Inexpensive quartz watch that looks great

[tony20009]

So, I won't say I'm a major buyer of quartz watches, but I'm not a hater of them either. I know that they are going to be more accurate than any mechanical watch, even the Spring Drive watches Seiko make. And I know they are very easy to own seeing as they basically don't need servicing that can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars; replace the battery and go on about your business. And since quartz doesn't carry the stigma of having to have "watch cred" (except perhaps certain vintage ones that were key to the development of quartz), it doesn't matter much whose name is on the dial.

Every once in a while, I see some that are quite cool, so here are a few of them. (All are $400 or less, much less.)

I ordered one of the Boccia configurable watches for a young person. He chose his own completely crazy (IMO) color combination and loved the idea of getting one that he "designed" himself.

Larsson & Jennings -- Great looking and very elegant - https://www.larssonandjennings.com/


Boccia - titanium, smart looking and you can even configure your own watch design (men's and ladies' watches offered -- multiple pages of styles on their website). They also make jewelry that has a Teno design aesthetic, but made from titanium and costing a bit less - http://teno.com/Boccia-Titanium/Boccia-Watches



All the best.

[tony20009]

There's a watch repair and jewelry store in DC called Benson Jewelers. They also make their own quartz and mechanical watches -- men's and ladies -- using ETA movements. The designs are fairly conservative but the watches look nice, often emulating (but not directly copying) many major high end designs. You'll have to call them if you are interested as they don't put all their items on the website -- small outfit with just one location and a small staff. Prices are reasonable. (Images show lack their brand on the dial. The actual watches carry their name. http://bensonsdc.com/mens-watches.php?page=1 )

Some men's styles



Some ladies styles




All the best.

[mb135is]

Great post. After diving into the automatic watch realm, I don't think it's for me. I find myself turning back to my quartz watches. I thought I'd be enamored with the movement, technology, art, beauty, etc... But I'm not. I'm like one of those people who views cars as mere transportation. Still, I like a watch to look good.

Thanks for your tips.

I'm very much a fan of EDOX quartz watches, too, thanks to you!

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by mb135is

Great post. After diving into the automatic watch realm, I don't think it's for me. I find myself turning back to my quartz watches. I thought I'd be enamored with the movement, technology, art, beauty, etc... But I'm not. I'm like one of those people who views cars as mere transportation. Still, I like a watch to look good.

Thanks for your tips.

I'm very much a fan of EDOX quartz watches, too, thanks to you!

I love mechanical watches. But I have to be honest, if a watch doesn't have a second hand and isn't one having more than a date complication, buying mechanical isn't really necessary unless that's all that's offered in one's desired look. Take the Patek 5120. Unless you hold it to your ear, there's not one thing that'll tell you it's mechanical. Even if the watch has a second hand, if one doesn't mind that it stops on each second rather than flowing smoothly around the dial, quartz is still fine. Occasionally, one can find a quartz watch that has a 28.8K or higher 'heart beat," in which case (no pun) the second hand will flow smoothly.

If one just wants to have "so and so's" brand name for the cache of having it, each and every one of the high end makers still makes a quartz watch. They don't like to make that a well known thing, but they did and do. Most of them, however, are sized for women's wrists or are slathered in gemstones. Indeed, most women's watches are quartz and it's all but impossible to find high-end women's jewelry watches that aren't quartz. For reasonably priced (reasonable being a relative term) watch from the top tier brands, quartz is a good alternative.

That said, I'm something of a watch geek in that I like beautiful watches and I find interesting how the things are engineered. I also think some movements can be incredibly beautiful visually as well as mechanically. There is certainly something of an art to a well crafted movement, but if one doesn't care about that art, one'd be nuts to spend the money for it.

Why one buys mechanical is similar to why one would buy a BMW. If one cares more about luxury, gizmos and nifty features than one does about handling, and if the car's looks don't force one to a specific choice, any number of other cars make more sense financially, even MB, Porsche and Audi. If handling matters more, the BMW is usually the better choice. Of course, like buying any premium product, once one exceeds a certain price point, there's nothing at all rational about the buying decision; it's purely an act of self indulgence.

When you get right down to brass tacks, regardless of what folks say about movements and their fascination with them, the only real reason I can come up with for buying mechanical is just to set oneself apart from folks who don't buy mechanical watches. And that doesn't necessarily have a thing to do with status because there are plenty of inexpensive mechanical watches that watch geeks buy.

All the best.

[tony20009]

Another brand for quartz offering a ton of colors and styles and at reasonable prices is Jacques Lemans. (http://jacques-lemans.com/shop/en/watches/ - the pics below are just representative. I don't know whether these are part of their current line up.) They offer quartz and automatic. Most are priced between $100 and $500.



All the best.

[wspohn]

I think I own maybe 3 Quartz watches out of a couple if hundred.

One I bought intentionally as a stand in for my daily watch, a titanium and rose gold Seamaster Pro. I use it for travel.

It is a stainless and yellow gold Seamaster Quartz I paid around $1,000 for a few years ago - they seem to have gone up by 50% or so since, but still a quarter of the cost of my regular Seamaster Pro automatic.



The other is a Movado Museum Luna in stainless and gold that I just like the look of.

[UglyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by wspohn

I think I own maybe 3 Quartz watches out of a couple if hundred.

One I bought intentionally as a stand in for my daily watch, a titanium and rose gold Seamaster Pro. I use it for travel.

It is a stainless and yellow gold Seamaster Quartz I paid around $1,000 for a few years ago - they seem to have gone up by 50% or so since, but still a quarter of the cost of my regular Seamaster Pro automatic.



The other is a Movado Museum Luna in stainless and gold that I just like the look of.

I have the same omega in the full size auto. Love it but it does not get enough wrist time.

[wspohn]

Mine is a rugged accurate watch I am not concerned about. I leave my titanium/tantalum/rose gold automatic at home to avoid banging it about.

[Wheelwright]

To me most of those watches look alike that's why a have a soft spot for this Scandinavian design, it is truly unique without crossing over into garish or weird territory:

[ny325]

Tisott makes some nice quartz pieces for under $500.

[Alfisti]

https://www.88rdr.com/gents-watch/

Seems they are revamping their site but for around $500 one can find very nice watches.

[vsix]

Skagen...breathtaking

[ny325]

Tissot is my preference.

[Alfisti]

https://www.88rdr.com/gents-watch/

[Flying Ace]

for that price? You can get Luminox and the likes

[Aerosoul Bastard]

everything from tissot to certina

[BEM-S4]

Unless I am mistaken Shinola makes Filson's watches. Those are available SUPER cheap on Nordstrom rack and Gilt pretty regularly. For example:

https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/p...ch?color=WHITE

[ny325]

Hamilton Khaki collection is nice. Simple and classy.

[ny325]

I walked in to Tissot, and the white dial Visodate caught my eye. I like it's simplicity, size, and it’s a automatic. Prices range between $375-450.

[1MOREMOD]

Yeah have a tissot luxury powermatic 80 I rather like.

[ny325]

Timex weekender, and Expedition Scout are a few of my favorites.

[Poiseuille]

I have this for the gym, working on the car and going to Philly. This is also quartz, and a thinly disguised Breitling Avi from the early 60s. Chronograph functions work correctly. Actually looks better than the picture, and has been faultless for the two years I've had it. I think it was about 230 bucks or so.
danhenrywatches.com