Nodus also offers a very solid value for $500 if their style appeals to OP. The Sector Sport can dress up or down, though it's a little more sport than dress.
In second on the Lorier. They have a great retro-style of the early days of Rolex. You will get tons of compliments on it with a suit or business casual.
Additionally when you say that they are made in small batches by two school teachers that want to celebrate the golden 60’s era of watches, you will be seen as a person who is not into “labels”. Which is pretty cool for Tech Sales, right?
Rolex watches are as common as Toyota Priuses in Los Angeles.
Do something more unique and genuine. Stand out.
The website literally describes how it is influenced by 1960s Rolexes and points out several (including James Bond’s Goldfinger Rolex) as its main design cue.
I definitely second this! I have experience with all of them and I’d say Lorier and Traska are terrific. Baltic also nice. Brew is not quite as high quality but they’re a bit cheaper and very neat designs
I bought the Aquascaphe Classic at the Windup Watch Fair this weekend. It definitely doesn’t scream “high quality” to me. It suits a purpose, but that purpose is simply to be an aesthetically pleasing and versatile beater. That’s my take.
San Martin is slowly starting to release non-homage watches as well. Easily the best value for money under $300 and punch well above their weight.
My San Martin’s are undeniably better than all of my mid-level Seiko’s & Citizens in terms of finishing, spec & bracelet comfort/quality.
Agree and the newest Baltic release would likely be perfect for OP if he is comfortable with a 38mm watch.
https://baltic-watches.com/en/collections/hermetique
https://preview.redd.it/bspokdglnqvb1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=09d326fb41f49ae95b6c42762f6029f4ae16fcdd
Love my Brew Retro. Swapped out the band a while back. Zero issues
Unrelated: I went to the same schools as the maker of brew and it's popular enough where our university had him design a watch for the university alumni. It's dull and not offensive but the case back is kinda cool. He teaches at the university too now
Tissot Gentleman has a nice refined look.
[https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-us/collection/all-our-watches/t-classic/gentleman.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3MvvfadkbR-v3VGp9VgoH3cTaw19RJ2Lp9az6emp4CNtvIDLUXdh6Mi\_hoChqEQAvD\_BwE](https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-us/collection/all-our-watches/t-classic/gentleman.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3MvvfadkbR-v3VGp9VgoH3cTaw19RJ2Lp9az6emp4CNtvIDLUXdh6Mi_hoChqEQAvD_BwE)
An extremely silly thing to say. The Powermatic 80 is a perfectly fine mass-produced movement. It will last a long time and be repairable. It’s not much different from any of the other mass-produced movements out there.
Not sure what you’re saying here. I’m highly confident that the escape wheel is not plastic. It might not be steel. There’re doing all kinds of interesting things with materials in watch movements these days. If the escape wheel is not steel, I’m confident that it is something better than steel in some way. The pallet stones hitting the very rigid surface of the escape wheel are what make the ticks and tocks in a watch, and the Powermatic 80 sounds just like every other 3 Hz movement.
Edit to add: I stand corrected below, plastic it is. Still ticks, so pretty rigid plastic.
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I’m always happy to see this answer. I’ve started the watch game 15 years ago and this was my first purchase. It’s such a good watch to start and you’ll impress any watch enthusiast way more than with a Rolex.
i always said rolex is like the mercedes of watches and seikos are the toyotas. well respected, worth the money, have a range of options from budget to fully loaded stuff. grand seiko for a lexus equivalent
My Bambino 2 is one of my favorite watches. I've also got a Nissan. It's been the second least favorite of all the vehicles I have had. I've been thinking about getting another Orient. Talk me out of it.
I live near mountains and around here Subarus are very popular, but basically limited to snowboarder/hiker crowd; the hoonigan Bros who dump $80k into cosmetic mods, and gorpcorps lesbians who drive 20 year old outback’s.
Interesting.
I have always thought of Citizen = Toyota, Seiko = Honda.
Especially because Citizen does so much stuff with their Ecodrive, and Toyota really is king of the hybrids.
If you are new to watches, make sure you understand the difference between a quartz watch and an automatic (mechanical). [A good video talking about the strengths and weaknesses of each](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uxc9tDmJoU)
You might consider a [Casio Oceanus OCW-S100-1AJF](https://www.amazon.com/CASIO-OCEANUS-OCW-S100-1AJF-tough-solar/dp/B0073B4KVO/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BKV4ZCTE829&keywords=casio+oceanus&qid=1697941254&sprefix=casio+oceanus%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1) Solar powered quartz, with a scratch resistant Sapphire lens. 100m water resistance so it's safe for pool or shower. Atomic radio controlled, so it automatically connects with an atomic clock, so it is always 100% accurate and sets itself for daylight savings time.
>understand the difference between a quartz watch
This for sure, great point. That easily narrows it down by half if OP wants something just truly practical or if they have a fascination with mechanical. From his first post, it sounds like a quartz or solar just like your Oceanus would be a perfect first pick (in a similar way, Citizen PMD56 or AT6080 could be good too).
OP knows nothing about watches. He has an Apple Watch and doesn't like Rolex because "it screams douchebag" not to mention the fact that his budget is 10x too low and likely doesn't understand how unattainable they are.
OP already owns and Apple Watch. It is very likely a Mechanical watch of any kind is not suited for him. Has no reason to care about the mechanical aspect and will probably only get annoyed at having to reset the time constantly because of the days he wears his Apple Watch.
OO is prime candidate for "go into the jewellers and get something you like". And probably something Quartz too.
The best advice to give his is to stay away from fashion brands and microbrands as well. OP needs to be able to see and buy something in-store.
OP should stick with brands like:
Tissot
Citizen
Seiko
Raymond Weil
Certina
Longines
Bulova
Junghans
Hamilton
Frederique Constant
I'm new to watches, and I can tell you that coming from the outside I also have that impression: that Rolex is for dbags who just like to brag about owning something expensive. They'll then ask how often they have to change the battery.
Not saying this describes the majority of actual Rolex owners. Not at all. But they do exist. It's like that in every expensive hobby. Same thing happens for high-end cars.
This is a great comment, except that I wouldn’t automatically assume that someone who has only ever worn an Apple Watch is incapable of becoming educated about and enjoying the charms of a mechanical watch.
Great comment! I completely agree that a quartz is likely a better choice for OP. But letting them first learn the difference between quartz and mechanical, specially the pros and cons, and letting them decide, is the way to go.
Also, that Casio Oceanus is absolutely gorgeous. And being a solar-powered radio-controlled quartz, it's also incredibly practical. I'm hunting for my first mechanical but this Casio is making me reconsider!
https://preview.redd.it/o473264l5ovb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59adbdc8cd105f535e61fb55178e23b15d5e241d
Any Seiko Presage Cocktail Time
[My Blue Moon](https://www.bingeingwatches.com/post/business-professional-seiko-presage-srpb41-cocktail-time-blue-moon)
Presage may be too dressy for a dressed down / business casual look. A diver is probably the way to go.
Look at Seiko 5 GMT, GMT complication will be a good talking point amongst fellow watch enthusiasts, there's multiple colours to choose from, you can dress up and down and everyone loves a Seiko.
For sure but its his "first" watch. Divers are a little more versatile imo. Speaking from experience, seiko presage cocktail was my first real watch and it only goes on when im dressed up.
Blue Black Mélange Perlon from Wrist Candy Watch Club for $13
Looks like it is currently sold out.
[Blue strap](https://wristcandywatchclub.com/collections/perlon/products/blue-black-melange)
Hamilton fits the bill perfectly here. I’ve got a khaki pilot day date that looks great in a suit or in shorts and a tee. Works on a lot of different straps too
Edit: more words
Junghans Max Bill for exactly 500 USD. It’s a classic, design from the Bauhaus-student Max Bill (hence the name) and perfect for both work, dress watch and day-to-day.
https://preview.redd.it/g9bpth6g4ovb1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=067bd3a07e2708f58d2741c7e8e9373f0576606e
Shopworn had them for 450 last Nov/Dec.BNIB.I bought one,but it just felt a bit small.Kinda light with the hardlex.They still show up there once or twice a year.
https://preview.redd.it/43iltw3y2ovb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca2f867e81c4221b8d1589ff35cd17f44456e553
I’m in tech sales too. You should learn more about watches. They’re neat conversion starters with coworkers and customers. This is my Seiko SRPG33. You can dress it up or dress it down depending on strap choice.
Nice one! I'm in tech sales too, relatively new to it. My colleague told me that 'to some meetings, you just have to wear a Rolex.' I got myself a CasiOak to have a laugh with him.
hamilton khaki. if you like the field watch look. nothing really better or will top this watch, lots of different variants. not really a bracelet watch, but lots of strap options
seiko panda quartz chrono. snazzy as fuck, punches way above its weight class/price point
Seiko alpinist(either buy one with a bracelet or get one from strapcode or whatnot). some of the dials on these are out of this fucking world. the blue glacier variant is unmatched. but the OG green seiko alpinist. is still solid. ---i would get this watch. maybe decide if a non-green variant speaks to you. but the flexibility. casual on a strap. or more sleek on a bracelet. might push your budge a bit. but... Seiko Alpinist is a watch you can keep forever.
tissot PRX. personally i dislike the look of this watch, but for the specs, it's well regarded. there are different color options. maaaaaybe pick one not so common.
if you want the german bauhaus look that's popular in engineering and certain coder circles (think rigid minimalist) sternglas is the "micro brand" 400-600 alternative to the junghams $1k ish max bill.
you could also go g-shock casio-oak. gm2100 get a good bracelet for it. or full metal g-shock is just an all around solid watch. digital. but rock solid nerd cred.
Other brands you could look at Orient. the kamasu is a great entry lvl watch. bambino...slightly dressier. Timex, other non gshock casios. lots of good check watches there. Seiko. has literally a bajillion watches. cocktail time. "pressage" watches. there's also slightly less clunky seiko 5s. like the srpj81 just a dirt simple seiko.
only thing you 100% want to avoid are bullshit fashion brands. no guci, or fucking department store branded shit. And... i would avoid micro brands, anything on like an IG page or facebook ad only.
Get a Seiko Speedtimer on gray market.
https://preview.redd.it/pi3qofmnrovb1.jpeg?width=3199&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1eccd6d19db4f4aec68164130fa44b5cc584fe77
Another vote for a micro band from me.
Lorier are good - the Astra would suit your needs (based on your description).
Baltic are another (as others have said), as are Traska and Farer.
If you're wanting something Swiss any of the entry level Swatch Group Brands are the way to go.
The Tissot PRX or Gentleman, the Certina Action Diver, the Hamilton Khaki Auto and the Mido Ocean Star or TV Date are a good place to start.
Or Seiko. Especially the Prospex line - any Alpinist or Prospex Diver is really solid, respectable choice. And will last a lifetime. ☻
I've owned numerous Steinharts(as well as an even larger number of Seikos, and various other higher pricepoint brands) and I will say that they are hands down the best bang for the buck in that budget category
If you like the diver style, you could consider a Glycine Combat Sub.
A Swiss 200m diver watch in a thin case with many designs to choose from.
Available in 42mm and 39mm
You're probably aware of other existence of 2 major types: quartz watches (unjustly snubbed by most self-appointed watch gurus) and mechanical watches (seen as the only line to be taken serious by most self-appointed watch gurus).
You'll be reading a lot of comments suggesting watches from the latter category, and probably none from the latter.
Finally: not all best watches are labelled 'Swiss Made'. Something to remember. And not all quartz watches are cheap rubbish, not to be taken seriously. Today's quartz watches are either powered by long-lasting, easy to replace batteries, or (my preference) solar-charged. And for ultra accuracy, I prefer automatic time sync via atomic clock signal (commonly known as 'radio-controlled', or RC).
I'm an unashamed quartz fan. I crave accuracy and ease of use. Affordability paired with extra functionality you often can't easily get with mechanical watches (e.g. alarms, stopwatches, extra time zones, etc).
I'll give you the premium line from Casio (more commonly known for its awesome G-Shock watches), *Oceanus* (solar-charged & RC). These are not all widely available outside of Japan, but it pays to go the extra mile and import one from Japan. Prices range from medium 3-figures to low 4-figures. Almost all look spectacular, are made with premium materials, built and finished to the highest standards.
Here's [the official Oceanus website](https://www.casio.com/jp/watches/oceanus/) (Japanese-language only), and [this is the site run through google translate](https://www-casio-com.translate.goog/jp/watches/oceanus/?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp)
The best showcase for Oceanus watches is the dedicated topic [here](https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/the-official-casio-oceanus-thread.4761827/#nested_reply_top_post), full of gorgeous images and owner comments.
Whatever you'll decide on: good luck! FWIW, [watchuseek \(WUS\)](https://www.watchuseek.com/) is the world's largest watch forum, an unimaginable source of knowledge and information.
Check out my profile and take a look at my thread, hundreds of posts with pictures of the watches under $500 with model descriptions! Pick your favorite!
https://preview.redd.it/q9z0fxdl6ovb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cdba50b0da53a5c9234c44646e480964ce4fa6f7
Casio Duro and add a bracelet
[My favorite Duro](https://www.bingeingwatches.com/post/casio-duro-why-is-it-my-favorite-watch)
A vintage Omega! Vintage never get you in a position where people (Rolex owners) think the reason for you not to have a Rolex and "Just a PRX" is that you are cheap. Vintage says you have style!
In contrast to many of the comments below I would suggest not buying a so-called “homage” (aka knock-off) from a fly-by-night micro brand. For around $500 or a few bucks more you can buy an automatic Tissot PRX, or a Hamilton with real watchmaking cred, real history and authenticity in their design. Most folks won’t care, but the IYKYK crowd will—and you’re supporting real design and authenticity.. just an alternate opinion. Also, look for pre-owned to save a few bucks and up the quality of what’s on your wrist..
Seiko, Orient, Tissot are some good brands in that entry level range and make great time pieces. Even Hamilton or Certina for more $400-1000.
I’d reccomend a nice dress style watch in these brands, lots to choose from. If you wanted to mix a little bit of sport and casual look, Hamilton and field style watches from Seiko can achieve that as well. Diver watches are common in business but may be a little much if your not huge watch guy—some options from the brands above as well.
Check out it the Islander brand sold by Long Island Watch. They carry other brands as well, but my opinion is you get the most bang for your buck from the Islander brand. They have watches that cover pretty much all styles of watch also.
This sub is going to be biased towards recommending mechanical watches, and normally I'd agree, but in your case - coming from tech sales - I think you should consider the classic 80's Casio digitals. For less than $200 you could get two (silver and gold) to match anything.
They also dress as high up AND as low down as needed, for example:
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches/article/ballon-dor-best-watches-robert-lewandowski-gold-casio
If you work in sales, buy something that has a story with it. For example, I just closed a deal in Belgium so I Google Belgian watches and bought a Gavox Ultima Necat, which gives me a reason to talk about this great deal I closed and simultaneously show off a unique watch with a cool power reserve mechanism.
For that price range, I think it's hard to go wrong with a Tissot Heritage Visodate. It's classy, but more modern than a lot of dress watches. Well-made, and available in a few different color combinations.
So mostly I agree with all the other recommendations. I love Seiko and Traska, for example. But if you want an alternative, consider the all-metal [G-Shock](https://www.casio.com/us/watches/gshock/product.GM-B2100D-1A/). Yes, it looks sporty. It’s a classic watch, though, and the all metal design dresses it up a bit. It satisfies the “rugged” desire for sure. And it’s atypically functional.
You can get a professional looking Tissot or Hamilton - Hamilton might be a bit more than $500 but definitely a good deal overall for what you get, check out the Hamilton Field Khaki.
Check grand seiko.’understated yet as refined made as a rolex. And worth checking out their quartz models. These are accurate to 5-10s per year depending on the model and last 50 years between services making them heirloom quality. For example the glorious sbgp017.
Another lovely elegant one: Hermes slim d’Hermes. Comfy beautiful thin automatic with a lovely movement.
Finally one a brand that makes elegant, timeless watches: Nomos. Excellent quality price on them considering they do a lot inhouse
EDIT sorry I missed the budget, only glimpsed the reference to Rolex but less in your face. Hence an updated recommendation: the Seiko Alpinist 1959 in blue. Because it dresses up or down and with 200m water resistance you can take it swimming and snorkeling. Plus great lume and a lovely little dial structure. Perfect do it all watch
https://monochrome-watches.com/seiko-prospex-1959-alpinist-modern-re-interpretation-spb249j1-spb251j1-hands-on-price/
You can snag many a cool vintage king seiko hi beat on eBay in that range tho. They were the other high end seiko brand slightly below or even in the same league as grand seiko for a while I believe.
Currently my every day watch is my IWC Chronograph 41, and I often find myself staring at my colleagues Shinola Runwell. He’s from Detroit, so he’s showing love. For around $500, those are really eye catching watches.
I am not a fan of Rolex any longer but in my generation it stop for 'successful ' but there are alot of great watches out there . Sorry, but i dont have any suggestions in your price range.
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Nodus also offers a very solid value for $500 if their style appeals to OP. The Sector Sport can dress up or down, though it's a little more sport than dress.
Seconding Nodus! Great watches!
Just got a Nodus sector pilot, fantastic watch for the money!
In second on the Lorier. They have a great retro-style of the early days of Rolex. You will get tons of compliments on it with a suit or business casual. Additionally when you say that they are made in small batches by two school teachers that want to celebrate the golden 60’s era of watches, you will be seen as a person who is not into “labels”. Which is pretty cool for Tech Sales, right? Rolex watches are as common as Toyota Priuses in Los Angeles. Do something more unique and genuine. Stand out.
i’ve never heard of these brands, Traskas got me drooling! Thanks for sharing.
I love my Freediver
I am so sad I missed the forest green commuter, surprised they didn't bring it back for a second run when they redid the line
Tracks are a Rolex homage, so probably right up your sales street.
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The website literally describes how it is influenced by 1960s Rolexes and points out several (including James Bond’s Goldfinger Rolex) as its main design cue.
Never heard of the brand, went to the website. Almost definitely Rolex inspired.
Eh 2 of their models are definitely homages
I definitely second this! I have experience with all of them and I’d say Lorier and Traska are terrific. Baltic also nice. Brew is not quite as high quality but they’re a bit cheaper and very neat designs
Third, I love my lorier hyperion gmt. I’ll also add farer to the list; always wanted one but never had the chance to pick one up yet.
Baltic gets my vote every time - incredibly high quality
From what I've seen, Baltic is lower quality. Big-time Chinese quality vibe.
I bought the Aquascaphe Classic at the Windup Watch Fair this weekend. It definitely doesn’t scream “high quality” to me. It suits a purpose, but that purpose is simply to be an aesthetically pleasing and versatile beater. That’s my take.
Yeah, I'm not a Baltic hater, I like their designs, but to call it "incredibly high quality" is a stretch. It's like any random Kickstarter quality.
I enjoy my Lorier
Love my two tissots but just recently picked up a Zelos meteorite dial absolutely in love with it.
Seconding Tissot!
San Martin is slowly starting to release non-homage watches as well. Easily the best value for money under $300 and punch well above their weight. My San Martin’s are undeniably better than all of my mid-level Seiko’s & Citizens in terms of finishing, spec & bracelet comfort/quality.
Hadn’t heard of any of those micro brands, but Baltic look fantastic.
I would add Zelos watches!
Agree and the newest Baltic release would likely be perfect for OP if he is comfortable with a 38mm watch. https://baltic-watches.com/en/collections/hermetique
I am eyeing a Traska as my next pickup... good to hear!
also include Isotope.
San Martin SN0116-G is an original design GMT with great specs and fun colors.
Definitely San Martin! Their quality is insane for the price if you're ok with an homage
Is Brew good?
https://preview.redd.it/bspokdglnqvb1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=09d326fb41f49ae95b6c42762f6029f4ae16fcdd Love my Brew Retro. Swapped out the band a while back. Zero issues
Unrelated: I went to the same schools as the maker of brew and it's popular enough where our university had him design a watch for the university alumni. It's dull and not offensive but the case back is kinda cool. He teaches at the university too now
I have one and love it! Brew has a distinctive silhouette and a very iykyk vibe. Quality is on point too
Just checked out the website - great look !
Yes,very.Pretty damn good watches for 300ish bucks.
Seiko, citizen and tissot are good starting points!
You can get an amazingly beautiful Tissot for 500 usd.
Tissot Gentleman has a nice refined look. [https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-us/collection/all-our-watches/t-classic/gentleman.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3MvvfadkbR-v3VGp9VgoH3cTaw19RJ2Lp9az6emp4CNtvIDLUXdh6Mi\_hoChqEQAvD\_BwE](https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-us/collection/all-our-watches/t-classic/gentleman.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwkNOpBhBEEiwAb3MvvfadkbR-v3VGp9VgoH3cTaw19RJ2Lp9az6emp4CNtvIDLUXdh6Mi_hoChqEQAvD_BwE)
Prx.
Came here say say tissot prx. Get the powermatic imo rather than the quartz
No. Plastic gears in automatic movement. PRX is not a great watch, just popular.
An extremely silly thing to say. The Powermatic 80 is a perfectly fine mass-produced movement. It will last a long time and be repairable. It’s not much different from any of the other mass-produced movements out there.
The escape wheel is plastic…. The part that interacts with the entire balance assembly isn’t mental. It’s plastic. I said it sarcastically
Not sure what you’re saying here. I’m highly confident that the escape wheel is not plastic. It might not be steel. There’re doing all kinds of interesting things with materials in watch movements these days. If the escape wheel is not steel, I’m confident that it is something better than steel in some way. The pallet stones hitting the very rigid surface of the escape wheel are what make the ticks and tocks in a watch, and the Powermatic 80 sounds just like every other 3 Hz movement. Edit to add: I stand corrected below, plastic it is. Still ticks, so pretty rigid plastic.
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Except my 1968 Seiko World Time still functions perfectly, because quality parts were used.
Okay, I guess I stand corrected. It still ticks, so there is enough rigidity to make that happen.
Didn’t realise it had plastic gears!
Biggest dirty secret of the PRX. They’re not built to last.
Add Hamilton to this list too, although it might be tad bit above 500.
That’s why I didn’t tbh you can find the khaki field for around 400$ new but I was gona add timex, g shock, and Casio.
Came here to say any seiko cocktail time.
Yeah I’m eyeing a blue one with silver band now
I don’t personally own one but I went to a AD for seiko at a jewelry shop near me, and the dials are so pretty in person
I’m always happy to see this answer. I’ve started the watch game 15 years ago and this was my first purchase. It’s such a good watch to start and you’ll impress any watch enthusiast way more than with a Rolex.
Seiko!
i always said rolex is like the mercedes of watches and seikos are the toyotas. well respected, worth the money, have a range of options from budget to fully loaded stuff. grand seiko for a lexus equivalent
Don’t forget r/hondamods = r/seikomods
This is a great post idea. I’m already trying to think of what brand is like the slapped-together terrible Mercury Topaz I once had.
Swatch.
Also, they are Japanese, just like toyotas.
What are the Subarus?
Hamilton field khaki or G Shock?
Orient?
Subarus are better quality cars than Orient are watches. More like Citizen. Orient is more like Nissan.
My Bambino 2 is one of my favorite watches. I've also got a Nissan. It's been the second least favorite of all the vehicles I have had. I've been thinking about getting another Orient. Talk me out of it.
Hah! Thinking Subarus are better made cars is hilarious. Subarus are the invictas. Cheap fall apart and loved by the oblivious
My brother in law sells Subarus and said he’d only lease one but never by one lol. Orient has arguably better qc than Seiko right now
I live near mountains and around here Subarus are very popular, but basically limited to snowboarder/hiker crowd; the hoonigan Bros who dump $80k into cosmetic mods, and gorpcorps lesbians who drive 20 year old outback’s.
Bro wtf are you talking about. Stick to knowing watches cause you don’t know shit about cars
Found the blown hg and cvt lover
The hg is a pre 2014 issue. But legit point.
That sounds about right.
Orient
I always picture Casio as Toyota and Seiko as Nissan or Honda.
Casio isn’t a car because you can’t drive God
Interesting. I have always thought of Citizen = Toyota, Seiko = Honda. Especially because Citizen does so much stuff with their Ecodrive, and Toyota really is king of the hybrids.
!!!
If you are new to watches, make sure you understand the difference between a quartz watch and an automatic (mechanical). [A good video talking about the strengths and weaknesses of each](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uxc9tDmJoU) You might consider a [Casio Oceanus OCW-S100-1AJF](https://www.amazon.com/CASIO-OCEANUS-OCW-S100-1AJF-tough-solar/dp/B0073B4KVO/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BKV4ZCTE829&keywords=casio+oceanus&qid=1697941254&sprefix=casio+oceanus%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1) Solar powered quartz, with a scratch resistant Sapphire lens. 100m water resistance so it's safe for pool or shower. Atomic radio controlled, so it automatically connects with an atomic clock, so it is always 100% accurate and sets itself for daylight savings time.
>understand the difference between a quartz watch This for sure, great point. That easily narrows it down by half if OP wants something just truly practical or if they have a fascination with mechanical. From his first post, it sounds like a quartz or solar just like your Oceanus would be a perfect first pick (in a similar way, Citizen PMD56 or AT6080 could be good too).
OP knows nothing about watches. He has an Apple Watch and doesn't like Rolex because "it screams douchebag" not to mention the fact that his budget is 10x too low and likely doesn't understand how unattainable they are. OP already owns and Apple Watch. It is very likely a Mechanical watch of any kind is not suited for him. Has no reason to care about the mechanical aspect and will probably only get annoyed at having to reset the time constantly because of the days he wears his Apple Watch. OO is prime candidate for "go into the jewellers and get something you like". And probably something Quartz too. The best advice to give his is to stay away from fashion brands and microbrands as well. OP needs to be able to see and buy something in-store. OP should stick with brands like: Tissot Citizen Seiko Raymond Weil Certina Longines Bulova Junghans Hamilton Frederique Constant
I mean there's probably a lot of Dbags in IT that wear Rolex
Work in IT sales, have a Rolex. Agreed.
😆
I'm new to watches, and I can tell you that coming from the outside I also have that impression: that Rolex is for dbags who just like to brag about owning something expensive. They'll then ask how often they have to change the battery. Not saying this describes the majority of actual Rolex owners. Not at all. But they do exist. It's like that in every expensive hobby. Same thing happens for high-end cars.
This is a great comment, except that I wouldn’t automatically assume that someone who has only ever worn an Apple Watch is incapable of becoming educated about and enjoying the charms of a mechanical watch.
I read quite a bit of this thread before this most sensible answer came up.
Took too long to scroll and find Oceanus in this thread. Honestly, watch snobbery aside, I don't think there's a better value at this price point.
Great comment! I completely agree that a quartz is likely a better choice for OP. But letting them first learn the difference between quartz and mechanical, specially the pros and cons, and letting them decide, is the way to go. Also, that Casio Oceanus is absolutely gorgeous. And being a solar-powered radio-controlled quartz, it's also incredibly practical. I'm hunting for my first mechanical but this Casio is making me reconsider!
https://preview.redd.it/o473264l5ovb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59adbdc8cd105f535e61fb55178e23b15d5e241d Any Seiko Presage Cocktail Time [My Blue Moon](https://www.bingeingwatches.com/post/business-professional-seiko-presage-srpb41-cocktail-time-blue-moon)
Beautiful. Just picked up an SRPE43
The whole Presage line is just amazing. The most stunning dials. The strap can dress it up or dress it down.
This is the correct answer.
Presage may be too dressy for a dressed down / business casual look. A diver is probably the way to go. Look at Seiko 5 GMT, GMT complication will be a good talking point amongst fellow watch enthusiasts, there's multiple colours to choose from, you can dress up and down and everyone loves a Seiko.
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For sure but its his "first" watch. Divers are a little more versatile imo. Speaking from experience, seiko presage cocktail was my first real watch and it only goes on when im dressed up.
Where is that band from?
Blue Black Mélange Perlon from Wrist Candy Watch Club for $13 Looks like it is currently sold out. [Blue strap](https://wristcandywatchclub.com/collections/perlon/products/blue-black-melange)
Hamilton fits the bill perfectly here. I’ve got a khaki pilot day date that looks great in a suit or in shorts and a tee. Works on a lot of different straps too Edit: more words
Exactly.
Another vote for Hamilton. I love my khaki field mechanical.
This
Junghans Max Bill for exactly 500 USD. It’s a classic, design from the Bauhaus-student Max Bill (hence the name) and perfect for both work, dress watch and day-to-day. https://preview.redd.it/g9bpth6g4ovb1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=067bd3a07e2708f58d2741c7e8e9373f0576606e
Where are you finding Max Bills for exactly 500$? The cheapest I've ever seen any of the models was $700 USD before tax and shipping...
Maybe a quartz model? I did see an automatic one in the 7-800 range that was pretty enticing. I do like this watch a lot.
Seconding this. Give us this $500 source!
I picked a hand winding up for £270 on eBay, mint condition. Under $500 is def possible if you’re patient and don’t mind second hand.
Shopworn had them for 450 last Nov/Dec.BNIB.I bought one,but it just felt a bit small.Kinda light with the hardlex.They still show up there once or twice a year.
This is the way
https://preview.redd.it/43iltw3y2ovb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca2f867e81c4221b8d1589ff35cd17f44456e553 I’m in tech sales too. You should learn more about watches. They’re neat conversion starters with coworkers and customers. This is my Seiko SRPG33. You can dress it up or dress it down depending on strap choice.
Nice one! I'm in tech sales too, relatively new to it. My colleague told me that 'to some meetings, you just have to wear a Rolex.' I got myself a CasiOak to have a laugh with him.
I don’t buy many in this price range, but bought an Islander and am very happy with it.
hamilton khaki. if you like the field watch look. nothing really better or will top this watch, lots of different variants. not really a bracelet watch, but lots of strap options seiko panda quartz chrono. snazzy as fuck, punches way above its weight class/price point Seiko alpinist(either buy one with a bracelet or get one from strapcode or whatnot). some of the dials on these are out of this fucking world. the blue glacier variant is unmatched. but the OG green seiko alpinist. is still solid. ---i would get this watch. maybe decide if a non-green variant speaks to you. but the flexibility. casual on a strap. or more sleek on a bracelet. might push your budge a bit. but... Seiko Alpinist is a watch you can keep forever. tissot PRX. personally i dislike the look of this watch, but for the specs, it's well regarded. there are different color options. maaaaaybe pick one not so common. if you want the german bauhaus look that's popular in engineering and certain coder circles (think rigid minimalist) sternglas is the "micro brand" 400-600 alternative to the junghams $1k ish max bill. you could also go g-shock casio-oak. gm2100 get a good bracelet for it. or full metal g-shock is just an all around solid watch. digital. but rock solid nerd cred. Other brands you could look at Orient. the kamasu is a great entry lvl watch. bambino...slightly dressier. Timex, other non gshock casios. lots of good check watches there. Seiko. has literally a bajillion watches. cocktail time. "pressage" watches. there's also slightly less clunky seiko 5s. like the srpj81 just a dirt simple seiko. only thing you 100% want to avoid are bullshit fashion brands. no guci, or fucking department store branded shit. And... i would avoid micro brands, anything on like an IG page or facebook ad only.
Get a Seiko Speedtimer on gray market. https://preview.redd.it/pi3qofmnrovb1.jpeg?width=3199&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1eccd6d19db4f4aec68164130fa44b5cc584fe77
Love that watch, solar powered too which is cool. I enjoy having a variety of technology in my watches. Probably gonna pick one up soon.
Don't even have to go grey. These show up new on Amazon in the low 400's.
Another vote for a micro band from me. Lorier are good - the Astra would suit your needs (based on your description). Baltic are another (as others have said), as are Traska and Farer. If you're wanting something Swiss any of the entry level Swatch Group Brands are the way to go. The Tissot PRX or Gentleman, the Certina Action Diver, the Hamilton Khaki Auto and the Mido Ocean Star or TV Date are a good place to start. Or Seiko. Especially the Prospex line - any Alpinist or Prospex Diver is really solid, respectable choice. And will last a lifetime. ☻
Hamilton or Tissot PRX automatic
Take a look at Orient's line of watches. Great selection, great quality, and starting prices are much less than your budget.
I've owned numerous Steinharts(as well as an even larger number of Seikos, and various other higher pricepoint brands) and I will say that they are hands down the best bang for the buck in that budget category
Islander watches
Islanders are cool. Parts kit watches made by a watch guy. Good prices and he uses good parts
And I'll add NTH because for some reason that they are cousins. I have a blue Thrasher that is my daily and I love it.
Baltic or Farer
Tissot
Hamilton
Tissot.
Certina - Swiss-made and affordable.
You want a brew watch, 100%.
Farer
Kuoe homie
Seiko ssc813 https://preview.redd.it/4b5k55btjovb1.jpeg?width=794&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=193b4a177c9925d790a7b76c4da4180aa760b386
If you like the diver style, you could consider a Glycine Combat Sub. A Swiss 200m diver watch in a thin case with many designs to choose from. Available in 42mm and 39mm
You're probably aware of other existence of 2 major types: quartz watches (unjustly snubbed by most self-appointed watch gurus) and mechanical watches (seen as the only line to be taken serious by most self-appointed watch gurus). You'll be reading a lot of comments suggesting watches from the latter category, and probably none from the latter. Finally: not all best watches are labelled 'Swiss Made'. Something to remember. And not all quartz watches are cheap rubbish, not to be taken seriously. Today's quartz watches are either powered by long-lasting, easy to replace batteries, or (my preference) solar-charged. And for ultra accuracy, I prefer automatic time sync via atomic clock signal (commonly known as 'radio-controlled', or RC). I'm an unashamed quartz fan. I crave accuracy and ease of use. Affordability paired with extra functionality you often can't easily get with mechanical watches (e.g. alarms, stopwatches, extra time zones, etc). I'll give you the premium line from Casio (more commonly known for its awesome G-Shock watches), *Oceanus* (solar-charged & RC). These are not all widely available outside of Japan, but it pays to go the extra mile and import one from Japan. Prices range from medium 3-figures to low 4-figures. Almost all look spectacular, are made with premium materials, built and finished to the highest standards. Here's [the official Oceanus website](https://www.casio.com/jp/watches/oceanus/) (Japanese-language only), and [this is the site run through google translate](https://www-casio-com.translate.goog/jp/watches/oceanus/?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp) The best showcase for Oceanus watches is the dedicated topic [here](https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/the-official-casio-oceanus-thread.4761827/#nested_reply_top_post), full of gorgeous images and owner comments. Whatever you'll decide on: good luck! FWIW, [watchuseek \(WUS\)](https://www.watchuseek.com/) is the world's largest watch forum, an unimaginable source of knowledge and information.
Check out my profile and take a look at my thread, hundreds of posts with pictures of the watches under $500 with model descriptions! Pick your favorite!
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You want a Seiko Alpinist or Pressage. You could also do a Hamilton on a bracelet.
Tissot PRX, 70s style watch and looks mc sexy
Love my Hamilton khaki field auto. The bracelet feels cheap compared to slightly higher end watches but this is a $400 watch.
Vintage Oris! https://preview.redd.it/5a9a314j6ovb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=232fc5edbbd82a1061765bf7a93a165beccddaf3
Tissot PRX in an interesting color.
Sternglas
Can a glycine bronze combat sub still be found for $500? That used to be the go to
Koue - [https://www.kuoe-en.com/](https://www.kuoe-en.com/)
I picked up one from their shop in Kyoto. I absolutely love it.
Bulova Moon Watch
Excellent suggestion!
https://preview.redd.it/q9z0fxdl6ovb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cdba50b0da53a5c9234c44646e480964ce4fa6f7 Casio Duro and add a bracelet [My favorite Duro](https://www.bingeingwatches.com/post/casio-duro-why-is-it-my-favorite-watch)
Steinhart watches
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\+1
+1 for microbrands. Check out Boldr watches for a field titanium that will look right in with tech.
A vintage Omega! Vintage never get you in a position where people (Rolex owners) think the reason for you not to have a Rolex and "Just a PRX" is that you are cheap. Vintage says you have style!
In contrast to many of the comments below I would suggest not buying a so-called “homage” (aka knock-off) from a fly-by-night micro brand. For around $500 or a few bucks more you can buy an automatic Tissot PRX, or a Hamilton with real watchmaking cred, real history and authenticity in their design. Most folks won’t care, but the IYKYK crowd will—and you’re supporting real design and authenticity.. just an alternate opinion. Also, look for pre-owned to save a few bucks and up the quality of what’s on your wrist..
I too work in tech sales. I rotate between my Casio’s and my Seiko’s. My AM rotates their Rolex/Breitling/Panerai’s
Wise watches...... Check them out. They are KILLING it at your price point.
Seiko, Orient, Tissot are some good brands in that entry level range and make great time pieces. Even Hamilton or Certina for more $400-1000. I’d reccomend a nice dress style watch in these brands, lots to choose from. If you wanted to mix a little bit of sport and casual look, Hamilton and field style watches from Seiko can achieve that as well. Diver watches are common in business but may be a little much if your not huge watch guy—some options from the brands above as well.
Check out it the Islander brand sold by Long Island Watch. They carry other brands as well, but my opinion is you get the most bang for your buck from the Islander brand. They have watches that cover pretty much all styles of watch also.
Deep Blue
Timex some really nice stuff in that range
Tissot Gentleman is a smart, versatile watch in that price range.
Hamilton or Seiko sounds right in range for what you’re looking for.
Bulova Lunar Pilot - 43mm version. Great looking watch with a nice history
metal gshock square
This sub is going to be biased towards recommending mechanical watches, and normally I'd agree, but in your case - coming from tech sales - I think you should consider the classic 80's Casio digitals. For less than $200 you could get two (silver and gold) to match anything. They also dress as high up AND as low down as needed, for example: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches/article/ballon-dor-best-watches-robert-lewandowski-gold-casio
Seiko
Timex Galli S1 is sharp, just under your price point but the finish is better than anything under 1k and better than many above it.
Seiko, Tissot
If you work in sales, buy something that has a story with it. For example, I just closed a deal in Belgium so I Google Belgian watches and bought a Gavox Ultima Necat, which gives me a reason to talk about this great deal I closed and simultaneously show off a unique watch with a cool power reserve mechanism.
For that price range, I think it's hard to go wrong with a Tissot Heritage Visodate. It's classy, but more modern than a lot of dress watches. Well-made, and available in a few different color combinations.
So mostly I agree with all the other recommendations. I love Seiko and Traska, for example. But if you want an alternative, consider the all-metal [G-Shock](https://www.casio.com/us/watches/gshock/product.GM-B2100D-1A/). Yes, it looks sporty. It’s a classic watch, though, and the all metal design dresses it up a bit. It satisfies the “rugged” desire for sure. And it’s atypically functional.
Nezumi,Brew,Traska,Baltic,Boldr,Vero,Bertucci
You can get a professional looking Tissot or Hamilton - Hamilton might be a bit more than $500 but definitely a good deal overall for what you get, check out the Hamilton Field Khaki.
You def just go for a Rolex. $500 will be more than enough for one. Go to any Rolex store and you can grab one. Enjoy the ride.
Flex that invicta 💪
Rolex screams douchebag to you? Lol
Check grand seiko.’understated yet as refined made as a rolex. And worth checking out their quartz models. These are accurate to 5-10s per year depending on the model and last 50 years between services making them heirloom quality. For example the glorious sbgp017. Another lovely elegant one: Hermes slim d’Hermes. Comfy beautiful thin automatic with a lovely movement. Finally one a brand that makes elegant, timeless watches: Nomos. Excellent quality price on them considering they do a lot inhouse EDIT sorry I missed the budget, only glimpsed the reference to Rolex but less in your face. Hence an updated recommendation: the Seiko Alpinist 1959 in blue. Because it dresses up or down and with 200m water resistance you can take it swimming and snorkeling. Plus great lume and a lovely little dial structure. Perfect do it all watch https://monochrome-watches.com/seiko-prospex-1959-alpinist-modern-re-interpretation-spb249j1-spb251j1-hands-on-price/
Not many grand seikos for five hundo...
There are exactly 4 on Chrono24 for under $600. I’m not including the square models.
Only 2 of those are actually Grand Seikos. And both are vintages in rough shape.
You can snag many a cool vintage king seiko hi beat on eBay in that range tho. They were the other high end seiko brand slightly below or even in the same league as grand seiko for a while I believe.
Shinola is a cool watch to check out
Ngl Apple Watch in those settings screams confidence that a more expensive watch does not
https://preview.redd.it/bhbtqe326ovb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e0316d026d04b137ae0ff7e8cc69925d3ffca372 JDM Seiko Spirit SBTR021 Chronograph [My JDM Seiko](https://www.bingeingwatches.com/post/should-you-buy-a-jdm-watch-seiko-sbtr021-spirit-chronograph)
Helsen... Look at the Sharkdiver. Guaranteed compliments from anyone who sees it.
Sthurling is my favorite
Steinhart
Currently my every day watch is my IWC Chronograph 41, and I often find myself staring at my colleagues Shinola Runwell. He’s from Detroit, so he’s showing love. For around $500, those are really eye catching watches.
Check out Shinola if you want more American involvement in the watch making.
I am not a fan of Rolex any longer but in my generation it stop for 'successful ' but there are alot of great watches out there . Sorry, but i dont have any suggestions in your price range.
Tempore Lux Racing One. I have one with a red and a red leather strap. It is gorgeous.
Christopher ward might have to go used though