Watch Wearing Wednesday: Ghostface meets Frankenwatch Oris!

With Halloween right around the corner, me and my Frankenwatch vintage Oris had a close encounter with Ghostface!

Ghostface from the movie Scream and my vintage refurbished Oris

They warned me! Beware of Etsy watches from India! But, no, I didn't listen. I had to go down that corridor alone! I'm actually glad I did. I've found my refurbished Oris watch from India to be lots of fun and I enjoy wearing it. For more on this watch, read my Wristwatch Review: Vintage Oris Men's Manual Wind Watch from India. This little monster may only have an Oris movement, but it was authentically put together in a workshop somewhere in India and it's pretty cool!

Watch Spotlight: Tissot Men's Classic Dream Stainless Steel Dress Watch

If you are looking for a no nonsense dress watch that will bring form, function, an automatic movement, refinement, heritage and class at a good price, check out the Tissot Classic Dream Stainless Dress Watch. I've written about this watch before when it was one sale, but it is worth a look at its regular price, too.

Tissot Men's Classic Dream Stainless Steel Dress Watch

To me, this dress watch looks like a classic silver-on-silver design as far as the dial, bezel, markers and hands go.  However, the bracelet seems to alternate between high shine and slightly grey stainless steel.  It's a good look for the office that says, "Yes, I have a classic watch, but we have work to do."  The watch has a 42mm case that stands 11.53mm tall.  The bracelet is a 22mm wide and has a push button hidden clasp.

Tissot Classic Dream Stainless Steel Dress Watch Movement

If you did get this watch, you'd get a classic Swiss watch with an exhibition caseback and a 19 jewel automatic movemement with a generous 72 hour power reserve. The Swissmatic movement is based on the Swatch Sistem51 movement improved with more metal components.  It has a power reserve of up to 72 hours. 

I'll keep watching this one for deals.  But, at regular prices between $500 and $600, the Tissot Classic Dream seems fairly priced for a Swiss-made automatic watch. It has the looks of a Rolex Milgauss at a much more sensible price point.

You can check this timepiece out on Amazon here: 

Tissot Men's Classic Dream Stainless Steel Dress Watch

Wristwatch Review: George Tactical Black Dive-Style Watch

If you are looking for an inexpensive watch that looks good and tells the time, the George brand from Walmart is a good place to start. For less than $15, this George Dive-Style watch is very readable and exudes a strong masculine energy.  The murdered out look of flat black has been spreading from the automotive world into other products. It's practically the new "tactical."

A George Diver-Style Watch in Black

George Watch Features

This George watch (28/3084BKBK) has a fixed non-rotating bezel and a 12-hour and 24-hour time markings. The movement is quartz. While the numerals are painted in bright white, there is no lume applied. When it is dark, this watch is too. The watch is touted as having a rugged construction and the packaging claims that it has a long life battery. However, the Walmart online listing says the battery should last a year. Water resistance is listed as 50 inches.

George Watch Construction

This watch is made by E. Gluck Corporation, the folks behind Armitron, and it has a stainless steel case back, a base metal case and bezel, and a metal bracelet. It seems quite solid for an inexpensive watch. It is nice to have all metal construction.

George Watch Dimensions

The bracelet length is listed as 170mm. The bracelet is 20mm wide. However, the watch fit my 7 3/4-inch wrist perfectly. At about 40mm in diameter, the watch seems a little smaller than most.

Overall Impression

This is a very cool looking watch. In looks, it rivals many entry-level diver-style watch models from Timex or Casio. However, the George watch doesn't have the performance specs of these models. For less than $15, it is an excellent deal and it is fun to wear. It's a cheap way to indulge those Scuba Joe Commando daydreams.

Where to get George Watches

The George brand is sold exclusively by Walmart. Amazingly, this watch is only $12.98 online or in the store. It is quite the inflation beater.

TGIF: More Affiliate Programs and More Watch Choices

I've been working to expand the watch offerings and product choices available through affiliate programs on this blog and on my X account. So far, through Commission Junction, I've been able to affiliate with TikTok Shop, Timex, VY Jewelry, and a language app called Talkpal AI.

The TikTok Shop

The TikTok Shop is a spin-off from the popular TikTok social media app. Under the keyword "watches," it offers 1192 different products. Narrowing the search down further is a bit of a challenge. But, I've found some good offerings at decent prices. For example, this Olev's watch is very attractive and affordable. You can find it here at The TikTok Shop. There are some high end and collector brands on the site. I just have to find links for them.

Timex Links

I've been pretty excited to add affiliate links to Timex. They have a wide variety of products that most of us can afford. I have links from Commission junction for their main sites in the US, UK, and Canada. It's nice to be a little international!

In the United States, you can visit Timex US Home Page. 

In Canada, you can visit Timex CA Home Page.

In the United Kingdom, you can visit Timex UK Home Page. 

VY Jewelry Links

Many men and women are into wearing bracelets and rings with their watches today. Honestly, it's a contemporary trend that I've not picked up on. However, I've noticed that the bracelets that come packaged in department store watch sets often seem cheap and aren't sized properly. You can fix this by getting bracelets, rings, and other accessories from a proper jeweler. VY Jewelry specializes in sterling silver jewelry.  Sterling silver is 92.5% silver. While jewelry costs more than the spot price of silver due to the workmanship involved, you always have that silver price built in.  With traditional fiat currency losing value around the world, it's nice to have value built in. Even I have to admit that some of the bracelet and ring designs are pretty kick ass.

Talkpal AI Links

The most recent affiliate that I have accepted is Talkpal AI - an AI language teacher. I've had a lot of fun with google translate lately and the built in translator on X has opened up watch community around the world. A language AP is a bit of a stretch, but if you can jet set off to one of the international watch shows or visit a watch maker in Switzerland or Japan, it might be a great investment.

What's Next?

I have pending applications with many watchmakers and jewelers. If more of them are accepted, I'll be able to find links to products that aren't offered on my long time affiliate (Amazon) and be able to find and offer the best prices for the watches that I write about.

Watch Deal Alert: Tissot Mens Luxury Series Powermatic 80 Automatic

The Swatch groups Powermatic movement is one of the most common and revered automatic watch movements in the world.  It has an 80 hour power reserve which sets the standard for how long an automatic watch can keep time unattended. You'll see this watch in many Swatch group watches from brands including Tissot, Certina, Hamilton, Mido, and Rado. 

Tissot Powermatic Watch Deal

What you won't find is Powermatic watches for less than $300. So, when you do find one, you have to shout it out and jump on it.  The Tissot Mens Luxury Series Powermatic 80 is now on sale for 15% off! That brings a watch that is normally just under $300 down to around $250! That's an awesome deal!

Tissot Luxury Series Automatic (Amazon photo)

Tissot Luxury Powermatic 80 Features

For that low price, you get a Swiss-made Automatic with an 80-hour power reserve, a date complication, a leather strap, a very cool watch box, a stainless steel case with Rose Gold tone PVD coating, an exhibition caseback, and 50-meters of water resistance. The watch has some nice luxury touches to the case and crown as well.

Tissot Luxury Automatic Case profile and crown design (Amazon photo)

Where to Buy This Tissot

You can use my affiliate link to find this great Tissot watch here on Amazon.

My Grail Watches: The Bulova Frank Sinatra "Fly Me to the Moon" Automatic

It's been a very tough year economically. It has certainly forced me to reset my personal hopes and dreams for my watch collecting hobby. The luxury and ultra-luxury watch stratosphere seem far out of reach. That doesn't necessarily mean giving up watch collecting, but it will mean focusing on affordable watches and attainable luxury watches. I've created a list of realistic grail watches. They are all watches I would like to buy sometime. But, realistically, it may take months of effort and struggle to add any of them to my collection. Fortunately, I've got plenty of watches to tide me over during these scary times.

This Bulova Marine Star is a classic at any price!

Let's take a look at the first of the five watches that are currently on my grail list. This is a watch that I always look up on Amazon and that I always think about buying.

Grail Watch Number 1: Bulova Men's Frank Sinatra "Fly Me to The Moon" Automatic

Bulova has long been an American-brand and, even under the ownership of Citizen, it remains a watch designed and inspired by American culture. The Frank Sinatra series of Bulova commemorative watches is a prime example of American cultural inspiration. To my eye, the Frank Sinatra "Fly Me to The Moon" Automatic is the very best looking of these watches.  As of this posting date, the watch is on sale for 35% off. This brings the price down to below $550. It's not cheap. But, it is an attainable luxury watch. 

Bulova Frank Sinatra "Fly Me to the Moon" Automatic (Amazon Photo)

I like everything about this watch: Sinatra Signature, sunray dial, gold-tone numerals and markers, the exhibition case back. It's all good. If you'd like to see it, I've got an Amazon affiliate link. You can get it yourself or to give as a Christmas gift. You can even visit it regularly to dream and drool. Check it out here:

Bulova Frank Sinatra "Fly Me to the Moon" Automatic on Amazon

Watch Deal Alert: The Relic Jaden Men's Watch

In this time of inflation and economic insecurity, it's good to find some watch bargains that allow us to feed the collecting bug while being prudent.  I recently found this great looking Relic Watch on Amazon.  It has a purposeful retro watch look, a 43mm diameter allow case, 30-meters of water resistance, a stainless steel case back, and a quartz movement. It's also available for an outstanding price on Amazon.

Relic Jaden Quartz Watch

This Relic is currently 36% off on Amazon. That brings the price down to well below $60. That's a great price for a watch that has a little bit of a Rolex Milgauss thing going on. Over the years, I've found that Relic consistently brings great looking watches to market.  While it's easy to dismiss Relic as a bargain Fossil, these watches do wear well and last.  

If you'd like to check the Relic Jaden out, you can find it here on my affiliate link to Amazon.  You can find it for just a little more with a gun-metal case.