Basic bastard watches
Is there a basic bastard guide for watches? I just went through the basic bastard guide for clothes. One thing that I felt was missing was information on watches. I’m looking to start fresh with my wardrobe so want to know what watches should one purchase that complements the basic bastard wardrobe. Thanks.
37 Replies
What’s your budget
Seiko makes a watch for every budget tbh
https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1138220129734373517
Seiko and Orient probably the most common recs
Also a quartz watch is literally fine
Don’t listen to a watch snob
100% agree. Some great looking quartzes out there. Just don't pay $$$ for something with a $10 movement cost!
ex. Timex Weekender a classic for cheap, and versatile with straps
I'll second Seiko and Orient and will add Timex and Casio. But also: a wardrobe doesn't need a watch. Only get one if you like wearing one!
Yea I have like 4 watches and I basically never wear them
They get in the way
I prefer necklaces and rings to watches. Plus if you look at WAYWT most people aren’t wearing watches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JIhQ3Gx7N8
If you like video content, Ben's Watch club is good for more affordable stuff. I recommend this video for people new to watches.
Also Teddy Baldassarre has a bunch of videos of recommendations at different budgets, including affordable tiers. I second Seiko and Orient for new watch buyers, and will add Tissot and Hamilton if you want to branch out a bit.
Ben's Watch Club
YouTube
Everything You MUST Know Before Buying A Watch - Essential Beginner...
In this video, I go over everything you need to know before buying a watch. This beginner buying guide shows you the basics of movement types, case materials, finishing, sizing, the best brands and how much you should spend.
▶️ SUBSCRIBE here for more: http://bit.ly/Sub2BensWatchClub
No watch buying guide would be complete without product lin...
My BB watch is my cellphone. Styling clothing is hard enough without having to worry about jewelry too.
Literally nothing wrong with not wearing jewelry and watches
99.9999% of people won't even notice you're wearing a watch
The tiny percentage that notice are people who spend their free time watching youtube videos about watches
My only jewelry is my wedding ring, and I kinda like it that way.
Keep doing that. I wear jewelry but really it's for me. Your overall outfit has a much bigger impact of how people think about your look than jewelry does
I didn’t have a specific budget in mind to be honest. In my mind, I was thinking of a watch that would be suitable for day to day use like work and hanging out ($$) and one for dressier occasions like a suit ($$$).
90% of the stuff in the Seiko Essentials collection would work for either situation. Imo it's better to start with one versatile watch and you can always buy more if you find that you really like wearing watches.
Also, I highly recommend trying on watches in person if you can. See if your local Macy's or neighborhood jewelry store has a decent watch selection
I never owned a watch or wore one. Was basically thinking of getting them because friends and family wear them so I thought I should too. People wearing watches seem to be well put together I guess.
What I'd say to that is that a watch won't make or break your outfit* but it can be a nice touch. If you want to get a watch I say go for it, it can be a fun addition and you can see if you enjoy wearing them. As you can see, not everyone has the same opinion and the only way to know how you feel is to try it.
*Not 100% true, a bad watch can absolutely break your outfit but the recs in this thread have all been pretty safe
That makes sense. Thanks!
My lessons:
- Quartz watch is fine, automatic is better if you like the mechanics, worse to keep time
- Reputable companies with history tend to make better product
- The whole thing about "fashion watches" is snobbery at first, but new companies tend to make stuff that is harder to repair and/or is unsupported long-term
I agree that Seiko & Orient offer a lot of great options for the price range. Personally, I have a Hamilton Khaki Automatic, 38 mm, with a black leather band and black dial, that I find myself wearing most days. I think it's totally acceptable with casual tailoring & wool trousers.
I wear a 34mm Swatch, fits under every cuff and was pretty cheap
Seiko snk is a great beater watch and I love my Timex marlin for something a bit dressier. The orient bambino line is also solid for dress watches.
My daily driver is only 250€, I find it versatile
That’s around $300! I guess we all have different opinions on what a daily driver is. 😅
For automatic watches it’s the entry-level price
Under that you will have quartz watches , but they can be very cool too
Still sad they discontinued the 007/013.
Same, I really don't understand why
Idk but I sold my 007 for a decent profit. Prefer the smaller 013 but now I don’t want to pay for it lol
Same I would like a 013 too but oh well
F91W
I like Bulova watches, and have a Lunar Pilot. https://twobrokewatchsnobs.com/bulova-lunar-pilot-chronograph-review/ Mostly got it because of the connection with the space program, but it's been quite solid. Watches are in the $200-$1200 range, and a lot of the watches are pretty big, though, so might depend on your arm size.
Michael Penate
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph Review: Why I Sold Mine & Why I'll P...
The Bulova Lunar Pilot chronograph is a watch that has plagued my mind for such a long time, I figured it was time to get my thoughts down and share them with the community. Close to a year ago, I pulled the trigger and purchased it from a small family jeweler selling the watch well below MSRP.
The TBWS blog also has some recs for getting a couple of watches < $200 https://twobrokewatchsnobs.com/how-to-start-a-watch-collection-for-under-200/
Kaz Mirza
Two Broke Watch Snobs
How To Start A Watch Collection For $200 (That You Can Be Proud Of!)
You don't need a lot of money to build a watch collection - you just need to know the basics of what makes a collection complete!
my dad’s old omega seamaster (quartz) gets praise from my snobby and know-nothing-about-watches friends alike. yup ur right
A vintage style Casio is the perfect watch for me. Goes with any outfit that isn't literally medieval and the extra features are actually useful. It's nice to not have to use my phone for basic timing tasks.
Yes Casio and Gshock could be the answer
I think that I will also throw my 2 cents in here. There are many good watches for every budget. For beginners I can always suggest to start with quartz watches because they tend to cost way less than automatic watches do. My current go-to brand is Citizen. They have high quality watches, especially quartz ones and their designs are really nice. They also offer some comparably cheap automatic watches (I had sometimes found the Tsuyosa watches for nearly half the RRP).
I can also recommend you Seiko and Casio watches but try to get yourself a watch that is made out of stainless steel because otherwise you might get ones that are made out of cheaper materials (i. e. brass), that can get scratched easily.
Usually brass is used by brands like Oris, do you have some examples of cheap ones?
Casio sometimes uses Brass. The whole Casio Collection Series for example has plated brass casings and the material feels incredibly cheap.
Ah yeah they don't look that good either