What time is it? Watches and horology

I'm in the market for a new watch. I think my last watch was a 21st birthday present, but after multiple troubles I think I gave up on that over 5 years ago. Since then I've had intermittent flutterings with a cheapo Casio but the strap broke a year ago and I never got it sorted because I was holding out for something a bit nicer.

The criteria I have been thinking about include

• £300-£400 budget (lower end would be preferable)
  
• I don't know much about watches but I'm tickled by the idea of an automatic movement
  
• Not to large (slim wrists)
  
• Simple look (I don't like multiple faces)
  
• Basically a versatile everyday watch that isn't out of place worn with a T-shirt or something smart... Essentially I plan to wear it basically all the time... cycling, gardening, life, sleeping and I probably won't remember to take it off when I shower.
  
  

The only brand I've really looked at so far have been Tissot. When I looked previously, I remember liking the PR100 Automatic with a blue face but I'm not so sure now. I really like this Visodate that was posted on here a few months ago (below) too, but I don't really like the stock leather strap.

Does anyone have any suggestions of watches or brands to look at in that price bracket?

There can be only one... Seiko 007

Visodate is lovely, but quite dressy. For £300 I'd have a Seiko SARB:

SARB033

SARB035

SARB017 Alpinist

Smiths Everest or something else from Timefactors for something a bit different http://www.timefactors.com/watches.htm

Or one of the huge range of Seikos, personally I like the Alpinist

I've found Creation Watches reliable and they have a big range at decent prices http://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-automatic-watches-69/

Smiths Everest

Glad you posted that. I was going to, because I always do, but didn't because I sound like a stuck record. But yeah. The best watch available under £300.

Seiko 5 SARB065

Also creation watches

The Alpinist has a horrid cast (feeling) case, which makes it feel cheap IMHO.

Too easy... Steinhart Ocean One Black, €380... I've got the black DLC model and wear it every day, gets bashed all the time and it still looks brand new after a couple of years... Great watches for the money...

That bubble though...

I don't have a bubble on mine... I really wish it did tho'...

How long have you had that one now? And how does the DLC look, does it chip easily?

Steinhart Ocean 1 Vintage Military. No Cyclops to make it look like a granny's reading lens (well, no date. Perfect).

Wore mine to a meet-up of watch nerds and a guy with one of the most exceptional collections took a glance at it and said "Oh, a Milsub, thought we'd see one eventually' which made me feel a little dirty, but hey.

Exceptional quality, 300m water resistance, sapphire crystal, ETA 2824-2 movement and styled after the ultimate Rolex.

Really can't be beat for the price.

Just under two years and it looks great, not a scratch on it... The bracelet didn't fare so well, that got scratched to fuck inside a few weeks so I put the Zulu on it... Shame, nice bracelet but it was obvs PVD and not DLC like the watch itself...

I agree with @BeauNidle, that's a beauty as well... I'm actually very tempted to get one of those just to scratch my MilSub itch...

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And also, fuck this forum software.

Manly pic is manly.

Excellent wrist fur.

You should see my mustache, Tom Selleck is jealous.

Cheers all. Lots to think about. I like the Smiths Everest, and the Steinhart Ocean 1 (particularly @Dammit 's version). My main worry with the diver type watches is that they'll look enormous on my baby wrists (16.5-17cm). Turns out one of the guys I regularly chat to at TTs owns a local Jewellers shop so I'll go visit him this weekend to try some stuff on.

SKX007 is great on a NATO or ZULU. The realtively short lug to lug height makes it wear quite small. I have 6.5" wrists and it fits nicely, although for some reason it looks bigger in the picture but that's just the weird perspective.

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I thought about you this morning when I put on my lfgss dorks polo shirt. Hope you're well.

Jimmy bond strap ftw

I'm always thinking about him when I take mine off... 👉💩👌

Ha.

#colouredtyres

Needs a few links removed from the bracelet but I like it.

Are the bracelet links screw type or pin?

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