Favorite "cheap" watch?

[chorse123]

What is your favorite watch under $250? I'm not talking an eBay steal; I mean a watch readily available (can be on-line, and discount) for under $250. I know this is in many ways an absurd question. $250 is at once a good chunk of change, and yet nothing when it comes to "real," "serious" watches. Still, I'm curious what your favorites are. Can be any style and movement.

I'll offer this: Tissot PRS 516 automatic (ETA 2836-2, 25 Jewel)

 

[JBZ]

I really like (and own) the Seiko SKX031K2 Diver.

 

[16520Man]

For that price range, nothing beats vintage. You can find many reliable, solid gold pieces with a simple Google search.

 

[skalogre]

Seagull 1963 (wearing mine today actually)
Column wheel chronometer, 19 jewels (based on Venus 175 I believe).

(Swiped someone else's photo from http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=12597 )

 

[skalogre]

Addendum:
I agree with 16520Man! You can find some really amazing deals on vintage watches, as long as it is not a Big Name (like Omega Rolex et al).

 

[JBZ]

Originally Posted by skalogre

Seagull 1963 (wearing mine today actually)
Column wheel chronometer, 19 jewels (based on Venus 175 I believe).

(Swiped someone else's photo from http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=12597 )

Looks very nice!

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by JBZ

Looks very nice!

Wish I could take photographs of that calibre. All his pics of the watch are just stunning. It helps that the watch is really nice looking, of course

- and only around $130!

 

[s0upb0ne]

Originally Posted by skalogre

Seagull 1963 (wearing mine today actually)
Column wheel chronometer, 19 jewels (based on Venus 175 I believe).

(Swiped someone else's photo from http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=12597 )

looks like a knockoff of a IWC Portuguese.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Seiko Orange Monster

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by 16520Man

For that price range, nothing beats vintage. You can find many reliable, solid gold pieces with a simple Google search.

I don't think the word "reliable" should feature in that sentence.

Reliability with vintage watches is a craps shoot unless you can verify that the movement was recently serviced and you actually trust the watchmaker who serviced it

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by s0upb0ne

looks like a knockoff of a IWC Portuguese.
It is actually a copy/reissue of the chronometer used by the Chinese Air Force in the early 1960's. The story goes that the Soviets were offerred the tooling for the Venus 175 around the mid 1950's but they already were happy with what they previously got from Valjoux (with later improvements it became the ubiquitous and sturdy Poljot 3133 movement). As relations between the PRC and the USSR were cold to say the least, it was not politically feasible to get military chronometers from the Soviets. So when the Chinese were offerred the tooling for the Venus 175 they took it - with development it became this movement (ST19 is apparently a civilian designation). The model is called 1963 unofficially because it mirrors the chrono of that period. Frankly, even if it were a copy of an IWC, it is not such a problem for me. THis watch has its own character and quite the provenance and history

Edit: gdl203: Excellent point regarding the servicing. Especially in these days of Geek Squad-style watch repairs

 

[gdl203]

chorse123 - Since you picked a sports watch as an example for your post, the two brands that come to mind and that I would recommend (in the new watch category - i.e. not vintage or second-hand) are Seiko and Hamilton.

Here's an example of Hamilton that I like in that price range:

Are you actually looking for one or is it just a discussion topic?

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by s0upb0ne

looks like a knockoff of a IWC Portuguese.

I don't think it does. At all

 

[skalogre]

gdl203:

What Hamilton is that?

 

[JBZ]

Originally Posted by gdl203

chorse123 - Since you picked a sports watch as an example for your post, the two brands that come to mind and that I would recommend (in the new watch category - i.e. not vintage or second-hand) are Seiko and Hamilton.

Here's an example of Hamilton that I like in that price range:

Are you actually looking for one or is it just a discussion topic?

Before I bought my Seiko, I seriously considered a Hamilton similar to this. I ended up going with the Seiko because I've always really liked the look of the Rolex Submariner (which the Seiko blatantly copies). However, based on my research, I would have been pretty happy with the Hamilton.