Best watch for a 300$ budget.
Hi guys. I'm turning 21 soon and my parents have offered to buy me a watch. Their budget is 300$ which I know isn't much in this community but I also know there are some great affordable options.
I already have an everyday watch as well as a diver and I would like to have something somewhat dressier. If you guys have any ideas I would love to hear them.
Edit: First of thank you guys for all of your great suggestions. I showed the answers to my mom and showed her a few watches and she loved the seiko cocktail skydiving. It's a bit over budget but some family members will contribute to the gift.
I definitely will keep all of your suggestions in mind for my next watch.
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Romane
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Toulouse
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Orient Bambino or the sun and moon or This Timex which has a very classic retro vintage vibe, if your into that lol
I would tell you to go check the new and large Seiko 5 range in person. Even if you already have the casual and sport watch style covered.
Then, as a dressier option, you can try something vintage, or the usual suspects too: Orient, Seiko Solar, etc.
If you go vintage, try German and Japanese sellers on eBay, just be careful with the import taxes. Some good vintage options for that price are Doxa, Enicar, Certina, Zodiac, Seiko, maybe even Longines, ...
This is my Doxa:
And this is my 5KX:
Very nice gesture from your parents!
Orient Bambino, Tissot Gentleman quartz, Certina models.
Most definitely go grey market. Joma will have a large selection in that price range.
Second the vintage shout. Get a nice 50/60s watch with a decent movement. Avoid pin-lever movements, so Oris or skin-divers are out, along with anything with 7 jewels or less. Look for Incabloc on the dial, minimum of 15 jewels, it’s a good start that it’s a nice Swiss movement.
If you can find it, the Tissot PRX would be great.
I would tell you to go check the new and large Seiko 5 range in person. Even if you already have the casual and sport watch style covered.
Then, as a dressier option, you can try something vintage, or the usual suspects too: Orient, Seiko Solar, etc.
If you go vintage, try German and Japanese sellers on eBay, just be careful with the import taxes. Some good vintage options for that price are Doxa, Enicar, Certina, Zodiac, Seiko, maybe even Longines, ...
This is my Doxa:
And this is my 5KX:
Very nice gesture from your parents!
Can’t go wrong with Seiko 5 at this price point
I would tell you to go check the new and large Seiko 5 range in person. Even if you already have the casual and sport watch style covered.
Then, as a dressier option, you can try something vintage, or the usual suspects too: Orient, Seiko Solar, etc.
If you go vintage, try German and Japanese sellers on eBay, just be careful with the import taxes. Some good vintage options for that price are Doxa, Enicar, Certina, Zodiac, Seiko, maybe even Longines, ...
This is my Doxa:
And this is my 5KX:
Very nice gesture from your parents!
Thank you very much. Yeah my parents are amazing. They know I love watches and have been interested in them for a while but I definitely didn’t expect them to give me a budget and let me pick something for myself that’s super exciting.
If you can find it, the Tissot PRX would be great.
My thing with this one is that I love the waffle dial and wouldn’t go for anything else than that. But the sunburst dial quartz version is amazing especially for that price point.
Second the vintage shout. Get a nice 50/60s watch with a decent movement. Avoid pin-lever movements, so Oris or skin-divers are out, along with anything with 7 jewels or less. Look for Incabloc on the dial, minimum of 15 jewels, it’s a good start that it’s a nice Swiss movement.
Thank your for the advice. I‘m just now beginning to want a vintage watch but am a little scared so I’ll be on the look out for the things you mentionned.
Orient Bambino or the sun and moon or This Timex which has a very classic retro vintage vibe, if your into that lol
The timex q reissues is gorgeous !
Thank your for the advice. I‘m just now beginning to want a vintage watch but am a little scared so I’ll be on the look out for the things you mentionned.
Don’t be - it’s about just watching out for common pitfalls. Be prepared to walk away from a watch you like the look of because it’s powered by a terrible movement, which is hard. Avoid too many complications (so chronographs, calendars, stopwatches…) as well from obscure movement makers, it’s all about part sourcing. If it’s too good to be true it probably is.
Don’t be - it’s about just watching out for common pitfalls. Be prepared to walk away from a watch you like the look of because it’s powered by a terrible movement, which is hard. Avoid too many complications (so chronographs, calendars, stopwatches…) as well from obscure movement makers, it’s all about part sourcing. If it’s too good to be true it probably is.
Interesting. I feel like I'm going to have a lot of fun trying to source parts and search up the options. That seems even more fun than researching new watches.
this one! orient kamasu gen 2
You might look at a Citizen Stiletto. Great solar powered dress watch line and ultra thin.
Interesting. I feel like I'm going to have a lot of fun trying to source parts and search up the options. That seems even more fun than researching new watches.
I’d be avoiding any situation where you need to source parts. The best places to start are any local watch repairers themselves, they often have a nice assortment of watches or know of what’s good in the neighbourhood.
SARV001... or SARV003 if you like black dials.
Why? It's about $170 in Japan right now... it's JDM cool... it has day/date including Kanji... it's 42mm so has a little presence without being huge... it's SUPER dressy, but enough of a sports watch to be used in other scenarios... and it's not something with 'Seiko 5' on the dial, immediately showing it's a bit downmarket. This is it's own thing. Cheap, but no one will know it's cheap. And basically it's awesome. Hardly anyone ever talks about them, so I'm going to mention them on this site until someone buys one, LOL. The only thing I would note is the beads of rice band in the image I've grabbed here ISN'T standard, but shows you how well it dresses up, especially if you used the rest of that budget on a good band.
Hey I recommend you checkout Island Watch. I bought these two from there. Seiko SRK047(quartz) $260 and ISL-131(mechanical) $349 if you sign up you email you get 5% off.
You can check this link from WatchChris for brand called Karl - Leimon nice dress watches for around $300. https://youtu.be/i5-_M8ahk-8
At that price range, i would suggest Timex Marlin. There are different models you can chose from. My three favorites are:
Marlin Automtic California dial (250$)
Timex Marlin Automatic x peanut take care (270$)
Marlin Automatic x Peanuts Featuring Snoopy Beagle Scout (260$)
Getting close to Pulsar P3 money - I'd spring for one myself if I could. The true king of LED watches.
Tissot Visodate auto
Lorier Neptune
Thanks I‘ll check all that out.
The Seiko 5 SNKL 41 and the SNXS79.
Vaer C3
Vaer A3 Atlas
I really like the Seiko Cocktail time, or a discounted Tissot from Jomashop in this price range
Value for money, diversity of dial and a reliable movements, for that price range you can’t go wrong with Seiko. Seiko 5 for a more sporty vibe, Seiko presage cocktails for a more dressy vibe, or the Alpinist for the explorer/field look. Alternatively you can look into Tissot. All great watches!
How about a Seagull 1963?
With 38mm it really hits the sweet spot and paired with a brown leather strap it looks class.
https://seagull1963.org/product/seagull-1963-38mm-acrylic-sapphire/
(not my pic)
Check out Long Island Watch (https://longislandwatch.com/). They have their own line called Islander and they are a remarkable value. I am new to watches, too, but my first buy was this ISL-02. It's within your budget and it's an amazing timepiece for the money. It's a bit of a Seiko SKX homage, but it also has hacking, self-winding and a sapphire crystal. Good luck!
You can check this link from WatchChris for brand called Karl - Leimon nice dress watches for around $300. https://youtu.be/i5-_M8ahk-8
That's made in China.
Get a good G-Shock!
SARV001... or SARV003 if you like black dials.
Why? It's about $170 in Japan right now... it's JDM cool... it has day/date including Kanji... it's 42mm so has a little presence without being huge... it's SUPER dressy, but enough of a sports watch to be used in other scenarios... and it's not something with 'Seiko 5' on the dial, immediately showing it's a bit downmarket. This is it's own thing. Cheap, but no one will know it's cheap. And basically it's awesome. Hardly anyone ever talks about them, so I'm going to mention them on this site until someone buys one, LOL. The only thing I would note is the beads of rice band in the image I've grabbed here ISN'T standard, but shows you how well it dresses up, especially if you used the rest of that budget on a good band.
I just picked one up for myself for Christmas. Do the bracelets use split pins or pins and collars? Cool look on the beads of rice!
I just picked one up for myself for Christmas. Do the bracelets use split pins or pins and collars? Cool look on the beads of rice!
Gosh, I don't have mine any more... but Seiko is VERY fond of pins and collars, and I seem to recall that's what mine had. Although I didn't really mess with the bracelet much.
Lol! Yeah unless you're buying a micro brand or a more expensive watch the bracelets are usually less than great. The Seikos I've bought in the past on bracelets just fit my wrist without having to remove any links. I've never sized a pin and collar myself but I'm sure I'll figure it out or just put it on a nice strap. Thanks for the heads up