Recommendation Needed - Automatic - Value - Non-Mainstream (Pics for reference)
Trying to break away from the usual players. Any help on a nice dial, good value off the beaten path watch? What are some of your favorites? 🍻Must be:
Automatic
Less than $499 (can be on sale or grey market is fine) 💸
New
Non-Dress / Non-Divers Watch (hopefully something more one-watch watch collection style i.e. can do both work and play)
Microbrand or Non-mainstream preferably (e.g. not Hamilton, Tissot, Citizen, Casio, Seiko, Orient, none of the usual value players we see a lot of) No need to get too analytical on this point though if you have a great looking favorite in mind please post a picture! 🤯 Mid sized companies like Zodiac or Glycine are fine.
Think something like the Citizen Tsuyosa or Seiko Recraft (though not already a usual suspect)
Or like Farer if it was less than $500 🤣
Reason being, I've done the mainstream value watch brands for years, want to expand into another sub-$500 watch though off the beaten trail
I've got 12+ watches that range from $10 to $1800. Looking to get a final piece that I will wear until retirement, something versatile i.e. a one watch watch collection. So I'm currently browsing, deb...
Have a look at MAS Watches - micro brand in Australia
https://www.maswatch.com/
DG014
https://www.deguzmanandco.com/shop
The Nodus Sector Sport Line. Comes in a few colors. Assembled and regulated in the US, under $500.
The Boldr Venture line might be worth checking out.
Citizen nb 1050 is under 500 bucks
Agree with the Nodus recommendation above.
Or look at Vario Watches their 1945 could be the one or this…
https://www.radcliffewatches.com/product-page/mad-watch-collector-x-radcliffe-field-watch
Here are a couple of my hit list
1.) Studio underdog - watermelon, but they have other colours. Made in Britain.
2.) Vario - empire range, lots of different colours
3.) Brew Matic, I have the black and gold on and I can't tell you wears brilliantly, extremely comfortable, low profile and looks amazing in person. So will be buying more. Made in America
4.) Marlo - lots of colourful automatic and quartz watches made in Britain
Also have a cracking orange one!
Hope this helps and let me know what you end up getting and if you like it on the wrist. I like colour myself so any recommendations in the future would be appreciated.
Good luck
Dufrane Watches. Might be a little bit over budget, but used models come up on eBay from time to time.
#xeric is pretty good at unique watches. This one is a Regulator where the hands are all separated. They have other models, but this would be my pick.
In that price range you're looking at most everything with a Seiko NHxx movement or Miyota 8xxx movement. from most everywhere. add a couple hundred and you get into modern movements from Seiko or Miyota or even Swiss Sellita or ETA. It's otherwise just down to what's pretty and you can't put it down.
I will also Recommend Nodus! I have the (older) Sector Sport.
Also Islander Watches https://longislandwatch.com/islander-watches/ there are soo many to choose from. Its Marcs inhouse brand. Check out the cloud dial on the JFK GMT, but there are many many more.
Have you looked at Vaer? They are supposed to be quite good and you can get them in automatics, quartz and solar.
Scurfa! https://www.scurfawatches.com/product/top-side-crew-stainless-steel-cobalt-blue-dial-mens/
#xeric is pretty good at unique watches. This one is a Regulator where the hands are all separated. They have other models, but this would be my pick.
I had never heard of Xeric before and went to have a look. That was mind blowing, they distort my sense of what a watch should look like.
Many a super cool, however I cant tell time with them and that is a must have for me. If I have to think and calculate before I know it is a no-go for me.
But fun to browse, keep them coming.
That seiko is great! I have it on a green dial, totally recommend the watch!
For reference!
For reference!
I got one of these too for about $150. Its been getting a fair amount of wrist time.
Citizen nb 1050 is under 500 bucks
Would be my preference as well, for me maybe the best watch for its price tag. Found mine for even 350 bucks from Japan. A real JDM gem.
Relio solstice available in copper, teal, red and black at £300
Or an axios
Gevril (not G2). You can get some styles below $599 Swiss made and Swiss automatic movement
Would be my preference as well, for me maybe the best watch for its price tag. Found mine for even 350 bucks from Japan. A real JDM gem.
I believe it too.
I got one of these too for about $150. Its been getting a fair amount of wrist time.
Its just a great find for the price! Seiko has some hidden gems!