San Martin makes reasonable quality GMTs now using the same Seiko movement (and my experience the quality all around is a noticeable upgrade at a lower price point).
Case in point, GMT with Seiko NH34 automatic from San Martin:
Way better bracelet and clasp than the Seiko 5 GMTs (I have both the Black dial with applied and the white dial with printed indices). Swiss BGW9 lume on the Black and Swiss C3 on the White - lume is better if you get the applied indicies though
Phase 1: Quartz is for children, automatics are the only real watches.
Phase 2: Acquire a box or seven of automatics. Star to wear them. Suddenly one stops keeping good time, so you get it serviced. $120 dollars later you go 'at least its running well'. Then 3 or 4 more do the same thing after you schwack your wrist on a door jamb or your desk at work......."ummmm"....$600 later you say "Man I could have bought another watch with that money!".
Phase 3: Buy a quartz watch, you know..as a 'beater'...only for 'around the house wear'. Realize the watch is always on time, and when it stops...you replace the $8 dollar battery yourself. Find yourself wearing it out more and more because you don't have to constantly set it. The date may be wrong but nobody looks at that complication anyhow and you just grab and go it.
Final Phase: Acquire a case full of quartz watches because all watches are cool, they are just for looking at and nobody gives a rats @$$ about what movement it has, and you've learned that the people online who tell you to only buy autos............are n00bs
Great looking watch at $125.
Quartz movement, no one would pay 1.4k for this.
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Don't know much about watches, but I probably sat through 6 reviews on YouTube, and they all said it's a good deal at $200, which means it's a steal at $125. I'll probably gift it because I have small wrists, but it's still a deal!
I'm tempted to snag one as my first ever "real watch." Few concerns though, any input welcome...
Size: my wrists aren't small but I'm worried 44mm might be big enough to draw attention solely because of size... like that's the first thing anyone would notice about it. I want something that will be a nice accessory not an attention grabber because it's big
Not hot on quartz movement, though I realize features like sapphire glass and superior movement (automatic would be nice) will probably cost more, but at the moment I value aesthetics above all (I think). But if this really is the case why not just get a $50 watch that has the exact appearance I want?
Concerned about returns to Ashford -- they claim to refuse watch returns if you try it on. Well, seeing as it's gonna be my first watch I'm gonna have to try it to decide if I'll want to keep it.
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05-03-2024 at 01:05 AM.
For practical applications and a decent brand (at least slightly less trashy), take a look at Citizen Promaster Nighthawk or even the Blue Angles edition. I bought mine for about $140 but now it's around $240 (google is your friend ). The dual time feature is by far the best (and coolest) I've seen, and is a true or travelers GMT (hour hands move or adjust independently) instead of office GMT. In addition, you can adjust time hourly without stopping the movement, but it is also hackable (in other words, the second hand will stop).
This hour hand advancement is also available in Omega Aqua Terra (8900 movement, mechanical instead of quartz) but that watch costs ~20x compared to nighthawk (Omega list $6k, can be had for 4.5k or bit less), and you can't advance the date easily which is PITA.
Nighthawk is big too (42mm).
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05-03-2024 at 01:17 AM.
Quote
from bkatz
:
I'm tempted to snag one as my first ever "real watch." Few concerns though, any input welcome...
Size: my wrists aren't small but I'm worried 44mm might be big enough to draw attention solely because of size... like that's the first thing anyone would notice about it. I want something that will be a nice accessory not an attention grabber because it's big
Not hot on quartz movement, though I realize features like sapphire glass and superior movement (automatic would be nice) will probably cost more, but at the moment I value aesthetics above all (I think). But if this really is the case why not just get a $50 watch that has the exact appearance I want?
Concerned about returns to Ashford -- they claim to refuse watch returns if you try it on. Well, seeing as it's gonna be my first watch I'm gonna have to try it to decide if I'll want to keep it.
If you don't need GMT, get a citizen promaster diver watch for under $200. This is a great mechanical watch and sporty. I assume you are not looking for a office piece or dress watch.
IMHO The cheapest, reasonable quality GMT mechanical would be Seiko 5 GMT for about $300 to $350. I might get one some day. My first GMT is Edox Grand Ocean GMT which is a great piece (+/- 3 seconds per day) and it's very well made (polish is on par with grand seiko). But it's on the larger size (44mm I believe) but wears very comfortably on my medium wrist (6.5 to 6.75).
I'm tempted to snag one as my first ever "real watch." Few concerns though, any input welcome...
Size: my wrists aren't small but I'm worried 44mm might be big enough to draw attention solely because of size... like that's the first thing anyone would notice about it. I want something that will be a nice accessory not an attention grabber because it's big
Not hot on quartz movement, though I realize features like sapphire glass and superior movement (automatic would be nice) will probably cost more, but at the moment I value aesthetics above all (I think). But if this really is the case why not just get a $50 watch that has the exact appearance I want?
Concerned about returns to Ashford -- they claim to refuse watch returns if you try it on. Well, seeing as it's gonna be my first watch I'm gonna have to try it to decide if I'll want to keep it.
Orient Kamasu is often on sale for ~$160, it is smaller (but thicker) watch with sapphire crystal and automatic movement.
A quartz Glycine 8 years into Invictas ownership doesn't seem like a great investment tbh. Lot of features for the price and Invicta at least thus far hasn't gutted their reputation, but I dunno that I'd buy one sight unseen from Ashford.
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Case in point, GMT with Seiko NH34 automatic from San Martin:
About $150 after discounts: https://watchdives.com/collection...f=
Way better bracelet and clasp than the Seiko 5 GMTs (I have both the Black dial with applied and the white dial with printed indices). Swiss BGW9 lume on the Black and Swiss C3 on the White - lume is better if you get the applied indicies though
At the same $300 level you can get a truly premium looking piece:
https://watchdives.com/collection...f=
And my personal favorite GMT (I like the sizing better than the Tudor GMT)- also has the Seiko inside.
https://watchdives.com/collection...f=
Phase 1: Quartz is for children, automatics are the only real watches.
Phase 2: Acquire a box or seven of automatics. Star to wear them. Suddenly one stops keeping good time, so you get it serviced. $120 dollars later you go 'at least its running well'. Then 3 or 4 more do the same thing after you schwack your wrist on a door jamb or your desk at work......."ummmm"....$600 later you say "Man I could have bought another watch with that money!".
Phase 3: Buy a quartz watch, you know..as a 'beater'...only for 'around the house wear'. Realize the watch is always on time, and when it stops...you replace the $8 dollar battery yourself. Find yourself wearing it out more and more because you don't have to constantly set it. The date may be wrong but nobody looks at that complication anyhow and you just grab and go it.
Final Phase: Acquire a case full of quartz watches because all watches are cool, they are just for looking at and nobody gives a rats @$$ about what movement it has, and you've learned that the people online who tell you to only buy autos............are n00bs
Great looking watch at $125.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank sumrise
This hour hand advancement is also available in Omega Aqua Terra (8900 movement, mechanical instead of quartz) but that watch costs ~20x compared to nighthawk (Omega list $6k, can be had for 4.5k or bit less), and you can't advance the date easily which is PITA.
Nighthawk is big too (42mm).
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank sumrise
IMHO The cheapest, reasonable quality GMT mechanical would be Seiko 5 GMT for about $300 to $350. I might get one some day. My first GMT is Edox Grand Ocean GMT which is a great piece (+/- 3 seconds per day) and it's very well made (polish is on par with grand seiko). But it's on the larger size (44mm I believe) but wears very comfortably on my medium wrist (6.5 to 6.75).
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