get an automatic if you like the way the second hand sweeps instead of "ticks" and enjoy the musical sound of the movement when you hold it up to your ear

though you don't have to change the battery in automatics, the movement still need service maybe 5-7 years depends on useage

what kind of watch are you look for? dressy? sports? i am into sports watch, so can't help you much if you are into more dressy watches

seiko and citizen offers a wide range of sports watch well under you budget, both offered in automatics (e.g. seiko SBDC003, citizen 1000m automatic diver) or even seiko kinetic (quartz with battery that charges from the motion of your wrist) or citizen eco drive (solar power)

you can also check out Fortis, Stowa, Sinn

and if you like sports/divers watch, check out "Marathon SAR". i found it to be the best bang for the bucks for [well] under $1000

 

oris

 

Thanks for the help

I'm more into dressy watches. I usually won't wear a watch unless I'm in a shirt and tie, so that sort of kills the "sporty" market.

I actually own a nice quartz Seiko I purchased in Japan, a Citizen Ecodrive Chronograph, and a Tiffany quartz. I'm looking for something with a name that comes at a little higher price-point.

I'll google around Fortis, Stowa, and Sinn... see if any of them fit my taste

 

just get a simple movado and call it done.

 

do you want the watch ready to wear 99% of the time? if so, get quartz. only get automatic if you don't mind seting the time or you plan to buy a watch winder as well

do you want the watch to be accurate within +/-0.2 sec all the times? if so, get a seiko (or citizen or even casio) that can receive atomic signal and will correct itself to atomic clock when the signal is received successfullly. the margin of error is for the atomic radio wave to travel from the tower to your watch

since you already owned a few quartz, maybe you can try out an automatic and see if you like the smooth sweeping second hand

do you want to get entry level luxury brand or bang for bucks? Japanese manufacturer still offers the best bang for bucks (luxury level or not)

here's a couple of dressy automatic suggestion:

- SEIKO Spirit Automatic Watch 6R15 SCVS013

- Doxa DECO

- Stowa Antea, Marine, or Exima

 

Oris is the best deal for the money. TT1 is an excellent value.

 

^ Did you end up getting that through my recommendation in Pasadena???

 

Called her up and she gave me a VERY good quote on a couple of watches. I'm heading down there tomorrow afternoon to look in person and maybe pick one up. Thanks a ton Nate!

 

Think we have a winner

 

This is what I got a few months ago as a wedding present from my fiancee:



Obviously, it's two steps below what you were looking at, pricewise, but I really like it. I wanted something casual (I wear dress pants and a polo or button down shirt to work, not a tie or suit), and didn't want to spend more than $5-600. With watches, I felt like everything we saw was either a $100 dept. store watch, or $1k+ bling. There didn't seem to be a lot of middle ground.