Which Brands Have Top-Tier Automatics Under $150?
I am new to collecting watches and I'm all about building my collection these coming few months, ideally with automatic watches under $150 as I am on a tight budget. I've found out my favorites are those with metal bands/bracelets (and gold-tone is kinda like my personal brand 🤣).
Any ideas about top-tier ones in the price range? Are there even great pieces that cheap?
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Dantaleon
Beginner watch enthusiast with really small budget 😆
Philippines
Member since
Last active: 11 months ago
In that price range you are most probably going to be looking at Invicta Pro divers, Pagani Design, etc. Look for watches that contain NH34 / 35 / 36 movements.
Top-tier, none?
Everybody should own a Seiko at some point. And since most micro brands use their movements anyway, why not go straight for the brand itself. You can find these (SRPE) models new on eBay all day long for around that price range.
If gold is your thing for $150 you might find some deals on Seiko 5 SNK366K1 and similar models. However, these older Seikos are powered by their 7S26 caliber, which is an outdated movement far from what we’d call “top tier” nowadays.
Spinnaker has good choices for around $200 and there is sales often. I personally got a spinnaker croft mid size for around £160 last year and its really great for the price. It has a sapphire crystal and a solid NH35 movement. Attention to detail is qlso nice for a watch that is sub $200
I would go for a Vostok Amphibia. There are a lot of models/dials and almost everyone under your cap.
If you are looking for a dive watch, the Invicta Grand Diver line is a great choice. The finishes are excellent and they use the NH35A movement from Seiko. If you'd like to learn more, here is my post of my collection of Grand Divers:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Pallet_Fork/posts/my-grand-diver-collection-26425
Some of them are in 18k gold PVD, like this one, with the Mother of Pearl dial:
These Grand Diver watches are larger than average, so if you have a tiny wrist the Pro Diver line, below, may be a better choice, as they are a tad smaller but still use the same automatic movement:
All of these can be had for less than $150, any day of the week. Great watches!
You can find an Orient Mako on Amazon for $150!! In-house auto in a great little package.
Hello Fellow and welcome,
carfull....you are about to make some beginner mistakes.
Even only 150 bucks but this will be quite expensive regrets if you build up a whole collection.
First things first:
"150 Dollar" and "Top Tier" are two expressions that do not fit to each other :-) . For 150 Dollar you should be happy to get a reliable watch that doesn't fall appart. Don't get me wrong. You can find decent watches and there are few automatics, but don't expect a high tier. This is the so called "entry level". As another fellow mentioned: Seiko Movements of the NH-Line is propably the best you can get in this price range if you are lucky. Otherwise Miyotas will also do their jobs.
Bu what ever you do, stay away from chinese movements (except seagull).
Do not plan to build up a collection within few months. You can only make mistakes in such a short time. Do not hurry. There are allways great watches which are constantly produced. A collection is a organic grow of time pieces which found you as your owner by coincidents. A story makes a watch special. Not the purchase.
My advice:
Take your time to chose a watch. Look for. Read about. Look for alternatives. Wait few weeks (never buy immediately) and ask yourself if you are still really want it. After buying enjoy your time with this very special watch. You will find things you like and thing you don't like. This will affect your next watch decission. And slowly by time you will have two watches, three watches....then two again...and so later four.
But if you instantly build up a collection you will only hoard "Stuff" which you will regret. I don't know how much you plan to spend, but each watch for 150 Dollar would be a lot of wasted money.
You should also still consider Quartz/Solar watches. Only the mechanical movement doesn't make it special. Design, Material, Processing/Crafting, History...that all makes a also a great watch. There is a lot of mechanical trash out there but also great quartz/solar watches.
Consider not only the purchasing costs but also the maintaining costs. Mechanical watches are not cheap in repair or service. With a big collection you would need a second job to finance their services :-) . So mix it up with great quartz watches. Only few special ones should be Mechanical.
As first mechanical watch what I would recommend your (depending on your expectations):
One of the old Seiko 5 Lines. They are discountinued but sometimes still to be found in the internet. But do not pay to much for. Few years before it was like 90 Dollar I guess? Today like 150. But I wouldn't pay more. I think if you like this style this should be your first one before it is completely sold out on the market.
As a diver the Casio Duro...if you can get the old model with the Marlin on the Dial. Yes it's Quartz.
You can also check my articles about affordable german watches.
Part1
Part2
Or how to build a proper collection with them.
If you are looking for a dive watch, the Invicta Grand Diver line is a great choice. The finishes are excellent and they use the NH35A movement from Seiko. If you'd like to learn more, here is my post of my collection of Grand Divers:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Pallet_Fork/posts/my-grand-diver-collection-26425
Some of them are in 18k gold PVD, like this one, with the Mother of Pearl dial:
These Grand Diver watches are larger than average, so if you have a tiny wrist the Pro Diver line, below, may be a better choice, as they are a tad smaller but still use the same automatic movement:
All of these can be had for less than $150, any day of the week. Great watches!
Wow thank you! These are looking super awesome!!! I'll check your post out. Cheers
Hello Fellow and welcome,
carfull....you are about to make some beginner mistakes.
Even only 150 bucks but this will be quite expensive regrets if you build up a whole collection.
First things first:
"150 Dollar" and "Top Tier" are two expressions that do not fit to each other :-) . For 150 Dollar you should be happy to get a reliable watch that doesn't fall appart. Don't get me wrong. You can find decent watches and there are few automatics, but don't expect a high tier. This is the so called "entry level". As another fellow mentioned: Seiko Movements of the NH-Line is propably the best you can get in this price range if you are lucky. Otherwise Miyotas will also do their jobs.
Bu what ever you do, stay away from chinese movements (except seagull).
Do not plan to build up a collection within few months. You can only make mistakes in such a short time. Do not hurry. There are allways great watches which are constantly produced. A collection is a organic grow of time pieces which found you as your owner by coincidents. A story makes a watch special. Not the purchase.
My advice:
Take your time to chose a watch. Look for. Read about. Look for alternatives. Wait few weeks (never buy immediately) and ask yourself if you are still really want it. After buying enjoy your time with this very special watch. You will find things you like and thing you don't like. This will affect your next watch decission. And slowly by time you will have two watches, three watches....then two again...and so later four.
But if you instantly build up a collection you will only hoard "Stuff" which you will regret. I don't know how much you plan to spend, but each watch for 150 Dollar would be a lot of wasted money.
You should also still consider Quartz/Solar watches. Only the mechanical movement doesn't make it special. Design, Material, Processing/Crafting, History...that all makes a also a great watch. There is a lot of mechanical trash out there but also great quartz/solar watches.
Consider not only the purchasing costs but also the maintaining costs. Mechanical watches are not cheap in repair or service. With a big collection you would need a second job to finance their services :-) . So mix it up with great quartz watches. Only few special ones should be Mechanical.
As first mechanical watch what I would recommend your (depending on your expectations):
One of the old Seiko 5 Lines. They are discountinued but sometimes still to be found in the internet. But do not pay to much for. Few years before it was like 90 Dollar I guess? Today like 150. But I wouldn't pay more. I think if you like this style this should be your first one before it is completely sold out on the market.
As a diver the Casio Duro...if you can get the old model with the Marlin on the Dial. Yes it's Quartz.
You can also check my articles about affordable german watches.
Part1
Part2
Or how to build a proper collection with them.
Thank you very much for your comprehensive advice. I appreciate it! I will read your posts too. All of the comments to this post have been very insightful! Cheers, mate!