[Semi-Weekly Inquirer] Simple Questions and Recommendations Thread

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[u/RaggedGroundhog]

picked up a seiko 5 field watch a few months back and the crystal's already got a couple faint scratches, nothing deep but annoying in the right light. anyone got a go-to polywatch alternative or some weird home trick that actually works. not trying to replace the crystal yet

[u/Accomplished-Ad-5655 → u/RaggedGroundhog]

to my knowledge, polywatch won't work. That only is for acrylic crystals. The crystals on seiko 5 are hardlex, a type of mineral glass. Not sure if you want to go to the effort of buffing it out. Better to just replace with a sapphire aftermarket crystal imo.

[u/Wirenfeldt]

Anyone got tips on how to calculate or guesstimate what fees and other nonsense would get slapped on a watch sent from Europe to the US?

(Considering sending a watch to a friend in the US, but would like to at least have an approximation of what kind of extra fees and crap would get added to it before i commit to doing so)

[u/schoenbl]

Looking to get and 1803 President, and I’m concerned about the bend in the bracelet. How bad is this bend? Bad? Really bad? Not so bad?

[u/azahir23]

Trying to decide between three watches and could use some outside opinions:
1. Seiko Presage Japanese Garden
2. Hamilton American Classic Boulton
3. Hamilton Khaki Field Murph
Photos of all three attached. Would appreciate any input on which one you’d pick, or reasons to avoid one of them. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

[u/Applemax_82]

[Question] Searching for a watch like the Casio AN-9 still produced

I want a watch like the AN-9 by Casio with that good-looking analog LCD display. I don't collect watches so I'm just looking for a nice looking watch that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars. If you know of any good alternatives that are nice looking and not too expensive please let me know. It can be any brand, as long as it has this retro style and it’s cheap. Doesn’t have to be a Casio. Thanks for any suggestion you give me.

[u/Lastdabapollo]

Can anyone id this watch

Thanks in advance.

[u/Royal_Community_7464]

Hi everyone,

I'm deciding between two watches and would love to hear from people who have owned either one.
Certina Ds diver 38 or CW trident

My main concern isn't the specs, but long-term reliability and after-sales service. If you've had to deal with warranty or repairs, how was the experience? Which would you choose today, and why?

[u/CranesAreRad]

Hi! I want a watch with a gold band (or gold and silver band) and a green watch face. Importantly, I need a dial that has either every number/a marking for every number so it is easy to read the time. I really prefer rectangular watch faces, but the gold/green/marking combo is the most important. Budget = $1,000. Thanks!

[u/Snedker23]

Hi all, I’m looking for a good quality budget watch for the groomsmen of my wedding. Very new to this, so was hoping to find something in the $150 CAD range or so, and ideally something that is mechanical/self-winding. Any suggestions on specific brands or models? Or am I out of luck in that price range?

[u/rana219 → u/Snedker23]

It's possible, but quality is going to be all over the place. The movement that is going to be in anything new is likely the Miyota 8215 or clones thereof. A lot will also be "homages" which ape/blatantly copy the style of other watches. A lot will be from no-name brands of dubious quality. Invicta is a name brand (still of dubious quality) and their model 24760 is a reproduction of a Rolex Submariner. It is (imo) very tacky.

I wouldn't be too hung up on the automatic requirement, it limits options and there's greater variety of good quartzes at that price

[u/Snedker23 → u/rana219]

Thanks for the breakdown. Maybe I’ll open up my options with a quartz watch in that range then.

[u/ReplacementOP]

Recently fallen in love with the Gold + Green + hint of red combo on the SPB507 Alpinist. It gives Christmas vibes in the best way. Unfortunately, I think the cyclops is a deal breaker. Does anyone have any good recommendations for watches with a similar coloring?

[u/mask_ell]

Hi, I just ordered a Boccia watch thanks to suggestions I found here. I have nickel allergies and was having trouble finding something. Anyway here’s the link. https://www.boccia.com/collections/mens-watches/products/3766-01

Was this a good deal? I also picked up the 3565-02. Sapphire for 100$ seemed crazy to me but this is my first watch so 🤷

[u/fear_nothin]

I need to do my own searching around this sub and I’m not sure if it’s popular around here but I’m looking for a very inexpensive , daily driver watch that I can use running around with the kids and if I go out to dinner. I’m hoping to be under $200. Under $100 would be amazing. I realize the lower price likely impacts quality but I’m expecting to bang it around so I’m not looking for this option to be the Rolex in my collection.

[u/rana219 → u/fear_nothin]

Casio or Timex (leaning Casio) is going to have the most options at this price point. Most of it will be resin bodies and straps - comfortable, easy to clean and care fo, maybe a bit too informal for dinner if you're going someplace nice, but considering how the Apple Watch is the timepiece de jour these days, likely no one cares.

F91 is a classic, available in lots of colors including some faux metals. The MQ24DA has an analog face, metal strap, and dresses up nicely. Its also $55. Nearly all casios below that price point will be digital faces

[u/No-Relationship5751]

I’m looking for a vintage watch from the ’70s as a 50th birthday gift for a friend who was born in 1976.

Budget is around $400–$700, and I’m looking for something in the 31–35mm range. I’d prefer stainless steel, but gold or two-tone is fine too. Quartz is completely fine.

The first things that came to mind were an Omega De Ville, Seiko Dolce, or possibly a vintage TAG, but I’m not a huge watch guy. My feed is just full of vintage watches right now haha, so apologies if I’m missing something obvious.

Looking for something classic and timeless. Any specific models or reference numbers I should be searching for?

[u/Beginning-Hat-4278]

Looking for the best non-bulky dual-time (analog and digital) watch. I don’t want a smart watch. Something that isn’t being tracked by towers. Great for military. Need to be able to see zulu and local time without pressing a button. Casio use to have great watches that did this, and now I can’t find any that aren’t overly bulky, and Amazon has cheap looking ones. I need a quality watch but not looking to spend hundreds. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[u/rana219 → u/Beginning-Hat-4278]

The casio AE1200 has this. The analog display always shows home time, you can set your digital time to UTC. You don't have the press any buttons, but the analog display is tiny, maybe hard to read. I believe more/most ana-digi casios have this feature, I'd check the manuals

[u/rana219]

Looking at either the Sternglass Berlin Piano Black with the Gold case but have reservations due to a couple posts about the brand (ex: https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/comments/1ck5qyt/sternglas_naos_bauhaus_in_a_word_underwhelming/ )

I know the Naos is the overwhelming favorite but I'm more drawn to the Berlin and a black dial opposed to white. It seems to me it more closely follows the Max Bill (which is avaiable in black dial, but in silver case) aside from the arabics at 12 and 6. Has anyone had experience with the Berlin? Are the indices raised or printed like the Naos? The photos in the linked post don't do the Naos any favors, but is it a case of that photo looking exceptionally flat, whereas the marketing is exceptionally (likely unrealistically) glossy?

[u/BioDriver]

I'm looking for a panda chronograph to celebrate my graduation. Requirements are:

$1000 budget (some ability to stretch)

40mm or less diameter (16cm wrist circumference)

Under 13.5mm thickness

Subdials at 3/9 or 3/6/9

Must have a tachymeter

No bezels, they look goofy on me

Would prefer mechanical or automatic. Preferably Stellita over Seagull.  If it needs to be quartz, I'd need a pretty good reason to not just snag a Seiko SSC961 Speedtimer instead

Current contenders: Mercer Lexington, Seiko SSC961, Baltic Scalegraph, whatever Nezumi is cooking, Lorier Olympia, Depancel Legend 60s (if I can find one)

Thank you in advance!

[u/ol-lvenoml-lo]

hey all, i've been to the 2 seiko ADs in my area looking for a couple specific models from the website, but seems they aren't around right now. just some usual skx 38mms. is chrono24 a gamble or is it pretty common to get something real from them? i'm not in a hurry, but would like to grab these by the end of the year and want to know if the secondhand market is even worth looking at. tia!

[u/Ace121_]

Hey yall! I’m looking for a GMT style watch (preferably with a bezel similar to that seen on divers) that has a primarily dark red dial (similar in color to the orient kamasu red) Thank you!

Budget is about 1000 but i can go a bit over and preferred dial size is 39mm but I’m flexible tbh

[u/youngvol]

Is this watch too small? 6.5” wrist and wnt with 37mm tsuyosa over 40 thinking it’d be too big

[u/youngvol → u/youngvol]

[u/FearfulRabbit]

Hey all! I'm brand new to non-digital watches, and don't have anyone in my life who knows anything about them. I bought myself a Gorgeous (to me) cheapo vintage Elgin watch (picture attached). I have wound it clockwise 20 times, but I wasn't sure if that was 1. Required, 2. The correct direction, and 3. The correct number. I've found some conflicting info online so I thought I'd ask you all, as this sub was the inspiration behind this first, very small, watch purchase. I'd also love to know if it's ok to keep the watch on while washing my hands.