WATCHES: Recommendations For First Quality Watch at Lowest Cost

[MoggyM]

My vote goes to Steinheart. I think it's the first step into quality watches.

German quality manufacturer sourcing the best movements in this price range (£390 to £1100).

The older Stienhert's come with the Valjoux movement but, are no longer available through ETA Swatch since 2019/20.

If you own a very expensive watch already a Steinhert could be worn when, you think the expensive one may get damaged. https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/

 

[waisted skirt]

What's your budget?.

 

[Lukeypoodle]

I use a Vostok Amphibia for the same purpose

 

[MoggyM]

What's your budget?.

My recommendation is in the budget range of £390 to £1100.

Was interested in others recommendations in this price range. The hard bit is getting a decent movement in this bracket.

Im a little shocked to see Quarts Battery watches, in decent stainless steel cases in the £400 to £500 price bracket.

When you study their quarts movements they are mainly rubbish. You have to get into the quality brands, including Sinn watches, to find a quality quarts movement. The tell tail is go onto Cousins Watches and look at the cost to buy just the movement

 

[MoggyM]

I use a Vostok Amphibia for the same purpose

Ive got a Swiss Army Victorinox (quartz battery) for gardening, shooting and working. Its taken a battering

 

[MoggyM]

My second recommendation is Longines at Bicester Village. Their discounts are very very good. Ive brought a second hand Longines that was nearly the price of a new one at Longines Bicester . The watch pictured below has nearly the best quarts movement ever made. Only surpassed by the Sinn watch. Click on the attached and scroll down https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en/brands/hour-passion

 

[GlennUK1961]

My recommendation is in the budget range of £390 to £1100.

Was interested in others recommendations in this price range. The hard bit is getting a decent movement in this bracket.

Im a little shocked to see Quarts Battery watches, in decent stainless steel cases in the £400 to £500 price bracket.

When you study their quarts movements they are mainly rubbish. You have to get into the quality brands, including Sinn watches, to find a quality quarts movement. The tell tail is go onto Cousins Watches and look at the cost to buy just the movement

FWIW I have my fathers gold plated omega watch my mother bought for him for a special occasion, cant recall which one though.

I understand my other was sold it as a 'gold watch', so i imagine it was an expensive purchase for her. The point is, it has a quartz movement in it.

My working watch is a Garmin Descent, my evening watch is a Bremont

Quartz movements are not necessarily the preserve of 'Swatch', not quite my style but https://www.cartier.com/en-gb/clash-un-limited-watch_cod25185454456961661.html#dept=EU_Watches

 

[Wing Commander]

Seiko watches have stood the test of time.
Not cheap, but not overly expensive, they are honest and reliable watches with a reputation for a decent level of quality.

 

[OrangeSport]

Seiko, Steinhart, Certina, Longines are all good places to start in that range

 

[Ramma22]

You won't go wrong with Seiko, they are good quality movements.
They have been making watches longer than Rolex!

 

[Redboat01]

Seiko 5 Sports: a mechanical/automatic watch at what seems to me a very reasonable price for what it is.

Separately, it's worth mentioning that the servicing costs of watches as they get away from the budget end can be very costly.

 

[Jimbobjones]

Seiko, Steinhart, Certina, Longines are all good places to start in that range

I would add Citizen to that list.
Also Casio G-shock are a great watch for rugged wear for work and Leasure , may not be pricey but they function well.

 

[bflat7]

My second recommendation is Longines at Bicester Village. Their discounts are very very good. Ive brought a second hand Longines that was nearly the price of a new one at Longines Bicester . The watch pictured below has nearly the best quarts movement ever made. Only surpassed by the Sinn watch. Click on the attached and scroll down https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en/brands/hour-passionView attachment 482000

Agreed ,my longines Grande Classique came in at £800.

 

[HarrySmithsonian]

A lot of very expensive watches end up as ‘safe queens’ especially easily recognised like Panerai, Rolex, Omega etc. Specialist watch thieves can clock a high end timepiece with a glance and contrive to remove it from your wrist with ease. My unobtrusive tool/holiday watch is a Sewells Quartz on a nato strap I bought second hand for a £100. Still reasonably stylish but not a thief magnet

 

[John Pembroke]

I bought one of these last month, £100 off so down to £170. Never needs batteries. A very good every day watch.

Men's Bracelet

Offering both style and comfort, the Citizen Men's Eco-Drive watch fits close to the wrist with its stainless steel bracelet. This three hand model features a white dial for a timeless look. It's water resistant to 100 metres, making it ideal for daily usage. Featuring Eco-Drive technology –...

www.citizenwatch.co.uk

 

[2506sendero]

Timefactors have some decent homage watches at not silly money

Timefactors | Quality Watches online since 1996

UK-based home of Smiths, Precista, Speedbird, Dreadnought and Sewills watches. High Quality, affordable watches plus a wide range of straps. One of the world's first online-only Watch Microbrand producers after launching the PRS-1 Speedbird in 2001.

www.timefactors.com

 

[MoggyM]

FWIW I have my fathers gold plated omega watch my mother bought for him for a special occasion, cant recall which one though.

I understand my other was sold it as a 'gold watch', so i imagine it was an expensive purchase for her. The point is, it has a quartz movement in it.

My working watch is a Garmin Descent, my evening watch is a Bremont

Quartz movements are not necessarily the preserve of 'Swatch', not quite my style but https://www.cartier.com/en-gb/clash-un-limited-watch_cod25185454456961661.html#dept=EU_Watches

There are 3 or 4 grades of Quarts movements. The higher grade quartz tend to use the top range of ETA movements. The price is then , the name and materials used in the case and bracket. In the 1980s, when were was a fight on between mechanical and quarts manufacturers some wonderful quarts mechanisms were made (aka Bulova Accutron). The mechanicals we have now are not a vast improvement on the 1980s. Tissot have even introduced a few non metal components into classic mechanical mechanisms. This may be good or not.

 

[OrangeSport]

There are 3 or 4 grades of Quarts movements. The higher grade quartz tend to use the top range of ETA movements. The price is then , the name and materials used in the case and bracket. In the 1980s, when were was a fight on between mechanical and quarts manufacturers some wonderful quarts mechanisms were made (aka Bulova Accutron). The mechanicals we have now are not a vast improvement on the 1980s. Tissot have even introduced a few non metal components into classic mechanical mechanisms. This may be good or not.

There are some nice HAQs about. GS in particular

 

[MoggyM]

There are some nice HAQs about. GS in particular

Got my eye but not my wallet on this HAQ. Tested to 500bar. Better get a deeper bath and a deeper wallet https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/UX_GSG_9.htm

Hmmmm, The Seiko GS mechanical, spring drive, quartz hybrid is a complicated thing of beauty. We are well out of the target price range of (£390 to £1100), but I can dream

 

[Cozzamec]

Got my eye but not my wallet on this HAQ. Tested to 500bar. Better get a deeper bath and a deeper wallet https://www.sinn.de/en/Modell/UX_GSG_9.htm

View attachment 482327Hmmmm, The Seiko GS mechanical, spring drive, quartz hybrid is a complicated thing of beauty. We are well out of the target price range of (£390 to £1100), but I can dream

That's unreal! The amount of parts that goes into it!