I just have a super cheapo Casio digital watch. It does have a ten year battery, though, and it's quite robust. It's all I need.
Bought two of these watches in the past week. This will be my daily sickkk watch! Shame about the glass being mineral and not sapphire.
Looking good stone! I'd have mine on a leather strap if it wasn't for that damn gap in the lugs. I can't deal with it!
That's funny. I love the long lugs. They sort of "showcase" the watch when it's not on NATO. Just goes to show how subjective this stuff can be.
MOAR SEAGULL. Because I can Seriously, this strap has changed everything. I've had the watch for what, nearly a year now? And in that time, I had it on the stock olive NATO and then after that started fraying (yay made in China!) I put it on the only spare 18mm strap I had, black leather with white stitching - I knew it didn't look too hot on either, but still, I was kinda surprised by how little other people noticed it, considering I'd had comments on my HMT Pilot and Maratac Mid, both of which as quite sterile. Switch to honey calf and within three days everyone in my office, everyone in my dad's office (I go there sometimes because it's under the flightpath for the airport) and even people at a freaking funeral have noticed it and complimented me. But today I'm wearing my HMT on a tan leather NATO:
I'm analogue all the way and prefer function over form. My cam's died otherwise pics would occur but I have a Lorus Kinetic in gunmetal, worn military fashion with a webbing strap. It works, it feels comfortable and it's nigh on indestructible! Otherwise I'll go with a pocket watch, preferably stainless steel but the sterling silver ones aren't bad on the "Will it bounce?" scale. I'm rather hard on watches, analogue is first call but durability is second.
I'm having a bit of a crisis - http://www.ablogtowatch.com/bell-ross-br03-51-gmt-limited-edition/ I "accidentally" tried on a BR03-51 in Vegas a couple weeks ago when I meant to just window shop and it was love at first sight, and now I've spotted this with the added appeal of being limited to 50 and an even more striking dial... loving the blue.
I've been on the hunt for a racing style watch lately. I really love these: Tag Heuer Monaco 24 Maurice de Mauriac Maurice de Lacroix Pontos S Tudor heritage chrono Chopard GT Omega Speedmaster I really like the Le Mans Gulf styles the most. But... I can't afford $2000+ watches . Also the Maurice de Mauriac is of dubious quality. I'm looking to spend ~$500, so I've been considering the following: Steinhart Racetimer, If I can find a good deal on it. Downside is it's quite thick. Autodromo Vallelunga Chrono, Quality is dubious on this one as well Seiko Sportura Tissot V8 or Tissot PRC 200 Orient Star Retro-future or Enduro. Don't know about the quality of these either. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Yep, the MdM is definitely suspect. Looks like a company that's reaching hard for a level of quality and brand value they don't yet have. From what I can tell, it looks like generic cases and unoriginal design married to stock ETA movements. Steer clear. So you've picked either quartz chronos that are overpriced for what's on offer, or the Racetimer, which comes in at around double your stated budget of $500. Colour me confused. Anyway, if you're absolutely set on getting a chronograph and you're looking for something under $1000, you could do much worse than a Poljot Strela for $760. If you need a Swiss mechanical, you're sh*t outta luck until you hit the ~$1000 mark, because the ETA 7750 is the only "cheap" swiss chrono movement out there and the Hamilton auto chronos begin around $1000. The Japanese (Citizen/Seiko) don't even bother at the $1000 end - they start even pricier. My recommendation? Buy used. First, you let someone else absorb the instant depreciation of pulling a new watch out of its box. Second, it will make a crapload of good watches accessible within your budget - most modern (1990s onward) watches are well-built and last generations. Get something with a solid water resistance rating, steel case and sapphire crystal and odds are it'll go great as long as it hasn't been too badly abused. Better yet, go for 1970-80s Seiko for some really funky yet reasonably priced watches. Serious character in those pieces. As for me, here's one of my favourite recent pictures of my Sub. Shot whilst waiting for my flight at the BA Lounge at Manchester:
