Simple watch for under $1,000?

[manboobs]

Hey all, need your input in picking my first "serious" watch!

First up, the one that inspired me to get a beautiful watch in the first place, the Stowa Marine Original:


But then I thought... I don't think I can be bothered to wind the watch daily, so the Marine auto?


I then looked around a bit and saw the Tissot Visodate which I almost bought instantly IF the real thing looked like this:


Unfortunately it doesn't... So for now I'm still on the hunt.

So next up I found the beautiful Prometheus:

Which is gorgeous but I haven't seen it with a leather strap yet...


So why not the Stowa? One is I can't choose between the original and auto, the other is I don't know if I can't wait 3 months!
Although... for now I do have a Bulova coming as a "temporary" watch as well as a seiko 5 I've been wearing for a couple of year.

Any other suggestions? I think you guys know what I'm looking for, the perfect daily beater!

[lambretta]

Seiko sarb will come, right about NOW!

[heb]

Hello Manboobs,
At last count there are 765,879 possibilities meeting your general criteria. Too many to remember and certainly too many to list here.

I can say that you are definitely on the right path; you picked some excellent watches so far. However, none of them are considered "beaters"--like watches you do heavy lawn work or operate jack-hammers with.

Good luck with your selection and remember the old saying: "Paralysis by Analysis". Pick one.

heb

[exiLe]

The perfect daily, minimalistic, 'beater' would most likely be a Dive watch. At least that's the common conception around here, which, in theory; makes sense.

I'm sure you've viewed the dive watch world a bit and seen what there is to offer there but there are some minimalistic designs there as well.

If you were able to raise your budget just a bit more I would suggest getting a Nomos. In house movement, top notch quality, and the odds of you seeing another on someone's wrist in passing would be slim.

Another option to consider at the ~$1,000 price point would be a Ball. They have options from divers to more classy, minimalistic dress designs. A personal favorite of mine is the Engineer II Red Label.





Just a gorgeous design and a COSC movement to boot!

[ckot]

There is a pretty big size difference between the watches you list. The Stowa Marine Auto is 40mm, which will wear fairly large because it has a large dial and minimal bezel. The Prometheus is 42mm, which is quite big for this style, but certainly in line with recent fashions. You could try on a similarly sized Raymond Weil Freelancer at a local mall/jeweler and see how that size looks on your wrist.

As Lambretta predicted, someone has to mention the Seiko SARB line: it is a higher spec line than what they sell here, and they make some beautiful watches that should be a step above a Tissot (except with a lower beat-rate). They aren't sold in the US/Europe, so people buy them from independent sources in Japan, such as SeiyaJapan. Orient Star is a similar level line from another great Japanese watch company. Theirs tend to be a bit bigger than the SARB line.


The Stowa Marine Auto is at the very top of my wish list, but there is a long wait to get one. Any of the others you mention would be great watches. So, you've got to go with your gut.

[DCOmegafan]

The Stowa clearly grabbed you. Go with that. I prefer the MO, by the way.

[ckot]

Laco makes a 42mm automatic marine watch:

(they also have a 36mm one, if you prefer much smaller)

[mercera]

I'm torn between the visodate and the Prometheus as my everyday watch. My problem is that I can't get anyone who owns the Prometheus to tell me if it's any good...

[DragonDan]

@mercera, I've owned a Prometheus Jellyfish. Impressed with the quality, and the movement is quite accurate. I do believe it was a Seiko SR16. I gifted it to a friend, who wears it regularly. You wouldn't go wrong with their dress watch, and customer service is very good

[mercera]

Thank you!