$100 - $200 is a weird price range for watches. It's not enough scratch to start getting to the good stuff, but it's overpriced for the same lower cost materials you can get for less than $100.
For example, you can get a new 34mm Timex Marlin reissue for around $200 with an acrylic crystal, a very basic handwound movement, no complications and a meh strap. For $30 - $40 you can get a quartz watch that basically uses the same materials as the Marlin. Or you can spend $350 to $500 and get, say, a Seiko or a Hamilton.
I honestly think it's hard to get a watch that you haven't paid a bit too much for in the $100 - $200 price range because manufacturers aren't coughing up the good stuff at that price. There's a lot of "limited edition" bs to justify watches with the same basic materials as a Timex Expedition or Casio Duro.
The only brand I know of that's an exception is Vaer, and even then, you have to catch them on sale. Timex is just barely starting to make better stuff in that price range - mostly because if they don't Vaer is going to eat their lunch.
Add to that a 36mm case size and it's even trickier. You can certainly find vintage sized watches in that price range, but few are actually worth the sticker price.
For something worth the price, I'd suggest looking at quartz solar movements over mechanical, and for the 36mm size, I'd go for field watches. Check out the Vaer C3 Korean Field watch and the Timex Expedition North Field Post 36mm solar.
Hmmm… for me, right now, affordable is $250 tops. I am still exploring this hobby and am trying to keep it sane ( i.e. stay out of trouble with my wife!) so I am proceeding slowly!
$100 - $200 is a weird price range for watches. It's not enough scratch to start getting to the good stuff, but it's overpriced for the same lower cost materials you can get for less than $100.
For example, you can get a new 34mm Timex Marlin reissue for around $200 with an acrylic crystal, a very basic handwound movement, no complications and a meh strap. For $30 - $40 you can get a quartz watch that basically uses the same materials as the Marlin. Or you can spend $350 to $500 and get, say, a Seiko or a Hamilton.
I honestly think it's hard to get a watch that you haven't paid a bit too much for in the $100 - $200 price range because manufacturers aren't coughing up the good stuff at that price. There's a lot of "limited edition" bs to justify watches with the same basic materials as a Timex Expedition or Casio Duro.
The only brand I know of that's an exception is Vaer, and even then, you have to catch them on sale. Timex is just barely starting to make better stuff in that price range - mostly because if they don't Vaer is going to eat their lunch.
Add to that a 36mm case size and it's even trickier. You can certainly find vintage sized watches in that price range, but few are actually worth the sticker price.
For something worth the price, I'd suggest looking at quartz solar movements over mechanical, and for the 36mm size, I'd go for field watches. Check out the Vaer C3 Korean Field watch and the Timex Expedition North Field Post 36mm solar.
I have 33 watches, and they all range from $10 to $180. I think they're all good looking and well made and finished. Here are some of them, and what I paid.
First, it looks like you haven't been here on WC long. Welcome. Next, "affordable" to me, in America 2023's ruined economy, is under $200, so I have some street cred to answer your question.
I only have one 36mm watch and it's the Alba AEFD557 solar field watch. If you want a great field watch, it's durable and good looking. I paid $65. If you want a good small digital watch I have the Casio Tough Solar STLS300H1A. I paid $10, a great deal, but even its full price is less than $40.
If you can go 37 or 38mm and want an ultimate dress watch, I have the Seiko SUP873P1. It cost me $85. If you can find one, they're not that cheap any more but still less than $200.
And finally, the old school Seiko 5s, the little ones, are some beautiful watches. Most of them are from 36-38mm. I have the Seiko SNK375, a great looking 36.5 mm sport watch and the SNKK87, a stunningly beautiful dress watch. These cost $95 and $85 respectively.
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Affordable is a very relative term… some think of 300$ range and some 3000$…
What’s your range?
I was looking at Maen Manhattan at 37mm
Junghans offers great value at lower prices.
I would also take a hard look at:
Laco
Hamilton
Oris
Tissot
Longines
Farer
Baltic
But as NiroZed says, your definition of affordable is completely subjective!
Happy hunting! 😃
What does affordable mean to you?
Start with and old favorite, Timex!
$100 - $200 is a weird price range for watches. It's not enough scratch to start getting to the good stuff, but it's overpriced for the same lower cost materials you can get for less than $100.
For example, you can get a new 34mm Timex Marlin reissue for around $200 with an acrylic crystal, a very basic handwound movement, no complications and a meh strap. For $30 - $40 you can get a quartz watch that basically uses the same materials as the Marlin. Or you can spend $350 to $500 and get, say, a Seiko or a Hamilton.
I honestly think it's hard to get a watch that you haven't paid a bit too much for in the $100 - $200 price range because manufacturers aren't coughing up the good stuff at that price. There's a lot of "limited edition" bs to justify watches with the same basic materials as a Timex Expedition or Casio Duro.
The only brand I know of that's an exception is Vaer, and even then, you have to catch them on sale. Timex is just barely starting to make better stuff in that price range - mostly because if they don't Vaer is going to eat their lunch.
Add to that a 36mm case size and it's even trickier. You can certainly find vintage sized watches in that price range, but few are actually worth the sticker price.
For something worth the price, I'd suggest looking at quartz solar movements over mechanical, and for the 36mm size, I'd go for field watches. Check out the Vaer C3 Korean Field watch and the Timex Expedition North Field Post 36mm solar.
Hmmm… for me, right now, affordable is $250 tops. I am still exploring this hobby and am trying to keep it sane ( i.e. stay out of trouble with my wife!) so I am proceeding slowly!
$100 - $200 is a weird price range for watches. It's not enough scratch to start getting to the good stuff, but it's overpriced for the same lower cost materials you can get for less than $100.
For example, you can get a new 34mm Timex Marlin reissue for around $200 with an acrylic crystal, a very basic handwound movement, no complications and a meh strap. For $30 - $40 you can get a quartz watch that basically uses the same materials as the Marlin. Or you can spend $350 to $500 and get, say, a Seiko or a Hamilton.
I honestly think it's hard to get a watch that you haven't paid a bit too much for in the $100 - $200 price range because manufacturers aren't coughing up the good stuff at that price. There's a lot of "limited edition" bs to justify watches with the same basic materials as a Timex Expedition or Casio Duro.
The only brand I know of that's an exception is Vaer, and even then, you have to catch them on sale. Timex is just barely starting to make better stuff in that price range - mostly because if they don't Vaer is going to eat their lunch.
Add to that a 36mm case size and it's even trickier. You can certainly find vintage sized watches in that price range, but few are actually worth the sticker price.
For something worth the price, I'd suggest looking at quartz solar movements over mechanical, and for the 36mm size, I'd go for field watches. Check out the Vaer C3 Korean Field watch and the Timex Expedition North Field Post 36mm solar.
I have 33 watches, and they all range from $10 to $180. I think they're all good looking and well made and finished. Here are some of them, and what I paid.
-Casio Edifice EFV-100, black dial $65
-Citizen NH8350-83L, blue dial $95
-Casio Tough Solar STLS300H1A, $10
-Berny 2678M, resembles Swiss Railway watch, $18
-Tissot Everytime Large, glorious silver dial, $125
-Bulova 96A164, Frank LLoyd Wright inspired dial, $135
-Seiko SGEH49P2, strong SARB033 family resemblance, $95
-Techne Merlin, aviator (?) watch with distinctive styling, $95
-Aragon Divemaster 42, blue dial, sapphire, ceramic, built like a tank, $139
-Seiko SNXFD5, black grid dial, $160
-Seiko 5 SRPD59, orange dial, my most expensive at $180.
I have plenty of these in the less-than-$200 range. You have to look for them, but they're out there.
First, it looks like you haven't been here on WC long. Welcome. Next, "affordable" to me, in America 2023's ruined economy, is under $200, so I have some street cred to answer your question.
I only have one 36mm watch and it's the Alba AEFD557 solar field watch. If you want a great field watch, it's durable and good looking. I paid $65. If you want a good small digital watch I have the Casio Tough Solar STLS300H1A. I paid $10, a great deal, but even its full price is less than $40.
If you can go 37 or 38mm and want an ultimate dress watch, I have the Seiko SUP873P1. It cost me $85. If you can find one, they're not that cheap any more but still less than $200.
And finally, the old school Seiko 5s, the little ones, are some beautiful watches. Most of them are from 36-38mm. I have the Seiko SNK375, a great looking 36.5 mm sport watch and the SNKK87, a stunningly beautiful dress watch. These cost $95 and $85 respectively.
I would either recommend an Orient diver or a Seiko 5