How Much Watch Do We Really Need?
The first watch I bought myself after discovering and then plunging myself head first into this rabbit hole was a Casio Duro. This is not that watch.
I became obsessed, watching all kinds of reviews and eventually modifying that watch with a sapphire crystal and putting it on a new leather strap.
Over time I learned about mechanical movements, automatic movements, divers, chronos, dressers, the big brands, microbrands, high horology, the quartz crisis, and anything else I could discover the further I climbed the iceberg.
I eventually moved on from the infamous gateway Duro after wearing the hell out of it and leaving it in a drawer somewhere. I now have a list of grail watches I hope to own someday and a watch box full of all kinds of watches I’ve built, bought, or have been gifted. I am neck deep in this hobby and I love it.
This past Christmas, I was gifted the gilt Casio Duro, the MDV106G-1AV. My girlfriend’s step-dad is a watch geek like me and as additions to her family, outsiders if you will, there’s an unspoken comradery there. We instantly bonded talking watches.
As a gift, this watch that I once owned has taken on a new life. I found my old Duro, popped the blue AR coated sapphire crystal and swapped it onto this watch, put it on this bond NATO that was included as part of the gift, and I gotta say, this thing rocks.
Working from home today, I pop this thing on as a casual wear. I’m turning the bezel, hearing the solid ratcheting action, seeing the seconds hand hit every marker dead on, and appreciating the polished chamfered edges. Not to mention the screw down crown and caseback, ensuring 200 meters of water resistance. It all really had me thinking. How much watch do we really need?
For $50, this thing is a steal and a great introduction for anybody into the world of watches. It was for me. I’m glad to have one back in the watch box. Happy Thursday Watch Fam ☕️
Editor’s note: it helps that the 44mm case sits alright on my 7 and a half inch wrist.
Budget Watch Collector | Watch Modder | A broke public defender with an horological affinity, taking life one ticking seconds hand at a time. | 📍Miami
I would like to have ALL. THE. WATCHES.
Seriously, watches are man-jewelry. There is some serious art in all different budgets.
If you just need a basic time teller, the Duro or a G-Shock, or even an F91-w will suffice.
Thats a killer combo!! Clearly, I also need to up my watch photography game ;)
Never seen a cleaner Duro, very nicely done. Nice story to go along with it, too
I would like to have ALL. THE. WATCHES.
Seriously, watches are man-jewelry. There is some serious art in all different budgets.
If you just need a basic time teller, the Duro or a G-Shock, or even an F91-w will suffice.
I can’t get enough of them! Hahaha. Now I understand why my girlfriend has over 15 purses and a drawer full of sunglasses… I think… 🙄
And spot on. For $100, anybody can have a budget, three watch, do it all collection with a Duro, an F91, and a Timex Easy Reader.
Thats a killer combo!! Clearly, I also need to up my watch photography game ;)
Aw man thanks! And right? The NTTD nato was an awesome idea to include with the watch as a gift. Compliments it well, I think!
Never seen a cleaner Duro, very nicely done. Nice story to go along with it, too
Thank you melodic, the watch really punches above it’s weight class. At $50, I’m not sure there even is a weight class. And thanks for reading. 🤝
I can’t get enough of them! Hahaha. Now I understand why my girlfriend has over 15 purses and a drawer full of sunglasses… I think… 🙄
And spot on. For $100, anybody can have a budget, three watch, do it all collection with a Duro, an F91, and a Timex Easy Reader.
Yeah I used to give my wife crap about her shoes and watches.
But I quickly realize my collecting habit is worse...from toys and "collectables" to sunglasses, hats, and Jordans. And watches. It's a problem.
That's a great $100 budget collection. I'd counter with a Casio Royale, G-Shock square, and a Timex Weekender.😭 I think you can do a $50 watch collection if you go with Skmei's or other AliX brands.
This doesn't even have a date magnifier. I think one needs to have a date magnifier, myself included.
Realistically just one, but we all know that will never suffice 💀
Beautiful Duro, absolutely love the gilt dial which matches the nato you have! Good construction, timeless design, the only real thing holding back the Duro is the 44m diameter. Thankfully it’s compressed lug-to-lug helps with its overall wearability but definitely a big boy. You pull it off well!
"Need" or "Want". If you have a cell for, you don't even need one watch for telling the time. I believe this obsession has nothing to do with needs and everything to do with wants. :-)
I would like to have ALL. THE. WATCHES.
Seriously, watches are man-jewelry. There is some serious art in all different budgets.
If you just need a basic time teller, the Duro or a G-Shock, or even an F91-w will suffice.
Catch ‘em all
Glad you love the Duro!
I’ve got 4 of em and I will get the last 2 to make the set this year. Like yourself I have modded some of mine and I just think for the monies they’re a fantastic timepiece!
Cracking photos btw
Good post 👏🏻👏🏻
BEAUTIFUL
This Vox article today seems appropriate.
We don’t need any of this jewelry. We want it. Once we understand that, we’d all probably be a lot happier.
That is a great strap combo and perfectly. Matches the colours of the watch, what a well thought out gift!
Glad you love the Duro!
I’ve got 4 of em and I will get the last 2 to make the set this year. Like yourself I have modded some of mine and I just think for the monies they’re a fantastic timepiece!
Cracking photos btw
Good post 👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks a lot man 🍻 and nice! Yeah they’re great! #DuroGang 💪
This Vox article today seems appropriate.
We don’t need any of this jewelry. We want it. Once we understand that, we’d all probably be a lot happier.
Wow, what a coincidence. Great article. Poignant but enlightening and invoking of self-reflection. Thanks for sharing!
Love my Duro, now I need a golden one 🫠
Fantastic friend, tour without a doubt similar to mine, not in the piece itself, but in how it describes this exciting world, without a doubt the best mail combination that I have seen in this model, some great photos, I will keep them.
Need went out the window long ago. Lol. That Duro is hawt hawt hawwwwt!! Love it.
Either that’s a real good looking watch or the camera is playing some voodoo trick 😊😊.
Awesome pictures! For now I'm kinda in that state of mind as well, don't need to spend a fortune to have some fun with watches!
I think everyone that is in this hobby will say as much as they can afford 😉
Let me just comment, that 2nd picture is fantastic.
Let me just comment, that 2nd picture is fantastic.
Wow thank you!
Damn! That is a perfect pairing with that NATO!
Strap combo on point 👌
Enough is never enough
And chicks dig watches, enough said.😎