College student watches - Swiss Army

[allanb10]

I am looking to get a nice classy automatic watch that is under 1000 and not seiko or something equally retail and mainstream. I really like the Swiss Army ambassador watch and was wondering what others' opinions were of it. Here is a link to the watch I like: http://www.swissarmy.com/Watches/Pro...product=24150&

 

[acidboy]

you could reconsider the seiko monster

the sinn 656

the limes klassic vintage 1924

 

[drizzt3117]

Originally Posted by allanb10

I am looking to get a nice classy automatic watch that is under 1000 and not seiko or something equally retail and mainstream. I really like the Swiss Army ambassador watch and was wondering what others' opinions were of it. Here is a link to the watch I like:

http://www.swissarmy.com/Watches/Pro...product=24150&

Swiss Army isn't retail and mainstream?

 

[coachvu]

I think Swiss Army watches are nice, but they are easily the most common watches in my class behind Fossil.

 

[Jolly Green]

I see far more Swiss Army watches than I see analog seiko's any more.

Seiko makes a respectable "entry level" automatic watch. Very Good bang for the buck. I rotate 3 seiko automatics for my daily wear. Look for Hamilton also.

If Quartz watches are more your pace, then I think you can start looking at Tag Heuer and similar. In reality, equally mainstream and retail, but their price point keeps them off most college students wrists.

Cheers,
D

 

[friism]

I'm rather pleased with my Certina DSP Podium.

 

[Ranjeev]

These Tissot watches may fit the bill. They look a lot better in person.

http://www.watchesplanet.com/cgi-bin...cle&Size=Gents

 

[gdl203]

I would go for a Hamilton - many are way under your maximum price of $1k but I think it's a good start for a college student

 

[edmorel]

Tissot, Hamilton, Swiss Arny and Seiko all make nice watches. Swiss Army has a version of that watch with a Unitas 6497 handwound movt. I like that version better as it does not have that huge day window and it's a more interesting movt. Swiss Army also makes a nice Rolex Daytona-ish auto chrono with a burgandy face and black sub dials that is very nice and under $1000. All things being equal, I'd go with the Swiss Army Chrono first, a Hammy chrono second, any of the Seiko dive watches third. With some wise shopping, you can buy two or three of the watches mentioned. One watch is never enough.

 

[allanb10]

I was not really aware that swiss army was as mainstream as Seiko, mainly because most of their watches were more expensive and in my entirety of being at college I have only seen two other people with nice swiss army watches. Is it pretty much common fact that Swiss Army watches are not classy and boring mainstream?

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by allanb10

Is it pretty much common fact that Swiss Army watches are not classy and boring mainstream?

In the watch enthusiast community, yes - they get no respect.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by edmorel

Tissot, Hamilton, Swiss Arny and Seiko all make nice watches. Swiss Army has a version of that watch with a Unitas 6497 handwound movt. I like that version better as it does not have that huge day window and it's a more interesting movt. Swiss Army also makes a nice Rolex Daytona-ish auto chrono with a burgandy face and black sub dials that is very nice and under $1000. All things being equal, I'd go with the Swiss Army Chrono first, a Hammy chrono second, any of the Seiko dive watches third. With some wise shopping, you can buy two or three of the watches mentioned. One watch is never enough.

Unitas 6497? Which S/A watch is that?

P.s. there is the Italian Altanus company that makes some nice watches, especially their flieger-style Unitas 6497 ones. Can sometime find them for around 200!

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by allanb10

I was not really aware that swiss army was as mainstream as Seiko, mainly because most of their watches were more expensive and in my entirety of being at college I have only seen two other people with nice swiss army watches. Is it pretty much common fact that Swiss Army watches are not classy and boring mainstream?

Don't worry about what the "watch community" thinks is classy and not mainstream, they are not paying for your watch. Swiss Army makes a respectable, good looking watch for a good price. Their quartz watches are everywhere but you will not find the watches below on everyone's wrist. One is automatic and the other is handwound. In person, all look much better than the pics and they both have great wrist presence and are not too stodgy for a college student. Or you can go with watches that share the same movements but are much cooler and accepted by the watch community, but you'll have to spend a few grand on them.
http://www.swissarmy.com/Watches/Pro...roduct=241073&
http://www.swissarmy.com/Watches/Pro...product=24162&
http://www.swissarmy.com/Watches/Pro...product=24785&

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by skalogre

Unitas 6497? Which S/A watch is that?

P.s. there is the Italian Altanus company that makes some nice watches, especially their flieger-style Unitas 6497 ones. Can sometime find them for around 200!

Yeah, the Altanus is a nice watch for the price. Trias makes a similarly low priced "flieger" Unitas 6497. The Swiss Army 6497 (look above) is better finished. Applied indices, nice hands, better dial, better case and can usually be found on the net in the 300-400 range.

 

[norcaltransplant]

1) Christopher Ward Malvern
ETA 2824, Saphhire Crystal, around $300 USD
2) Archimede Pilot
IWC Mark XV knockoff, ETA movement, $300ish
3) Hamilton Khaki
Various iterations of the 2824. Sapphire crystal $300-900
4) *used* Breitling Colt Automatic
$950, mid-tier brand.