# Mechanical wristwatches, not very cheap or expensive: What brands/models should I be looking at? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 14, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947 "2018-10-14T19:57:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/82 "2018-10-20T18:32:15Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > I’ve been wearing a Seiko 5 for years, and jever had a problem with it. They aren’t the most accurate watches in the world, and mine probably gains 5 mins per day or so. I could probably have it adjusted, but I don’t mind. I just set it to my iphone in the morning, leaving it a minute or two behind. That’s accurate enough for quick wrist-time checking. If I need the time to supreme accuracy, I can check my phone. If your watch is gaining 5 minutes per day, it doesn’t need adjustment. It needs a SERVICE. It may not be worth getting serviced (may be cheaper to buy a new one). The lower end Seikos are not adjusted out of the factory, but they’re easy to adjust yourself if you have a timegrapher. I have a Seagull 1963 chrongraph. It is, without question, the most accurate watch I own (+0-1 sec/day in 5 out of 6 positions). It’s better than my Tudor which was 10 times the price. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/83 "2018-10-20T19:31:10Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > You may want to try this video: [Top 10 Best Value Watches under $200](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDopU4KNVpE). > > And the comments are right, this guy looks a lot like Willem Defoe. That’s the best 90 seconds’ worth of information I have seen in a 27-minute video. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/84 "2018-10-20T19:55:46Z")
> [@mozchron](#): > > If your watch is gaining 5 minutes per day, it doesn’t need adjustment. It needs a SERVICE. It may not be worth getting serviced (may be cheaper to buy a new one). The lower end Seikos are not adjusted out of the factory, but they’re easy to adjust yourself if you have a timegrapher. Yeah, I already mentioned that the watch probably isn’t worth servicing. For my purposes, being off by a couple of minutes during some part of the day just doesn’t matter. If it did, I’d probably just wear a Casio or Citizen quartz watch. Or maybe I’ll buy another Seiko 5 at some point. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/85 "2018-10-23T11:46:48Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And give themselves way more than one minute’s margin to make their train 😉 Today the time mattered. Should my husband drop me at the “upstream” station, where i can always get a good seat, or at the “downstream” station, which would give us an extra 4 minutes? The clock in the car isn’t accurate, but said “downstream”. I looked at my trusty citizens watch, and we decided there might not be time to get to the entrance of the upstream station, but if he dropped me off on the side of the road, by the pedestrian path to the end of the station, I would catch the train. So we did, and I’m sitting in an excellent seat typing this note. (Get out of bed 5 minutes earlier? That’s painful.) I’ve been very happy with this watch. (Citizens ecodrive) I suppose I’ll replace it when the crystal gets annoyingly scuffed. I expect it to work with no servicing until then. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/86 "2018-10-23T15:56:51Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > It looks like I’ll probably end up with a smartwatch, after all. I recently switched from smartwatch back to regular watch. For a few years I was huge fan of the Pebble smartwatches, but struggled after they went out of business/were bought by Fitbit: when I bought a new Samsung phone I also got a Samsung Gear S2 watch, but the styling is bulky and the battery life is crap. So I tried an LG watch, which has decent styling and great battery life, but I can’t get text message notifications to work reliably. Notifications and an “always on” display are pretty much the only features I look for in a smartwatch, so about a month ago I decided “screw it, I’ll wait until something new comes out with both the looks and features I want.” I started wearing the ~$100 Citizen Eco-Drive watch I’d purchased in Paris a year ago\*, and just this past weekend I bought a ~$200 Citizen Eco-Drive with a larger face and easier-to-read date window. In short, good luck and let me know if you wind up with a smartwatch that you like. 🙂 \*I didn’t want to take a smartwatch overseas and have one more device to charge every night, but the morning of my flight I went to put my Timex on and discovered the battery had died. I traveled to Paris with no watch (!), and bought one as soon as my friends and I arrived – at the jewelry store a few doors down from our hotel. I hadn’t planned to spend so much, but it was the only one they had in silver with a date window and Arabic numerals. If they’d had/I’d seen a Timex first, I would have gotten that. 🙂 But I like it enough that I got the second Citizen as my “good” watch. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/87 "2018-10-23T18:59:57Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I recently switched from smartwatch back to regular watch. For a few years I was huge fan of the Pebble smartwatches, but struggled after they went out of business/were bought by Fitbit: when I bought a new Samsung phone I also got a Samsung Gear S2 watch, but the styling is bulky and the battery life is crap. So I tried an LG watch, which has decent styling and great battery life, but I can’t get text message notifications to work reliably. Notifications and an “always on” display are pretty much the only features I look for in a smartwatch, so about a month ago I decided “screw it, I’ll wait until something new comes out with both the looks and features I want.” I started wearing the ~$100 Citizen Eco-Drive watch I’d purchased in Paris a year ago\*, and just this past weekend I bought a ~$200 Citizen Eco-Drive with a larger face and easier-to-read date window. > > In short, good luck and let me know if you wind up with a smartwatch that you like. 🙂 > > \*I didn’t want to take a smartwatch overseas and have one more device to charge every night, but the morning of my flight I went to put my Timex on and discovered the battery had died. I traveled to Paris with no watch (!), and bought one as soon as my friends and I arrived – at the jewelry store a few doors down from our hotel. I hadn’t planned to spend so much, but it was the only one they had in silver with a date window and Arabic numerals. If they’d had/I’d seen a Timex first, I would have gotten that. 🙂 But I like it enough that I got the second Citizen as my “good” watch. Coincidentally just yesterday I saw a Citizen Eco-Drive watch at a jewelry counter and I hadn’t been aware that option before. While this wouldn’t be my mechanical steam-punk reminiscent ideal of a watch, I’m definitely considering the Eco-Drive. All things considered I’d rather not have a smartwatch if there’s a good alternative. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/88 "2018-10-24T04:02:38Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve been very happy with this watch. (Citizens ecodrive) I suppose I’ll replace it when the crystal gets annoyingly scuffed. I expect it to work with no servicing until then. My dream watch is an Eco-Drive model with Tritium T100 markings and sapphire cover. - should last forever. The closest to it I’ve seen is a Chinese brand that no one’s heard of. I like mechanical but a solar-powered quartz would suit me as well. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/89 "2018-10-24T22:20:51Z")
Ooh, if you find it, let me know. I’d like that one, too. I also prefer a small watch with a fairly simple face and arabic numerals. If you find all that, PLEASE let me know. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/90 "2018-10-24T23:55:10Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Ooh, if you find it, let me know. I’d like that one, too. I also prefer a small watch with a fairly simple face and arabic numerals. If you find all that, PLEASE let me know. 🙂 For whatever reason when I see your user name, I think of Puzz Legal. But now I realize it’s Puzzle Gal. Anyway, I posted this upthread and it seems to fit your requirements: Here is the Citizen ecodrive that I have, $94 on Amazon: [Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Eco-D.../dp/B000EQS1JW) I changed the strap but that’s the watch. Is that close to what you’re looking for? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/91 "2018-10-25T00:03:26Z")
And this is the strap I got for it: [Army Green XL NATO Watch Strap | Clockwork Synergy](https://www.clockworksynergy.com/shop/nato-straps/xl-nato/army-green-xl-nato-watch-strap/) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/92 "2018-10-25T15:00:53Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > For whatever reason when I see your user name, I think of Puzz Legal. But now I realize it’s Puzzle Gal. Anyway, I posted this upthread and it seems to fit your requirements: Here is the Citizen ecodrive that I have, $94 on Amazon: [Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Eco-D.../dp/B000EQS1JW) > > I changed the strap but that’s the watch. Is that close to what you’re looking for? That’s similar to what I have. Like mine, it’s a mineral crystal face, not sapphire. And my guess is that it has the same luminous markings as mine, which are powered by ambient light and dim quickly when I’m in the dark. I like mine a lot, but I would like to upgrade to something similar with a sapphire crystal and tritium illumination. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/93 "2018-10-25T16:35:04Z")
Seiko makes a good automatic watch, that is reliable and durable and reasonably priced. I have several SKX diver models with different color faces. I also have a couple of Omega automatics, that are timeless. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/94 "2018-10-25T16:38:26Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > That’s similar to what I have. Like mine, it’s a mineral crystal face, not sapphire. And my guess is that it has the same luminous markings as mine, which are powered by ambient light and dim quickly when I’m in the dark. I like mine a lot, but I would like to upgrade to something similar with a sapphire crystal and tritium illumination. Tritium would be great. Mine too dims quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/95 "2018-10-25T16:42:16Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Tritium would be great. Mine too dims quickly. Well, maybe not. > [@](#): > > The GTLSs used in watches give off a small amount of light: not enough to be seen in daylight, but enough to be visible in the dark from a distance of several meters. The average such GTLS has a useful life of 10–20 years. As the tritium component of the lighting is often more expensive than the rest of the watch itself, manufacturers try to use as little as possible. Being an unstable isotope with a half-life of 12.32 years, the rate of beta emissions decreases by half in that period. Citations are needed at this reference: [Tritium radioluminescence - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium_radioluminescence#Design) GSTL = gaseous tritium light source ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/96 "2018-10-25T16:57:46Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I also have a solar powered watch, a Citizen Eco Drive. Mine was about $100. … Mine is one of their “radio controlled” ones which syncs itself to the atomic clock. A little more than $100 but still in the not crazy expensive range. I think it was about $500 and I love it. A bit more will get one that automatically adjusts as you move time zones but I don’t travel enough for that. It handles swimming just fine. I basically never take it off. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947/97 "2018-10-25T17:34:48Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Mine is one of their “radio controlled” ones which syncs itself to the atomic clock. A little more than $100 but still in the not crazy expensive range. I think it was about $500 and I love it. A bit more will get one that automatically adjusts as you move time zones but I don’t travel enough for that. It handles swimming just fine. I basically never take it off. That really sounds like a great concept. I’d consider it, except that my daily wear watch was a wedding gift from my wife and it is a nice watch. I’ve worn it daily for over 16 years, since we got hitched. It (Breitling Aerospace) and my backup Citizen Eco stay quite accurate – within a few seconds a month. I re-hack them every few months. I like my watches showing the exact time, within a few seconds. I’ve been offered family ‘hand me down’ Apple watches when the person has upgraded, but I say No Thanks. I’ll keep wearing mine til I die. That’s my plan anyway. Otherwise, yeah, I’d consider those radio watches. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-wristwatches-not-very-cheap-or-expensive-what-brands-models-should-i-be-looking-at/822947.md?page=4)