I've read, literally, this entire thread and done a lot of research. I'm a broke student, so a 4 figure watch is out of reach for me. I'm debating the merits of getting an "Orange Monster" as well as a lower profile watch together for 350 or less.

Then I was thinking, might I be better off just blowing 350-400 on one nicer watch than two lesser ones?

I'd like some variety, but I'd also really like a classy piece to wear on my wrist. As much as I love the Orange Monster, I'm not sure I could wear it at every occasion with every outfit.

Thoughts?

Here's the watches I was considering buying with the OM:



Not exactly low profile, I suppose, but still not as flashy.



Again, not exactly low profile, but I'm not looking for a watch to be invisible.

I have been looking for a nice watch and would like to spend <$500. What do you think of these?

Hamilton Jazzmaster H32515555 - $625 MSRP, ~$400 online





Seagull M199S - ~$350





slightly different model from the back:



I'm not a baller and like the IWC watches but can't afford them. This seems like a pretty nice alternative.

Parnis - ~$85


vs

ICW Portuguese Chronograph - ~$5k



Also they make some that look similar to Panerai. According to people from watch forums who bought them they are supposedly pretty good quality too.

Where do ya find these Parnis watches -- google looked pretty sparse when I was searching. I like that one pictured above.

1.7K:

Lume shot:


2.7k:



Little over 3:

Nice picks, dibbs.

The sinn pieces are much nicer watches than the B&Rs for less money.

Fwiw, b&r was basically rebranding sinn pieces before they lauched the instrument line.

I fell in love with that watch when you posted it. I may just buy this. Amazing how I've talked myself up in watches, haha. Where did you find this for 350? Google is failing me.

What do the other guys think of this watch?

It is actually $429 now from their site. In the review I was reading where I first saw it he got it for $350 at the time. You can get 10% off if you are a member of watchuseek and pm the Sea-gull representative that posts there. I believe his name is usseagullwatch and he posted in the thread below which also has a lot of info and more pics.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthr...light=sea-gull

You might can find it cheaper but I couldn't find anywhere else that carried them from the brief time I searched. Didn't see any on eBay. The price on their european site is much more - Price: 1,040 € | 820 £ | 7,800 DKK.

http://www.usseagull.com/m199s.htm

http://www.seagullwatch.eu/chrono/M199S.php

They also have some other really nice watches that you might want to check out. Someone posted a bunch of new models the other day on watchuseek, but I don't see on their website yet.

here is the link to some new models
http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthr...light=sea-gull

eBay has some, not all of their models right now though. if i find another website i'll let you know if you are still interested.

I've seen some Parnis watches for sale on PMWF (google for it).
You can also usually find unbranded Pan homages on there as well.

those parnis look like really cheap knockoffs...don't do it!

the hamilton looks smaller than the seagull? i guess it depends on whether you like the complications, and the seagull definitely stand out more. i still don't see the point of the moonphase function tho.

I've never bought a watch before man take it easy...looks like I came to the right place though thanks so much everyone for the responses! I love this one!


Something like this would be my dream but I obv can't afford that right now

The Hamilton is 40mm and the Sea-gull is 41mm so the face is pretty much the same size. Not sure about the thickness, but the Sea-gull does look a bit bigger. I have tried on watches and 40mm is about the minimum size that I like. 38mm face looked too small and 46mm looked a bit too big. Somewhere between 40-44mm is ideal which both fall under.

I don't know much about moonphase either and didn't like the look on it at first. Read up a little on it and will probably get the model with the moonphase if I decide to get one from Sea-gull. They have others that look almost the same with no moonphase also.

Also found this one that I like and is a bit cheaper with moonphase. Still like the Sea-gull more though from the pics.

yeh the new Submariner looks pretty sik

Seagull and that Eco have a very different look. I think I prefer the Seagull, but is it worth 200 more? Meh, I'm not sure. I feel like if I'm going to blow 400, I may as well jump to the 500 range and find something really nice. My initial intention was to spend no more than 150 on a watch. Amazing how quickly I've talked myself up.

If I could get that seagull for 350 right now, I'd probably jump all over it. It's far enough away from the 500 range that I can resist talking myself up, haha.

This one is similar and would be ~$340 after the 10% discount.



http://www.usseagull.com/m192s.htm

I think the current price for that watch is a little high for me. If it was still $350 with the 10% off I would probably get it. The US dealer said the $350 was an introductory price and the Seagull people in China didn't like him pricing it so low since it is over $1000 msrp there so he had to raise the price.

There are a ton of low-end garbage watches that incorporate this general aesthetic, which tilts my balls off. I really, really like the rectangular/streamlined look (the "in your face" brand etching on the front that Bvlgari wrecks the whole thing for me, but the shape is handsome). In too many cases, your only choice for that look is either trash, or ultraultra primo.

Someone needs to sail in with a well built, $1K-$3K option in a nice slightly oversized rectangular with matte accents, colored hands and a clean, simple dial. I haven't kept up with the cutting edge of new designs this year, so maybe someone has.

ninja watch update plz

I'll stick to wearing only BLVGARI cologne. Their watches don't do it for me.

sick watch.

I really like the Ball moonphase with tritium, so the moonphase glows like a reactor at night.

Well, for a few years, at least.

Hey, I'm thinking about buying this watch..



... but on their webpage it says that they highly recommend this to go with the watch.

I'm not a native English speaker so would someone be so nice and tell me what that thing actually is and is it worth buying. The watch is about €300 and the chronometer movement is about €180, so would really appreciate if someone could help me w/ this.

Thanks!

It is a certified movement, which means that an official body measured the accuracy of the movement.

Just in case you don't know: the movement is the mechanism that drives the hands of the watch.

As far as I can tell, you're paying €177 for a piece of paper, because it's the exact same movement, only certified.

I'm by no means an expert, so I might be wrong about the last part.

My old Invicta Pro Diver #8926 broke and Amazon had the coin-edge version for cheap so picked that up just last week (looks exactly like a submariner). Definitely planning on getting something higher end when I get my bonus in February but this will be great in the meantime.

Also, love that Seagull watch as a cheap leather band alternative. I am tempted to get that as well.

Stowas have a good rep, so you be fine with the non-certified version.