hey guys, first time buyer here and i want to get a watch in the 500-600$ price range that i can wear on multiple occasions. i am thinking something 42mm because i have big hands and then maybe getting a a few straps that would go well with color matching on different occasions.
thank you for all the advice!
Seiko or Tissot you are welcome
Orient
I got my brother a movado for graduation. I see him wearing it all situations except sport related
That was my first professional watch. Super iconic yet affordable. If you go this way, make sure you get one with a sapphire crystal.
Certina DS ACTION. New if you can find or second-hand
Orient Bambino
I would suggest the Seiko Panda Chrono.
it really does punch above it’s weight. It’s tool watch-y enough to be casual, but classy enough to look good in more professional settings.
the problem with a seiko pressage cocktail time, is it will only really look good in a fancy setting.
I would try and find one of the waffle dial pressage watches. that are more tool watch looking cheaper. like seiko waffle dial
A Seiko Presage is ideal for you.
Check out Seiko presage 60s collection.
I was thinking a cocktail time would be a good choice
Maybe look at some Hamilton watches if there’s any nice ones in budget
My favorite is a Seiko SRPB41. Often referred to as a Seiko Cocktail Time. I have watches costing considerable more, and this watch leads the league in comments/questions by a considerable margin.
Great on a suit, easily slides under a cuffed shirt, yet you can wear them with shorts, flip-flops, and a t-shirt. Good size, they all hover around 40mm, give or take .5mmThere are dozens of watches in this particular Presage family. Web pics are washed out, over-priced. Go look at YouTube. They’re stunning in person. Can be hard to find in a store.
Watch prices range from $300-ish to $495. Department stores might have 1 or 2. Long Island Watch has a bunch, and they discount them a decent amount. Amazon will have some, and Teddy Baldassare’s store might have a couple.
Here’s almost everything about Cocktail Times except the 2022 and 2023 releases.
https://www.theseikoguy.com/presage-cocktail-time/
The model I mentioned above is one of my favorites, and I have 3 other Cocktail Times. SRPJ13 is another I got last year. The SRPJ13 has micro-scallop cuts that play a bit in the light, and form several patterns, one that is extremely subtle, almost like it’s an optical illusion.
The SRPB41 dial pattern is available in a few other colors. Green, pale blue, a charcoal, a silvery color, a few others I can’t recall. Pink and a reddish dial for women.
Browse that link I included. Some are discontinued or Limited Editions. And on eBay, they might shock you. I have an SRPH78 that’s now over $1000. The common ones don’t go up in value, but they’re still amazing, you can get them used to $225-$250.
They just released the SRPK15, looks the same as the SRPB41, but has a gold seconds hand and is on leather, comes with a deployant clasp. And is NOT discounted yet.
One last thing: Seiko leather on watches below $750 is not good. You’ll get 6 months out of it. It’ll start to crack and split like a pair of Walmart dress shoes. Go spend $10-$20-$30 on a better strap. Or two. One casual and one dressy.
Also, anytime you have leather on a deployant clasp, it will last longer.At that price point, Seiko Presage would be my first choice. Beautiful finishing, unparalleled dial designs, and reasonable accuracy to match.
The difference between a Seiko 5 and a Presage is especially noticeable when you dress them up, but both dress down well depending on the case/dial you choose.
Grey market Longines
I got my Hamilton murph for 700 and wear it both casually and with a suit and it works great. A little outside of your range but worth it.
Tissot Gentleman.