino or Timex Marlin.
The grand Seiko quartz gmt with the dark blue dial is a dream watch for sure!
Ah, looking for something quartz and formal... excellent taste. (Although it was deliberately purchased for business events, I dress this thing down all the time.)
Here's my Citizen Chronomaster ($1,600 used from Japan). Solar, perpetual calendar, unique paper dial texture, pointlessly accurate 5s/yr movement. I really like this corner of the hobby because the ladder doesn't go up to infinity - a relatively normal person can buy a Citizen or Seiko caliber that no billionaire owns a better spec'd version of.
Ah, looking for something quartz and formal... excellent taste. (Although it was deliberately purchased for business events, I dress this thing down all the time.)
Here's my Citizen Chronomaster ($1,600 used from Japan). Solar, perpetual calendar, unique paper dial texture, pointlessly accurate 5s/yr movement. I really like this corner of the hobby because the ladder doesn't go up to infinity - a relatively normal person can buy a Citizen or Seiko caliber that no billionaire owns a better spec'd version of.
That watch is fire! I’ll check it out!
How about Bulova Precisionist? The smooth sweeping seconds hand is icing on the cake.
How about Bulova Precisionist? The smooth sweeping seconds hand is icing on the cake.
Oops, my bad. I just measured this and it's 43mm - much larger than what you're looking for.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Thinline Quartz. No clue if the tuxedo black is still made, but you can always get used on ebay.
Thin at 7-ish mm, and while it has a date, it's a two hander so pretty dressy.
Most are 42mm, but they are a few at 40mm. Technically out of your size but really close.
I'm thinking about a small Cartier Tank Louis quartz... Small, classic, dressy, super light and comfortable.. it's the original, JFK, Ali, Warhol, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Duke Ellington, all wore small Cartier Tanks
Nice photo! It immediately made me think of the film Whiplash. Really enjoyed that.
If you can find one, I think the Wempe Ironwalker quartz fits the bill.
Also, what’s your style of music? 😀
Well there is the Charlie Paris "Concordia" that is based on a VH31 movement which offers a quasi smooth sweep second's hand. At 38mm it's more of a dressier Explorer than a rugged Cartier but it can fill the place of a classic expedition style 3 hander that doesn't fall into the trap of a boring Rolex Explorer pastiche.
Check out Baltany they rock the vintage vibe both field and dress. Great people, had great service. The value is just off the charts.
Check out Baltany they rock the vintage vibe both field and dress. Great people, had great service. The value is just off the charts.
Also true!! I just ordered their new moonphase (black dial / gold accents). They basically put out the perfect design for that movement imo.
Frederique constant has some slimline quarts that are perfect as dress watches. Some even remove the seconds hand, which is required by formal dress rules.
dream watch for sure! and i think price wise attainable with a bit of saving up!
Go for it mate, good luck 👍🏻
I actually really like the solar options as it feels like such an easy watch to put on whenever and not worry about setting the time or the battery. I have a seiko speed timer and that's one of my favorite parts about it!
Yeah, the solar options were meant to lessen the worry. I can't speak to this as I don't own a solar-powered piece. I'm sure others who do can chime in on it's robustness and longevity.
I heard though, that a typical Seiko quartz can last up to 2 years. My Columbia field was fitted with a new $20 Seiko VJ-32 quartz movement last Feb 2022. So far, it's running at -1s per month. 💪 Beats any $xxxxx mechanical movement, even COSC certified ones.😉
As for battery life, let's see what happens in the coming months. But, I really won't worry about it, and will just continue to enjoy wearing my revived, 17-year old field watch... or should I say 1-year old hehe.
By the way, I installed a new battery on my vintage Citizen tank last Nov 2021. I haven't adjusted the time since then. It's currently only +7s vs. an atomic clock. 😎
Let's see by this November if the battery life is as expected.
Hamilton Ventura is a favorite quartz watch of mine
Yeah, the solar options were meant to lessen the worry. I can't speak to this as I don't own a solar-powered piece. I'm sure others who do can chime in on it's robustness and longevity.
I heard though, that a typical Seiko quartz can last up to 2 years. My Columbia field was fitted with a new $20 Seiko VJ-32 quartz movement last Feb 2022. So far, it's running at -1s per month. 💪 Beats any $xxxxx mechanical movement, even COSC certified ones.😉
As for battery life, let's see what happens in the coming months. But, I really won't worry about it, and will just continue to enjoy wearing my revived, 17-year old field watch... or should I say 1-year old hehe.
totally. It's a great feeling actually, and an underrated one here on watch crunch, of getting a new battery for a quartz watch. Kinda feels like you just got an old car serviced and a surprise christmas wrapped up in one experience.
I did that for an old fossil a few years ago before the watch bug really took ahold of me in a more serious way and it was such a great feeling to have even a fashion watch come back to life!
By the way, I installed a new battery on my vintage Citizen tank last Nov 2021. I haven't adjusted the time since then. It's currently only +7s vs. an atomic clock. 😎
Let's see by this November if the battery life is as expected.
Man, I love that Citizen, had not seen it before. I'm a sucker for black and gold watch dials
By the way, I installed a new battery on my vintage Citizen tank last Nov 2021. I haven't adjusted the time since then. It's currently only +7s vs. an atomic clock. 😎
Let's see by this November if the battery life is as expected.
Vaer has a new black and gold dress watch, but it's automatic so it's useless for me on the drums. but a very nice looking watch
I have a Dan Henry and love that thing. It wears perfect and there’s lots of different models and dials to choose from. The Vario Versa is amazing.
Though interestingly for about the same price, you can get an automatic Orient Bambino or Timex Marlin.
What Dan Henry models were you specifically referring to? I thought DH only made sports models.
Older Grand Seiko 9F quartz watches that still have "Seiko" branding on them can be found for well under $1000 in amazing condition. The trick is took look for Japan-based sellers. For what seem like obvious reasons to me, there are large quantities of used Grand Seiko watches available from Japan. You can find reputable sellers on eBay, and many have their own websites in English that specifically cater to non-Japanese buyers. (Note - If you do buy from a Japanese seller, make certain the bracelet is long enough to fit your wrist. Most sellers will include the maximum size wrist that a watch can fit in the description. If you don't see it, either ask or choose a different seller.)
Older Grand Seiko 9F quartz watches that still have "Seiko" branding on them can be found for well under $1000 in amazing condition. The trick is took look for Japan-based sellers. For what seem like obvious reasons to me, there are large quantities of used Grand Seiko watches available from Japan. You can find reputable sellers on eBay, and many have their own websites in English that specifically cater to non-Japanese buyers. (Note - If you do buy from a Japanese seller, make certain the bracelet is long enough to fit your wrist. Most sellers will include the maximum size wrist that a watch can fit in the description. If you don't see it, either ask or choose a different seller.)
great tip, thanks! I do really love some of the modern grand seiko quartz models, so finding one in good shape that's more budget minded would be great!
What Dan Henry models were you specifically referring to? I thought DH only made sports models.
1937 Dress Chrono
https://danhenrywatches.com/collections/vintage-watches/products/1937-dress-chronograph
Man, I love that Citizen, had not seen it before. I'm a sucker for black and gold watch dials
It's a beauty, isn't it? It's an heirloom from my Dad. Priceless and precious.
It's a beauty, isn't it? It's an heirloom from my Dad. Priceless and precious.
It's a beaut! It's all about the dial - there are so many variations and the details on your Dad's old watch is really great. I think details on quartz use to be a bit more ubiquitous, but not as much now as watch makers seem to be pushing the more expensive auto's with more varied dial designs than quartz ones - at least that's what I see
I recommend the Seiko SUP873P1. Solar quartz, 37mm, 7mm thin. White dial looks like enamel. No second hand. I paid $85 two years ago. A bit hard to find these days, but they're out there. It's the ultimate for a guy who needs an elegant dress watch once in a while, and he can just grab it and go.
PS I used to play drums in a loud rock band (Kinks, Who, Procol Harum, US Classic rockers, etc.) wearing an automatic Seiko SNK807. It had a lousy power reserve, so I think it enjoyed all the motion. Also, there are still some elegant old school Seiko 5s around that would work.