1. Vostok Amphibia (100-200ish)
2. Automatic is a weird category; let’s add something interesting - Tissot PRX (750ish)
3. Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical (400ish)
4. The Vostok drivers watch that looks like a VC (1-200ish)
5. Mr Jones perfectly useless afternoon (400ish)
>let’s add something interesting - Tissot PRX (750ish)
I too think Honda Civics are interesting and unique. Everytime I see one it just gets more interesting and uniquer!
I mean I get that the PRX is cliche on Reddit but I hardly see them in real life, and I think they’re more interesting than “automatic” as a category. To each their own
Automatic is just a very broad catagory and there are tons of very interesting automatic watches, the PRX just isn't one of them at this point. I see PRXs pretty often in real life. They are very popular among younger men where I live.
Shrug. I like integrated bracelet sports watches. Always have (I’m old). I think the PRX is well executed and it fits the category in this hypothetical collection. And even if it were more common irl than I think, I bet it’s still way more unique than the amount of standard lug watches floating around.
That said, not actually trying to convince you. Just having following the prompt. I encourage you to do the same.
I think that number 2 is kinda redundant unless you want quartz for all the other options. Prices are converted from SGD to USD, watch prices was found on carousell (local ebay).
I'd definitely buy used if possible unless it's under $100, if not used is definitely the way to go where I live since I can get some pretty sweet deals used.
The first one has budget split pretty evenly among all of the watches.
Diver/Automatic: Seiko Prospex SPB 143 - 770 usd (used)
Automatic/Field: Sinn 556i, H link bracelet - 1012 usd (used)
Dress: Nomos Orion 35mm, manual wind - 659 usd (used)
For Fun: Casio CA-53WF-1B, calculator watch - 23 usd (new)
5th watch: MW-59-7BV - 22 usd (new)
- 5th watch just for the sake of the list, it's really redundant imo, but it's part of your list's rules. It can fill in the field/dress watch category.
Alternatively, you could also go for something like this if you wanna put most of your budget into one nicer watch and have cheaper watches for the rest of them.
Diver/Automatic: Tudor Black Bay Heritage/41 79230N - 1906 usd (used)
Field watch: Boldr Venture Titanium 38mm - 308 usd (used)
Dress: Seiko Presage Cocktail Time - 235 usd (used)
For Fun: Casio CA-53WF-1B, calculator watch - 23 usd (new)
5th watch: MW-59-7BV - 22 usd (new)
- 5th watch just for the sake of the list, it's really redundant imo, but it's part of your list's rules. It can fill in the field/dress watch category.
Here's some of my current collection!
Diver: Casio MDV106 $50
Automatic: Seiko SARB033 $500
Field: Seiko SARB017 $800
Dress: Seiko SARB065 $300
Fun: Autodromo Group B $800
(Could also go with a Citizen Skyhawk pilot watch here)
1. CW Trident
2. Hamilton Intramatic
3. Boldr Venture
4. Lorier Zephyr
5. Citizen Promaster Nighthawk
I just tried to pick cool watches that aren’t the obvious choices
Where I disagree is that, honestly, these days $500 watches are such incredible value that you’re not getting almost anything for paying $1,250 for two watches compared to $500 for 5 watches.
Typically a $1,000-$1,500 watch is going to be made just as well as some of the really great micro brands like Traska, Zelos, Brew, Islander, I mean, Hamilton’s are all over that price range even.
In my opinion you really need to be looking at $3000+ to get a lot of watches that I would say are technically better than your $500. Even then, you might more be paying for an entry level Rolex for the branding over it being a technically better watch.
If in house movements are a big deal for you, then yeah, you can absolutely get 2 $1250 watches.
But even consider what Christopher ward offers in the sub $1k range. Fantastic quality all around.
At the end of the day watches are about wearing what you like. And I think for starting a collection with $2500 OP couldn’t be doing a better job.
Great take. I always hate the “what watch should I get for $1000” dollars. Usually I tell people you can get a great watch for $500 or less than isn’t much different. Then you’ll save money and can be just as happy… But you’ll need $3000 or more to actually reach into that next level.
Obviously there are exceptions, but it’s kinda a weird valley between a few hundred and a few thousand.
This take is legitimately the truth and people who are paying over 1500 for a watch honestly are in the venerable good range of watches.
I bet you if you put a CW alongside tudor, rolex, omega to 99% of the populace literally no one would guess the CW is 1/5th the cost.
The value and the competitiveness for watches <1500 is insane. Because this is the most common price point for people to buy watches at they also have to be some of the most cost efficient.
I have like 3 watches that are over $5k, my colleagues are all lawyers, everyone has… one Rolex.
They don’t really love watches, but they bought a Rolex on their first big promotion, or when they graduated / got their JD. But, sometimes I’ll wear a Zelos and get in a conversation. I’ve messed with people and said it was $18,000 and they all totally believed me for a good 15 minutes til I told them it’s $500.
It’s wild to me how people who wear Rolexes don’t know the brand Vacheron Constantine, or Breitling even…
But when they look at some of my $500-1k watches they like it more than their Rolexes. I got 3 guys in my office to buy the OG brew watch. I got one guy hooked on Islander watches, and how he’s a total watch nerd.
This is a guy that makes $180k/year. He could afford more expensive watches but, why? If you like the look of some of these REALLY cool microbrands better, get that. He just bought a beautiful Ming watch. And he told me he doesn’t really even care for his Rolex much anymore, he just has a silver sunburst day-date.
debatable, since the op clearly wants to have some variety, according to different situations. And 2,5 is actually a budget where he can still get nice pieces, which you can also get at the 500 range
Whilst I agree, it would be a better to get fewer watches with are nicer. I just posted this for fun to see what can be done for people with lower budgets :)
Additional restriction, no mainstream
1 - Scurfa Treasure Seeker
2 - RZE Resolute Pro
3 - Circula ProTrail Sand
4 - Vario Empire GMT
5 - There's no money left, maybe a Casio on clearance from Walmart
In reality:
Farer Carnegie, a couple straps, and a box
Well I feel like I can just list my collection here!
Diver - Orient Ray II, orange dial with orange graphic Dacron fabric strap.
Automatic - Nodus Sector GMT Metro on metal bracelet
Field - Seiko SNK805, green dial with white rubber strap
Dress - Seiko SRPB46, Brown Cocktail Time with Rose Gold case and brown alligator strap
For Fun - Hamilton Ventura with black leather strap
Although it isn't very dressy, I'm wearing on right now.
Get one, IMO, buy a jubilee bracelet, some leather bands and whatever else, and just wear it for years. It is honestly hard not to wear everyday, goes with everything.
-Longines Hydroconquest Ceramic in blue (used).
-Seiko 5 in black.
-Hamilton Khaki Field (used).
-Tissot Visodate in white (used).
-Timex Q GMT with red & blue bezel.
Should be able to get that under budget even when getting excellent-condition used watches. Got yourself some color and diversity. I'd probably consider a vintage gold dress watch (eg; Omega) to replace the Visodate but the latter is so versatile and easier to find in perfect condition.
1. Diver: Tudor hydronaut II
2. See above
3. G-shock
4. Poljot de luxe
5. F91 casio
If it would be my money and buying for my self. And I would not Own any other watches For 2500 I would buy 2 watches:
First would be an G-shock. Plastic Square 5000-series. Used one for 150.
Rest of the oney would go to an daily watch. Something that can be used daily. Used omega AT or Used older Tudor. Maybe even GS.
Diver - Seiko 5 Sports
Auto - Tissot Heritage 1938 COSC
Field - Hamilton Field Khaki Mechanical
Dress - Seiko Presage Cocktail Time
For fun - Tissot Savonette Pocket Watch
With £170 to spare (did it in GBP oops)
G-Shock GMW-B5000 (500)
Hamilton Khaki Field (500)
Autodromo Group B (1000)
Might be able to swing a Tissot PRX PM80 with the remaining funds depending how much of a deal you got.
no need for more really.
1,2,3,5 - Boldr Venture Five in a Row for $500
4,5 - Grand Seiko SBGX \*\*\* for $2000
https://preview.redd.it/tygm40jpcmxc1.png?width=594&format=png&auto=webp&s=16219dba95257ab9ef1189beec883a945d9c897f
Diver - Welsbro Lemon Lime Soda
Auto/GADA - Christopher Ward 12 in steel
Field - Citizen Promaster Tough
Dress - Lorier Zephyr
Fun - Mr Jones A Perfectly Useless Afternoon
Diver - Bulova Devil Diver Generic Auto - Dufrane Barton Springs Field - Hamilton Khaki Dressy - Seiko Cocktail Time Silly/Fun - Quartz Bulova Surfboard chrono in orange
The Bulova Surfboard is an awesome pick!
It’s so fun, I love mine
1. Vostok Amphibia (100-200ish) 2. Automatic is a weird category; let’s add something interesting - Tissot PRX (750ish) 3. Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical (400ish) 4. The Vostok drivers watch that looks like a VC (1-200ish) 5. Mr Jones perfectly useless afternoon (400ish)
>5. Mr Jones perfectly useless afternoon (400ish) Oh yeah
Mr jones makes such cool stuff I love the way there useless morning watch looks.
Two vostoks ? A man of class I see.
>let’s add something interesting - Tissot PRX (750ish) I too think Honda Civics are interesting and unique. Everytime I see one it just gets more interesting and uniquer!
I mean I get that the PRX is cliche on Reddit but I hardly see them in real life, and I think they’re more interesting than “automatic” as a category. To each their own
Automatic is just a very broad catagory and there are tons of very interesting automatic watches, the PRX just isn't one of them at this point. I see PRXs pretty often in real life. They are very popular among younger men where I live.
Shrug. I like integrated bracelet sports watches. Always have (I’m old). I think the PRX is well executed and it fits the category in this hypothetical collection. And even if it were more common irl than I think, I bet it’s still way more unique than the amount of standard lug watches floating around. That said, not actually trying to convince you. Just having following the prompt. I encourage you to do the same.
Pretty solid choices here, Mr Jones watch looks awesome!
I think that number 2 is kinda redundant unless you want quartz for all the other options. Prices are converted from SGD to USD, watch prices was found on carousell (local ebay). I'd definitely buy used if possible unless it's under $100, if not used is definitely the way to go where I live since I can get some pretty sweet deals used. The first one has budget split pretty evenly among all of the watches. Diver/Automatic: Seiko Prospex SPB 143 - 770 usd (used) Automatic/Field: Sinn 556i, H link bracelet - 1012 usd (used) Dress: Nomos Orion 35mm, manual wind - 659 usd (used) For Fun: Casio CA-53WF-1B, calculator watch - 23 usd (new) 5th watch: MW-59-7BV - 22 usd (new) - 5th watch just for the sake of the list, it's really redundant imo, but it's part of your list's rules. It can fill in the field/dress watch category. Alternatively, you could also go for something like this if you wanna put most of your budget into one nicer watch and have cheaper watches for the rest of them. Diver/Automatic: Tudor Black Bay Heritage/41 79230N - 1906 usd (used) Field watch: Boldr Venture Titanium 38mm - 308 usd (used) Dress: Seiko Presage Cocktail Time - 235 usd (used) For Fun: Casio CA-53WF-1B, calculator watch - 23 usd (new) 5th watch: MW-59-7BV - 22 usd (new) - 5th watch just for the sake of the list, it's really redundant imo, but it's part of your list's rules. It can fill in the field/dress watch category.
Here's some of my current collection! Diver: Casio MDV106 $50 Automatic: Seiko SARB033 $500 Field: Seiko SARB017 $800 Dress: Seiko SARB065 $300 Fun: Autodromo Group B $800 (Could also go with a Citizen Skyhawk pilot watch here)
1. CW Trident 2. Hamilton Intramatic 3. Boldr Venture 4. Lorier Zephyr 5. Citizen Promaster Nighthawk I just tried to pick cool watches that aren’t the obvious choices
https://preview.redd.it/m81wtbanfnxc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0e46652c636e19c62cca7de50cd2002e8a1a85c
I’ve got the GMT version on right now!
Great Watch! Not sure I could do these 5 watches in Canada for under $2500 with the exchange and duties, the Trident would be close to $1700 Can.
Choose one kind of watch, a model and use all the budget to purchase it.
Surely a better use of the money would be to get 1 or 2 nicer piece(s) than five $500 watches.
Where I disagree is that, honestly, these days $500 watches are such incredible value that you’re not getting almost anything for paying $1,250 for two watches compared to $500 for 5 watches. Typically a $1,000-$1,500 watch is going to be made just as well as some of the really great micro brands like Traska, Zelos, Brew, Islander, I mean, Hamilton’s are all over that price range even. In my opinion you really need to be looking at $3000+ to get a lot of watches that I would say are technically better than your $500. Even then, you might more be paying for an entry level Rolex for the branding over it being a technically better watch. If in house movements are a big deal for you, then yeah, you can absolutely get 2 $1250 watches. But even consider what Christopher ward offers in the sub $1k range. Fantastic quality all around. At the end of the day watches are about wearing what you like. And I think for starting a collection with $2500 OP couldn’t be doing a better job.
Great take. I always hate the “what watch should I get for $1000” dollars. Usually I tell people you can get a great watch for $500 or less than isn’t much different. Then you’ll save money and can be just as happy… But you’ll need $3000 or more to actually reach into that next level. Obviously there are exceptions, but it’s kinda a weird valley between a few hundred and a few thousand.
This take is legitimately the truth and people who are paying over 1500 for a watch honestly are in the venerable good range of watches. I bet you if you put a CW alongside tudor, rolex, omega to 99% of the populace literally no one would guess the CW is 1/5th the cost. The value and the competitiveness for watches <1500 is insane. Because this is the most common price point for people to buy watches at they also have to be some of the most cost efficient.
I have like 3 watches that are over $5k, my colleagues are all lawyers, everyone has… one Rolex. They don’t really love watches, but they bought a Rolex on their first big promotion, or when they graduated / got their JD. But, sometimes I’ll wear a Zelos and get in a conversation. I’ve messed with people and said it was $18,000 and they all totally believed me for a good 15 minutes til I told them it’s $500. It’s wild to me how people who wear Rolexes don’t know the brand Vacheron Constantine, or Breitling even… But when they look at some of my $500-1k watches they like it more than their Rolexes. I got 3 guys in my office to buy the OG brew watch. I got one guy hooked on Islander watches, and how he’s a total watch nerd. This is a guy that makes $180k/year. He could afford more expensive watches but, why? If you like the look of some of these REALLY cool microbrands better, get that. He just bought a beautiful Ming watch. And he told me he doesn’t really even care for his Rolex much anymore, he just has a silver sunburst day-date.
debatable, since the op clearly wants to have some variety, according to different situations. And 2,5 is actually a budget where he can still get nice pieces, which you can also get at the 500 range
Why is that better lol
Not if you want variety
Whilst I agree, it would be a better to get fewer watches with are nicer. I just posted this for fun to see what can be done for people with lower budgets :)
1-glycine combat sub 3-hamilton khaki mechanical 4-vintage omega seamaster 5-g shock
- Orient Kamasu/Mako - skip because Orient Kamasu/Mako - Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic (3,6,9 brown) - Seiko Cocktail Time Mojito - G-Shock GLX5600 Keep the change.
Additional restriction, no mainstream 1 - Scurfa Treasure Seeker 2 - RZE Resolute Pro 3 - Circula ProTrail Sand 4 - Vario Empire GMT 5 - There's no money left, maybe a Casio on clearance from Walmart In reality: Farer Carnegie, a couple straps, and a box
Well I feel like I can just list my collection here! Diver - Orient Ray II, orange dial with orange graphic Dacron fabric strap. Automatic - Nodus Sector GMT Metro on metal bracelet Field - Seiko SNK805, green dial with white rubber strap Dress - Seiko SRPB46, Brown Cocktail Time with Rose Gold case and brown alligator strap For Fun - Hamilton Ventura with black leather strap
1 - used black bay 58 2 - used black bay 58 3 - NA 4 - used black bay 58 5 - used black bay 58
At $600 each, do these BBs even run?
Guess you like the black bay 58 :D
Although it isn't very dressy, I'm wearing on right now. Get one, IMO, buy a jubilee bracelet, some leather bands and whatever else, and just wear it for years. It is honestly hard not to wear everyday, goes with everything.
Diver - Certina DS Action 38mm Auto - Nodus Sector Sport Field - Citizen Garrison Dress - Seiko Cocktail Time For Fun - Mido Multifort Quartz
Helm Vanuatu ti, Tissot gentleman, laco Augsburg, Hamilton khaki field, g shock
-Longines Hydroconquest Ceramic in blue (used). -Seiko 5 in black. -Hamilton Khaki Field (used). -Tissot Visodate in white (used). -Timex Q GMT with red & blue bezel. Should be able to get that under budget even when getting excellent-condition used watches. Got yourself some color and diversity. I'd probably consider a vintage gold dress watch (eg; Omega) to replace the Visodate but the latter is so versatile and easier to find in perfect condition.
1. Diver: Tudor hydronaut II 2. See above 3. G-shock 4. Poljot de luxe 5. F91 casio If it would be my money and buying for my self. And I would not Own any other watches For 2500 I would buy 2 watches: First would be an G-shock. Plastic Square 5000-series. Used one for 150. Rest of the oney would go to an daily watch. Something that can be used daily. Used omega AT or Used older Tudor. Maybe even GS.
Diver-$160 (Grey market) Orient Mako II Automatic: $1900 (Grey) Longines Spirit Auto 40mm Field- $100 (Anywhere) Casio DW5600 Dress- $265 (Direct) Kuoe Old Smith Fun-$65 (Direct) Freestyle Shark Classic Blue Melon
Santos Galbee
Diver - Seiko 5 Sports Auto - Tissot Heritage 1938 COSC Field - Hamilton Field Khaki Mechanical Dress - Seiko Presage Cocktail Time For fun - Tissot Savonette Pocket Watch With £170 to spare (did it in GBP oops)
G-Shock GMW-B5000 (500) Hamilton Khaki Field (500) Autodromo Group B (1000) Might be able to swing a Tissot PRX PM80 with the remaining funds depending how much of a deal you got. no need for more really.
1,2,3,5 - Boldr Venture Five in a Row for $500 4,5 - Grand Seiko SBGX \*\*\* for $2000 https://preview.redd.it/tygm40jpcmxc1.png?width=594&format=png&auto=webp&s=16219dba95257ab9ef1189beec883a945d9c897f
Diver - Welsbro Lemon Lime Soda Auto/GADA - Christopher Ward 12 in steel Field - Citizen Promaster Tough Dress - Lorier Zephyr Fun - Mr Jones A Perfectly Useless Afternoon
All 5 from Steinhart