Need opinions on entry level watch

Hello, I am thinking of buying a new watch and the following model satisfies all my criteria for a classy watch and is <$500, which is the maximum amount that I can spend. I would like to get some constructive feedback on whether this would be a good entry level watch to wear in a business formal environment. Also, I am trying to decide between the black and the white dial. I like them both a lot, but it seems to me that the white one might be classier. Any opinions on this matter? white/silver: http://www.nigelohara.com/tissot-men...-pid17202.html black: http://www.nigelohara.com/tissot-men...-pid17203.html Finally, I would welcome any suggestions for an alternative watch within my price range. Thank you!

I would recommend you take a look at the Tissot Visodate, which is my latest watch purchase. It's not as formal as the two watches you posted, but still fine for a business environment. Another recommendation is the Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic or Jazzmaster Slim. They may be above your budget though, I'm not sure. Maybe white dials are a more formal than blacks, but you're talking about the office, not black tie, so don't worry about it.

Either Visodate or LeLocle are really nice and classic watches at their pricepoint. If you are going for a formal and versatile watch I'd definetly stick to a white dial. Just my $ 0.02

If you want a more formal watch I would suggest you look into buying vintage. In that price range, most watches are unremarkable at best. Tissot makes a fine everyday beater watch, in fact, I have one. But, if you are looking for something to wear with a suit or at the office I would suggest you check out a few particular vintage watches.

Don't be scared about buying vintage here are a few tips:

1. If you are buying a well respected brand they will be easy to have serviced. In fact, most watch repair guys are pretty old and they are very comfortable working on these watches whenever the need arises.

2. If you do just a little bit of research, you will quickly learn what you are looking for and what you can expect to pay.

3. Look around at pawnshops. I can't tell you the amazing watches I have found at pawn shops because some idiot needed money and pawned thier grandfathers watch. Also, unless it says Rolex, Brietling, or Tag Heuer, most operators of pawn shops will not know what the watch is actually worth and it may have a ridiculusly low price on it.

4. Look for a jewelry store that specializes in "Estate Jewelery". As a first timer this will be your best bet as you can be assured that the watches will be in good working order when you buy it. However, you will pay more at these places.

5. Look for brands such as Omega, Hamilton, and Bulova. From around 1940-1970, these companies made some of the best watches around but they haven't kept their prestige level up with the possible exception of Omega and you can get them cheaply now. Actually, if you are a fan of "Mad Men" almost every watch they show is from an American company! The swiss haven't always owned the market on quality watchmaking, but now that they do, these older American watches don't get much respect from people unfamiliar with watches. Therefore, you can get fantastic deals on these watches from this era.

If you take a look on the internet, in your price range, you could get a gold dress watch from a respected manufacturer, with an automatic in-house movement, that will set you apart from your peers.

Just as an example, last year I bought a 1964 Omega Seamaster for around $120. I had to put a new gold stem ($100) and a strap on it ($50) but it is beautiful and only cost me a total of $270. I get WAY more compliments on this watch than I do on my Tissot and usually the guys who are asking about my watch are usually wearing a Rolex or some other high end brand.

I later found out from my watch repair man that this particular case that my watch is in was only produced in very limited quantities(around 3,000 in 1964) and is now very valuble. When I searched on the internet I found similar watches to mine selling for near 2k.

Either of those watches would be fine for business. Since they are the same except for face color it is really about which one appeals to you the most. I like darker faces on most watxches, so I would go black, but you may feel differently.

The watches you presented are fine, I prefer the one with the black face, however. I love vintage watches, however. My local jeweler has omegas on display for around $200. Look around. The best quality watches (wrist) are still those made in the last century. The heyday of the American wrist watch, when quality of the Automatic watch made in the US rivaled that of the Swiss was pre-WWII. The war ended that, as the watch industry and all other industries went toward equipping us for war, allowing the Swiss to carve out a greater global market share. So, in your range, check out vintage watches, see if you parents have any heirloom watches lying around (I found my great grandfather's Elgin, and it worked perfectly). Obviously, they may need servicing, but spending $200 on a vintage watch and $250 on servicing is in your limit, and in my opinion, the quality of vintage watches, as well as the fact that you are wearing history, makes it worth the price and work.

I thought for months about buying the Tissot Le Locle watch. It's a nice watch and it seems of good quality.
But at the end I decided not to buy it. As watches are something I do not really use (to check time I just look at my cell phone), I decided to buy the one I really like. But buying it as jewelry more than just a mere machine. So now I'm saving to buy an IWC Portofino. It will take me months, but I think waiting and saving will just worth it, instead of going for an entry level one.