As much or as little as you are comfortable with.

As you noted, to some spending £200 on a Seiko is an expensive watch compared to the £20 Casio they wore before, to others that same £200 watch doesn’t even rank as good enough to be a beater watch.

Neither answer is wrong, they just suit different people, different lifestyles and different budgets.

So spend as much or as little as you are willing and able to afford. I know I will never be able to justify Rolex money, but that hasn’t stopped me finding my ideal watches that do fit my budget and I enjoy wearing just the same.

Go take a look at the Citizen eco drive range.

They all use a solar powered quartz movement that is pretty much worry free sand one of the most reliable options out there, and come in a wide range of styles within your budget. Pretty much my default recommendation for a simple, no non-serviceable watch on a budget.

Failing that you are looking at options like the Seiko ranges (again, they do a range of solar quartz movements that should fit your budget), and various Casio and Timex models.

The only reason I can see for getting a second watch of a model that you already own would be if you were scared about losing or damaging the one you have and feel you need a spare.

Personally while I can understand the desire to have backups, in this case it is overkill. As a worst case, your watch gets irreparably damaged in a few years time - even if they are not available new, most standard production Seiko’s are still going to be available. Even if you have to pay a bit of a premium for a good example it will not be impossible to get.

That also assumes your tastes are still exactly the same and Seiko have completely dispensed with your chosen watch range. Buying a spare locks you in to that model, while waiting allows you the opportunity to revise your opinion and buy something different that may have been released.

So I wouldn’t worry about keeping a spare to hand. Spend your money on something more immediately useful and a replacement watch can be figured out in the future if it is ever necessary.

Because every watch is different, there is no standard set of fitted end lugs - you need to get them specific to your watch. Not only would you need the width and radius of the curve of the endlink to match, but also the height, the shape of the back where it sits against the case, the shape of the front to match the lug design, the finishes and more.

Because of this you just don’t get aftermarket bracelets with fitted end links for most watches - some brands may have them available as an option, and there are a few third party options available for some very popular watch models like the Seiko SKX, but if the manufacturer doesn’t make one, you are out of luck for most brands.

What is available as an option would be a bracelet with a straight end link - this means as long as you get a bracelet with the correct lug width (usually 18/20/22mm) it will fit, but there will be gaps between the bracelet and case.

My first instinct would be ‘no’ - the standard fare would be something more along the lines of a GShock, chunky diver or similar piece.

But it actually choice down more to how you accessories around it and pull it off - a big diamond encrusted watch well probably looks a bit odd in isolation, but add a matching chain and suddenly it becomes a coordinated style. I would hazard that a dressy watch will do exactly the same - odd in isolation, but a cool statement when planned.

There is also of course the other thing to consider - how much do you care what others think? If you think it looks cool, then go for it.

I don’t have any definitive proof one way or the other, but I would be amazed if it was anything other than a voiceover.

He has a superb, natural feel to his commentary that doesn’t feel stunted and robotic like reading from a script often can be, bit it is also just too perfect to actually be a continuous take along with the footage - he never flubs a line or misses a cue, hits all of the main points of the process perfectly, and just nails it in a way that is too seamless.

The audio is also just a little too perfect - easy when sat before a mic in a recording setup, much harder to do consistently when moving around and working, switching between machines, and dealing with the foibles of your chosen mic system used live - no noise from the clothes you lav mic is attached to, or variable volume from moving nearer or farther from a desk mic…

If anything it should be slightly better, as the crown at 4 will be tucked slightly more neatly against the case and less likely to stick out into your wrist.

Whether this is an issue of course will depend on exactly how you wear your watch - I wear mine fairly loose and have never had an issue with a crown before (3 or 4 o’clock versions), but if you keep your watch cinched in tight up against your wrist it may be more of an issue.

Given this sub is dedicated to traditional watches, your answers are going to be very heavily biased towards traditional watches - ask the same question in a smartwatch based sub and I don’t doubt you will find a similar bias in that direction.

Personally, I wear traditional (primarily mechanical, but some quartz in both analog and digital) watches.

Currently I have no real in interest in smartwatches - they are a gadget I just don’t personally see a big appeal in, so haven’t tried.

Alongside that, as someone with an interest in watches anyway, I enjoy the watches I currently wear, and don’t really want to swap them out for something else.

The one feature I do like the sound of is access to Google maps on my wrist, but the rest I am happier just using a phone for.

Take it to a professional - unfortunately it will cost you, but significantly less than the cost of opening it yourself, unwittingly damaging it more, and then having to pay a professional anyway (and now needing bonus posts replaced).

Fixing watches is absolutely possible for people to learn, but it is a skill that takes a lot of practise and learning - something you want to learn on cheap movements you don’t mind damaging, not a Breitling

That watch looks to be a Seiko Presage (one of the cocktail time models) or possibly an Alpinist or similar - I definitely have a similar looking strap in black that I bought for my SARB033.

That type of hidden, fixed buckle would be called a deployant clasp.

They are fashion watches.

As a general rule you are paying for the logo on the dial, not the quality of the watch - buying from a more traditional watch brand will get you a better watch for your money, but it obviously won’t have the same appeal to the more fashion conscious.

So if you want a piece of jewellery or fashionable accessory, by all means go for it - they are perfectly functional watches after all, even if not the greatest value for money. If you want to get the most for your money instead, I would shop around.

The traditional rules would be that with formal dress you should be wearing a leather strapped dress watch (or not wearing a watch at all).

But that is following the traditional rules, and assuming you are dressing in a fully formal fashion. In reality there are many different grades of suit and levels of formality for different situations - taking a slightly more casual approach then a nice sports watch on a bracelet (think datejust/oyster perpetual or aqua Terra) would be a reasonable choice.

But it is also worth noting that the world has moved on since those rules were formulated - whereas once the expectation was that every detail of your dress would be immaculate, often you well find a slightly more casual approach nowadays, and the true formal wear is really reserved for special occasions. I don’t doubt these events do exist, but I can only say that I have never personally been invited to one…

The clue is generally to look at how those around you are presented. If every one of them is perfectly dressed and there are traditional dress watches all round, then you may be the odd man out. But not realistically, if you can see a scattering of smart watches and fitness trackers hidden under cuffs, then a nice sports watch on a bracelet is going to be absolutely fine (if not actually smarter than most).

One practical thing to note is that a bracelet with male ends links will come as one complete piece, unlike a bracelet with female end ends links which will have loose end links that are held in place by the springbars.

So the male bracelet will have two less loose pieces that can potentially be lost, but the female will have the opportunity of swapping out the end links to fit different watches.

Realistically though, the biggest reason to choose one over the other will just be aesthetics. Some bracelet and link styles will suit a male end link, solve will suit a female.

It depends on the shop.

As a general rule I would say that yes, the watch still counts as new - it is behind glass as standard, only taken out and handled in the presence of the staff, so it is not as if it is getting battered around by every sticky fingered child that walks past. You are also afforded time to fully inspect a piece you are interested in and check for any blemishes or issues that may have occurred due to handling - if there was even the slightest mark that would then be cause to discuss a discount due to it being a display model.

And realistically, when you are talking about higher end pieces most physical stores are not going to be keeping multiples of every piece to hand when they may only sell them occasionally. If you could expect a discount for every piece that has been taken out of its box then that means the shop would be selling their entire stock at a discount…

Yes, there are odd cases like Rolex who have started sending out dummy pieces for display purposes, but that is definitely not the normal situation, and is really just Rolex scrabbling to try and stop their shelves being left completely bare, not an attempt to preserve stock as untouched and unopened for prospective customers.

The location I do expect to be seeing discounts for display items is with higher volume goods that are on display for the general public to handle. If I am buying a TV I expect the store to have stock, and if the last one is the floor model that has been sitting out in the open being handled by customer’s, then a discount seems fair as that item is now noticeably used compared to the piece the previous customer received.

What’s the difference in price?

As a general rule, I will always try to buy local if I can - I appreciate the ability to browse in a shop and see the product before I buy it, walk out with it in my hand instantly, and I am happier that my money goes back into a local company rather than being whisked away and stored in Jeff Bezos back account.

At the same time, it is not always practical - the product range online is typically much better, and while I don’t necessarily mind paying a small surplus to buy locally, there is a limit to how much of a markup can be considered acceptable. There are also a few local shops where I have received such poor service or had other issues and I just don’t want to support them at all, so we’ll but elsewhere first (either locally if available, or online).

I would include your partner in this decision.

If they already have an interest in watches and own a few nice pieces, they will undoubtedly have already developed their own personal likes and dislikes - we can recommend a suite of fan favourite watches, but that didn’t mean want of them will match their tastes.

So rather than taking a punt and potentially spending a large sum on a watch they won’t like, I would involve them - an IOU may not be quite as exciting as a gift to open on the day, but it allows you the opportunity to turn the purchase into an interesting activity together and ensures you will get the perfect watch.

The Seiko Alpinists and Tortoises are the watches that come to mind first as having compass bezels (one internal, one external).

If you are wearing your watches semi-regularly anyway, I would have no worries about just letting them run down and storing them appropriately.

It used to be a worry that if you left a watch sat for too long the oils would slowly shift and congeal/evaporate, and having the watch running would help prevent this, but with modern lubricants it isn’t really a huge issue - certainly I wouldn’t have any worries letting a watch sit for a few months at a time.

The main benefit of a winder nowadays is to keep a watch running out of convenience - it means you can grab a watch knowing it will still be running and you won’t have to set it first. If anything using a winder continually will actually put more wear on a watches movement given it is kept working, rather than being allowed to stop.

They get carried in a watch roll or similar as suitable.

And always carried in hand luggage - anything valuable or delicate should always be carried with you to ensure its safety. Packing it in hold baggage means it is out of your sight and in the care of others. 99% of the time there won’t be a problem, but your bags will be thrown around by the handlers, and there is always a chance your bags don’t arrive on the same plane that you do or just don’t make it at all, and I certainly don’t want to risk losing my watches or other items like computers.

Reading your requirements, the 556 was the watch that instantly came to mind.

The only point where I feel it leaving is the lume, which I find acceptable, but a notable step down from the sort of lume you will get on something like a Seiko diver.

It can come across as a bit bland in images, but I would say the rs version with the coloured second hand definitely improve that, and also now the fact that this is one watch I would definitely say comes across better in real life than in images - photos don’t tend to do a great job of showing the subtleties of the style, or the deep gloss of the dial that you get in real life.

Add Ann alternative, I would also check out Damasko - watches that are very much in a similar vein, but a slightly different take that you may prefer.