What About OTHER Fun Watches?
To me, the biggest selling point of the Swatch x Blancpain Scuba Fifty Fathoms is the fun factor. But what are other fun watches in the category? Here’s what I think qualifies:
Fun first! Would it make a kid or the kid-in-you smile? Or the corollary: would it make a grumpy, self-important WIS even grumpier?
Not a ‘cool’ watch, like a standard Seiko 5 or a G-Shock. You’re not going to irritate that hypothetical grumpy WIS with one of those; they’re universally accepted.
Under $500 new - no more than 25% greater than a BlancSwatch. The Maurice LaCroix Aikon Tides are like if the BlancSwatch were properly built, but once you get past 125% of the price of something, it starts to become a different tier.
Not a straight ‘homage’ piece. I’d say the colorful San Martin SN0116 watches maybe qualify, but the more direct copies wouldn’t.
Color isn’t necessary, but surely doesn’t hurt.
Not cheap, or “disposable” in the way a Sistem 51-based watch is reputed to be (though according to the review below, the BlancSwatch might be able to be opened up and serviced?) Something that can last for many years to come.
Decent build quality and water resistance - if it gets handed off to a kid to wear, will it survive? Can it go in the pool (a log flume ride at an amusement park) without worrying? 50m water resistance minimum.
A few examples that I’ve found:
The Disney Citizen watches, e.g. the Donald vs. The Shark (the fin lume at 6!) one, and Scuba Mickey. A solar quartz movement is like the exact opposite of a Sistem 51 movement in every way 😁
The Seiko 5 Snoopy - not a standard Seiko 5 😉
The Blok 33 and 31. Sure, these are actually kids watches, but they appear to be decent quality, and I could actually see myself wearing one
The aforementioned San Martin examples
Any other suggestions? What makes your pick fun to you?
And that BlancSwatch review I mentioned above: https://youtu.be/m6aD9iwPjhU?si=CJ2kkC2OX4jwL9-u&t=152
If divers wear dive watches, and pilots wear pilot watches, who wears tool watches? 😉
Maybe I'm missing the point with these colabs but I really fail to see the fun factor in a pilgrimage to the church of Swatch for the privilege of paying a few hundred US$ to get a plastic token of devotion.
For me this Vostok is more fun because it's cheap, infinitely modable, and I didn't have to go out and find a physical shop to get one.
How about the Casio A100 Pac Man?
I also got this Disney Citizen Minnie Mouse Gardening watch. 🥰
Watch Idiot Savant
How about the Casio A100 Pac Man?
I also got this Disney Citizen Minnie Mouse Gardening watch. 🥰
That Casio is neat. Hadn’t seen it before.
And yeah, that Minnie is pretty fun, too!
I’m all into fun and character watches! 😁👍
Anything from Mr Jones Watches! Only the quartz versions would fit your price criteria though I think.
When the MoonSwatch frenzy was at it’s peak, I thought maybe a fun watch would be a good idea. I bought a Timex Marlin Secret Agent Snoopy. That’s a fun watch with surprisingly good quality for the money and I think will outlive the fun of the plastic fantastics.
Last night, my wife ordered a Momentum Sea Quartz 30 with the Hawaiian shirt for my upcoming birthday. I think that’s a fun watch for similar money that will also outlive this newest Collab. All I need is a Detroit Tiger’s cap and a Ferrari 308.
My first watch was a fun watch! The Lorus Goofy. (Long gone, lifted this pic from EBay)
If you like Star Wars, Citizen has a ton as well!
I’m all into fun and character watches! 😁👍
OMG. Timex. T80. Is. Awesome.
Why didn't I know of this line earlier? Thank you!
I had to have the Seiko5 Snoopy and I might get the second one to have the set
I love my Blok. It's an awesome watch.
Any of the Citizen Marvel watches are fun. My wife has several fun Disney Citizen watches, even though we are PO'ed at Disney for picking a fight with my cable provider and now I have no access to ESPN. Micket mouse watches are fun. Most Swatches are fun and I have several. Fosil used to make character watches and I have several of them from back in the day (Marvin the Martian, George of the Jungle, Pinky and the Brain, etc).
If anybody is interested in pictures, I'll dig some out and take pictures.
😂
Maybe I'm missing the point with these colabs but I really fail to see the fun factor in a pilgrimage to the church of Swatch for the privilege of paying a few hundred US$ to get a plastic token of devotion.
For me this Vostok is more fun because it's cheap, infinitely modable, and I didn't have to go out and find a physical shop to get one.
You lost me at church...
It reminds me of a View Master.
And now I’ll never un-see the View Master! 🤣
And now I’ll never un-see the View Master! 🤣
Lol. Sorry. I think View Masters were awesome, btw.
😂
THAT'S IT!!! I wore that too. I had two silk ties, one red and one yellow with littlen blue polka dots. But if you got close enough, you'd see they were Viagra tablets. Wore those too.
I love this. What is it???
I actually like the Black and Gray BLOK 33. It actually has a Swiss ETA quartz movement. Would need to use a NATO though. I think the included strap tops out at 6 in wrist.
😂
Found them! Online of course
I actually like the Black and Gray BLOK 33. It actually has a Swiss ETA quartz movement. Would need to use a NATO though. I think the included strap tops out at 6 in wrist.
I just ordered the Monochrome. Seems to be all the rage to get plastic case watches with rotating bezels this week, am I right? 😉
Just got a good deal from eBay 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 Mickey aviator
I just ordered the Monochrome. Seems to be all the rage to get plastic case watches with rotating bezels this week, am I right? 😉
At least this one will last
The Tintin watch from Cronos which unfortunately seems to have disappeared from production:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpL-dVf28RQ
I agree, there is always a but room for fun. I like that seiko for me and blok for my girl. Take a look at Mr. jones watches, they got some fun designs too
I have the seiko 5 snoopy and wear it so much. Always makes me smile but doesn’t shout “toy” so loudly that i can’t wear it the same way I would any of my more “serious” watches
Love this one more than the surfing one. Haven't been able to find one yet from a boutique. Easy to find generally?
Love this one more than the surfing one. Haven't been able to find one yet from a boutique. Easy to find generally?
Yeah--the little mom & pop store near me that carries the non-luxe Seikos (along with Citizen, Bulova, etc) has them in stock and are even knocking a few bucks off the retail price. I got mine from Exquisite Timepieces because I was too impatient to wait, and I know they still have 'em as well. Shouldn't be hard to find at all.