What’s the best EDC watch you can buy? (Emphasis on obtainable)

Citizen eco drive.

Solar powered so no battery change, 37mm so it'll fit a range of wrist sizes, 100 m of water resistance and I think that if you changed the strap to a nice alligator you could pull it off at a wedding

SRPE51 or in whatever color you like

Not at all trolling, but how about this beauty

Have you thought about the Cartier Santos? Comes with both a fantastic metal bracelet and leather strap, tool-free link removal and strap change, 100m water resistance. Also a piece of horology history (designed in 1904 as the first men's and pilot's wristwatch), in-house movement, and 8-year warranty if you register your purchase. I've worn it with everything from a t-shirt to a tuxedo.

A couple good showcases:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9SH57sMtFM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPLwVuz-VvY

The new fortis marinemaster 40mm

These types of questions are difficult to answer since they can be very subjective. It's even more difficult when the criteria are as broad as this one, but I'll give it a try. A Sinn 556 I on a bracelet price of 1190 EUR is with VAT. 200m, Low-pressure resistant, SW200-1 with a glossy black dial. Some might go with a Sinn 104 St Sa I but in my opinion, a diving bezel adds too much "toolish" character, but if this is a non-issue for you then I would say go for the Sinn Pilot Watch EZM 3F the "toolishness" is toned down but the actual "tool-like function" is turned to 11 with several of Sinn's proprietary technology like being functionally reliable from -45°C to +80°C, or a magnetic resistance of 80,000 A/m (where regular watches are at 4,800A/m), Ar-Dehumidifying technology, 200m, and low-pressure resistance. However, the case is bead blasted. Sinn also has the Diving equivalent to this watch with the same stuff but a polished case but the dial design is more "toolish". 

The second watch is a Damasko DK101 it comes on a leather strap for 4,165. It has a sunburst anthracite dial and 100m water resistance. The whole design with sub-seconds may give it a more "dressy" style but with those fat hands and indices, it tones down the dressiness quite a lot and looks something like a dressy tool watch (or an abomination). It might not look as rugged as the Sinn but this is Damasko we are talking about and they don't do fragile watches. It comes with their ice hardened steel and their in-house caliber H35 which has an antimagnetic and oil-free escapement.

Last is a watch company from Iceland the JS Watch Co. SIF NART. brushed cold-forged german 316L Stainless steel for 2720 USD. No clue what's up with the german part, is it better than other types of 316L? I doubt it, regarding the cold-forged part, I don't know if this is just marketing or something special, I am not well versed in metallurgy. Looking up some information one site stated that the majority of Swiss watches use casting, cold stamping, or milling, but moving on it has an "Execution Top" ETA that looks like a 2824 movement. And from their website the Sif NART (North Atlantic Rescue Timer) is the official watch of the Icelandic Coast Guard that coupled with the ETA should mean that this watch can handle plenty of abuse. Oh and one more thing it has a water resistance of 1000m.

It very depends on your idea of affordable. 
 

That said, I’d recommend the legacy 36 from Tsao Baltimore, endeavor from RZE, Ball Trainmaster Streamliner, or Seiko SUR457. Those are my favorite GADA pieces ranging from 200-1000.

I keep mentioning it but the Seiko Alpinist is a great GADA as it can be worn in casual or more business attire, and it rated to 20 bar water resistance, so really a Go Anywhere Do Anything!

You nailed it bro👍

I love the Sinn option, but I would need to go with my favorite field watch: Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm

Sorry if a bit too obvious, the Explorer is a real GADA watch.

You gotta have a Casio a158 you don't even have to worry about it just set it and forget it

The Vostok 030598 is a great choice if you want an auto that isn't too expensive. Despite Vostok's...interesting design language I think it looks way more expensive than it really is. It also wears very similarly to a Submariner, but thankfully Vostok gives you a standard lug width, so you can put practically any strap you so desire on it: NATOs, tropics, bracelets, even leather. And because it shares the same basic architecture as an Amphibia, you get all the water resistance you'll ever need, and a 10-year service interval.

You’re gonna get a lot of suggestions without narrowing down a price point. I had to ask myself to find what I thought would be a good GADA watch for my dad (his first non digital non smart watch). I wanted to make sure it was sturdy enough to withstand a little torture, so dive watch category was where i concentrated. I wanted something sporty but was dressy enough to wear with a suit, so a steel diver on a bracelet seemed to fit the bill. I still wanted something that was within his budget of servicing it in the future, so movement and brand legacy were of little importance. Ultimately I settled with this:

https://longislandwatch.com/spinnaker-40mm-croft-regiment-blue-150-meter-automatic-dive-watch-sp-5100-22/

Blue was in his color palette, the dial has some interesting texture and fumé going on. He likes it, but he’s not a watch nerd. I liked inspecting it, the bezel action was crispy smooth and aligned, the bracelet articulated fluidly, and the crown was buttery.

Certainly not the best of all the GADA watches, but I hope you find what you’re looking for.

I bought one when my former work required me to travel to countries where I did not want to wear an expensive watch.

It has never let me down and I keep wearing it from time to time as it works with any outfit, in basically any condition.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one before. love the day/ date complication as well. 

I’ve recently received one of these as christmas present from my work. Looking forward to wearing this bad boy. 

I looked into one of these about 12 months ago but I heard that the bezel scratches easily. I’ve seen their easylink strap system. It looks pretty cool (and quick). 

Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll have a look at the videos as well. 👍

Bravo!!! What a selection here. Love the range of watches. I think i might keep looking at the Cartier santos as an option. Although the Rolex explorer would have been amazing if you could still get the 39mm

Model number is BM8180-03E if you're interested. Happy hunting!

Yes but does not pass the "obtainable" requirement. 😜

As a Gada I would put it back on the bracelet.  

Or this Tianium Seiko. Amazingly comfortable and good looking.  

With all the posts and recommendations and clarification on budget above, i will pick Sinn 556 / sinn 104 as well to be the gada. 

I dont have these watches but have handled them before. I pick these because... Well there are plenty of choices for tough watches that looks smart, but i suppose its best not being too "affordable" if you would wear it to your wedding and yet tough enough to handle most roughness out there, and both are readily available. 

Was gona pick aqua terra, then i thought how many people would take a watch like that, go out and bash around skinny dipping.... 

With a sinn, i might🤣 and wearing a sub $1000-2000 dollar watch to skinny dip wedding.... even better. 

There's been a lot of good suggestions, but I'm suprised no one brought up the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, like this beautiful green one-

Can't think of a better GADA watch. 

There's a couple of Rolex's that could fit, but why suggest unobtanium...

My "more obtainable" pick would be the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander (Regular or GMT) 

I'll take the GMT in white-

At 20% to 25% of the cost of the Omega, I think it's a bargain. 

This for the win.

I second the vote for the CW C63, it can be dressed up or down depending on the strap/bracelet. 

It's not going to be as nice as an Omega, or Rolex, but the finishing is much better than you'll find on cheaper watches, and better than most at it's price range. 

I must second the Damasko - indestructible GADA!

@Russell,

Here are my thoughts, not on what you should look at, but on how you should evaluate all of the choices you've been given.  (Many of them are excellent choices.)

Do you plan to go swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving with your watch on?

If you plan to do scuba, you're automatically limited to a dive watch with 200m water resistance.  If you just plan to swim or snorkel, 100m water resistance will be plenty.  If you never plan on entering the water, 30m will be fine for rain and handwashing.

Do you plan to wear a watch to a black tie event?  Do you plan to wear a watch with a suit?

For black tie (tuxedo), you really need to wear a dress watch, or a pocket watch … or no watch.  If you're wearing a suit, you can wear a dress watch, or a pocket watch … or no watch.

These are the generally accepted style guidelines for menswear.  You can break them, but I want to be sure that you're understanding the rules before you break the rules.

Dress watches are somewhat smaller case size than the average watch, thinner (so they can fit under a dress shirt sleeve), silver or gold colored case (matching the other metals you're wearing), on a high quality or exotic leather strap (matching the color of your shoes and other leather items you're wearing) or a fine mesh metal (matching your other metals), minimal complications (time only, or maybe just the date, though a tourbillion also acceptable), and a very sparse, clean face (no numbers, roman numerals, or small numbers).

The above guidelines get somewhat more flexible if you're wearing your watch with a suit, not a tuxedo.

If you're wearing your watch (dress or diver) with a suit, the strap can be metal (matching your other metals) or nice leather (matching your other leathers).

As one example, I would comfortably wear a watch like the Titanium Seiko @OklahomaHank recommended with a suit.  And if I swapped the band out for a really nice (possibly exotic) black leather band (to match my shoes/belt) I would wear it to a "black tie optional" event.  (I chose that watch, because I didn't want to scroll up very far.  Other posters have made equally good suggestions.)

The tech billionaires of this world can pull off a digital watch in a tuxedo/suit environment.  I can't.

What about sports coats and blazers?

With a nice strap/band, many (most?) watches will look stylish with a sports coat or blazer.

What about super casual?

If the watch works with a nylon or canvas watch band, then it will work for super casual outfits.

Forget switching watch bands.  What one watch and one watch strap will work for all occasions?  A white-tie event with the queen of England?  A pool party where everyone is wearing flip-flops?  Absolutely every situation in between?

Looking at the same criteria, what one pair of shoes would cover such a broad range of occasions?  Which one shirt?  Which pair of pants?

If you want one watch to cover all occasions, then you might be expecting a bit too much from your watch.

But it makes a really fun question to consider.

the iconic Omega Speedmaster.......with two straps and the OEM bracelet......

..on a rubber strap for work

..on a brown leather strap for a nice dinner

..on the OEM bracelet for formal occasions....