Recommendations... automatic 300-500

tobdom

Currently on the hunt for a new watch, my first automatic. Budget in the 300-500 (absolute max) range. Would be looking for kind of a daily wearer that leans towards a dress watch, preference for leather strap.

Recommendations wise I suppose I'm looking for good manufacturers/brands for that kind of watch with that kind of budget.

Additional requirement is for some space on the back case for engraving. While I really do like the look of the exposed movement (which seems prevalent among automatic mechanicals) I'm keen on having some engraving on the back to mark my son's birth (his name & DOB), I've done the same to mark there birth of my 2 other children (great excuse for treating myself!!).

Happy to hear your input.

Trigger Happy

I have a seagull 1963 which is in that price range. There are a few flavours out there including display back. It's getting a lot of wrist time at the moment.

Edit, sorry, misread your post. The seagull is not an auto.

pjdarcy

Maybe check out Orient's Star range. You might find something you like in your price range.

Or maybe try to find a Seiko SARB033. They're a little hard to find as they have been discontinued but many people see them as a future classic.

They come with a an exposed movement but you could easily swap the case back out for a standard Seiko closed one.

Here's one for sale that's just slightly over your budget

Birneybau

Can't see if they have display casebacks or not but absolutely quality watches.

https://www.seikoboutique.ie/collections/seiko-presage

Ryath

Yea most if not all of them have display backs.

This would be my pick preferred the older SARB065 Cocktail Time version but this is still very nice.
https://www.seikoboutique.ie/products/srpb43j1?variant=31062589571114&currency=EUR&gclid=Cj0KCQiA04XxBRD5ARIsAGFygj-nXTA9GVTIOykkGCF-6WoOG26C5ZB-xVXffQzsPjiTrUuzSc6VSd4aAowfEALw_wcB

Hard to get an image that does it justice the dials look even better in the flesh.

Ryath

https://ie-watcho.glopalstore.com/watches/seiko/seiko-watches-for-men/seiko-presage/seiko-presage-cocktail-automatic-blue-dial-leather-strap-watch-srpb43j1/

€316 here with WIN3 discount code that's a bargain.

Edit oops missed the engraving bit in the OP!:o

oxocube

Ryath wrote: »

This would be my pick preferred the older SARB065 Cocktail Time version

Must, resist, buying, more, Seikos :mad:

wersal gummage

Raymond Weil (just because its mentioned a few threads down) can always be found on clearance, not bad looking and maybe fits the bill?

https://www.jomashop.com/raymond-weil-watch-2837-stc-00609.html

Seiko the obvious one. My favourite watch in that price range is a Hamilton, not entirely dressy but far from a vulgar or brash watch... Might be worth a look to see if they have anything suitable?


Edit, apologies the RW is a display case back

tobdom

Thanks for the suggestions!

Absolutely not against a display case back, if it would still leave enough room for some engraving (probably hand engraving at that rate).

Will look into some of these for sure.

redlead

wersal gummage wrote: »

My favourite watch in that price range is a Hamilton, not entirely dressy but far from a vulgar or brash watch... Might be worth a look to see if they have anything suitable?

The Hamilton is what immediately sprung to mind when I saw this. I love the Khaki field with a brown leather strap. It has a modified ETA movement too so would be perfect for an every day wearer.

If someone wanted to test the water with an automatic you can't go wrong with a cheap vostok once you modify the strap. Horrendous time keepers so maybe not the best daily but there's just something about them...

Cienciano

Could you not get a watch with a clear back and get the engraving around the edge?

tobdom

Cienciano wrote: »

Could you not get a watch with a clear back and get the engraving around the edge?

I'm sure it must be possible, might be hard to find someone to do it is all I would think. It might be the way I'll be going anyway, and I'm now very drawn to the Hamilton Khaki Field.....

Ryath

There's a lot of Khaki Field models which type were you looking at?

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-ie/collection/khaki-field.html

If you like them you'd probably like the B UHR fliegers. Steinhart have some nice ones. Always tempted to pick up a homage one but I'm holding out that someone will buy a Stowa one for me someday! They'll get the hint eventually.

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/de/fliegeruhren/nav-b-uhr-44-automatik-b-muster.html

tobdom

I'm keen on this one or one quite similar, the 38 or 42mm... https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-ie/h70455533-khaki-field-auto.html

Much to consider yet!

Ryath

If your ever passing Kildare Village worth checking out Hour Passion can have some great discounts on Hamilton. It's not a brand stocked too many places in Ireland just Arnotts and Dublin Airport I think.

Zagato

Glycine combat sub? Glycine always seems have good used prices

NIMAN

tobdom wrote: »

I'm keen on this one or one quite similar, the 38 or 42mm... https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-ie/h70455533-khaki-field-auto.html

Much to consider yet!

One of the watches I always fancied owning.

Your link sent me off searching to see what would be best price I could pick one up for.

I found a Canadian dealer selling brand new for €321 delivered for free within US/Canada.

I would always worry about a big customs hit if I was to get it posted over, but I have a family member in Canada who is thinking of a holiday back home in the Spring.

Decisions, decisions!

tobdom

NIMAN wrote: »

One of the watches I always fancied owning.

Your link sent me off searching to see what would be best price I could pick one up for.

I found a Canadian dealer selling brand new for €321 delivered for free within US/Canada.

I would always worry about a big customs hit if I was to get it posted over, but I have a family member in Canada who is thinking of a holiday back home in the Spring.

Decisions, decisions!

Please do share (PM if needs be) the info, would be interested in that. I also have someone in US who I could get it delivered to. I had found it for about €350 on a US site....

mountain

I know it’s outside your budget, but stowa offer an engraving service on the inside of the watch.

https://www.stowa.de/en/Engravings/

NIMAN

Folks,

If you order a watch from another EU country, I take it you can't be hit with any extra charges?

hitemfrank

Nah you shouldn't be expecting any other charges.

Cienciano

When it's available, this watch looks good for the money

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058022351

fat bloke

You could just name your child Hamilton.

Zagato

fat bloke wrote: »

You could just name your child Hamilton.

I would definitely get away with that as long as she thought it was after the musical and not a watch

tobdom

fat bloke wrote: »

You could just name your child Hamilton.

:-) a novel idea!!
Child already born and named however...

Thanks for all the input folks, I'll mull it over a while and probably seek out the best price I can find (over the next number of weeks) on the Hamilton Khaki Field.

Cienciano

NIMAN wrote: »

Folks,

If you order a watch from another EU country, I take it you can't be hit with any extra charges?

Yeah, you're good once you're inside the EU. I always click it on Ebay. I think under €25 is the limit for outside the EU, so cheap bits and pieces on aliexpress are fine.

redlead

If you go onto chrono24 you can filter location for EU only, that's what I do. So long as you do a bit of due diligence in the seller then you will get some great prices for Hamiltons

Cienciano

I really like the day date jazzmasters

pjdarcy

fat bloke wrote: »

You could just name your child Hamilton.

Genius! My first two kids will be Submariner and Navitimer

Ryath

Just posted this in bargain watches thread. How about this Hamilton? Great price at £258~€314 with Irish vat rrp is €525
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001F7MIYI?psc=1

tobdom

Ryath wrote: »

Just posted this in bargain watches thread. How about this Hamilton? Great price at £258~€314 with Irish vat rrp is €525
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001F7MIYI?psc=1

Thanks for that, missed the bargain anyway at this stage, but I'm not as keen on that one as the Field (not King).... I like it, and I like the day display, just not the positioning of it on the face.

tobdom

After much searching, researching and a late change of heart on exactly which one I wanted (strap colour/case size)..... I've just pulled the trigger on the Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic (H70455733), black face, black strap, 38mm case.

Bought in on Jomashop, to be delivered to someone in NY who will be visiting us in a few weeks. Got it for $414, so should get it into my hands for about €380, which seems like good going based on my extensive searches!

Looking forward to getting it on the wrist! :-) Thanks for all the input.... Happy Friday!!

tobdom

It arrived this morning..... Very happy!!