Watch with a €500 budget

nevelator

First time posting in this forum, I am looking to get a watch with a budget of 500. I have done a bit of lurking and googling and want tie it down. So I am looking for some advice and possible recommendations.
Below are my random uninformed preferences/thoughts and 2 watches (different types) that I like.

• Must be automatic
• Will be an everyday watch (most weekdays anyway)
• Not a fan of Roman numerals.
• Would prefer a bracelet/clasp
• Not really interested in a chronograph.
• Not too fussed on it having dates (but don't like that magnifying glass yoke that is on some watches)
• Would prefer sapphire glass over mineral (I have discounted the seiko presage due this this - maybe I shouldn't?)

Tissot Visodate
Steinhart Ocean Vintage Military

The Longines Conquest is another watch I like - but is out of budget.

Any recommendations/advice would be appreciated!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Seiko padi diver? Whole prospex line is sapphire glass

893bet

The magnifying yoke can be popped off a crystal easily so don’t ignore watches on that basis!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/

tedpan

This Oris is lovely for around your budget.

https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Oris/Classic/733%207594%2040%2061%20MB/5833/item/114310

I have a steinhart automatic chronograph and love it. Excellent value watches with fantastic internals.

imme

What about
https://www.fields.ie/tissot-xl-chronograph-classic-tour-de-france-2018-men-s-watch.html

Northern Monkey

A samurai?

https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/SRPB49K1

tedpan

imme wrote:

What about

Lol, it's not an automatic and the op didn't want a chronograph

saccades

Ahmad Nervous Balm wrote: »

Seiko padi diver? Whole prospex line is sapphire glass

Are not, Seiko use hardlex for most of their lower end watches as they believe it's a better choice for a proper tool watch used by professionals as sapphire could undergo a catastrophic shattering and hardlex will preferentially crack. Sapphire is more scratch resistant than hardlex.

Prospex stands for professional specifications. Even the 2k MM300 has hardlex.

saccades

Northern Monkey wrote: »

A samurai?

https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/SRPB49K1

Also hardlex.



Edit to say: was wrong, version 2 isn't sapphire.

artanevilla

I will recommend one I have:

https://www.jomashop.com/hamilton-khaki-field-mens-watch-h70555533.html

Not a braclet but would be easily swapped. Also plenty of variety in the Hamilton Khaki range so I'd have a look if I were you.

gerfmurphy

2nd the seiko , love the samurai cheap utilty auto on bracelet good quality and great value for money

fat bloke

Northern Monkey wrote: »

A samurai?

https://www.seikowatches.com/global-en/products/prospex/SRPB49K1

Love that samurai. Where would be the best place to buy?

blue5000

OP just watch out for the long lugs on the Steinhart, they don't look great if you have small wrists. If you do have small wrists the 39mm watches might be better.

I haven't seen any in the flesh but NTH is a microbrand that might be worth a look in this price range, big following for them on watchuseek https://forums.watchuseek.com/f71/nth-l-h-janis-trading-doc-vail-3556858.html

If I was spending €500 on a watch they'd be on my short list.

2shea

Seiko Sumo. Seiko Sarb35. Seiko Turtle. Seiko Samuari.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

saccades wrote: »

Are not, Seiko use hardlex for most of their lower end watches as they believe it's a better choice for a proper tool watch used by professionals as sapphire could undergo a catastrophic shattering and hardlex will preferentially crack. Sapphire is more scratch resistant than hardlex.

Prospex stands for professional specifications. Even the 2k MM300 has hardlex.

I would suggest if the OP wants sapphire that he chooses one of the many with sapphire glass. Thanks for the clarification all the same.

gerfmurphy

fat bloke wrote:

Love that samurai. Where would be the best place to buy?

Got mine on Wus. They are plentiful afaik. There are a few variations. Mine is the waffle dial but there is a le sunburst(blue lagoon) looks nice, it usually attracts a premium price but all are good value generally.

nevelator

Cheers for the replies...a lot of love for Seikos. Had a quick look at the Samurais last night and found 2 that I like. Once was the SRPB51K1 and the other was a lovely blue/grey SRPB49K1 which was posted previously in the thread. They are bigger than what I was thinking of getting - but from the youtube videos and reviews they look/wear smaller.
Both are Hardlex crystal, how tough is that IRL? I work in an office and won't be hopping the watch off things but will probably have a few incidents. Maybe I don't really need a sapphire front.

blue5000

nevelator wrote: »

Cheers for the replies...a lot of love for Seikos. Had a quick look at the Samurais last night and found 2 that I like. Once was the SRPB51K1 and the other was a lovely blue/grey SRPB49K1 which was posted previously in the thread. They are bigger than what I was thinking of getting - but from the youtube videos and reviews they look/wear smaller.
Both are Hardlex crystal, how tough is that IRL? I work in an office and won't be hopping the watch off things but will probably have a few incidents. Maybe I don't really need a sapphire front.

I'm farming. Most days I wear a Damasko, but about 1 day a week I wear a Seiko Kinetic with hardlex. Somehow I've managed to put a tiny scratch on the case of the Damasko, I think it was when I was doing spanner work on a plough. But the sapphire crystal is perfect.

The BFK looks like it did a few tours in Afghanistan. Now I do admit if I know I'll be working at something really rough I put on the Seiko.




I know I'm not comparing like with like, the Damasko cost me 5x the price of the Seiko, there's a ceramic bezel on the Damasko and aluminium on the Seiko, but it does show the difference between a sapphire and hardlex IRL.

unkel

nevelator wrote: »

The Longines Conquest is another watch I like - but is out of budget.

You could consider buying second hand or increasing your budget?

Loads of great suggestions for around your budget but the Longines really looks and feels a big step up in quality / luxury compared to any one of them

nevelator

unkel wrote: »

You could consider buying second hand or increasing your budget?

I can increase the budget might push the timeline also (Thanks prime day). As for second hand,I am open to it but my lack of knowledge would be putting me off that route.

unkel wrote: »

Loads of great suggestions for around your budget but the Longines really looks and feels a big step up in quality / luxury compared to any one of them

I tried on a Hydroquest in Hours passion about a month ago. I didn't like the watch face, but it did have a certain oomph to it compared to a Tissot powematic that I tried.

Northern Monkey

nevelator wrote: »

Cheers for the replies...a lot of love for Seikos. Had a quick look at the Samurais last night and found 2 that I like. Once was the SRPB51K1 and the other was a lovely blue/grey SRPB49K1 which was posted previously in the thread. They are bigger than what I was thinking of getting - but from the youtube videos and reviews they look/wear smaller.
Both are Hardlex crystal, how tough is that IRL? I work in an office and won't be hopping the watch off things but will probably have a few incidents. Maybe I don't really need a sapphire front.

I’ve been wearing the blue/grey one pretty much every day since February and there isn’t a mark on it. Size wise it doesn’t feel big to me at all but I do also wear a 46mm PO so I might not be the best person to judge!

Edit: there is a SRPB51K1 for sale on TZ-UK for £220 currently.

IrishPlayer

I can increase the budget might push the timeline also (Thanks prime day). As for second hand,I am open to it but my lack of knowledge would be putting me off that route.

Don't let that put you off buying second hand,i started out wanting to buy a vintage Omega with too low of a budget and picked out nothing but fakes,but after posting them on here i learned what to look out for and really enjoyed doing the research on my own,actually found something i liked even more than the Omega in the end,the fun is in the hunt!

Not sure if these are good recommendations as i never really look at new watches and still learning myself,but as a backup in case i couldn't find something vintage i picked these watches.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seiko-Analogue-Automatic-Stainless-Bracelet/dp/B000NM0REE

Really liked this one,It has a skeleton back,has that Hardex crystal so might not be what you are looking for.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamilton-H64455133-Mens-Watch/dp/B001F7MIY8/ref=sr_1_25?s=watch&ie=UTF8&qid=1532089168&sr=1-25&keywords=Hamilton+Men%27s+Watch

I know one was posted already but this has a bracelet and i love the day date model,not sure if it will be in budget.

art

Nce offer on a classic Mondaine up on Amazon at the moment
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mondaine-Automatic-Analogue-Display-Leather/dp/B00AF2DBOA

saccades

Ahmad Nervous Balm wrote: »

I would suggest if the OP wants sapphire that he chooses one of the many with sapphire glass. Thanks for the clarification all the same.

With all due respect, I would suggest that an automatic seiko PADI under 500 euro with a sapphire crystal is like rocking horse pooh.

There are quartz movement PADI watches wirh a sapphire crystal near the OPs budget.

Myself and pretty much everyone else who wants a sapphire crystal in a sub 500 Seiko automatic, purchase one of the many aftermarket optios and fit that.

saccades

nevelator wrote: »

Both are Hardlex crystal, how tough is that IRL? I work in an office and won't be hopping the watch off things but will probably have a few incidents. Maybe I don't really need a sapphire front.

I've upgraded all my Seikos to sapphire except the '74 bellmatic and a cheap 55 fathoms mod. I do look after the bellmatic but I've been on the lash with the FFF and it's fine, it's also dirt cheap to replace.

I went with sapphire as that's the mod scene, show off the AR (anti reflective) coating in a carefully staged photo and then never bother about it again. It is tough though, I've a PMMM Stargate where I crashed the bicycle at 40 and rolled into a gutter tearing shreds off myself and destroying the stainless steel bezel but the sapphire (which is ever so artfully in line but proud of the bezel for that one photo) looks brand new.

To me sapphire is a nice to have but you can have 3-4 hardlex crystals for the price of a sapphire.

micks_address

nevelator wrote: »

First time posting in this forum, I am looking to get a watch with a budget of 500. I have done a bit of lurking and googling and want tie it down. So I am looking for some advice and possible recommendations.
Below are my random uninformed preferences/thoughts and 2 watches (different types) that I like.

• Must be automatic
• Will be an everyday watch (most weekdays anyway)
• Not a fan of Roman numerals.
• Would prefer a bracelet/clasp
• Not really interested in a chronograph.
• Not too fussed on it having dates (but don't like that magnifying glass yoke that is on some watches)
• Would prefer sapphire glass over mineral (I have discounted the seiko presage due this this - maybe I shouldn't?)

Tissot Visodate
Steinhart Ocean Vintage Military

The Longines Conquest is another watch I like - but is out of budget.

Any recommendations/advice would be appreciated!

If you'd like to try on a steinhart and around north Dublin or city West would be glad to meet for a coffee and let you try on my ocean vintage gmt

Homer

micks_address wrote: »

If you'd like to try on a steinhart and around north Dublin or city West would be glad to meet for a coffee and let you try on my ocean vintage gmt

Ditto with the ocean one legacy diver in north Dublin

2shea

blue5000 wrote: »

I'm farming. Most days I wear a Damasko, but about 1 day a week I wear a Seiko Kinetic with hardlex. Somehow I've managed to put a tiny scratch on the case of the Damasko, I think it was when I was doing spanner work on a plough. But the sapphire crystal is perfect.

The BFK looks like it did a few tours in Afghanistan. Now I do admit if I know I'll be working at something really rough I put on the Seiko.




I know I'm not comparing like with like, the Damasko cost me 5x the price of the Seiko, there's a ceramic bezel on the Damasko and aluminium on the Seiko, but it does show the difference between a sapphire and hardlex IRL.

The Damasko is a great watch for the money isn't it. What made you go for it?

Oafley Jones

Damasko don't use ceramic bezels. They're coated aluminium iirc.

emo72

Seiko sumo without a doubt. eBay Ireland had them for about 450 euro. Unreal watch for that money.

2shea

emo72 wrote: »

Seiko sumo without a doubt. eBay Ireland had them for about 450 euro. Unreal watch for that money.

I second that. But I'd advise to try one on first if possible as they are a big watch but wear very nicely. I only bought mine after seeing it in the flesh. Had never considered one but they were in all the stores in Japan when I was there in May and I tried one o just out for a look at it. Bought it straight away.

2shea

I mentioned a few Seiko watches in my reply to the op. But I out of all of the ones I mentioned the Sumo and the SARB 35 are serious for the money. I have heard people on hear give out about the SARB 33 and 35 as there was alot of hype from watch bloggers on YouTube about them but they really are a beautiful watch for €400 if you can get one. Has a sapphire glass in it too, display back isn't but that isn't an issue.

blue5000

2shea wrote: »

The Damasko is a great watch for the money isn't it. What made you go for it?

Thanks. I suppose it was a combination of the engineering, the legibility and value for money. It's also the only >€1000 watch I have, which was bought used almost 3 years ago.

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Damasko don't use ceramic bezels. They're coated aluminium iirc.

Not aluminium anyway, this extract is from worn and wound;

The fun doesn’t stop there though, the bezel, which has large teeth for easy gripping is also made of ice-hardened steel. The insert is ceramic with Damest coating… It’s another proprietary treatment developed by Damasko that layers materials to create an absurdly hard and scratch resistant surface, that also has enough elasticity to not crack. Once again, it just looks like an even matte black surface, belying the amount of technology present.

https://wornandwound.com/review/damasko-da44-review/

imme

tedpan wrote: »

Lol, it's not an automatic and the op didn't want a chronograph

"Not really interested in a chronograph"

That's what the op said Ted

Smiley face indeed

tedpan

imme wrote:

That's what the op said Ted

imme wrote:

Smiley face indeed

My comment was focused primarily on 'must be automatic,' not the not really interested in a chronograph point.

Anyway, think the OP has some ideas now

gerfmurphy

Omegamanic has some seiko beauts up on tz btw

Alanstrainor

Well this thread came in handy for me, my 30th is fast approaching and the folks want to get me a watch. I think I fancy the Steinhart divers, there's a good selection.

This looks particularly good:

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/diver-watch/ocean-1-black-keramik.html

Or

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/diver-watch/ocean-one-vintage-red-783.html

I do quite like the more vintage look of this:

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/diver-watch/ocean-one-vintage.html

But perhaps it takes it a bit far.

Ionised

I have the third one in your list and love it. I was torn between the second two but chose the the third as it has a less fussy bezel and dial, and loses the lugs around the crown.

Alanstrainor

Ionised wrote: »

I have the third one in your list and love it. I was torn between the second two but chose the the third as it has a less fussy bezel and dial, and loses the lugs around the crown.

Nice. Just thinking about this more and I think the 42mm case watches I linked are too large on my tiny wrists. They do a few 39 models:

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/diver-watch/ocean-one-39-black.html

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/diver-watch/gmt-ocean-one-39-black-keramik.html

Both are still lovely, and fit the style I'm after.

unkel

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Nice. Just thinking about this more and I think the 42mm case watches I linked are too large on my tiny wrists. They do a few 39 models:

That might be a mistake. Could you try on a few similar 42mm watches somewhere, maybe even some of the Steinharts you linked to from other members here?

I've tiny wrists myself, but my 42/43 watches are fine

Alanstrainor

unkel wrote: »

That might be a mistake. Could you try on a few similar 42mm watches somewhere, maybe even some of the Steinharts you linked to from other members here?

I've tiny wrists myself, but my 42/43 watches are fine

Thanks for the heads up. I think I'll have to go watch shopping so! Cheers.

unkel

I don't think you can buy / try on Steinharts in any B&M shop though, but you might PM owners on here, I'd say most would be happy to let you try on their watch for a minute. Friendly crowd in here

Homer

I have the legacy diver and you are more than welcome to try it on (42mm) if you are near dublin airport just drop me a PM and we can meet up.

Alanstrainor

Thanks for the offer of help lads, it was very much appreciated. I managed to try on some similar sized watches and make a decision. I went with the Steinhart Ocean One 39, the smaller of the models available. I got it yesterday evening and it's a thing of beauty. It has a lovely weight to it and the materials are wonderful. Still enjoying staring at it and turning the bezel. Here's some pics on my wrist: