3-watch collection under $500
Hey y'all!
I don't know if there is already a topic like this, but with this sort of posts I would like to share some some ideas on what watch collection you can build within a certain budget.
Today, as my first post, is a 3-watch collection under $500.
- Orient Kamasu - Priced around $200
This is my absolute favourite watch around this price point. The value for money is just insane. The red dial is my favourite among them, but there are a variety of different options to choose from, and the 2nd generation has just been released as well (however the first generation has my preference since I prefer stripes as hour markers over dots on this watch).
2. Orient AG00001S - Priced anywhere between $150 and $230
Another Orient, but this time a dress watch. I wasn't entirely sure what to choose for my second pick, a dress watch or a field watch. I figured I would go with a dress watch to wear on these special occasions where a bit of a more formal style is required.
The thing I really love about this Orient is the rosegold case combined with the open heart. This makes the watch stand out a little, without becoming too "busy".
Another popular option to go with would be the Orient Bambino. This would save you a few bucks as well.
3. Casio G-Shock DW5600 - Priced between $60 and $100
My third pick is a daily beater watch that will withstand almost any situation you'll ever get into. There are all sorts of colour options to choose from, solar powered or not,...
The classic DW5600 is my favourite as it really is a watch that you can throw on with almost anything and simply forget that you're wearing it.
Another option would be one of the famous G-Shock GA2100's. The transparent one is my favourite among them, as it really is an eyecatcher.
A Timex Weekender would also be a pretty good pick for this category, and will save you a couple of bucks as well.
I hope this post might have helped someone, or that you enjoyed reading it.
Do you agree with my picks? Or what watch(es) would you pick with a $500 budget?
Next time, I will do a similar post but for a different budget.
Thanks for reading & have a great day!😀
Oh yes I love doing this! Thanks for opening it up. So I’m going to go AliExpress on two of the three because of value :).
I just really like it and San Martin offers a high quality Homage with
200m WR
saphire
steel
sandwich dial
pretty wearable case size
NH35
1.2 this is my other option for the diver
the spinnaker Fleuss (260€)
Also a NH35 and all the specs you want as above.
2. for the dresswatch I would go With this seagull (don’t know the name:160€)
I think it really looks the part. It has the seagull ST17 Movement
Saphire
steel
38mm I think
for the beater you have to go Casioak (100€)
I know I’m a little bit over budget but those would be my picks.
what do you think?
Oh yes I love doing this! Thanks for opening it up. So I’m going to go AliExpress on two of the three because of value :).
I just really like it and San Martin offers a high quality Homage with
200m WR
saphire
steel
sandwich dial
pretty wearable case size
NH35
1.2 this is my other option for the diver
the spinnaker Fleuss (260€)
Also a NH35 and all the specs you want as above.
2. for the dresswatch I would go With this seagull (don’t know the name:160€)
I think it really looks the part. It has the seagull ST17 Movement
Saphire
steel
38mm I think
for the beater you have to go Casioak (100€)
I know I’m a little bit over budget but those would be my picks.
what do you think?
Good picks! I really love the looks of the Spinnaker! The San Martin offers good value for money indeed and looks really nice as well. The Seagull has a very nice and minimalistic design which would also go well with some summer shorts.
And as you said, the CasiOak is the ideal beater for the price.
Thank you for sharing!
haha what a nice choice. and what a coincidence my collection also consist of kamasu, bambino, and a g shock lol
haha what a nice choice. and what a coincidence my collection also consist of kamasu, bambino, and a g shock lol
Awesome pictures man! You have some real talent!
I have a Kamasu and a G-Shock as well. I was thinking about getting a Bambino, but I think I might save up some more and get a Tissot Le Locle with the white dial.
Awesome pictures man! You have some real talent!
I have a Kamasu and a G-Shock as well. I was thinking about getting a Bambino, but I think I might save up some more and get a Tissot Le Locle with the white dial.
thx, i say go for that tissot since you already have the orient. bambino is a great affordable dresswatch but its nice to experience other watch from different company 👍
You can't go wrong with Orient!
2. The Diver: Ray II Raven ($190)
3. The...everything! Defender II ($180)
Good choices i was thinking of putting the DW5200 in my choices but I have gone with
Seiko Presage Cocktail
Casio Duro
Timex Harborside Coast
You can't go wrong with Orient!
2. The Diver: Ray II Raven ($190)
3. The...everything! Defender II ($180)
Lovely Orients! That Defender II is definitely a watch that is on my wishlist as well!
Good choices i was thinking of putting the DW5200 in my choices but I have gone with
Seiko Presage Cocktail
Casio Duro
Timex Harborside Coast
I'm always amazed by how absolutely striking that dial of the presage is! It is pure class! The whole watch is simply pure elegance
I'm always amazed by how absolutely striking that dial of the presage is! It is pure class! The whole watch is simply pure elegance
Agree completely and I am kicking myself for selling mine a few years ago 🤦♂️
Here's a twist; a Seiko 3-watch collection for which I paid less than $500 that is out of production.
Everyday: Seiko Kinetic GMT SUN035 $160
Sport: Seiko SKX013 $210
Dress: Seiko SUP880 $145
Also three different movements. 😉
Here's a twist; a Seiko 3-watch collection for which I paid less than $500 that is out of production.
Everyday: Seiko Kinetic GMT SUN035 $160
Sport: Seiko SKX013 $210
Dress: Seiko SUP880 $145
Also three different movements. 😉
Awesome selection and definitely a 3-watch/ Seiko collection that got you covered for all sorts of occasions!
Resurrecting this thread since I just found it 😉
Seiko SSB045 Mecha-quartz Chronograph (gift from wife) @ ~$100 ($250 list) in 2013
(I replaced the original reflective dauphine hands with lumed pencil hands for legibility)
Invicta Pro Diver 1953 "Batman" (Diver) 34333 for $88
Timex MK1 Mechanical (Field) for $85
And a quartz beater - Casio "Duro" MDV106 for $42
In most collections, I thinks that these would ALL be considered beater watches...
Resurrecting this thread since I just found it 😉
Seiko SSB045 Mecha-quartz Chronograph (gift from wife) @ ~$100 ($250 list) in 2013
(I replaced the original reflective dauphine hands with lumed pencil hands for legibility)
Invicta Pro Diver 1953 "Batman" (Diver) 34333 for $88
Timex MK1 Mechanical (Field) for $85
And a quartz beater - Casio "Duro" MDV106 for $42
In most collections, I thinks that these would ALL be considered beater watches...
Great picks too! I especially love the Seiko chronograph and the Timex! These might be considered beater watches by some, but I think this all comes down to how much you can and want to spend on a watch. I wouldn't consider the Seiko a "real" beater watch if I had it in my collection, but more like a sensible and value-for-money chronograph-pick.
Great picks too! I especially love the Seiko chronograph and the Timex! These might be considered beater watches by some, but I think this all comes down to how much you can and want to spend on a watch. I wouldn't consider the Seiko a "real" beater watch if I had it in my collection, but more like a sensible and value-for-money chronograph-pick.
The Seiko only qualifies as a beater based on age, condition (it was worn daily for many years), and current value ($85?)... to replace it with something new would cost hundreds.
Great picks too! I especially love the Seiko chronograph and the Timex! These might be considered beater watches by some, but I think this all comes down to how much you can and want to spend on a watch. I wouldn't consider the Seiko a "real" beater watch if I had it in my collection, but more like a sensible and value-for-money chronograph-pick.
The Seiko is 41mm, but is thin (10mm) and has a short lug-to-lug (~47mm), so it wears great... and is fairly legible with the new hands.
The Timex is my newest watch. It wears wonderfully (I thought 36mm might be small for my 7" wrist) and looks very vintage with the acrylic crystal. The Seagull movement is keeping good time (gaining only 3 to 4 seconds per day). It has taken some wrist time away from the Invicta 1953, which also wears well and has a great vintage vibe. The 1953 has great legibility, and the SII NH35A movement is keeping very good time at +1.8 spd.
The Seiko is 41mm, but is thin (10mm) and has a short lug-to-lug (~47mm), so it wears great... and is fairly legible with the new hands.
The Timex is my newest watch. It wears wonderfully (I thought 36mm might be small for my 7" wrist) and looks very vintage with the acrylic crystal. The Seagull movement is keeping good time (gaining only 3 to 4 seconds per day). It has taken some wrist time away from the Invicta 1953, which also wears well and has a great vintage vibe. The 1953 has great legibility, and the SII NH35A movement is keeping very good time at +1.8 spd.
The Timex definitely suits your wrist well with this awesome vintage-look. I looked up the Invicta online because I was amazed by how accurate it is, but sadly the cheapest I could find the Invicta was at 147 euros.
The Seiko Chronograph however, is a watch I will have to look into myself since I don't have a chronograph yet and I like it's style. I might not be able to pick this one up, but Seiko offers some other chronograph alternatives, maybe I might be able to find one with a panda dial for a good price.
The Timex definitely suits your wrist well with this awesome vintage-look. I looked up the Invicta online because I was amazed by how accurate it is, but sadly the cheapest I could find the Invicta was at 147 euros.
The Seiko Chronograph however, is a watch I will have to look into myself since I don't have a chronograph yet and I like it's style. I might not be able to pick this one up, but Seiko offers some other chronograph alternatives, maybe I might be able to find one with a panda dial for a good price.
I just lucked out with a good SII NH35A movement in the Invicta. Amazon in the US has it for $93.43.
Some JDM Seiko Spirit chronos are close to mine:
https://www.sakurawatches.com/seiko-spirit-sbtr027
Resurrecting this thread since I just found it 😉
Seiko SSB045 Mecha-quartz Chronograph (gift from wife) @ ~$100 ($250 list) in 2013
(I replaced the original reflective dauphine hands with lumed pencil hands for legibility)
Invicta Pro Diver 1953 "Batman" (Diver) 34333 for $88
Timex MK1 Mechanical (Field) for $85
And a quartz beater - Casio "Duro" MDV106 for $42
In most collections, I thinks that these would ALL be considered beater watches...
Love that MK1, never seen one under $150 though. If you know a guy, who knows a guy....let me know!
Timex Marlin blue dial - $170
Invicta Swiss Pro Diver 9937OB - $175
Citizen Eco Drive Chrono field - $150
*Only substitution I'd make is if I could find a Pagani Design/AliExpress dive watch with better movement, WR & specs than the 9937OB
I am all going Chinese here. As a dress watch, the Lobinni with the mini-rotor movement.
This Hruodland flieger is for the toolier side of things. Loomed, sapphire crystal, just a gorgeous flieger.
This escapement time is for vintage look without vintage problems. Like the Hruodland, it has a PT5000 movement.