You can't talk about space watches without mentioning the first watch actually IN SPACE 

The STRELA. Came with a cal. 3017 (which is effectively a Soviet-made version of the 1940s-era Venus 150/152 caliber if I'm not mistaken) Column wheel chronograph with 17 jewels. Gorgeous little chronograph. 

The First watch to be worn on an EVA when Alexei Leonov went on his first, nearly disastrous spacewalk - He took one of these bad mamajamas out with him. Beat Ed White and the Omega Speedmaster by about 3.5 months. 

You can get modern-era homage's with either the Russian made Poljot 3133 (Valjoux 7734) or the Chinese ST19 (which is actually more closely related to the original 3017/Venus 155 movement, as it's a Chinese version of it's successor - the Venus 175 column wheel movement) 

Is that true that it was the first one in space? source? I'd love to read up on that!

Orient are great. Literally the only complaint I ever hear about them is that they are a pain to find straps for since they often run odd widths like 19mm and 21mm. 

My first Automatic is a Tri-Star, and a ton of people go for the Bambino as their first watch.. that thing is super popular for a good reason - incredible value.

Sure, you could save up and go for something a little nicer elsewhere, but Orient makes perfectly capable workhorses that you will do really well with in your collection. Saying they are 'crappy' is nonsensical.

Orient Tri-Star. Nice, 70s style 'datejust' design watches made in Japan with in-house movements that are absolute workhorses. Can be had for a song, and are a great option for a first automatic. 

Mine is the older version of the 'Tri-Star Deneb' that they are selling now. Uses the same movement as the Mako-1 with the push button quick day selector (Orient cal. 469) 

Theyre simple as can be but they look rather nice and often go for less than 100$. 

I have the Orient Tri-Star with the cal. 469 (which is really just an updated Seiko 7005 from the 1970s) that is my first automatic ever owned. Pretty solid little workhorse, and I've actually got some compliments on it. Amazing since I bought it in a secondhand shop in Tokyo for like 20$ or something. 

The Islanders are a lot less dated, and have far newer movements - such as the high beat miyota 9000 series or the Seiko NH36 For 200-300$, the Islanders seem really really nice, but if you can find something like the Orient I got for under 100$, you also can't really go wrong (unless you want a strap monster... do not buy an Orient if you want to have a strap collection since they often run 19 or 21mm bands).

Here are the two chronographs that I own - both Timex, using the same modified  Miyota cal.6s20 Quartz chrono movement. 

I absolutely love these things. Theyre cheap, lightweight, attractive, and work really well. I use the waterbury chronograph as a dressed up option, and the mk1 mili-style chronograph as a casual beater. A great alternative to many of the more expensive mechaquartz or sea-gull Chinese mechanical chrons, while also being of generally decent quality, and not of Chinese origin (philippines, rather)

and they have INDIGLO! which is honestly really fucking cool and handy.

I absolutely use mine all the time. I am an English teacher in Japan, and for high school exams, there are a lot of timed elements involved, such as for reading comprehension, etc. 

For my exam-prep courses, I often have to time my students and having a stopwatch right there on the wrist is mighty convenient. 

Additionally, I often develop my own photographic film, which requires specific timing for the chemical baths that the film must go into. I use a wrist chronograph for this sorta thing all the time!