Because I’m sick and tired of problems with the bands on the cheaper ones. Either they’re rubber, and they break at the hole most often used after a few years, or they’re cloth, and the pins fall out (the one I’ve owned now for about four months have had the top pin fall out four or five times. I don’t believe this is normal).
Granted, I get a lot of use out of them for the money before that happens (except in the case above), but I’m starting to think this may be one of those cases of cheap boots vs. expensive boots. So how much should I shell out to get a decent amount of use out of my watch? What sort of band should I look for?
Metal band. One of my watches was a hand-me-down from my mother, who wore it for years, and now I will wear it for years.
ETA: It runs about $100-150 new. I’m sure she got it at a Wholesale Club for like, $60. Neither my mom nor I spend a lot of money on watches - I’d rather buy cheap ones and have different ones for different days.
My SO got a $300 watch as a gift from his mother which is absolutely gorgeous and also will probably never break down. Metal band.
I would check estate sales. I inherited mine from my father, kept it locked away for a decade or so, decided to get it appraised and learned that my father had purchased a well-made but not collectible model. So, since it was not going to fund my retirement I decided that I can use it for what it was designed for.
My last watch was very similar to this one on Amazon. I wore it for 5 years before getting a new one. The old one was still fine (with battery replacements now and then) but scratched up, so I wanted something prettier.
It’s pretty easy to find decent men’s or women’s metal-band watches for around $50, especially if you watch for sales. And they last.
There’s also the option of replacing the band. If you like leather or plastic bands, and they last you a few years, you can keep your watch and put a new band on it for a few dollars. Most jewelry stores, luggage stores, and department stores will sell you a band and install it on your watch - it’s also reasonably easy to replace the band yourself if you have good manual dexterity.
You don’t need to spend more than $50-75 to get a good quality metal banded watch that will last for a decade. How much are you spending on your current watches?
Yeah, I’m not so confident about that in this case. If the pins keep falling out, what would be the point? The cheap watches are already about $17-20; might as well think of it as buying two and having it last longer…
As someone who loves watches - I agree you don’t have to spend much. If you don’t mind metal - it is the way to go. If stainless steel (which most are) - you can even polish out the scratches yourself (tutorials abound). If you do get metal - don’t get black, “gold”, or anything but plain stainless - the “gold” will wear off and it will look crappy.
I’m on my 3d or 4th Timex Ironman.
Get a good 5 yrs or so out of each before the band or electronics go.
And I pretty much beat the crap out of them.
Doesn’t impress me as too bad for a $30-40 investment.
Kinda curious how long you expect a relatively inexpensive watch to last?
IMO, any watch less than $30-40 is essentially disposable.
But anything more than that should last pretty long.
If it really bothers you, why don’t you use your phone?
I remember an article by Royko once - he said he didn’t wear a watch, because people are always happy to tell you the time.
Also should add - you should get a watch with mineral or better yet sapphire crystal. This costs a bit more, but keep watch crystal (glass) from scratching. Any idea what styles you like?
Good point, I’m pretty much the same way. I have watches for work or dress use, and what I call a “black, plastic watch” like a Timex Ironman for hiking/skiing/biking/paddling. I beat the crap out of those and they last 4-5 years as well. I can’t say I’ve ever thought that was a poor use of money.
Because it’s a dumbphone that I usually keep off, because 98% of the time no one is calling me and keeping it on just wastes the battery.
As for leather bands, how do they attach to the watch? As I said, if it’s with pins or anything like pins, then for reasons outlined in my OP, it’ll do me just as little good as what I have now.
As an aside, the watch company said they could take a look at it, but that I’d need to provide $10 for shipping and handling back to me. I paid $17 for the watch, IIRC.
Technically they are called spring bars (some people call the metal pins in the band joints “pins” so it may cause confusion) and almost all metal and leather bands use them. Very cheap watches tend to have cheaper spring bars, but I’ve never had much of an issue with a watch around $80 or more (that I can recall).
Leather bands will eventually wear out, smell, whatever - don’t expect them to look good if you wear them every day - even after a year. That being said - I like them - and replace them. Most watch places should have no problems fitting new and probably better pins in your watch with a band purchase. They run into that all the time. But keep in mind there is a chance the holder for the pins isn’t good - and the pin could still pop out. Doubtful though.
If you really want the watch to last - spend a little more than $17. Fossil, times, seiko, citizen - any of thos should do ok, but I’m partial to the last two for reliability reasons - and would go with mineral crystal (or better) if possible.
I’ve had cheap watches with metal bands - and the bands tend to be somewhat fragile or uncomfortable.
The pin that popped out was itself a replacement — I lost the first one — and despite the fact that the repairer said there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with the plastic frame/holes holding it in, I’m leery now.
And yeah, I’ve definitely come to the conclusion that I need to pay some up front costs. I’ve now got four cheapo watches I’ve bought over the past decade or so that still run, but whose bands have broken or lost the pin, and I’m damn sick of it now.
Any idea what style you are looking for? Dress/sporty? G shock is also a popular brand - and while not my style - I think it is used fairly often by men/women in the Military and supposed to be pretty rugged. I doubt they would put up with the bands coming off…