Affordable Alternatives: A Five Watch Collection for Every Situation

Watchtime Magazine recently published an article by watch expert Johannes Beer featuring a five watch no compromises collection that would suffice for every situation and come in at an eye-watering $20,000. You can read the article here. I'm sure that the publication means well, but bless their hearts, they make me feel so poor I want to cry. On the plus side, they did feature some cool looking watches from Cartier, Omega, Squale, Bulgari, and Yema. They also made sure to include a GMT, a Dive Watch, a Chronograph, a Dress Watch, and a statement piece. It made me wonder, "What's a poor boy do?"

Five Respectable Watches for Under $2000 Total (Amazon Photos)

Since I'm too old to play for a rock'n'roll band, I put together a watch collection that features respectable brands, the same functionality, great looks, at 1/10 of the price. These aren't watches that we can afford every day or all at one time, but they are watches that are definitely attainable. For a total of approximately $2000, I'm pretty sure you could get a Bulova Classic Sutton dress watch, a Bulova Lunar Pilot, a Vaer DS2 Meridian, a Tissot PRX (quartz), and a Versace V Code GMT. At the $20,000 level, Watch Time stuck to automatics, but I'll stick to quartz models for the win at less than $2000.

Dress Watch: Bulova Classic Sutton Watch

The writer for Watchtime chose the the well respected Cartier Santos-Dumont rectangular watch. It's a wonderful watch, but way out of my league. However, there are plenty of nice square and rectangular dress watches in the market. If you are looking for a nice watch from a respectable brand, you can't go wrong with the Bulova Classic Sutton tank watch. As a bonus, this Bulova mirrors the blue strap and stainless case combination of the Cartier. I just like a blue dial for this sort of watch better.

Bulova Sutton Square Dress Watch (Amazon photo)

Regularly priced at a bit over $200, this watch looks good, has a nice leather strap, and fits the more formal dress watch role perfectly.  If you are interested in this timepiece, check it out here using my Amazon Affiliate link. If you act fast, you might find a really great deal. It's 46% off as of July 30th.

Chronograph: Bulova Lunar Pilot

For their chronograph choice, Watchtime went with the famed Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. That made another moon watch an obvious choice:  the Bulova Lunar Pilot. This is a quartz recreation of a Bulova that was actually worn on the moon during the Apollo 15 lunar mission.

Bulova Lunar Pilot (Amazon photo)

At a bit over $500, the Bulova Lunar Pilot is a little expensive.  But, if you watch Amazon long enough and you are true in your faith and intention, there will eventually be a sale. You can check the Bulova Lunar Pilot out here via my Amazon affiliate link.

Dive Watch: Vaer DS2 Meridian

For the dive watch choice, Johannes Beer of Watchtime went with the Squale Sub-37 Legend. It's a watch that posed a challenge. By choosing a Squale, Mr. Beer departed from the most obvious dive watch brands. Thus, I'll submitted the respected, but under the radar, brand: Vaer. I really like the classic look of this watch. It's reminiscent of the iconic Blancpain 50 Fathoms dive watch.

Vaer DS2 Meridian (Amazon Photo)

The Vaer DS2 Meridian offers150-meters of water resistance for a bit under $300. It's a watch any of us can take pride in. If you'd like to check it out, you'll find it here via my Amazon affiliate link.

GMT Watch: Versace V Code GMT

In the $20,000 collection, you need a GMT watch. It's probably for all the jet-setting and timezone juggling. For a $2000 collection, the GMT might still come in handy for talking with the far away co-workers who'll eventually get your job or that drive here in the US to visit folks in the next timezone over. The Watchtime collection chose a spectacular Bulgari watch. It's a truly dramatic timepiece.  For the rest of us, I'd recommend this Versace V Code GMT quartz watch. It's similar to the Bulgari by virtue of the bezel design that features deeply engraved lettering and design patterns. I think it looks cool and, along with the Versace Medusa logo, makes the V Code GMT watch a very distinctive choice.

Versace V Code GMT Watch (Amazon Photo)

As a fashion brand, Versace offers distinctive watch designs that bring designer looks to the wrist at attainable price points. If you like a wide variety of watch looks, it's a brand that would definitely bring variety to your collection. As I ponder this brand, I've come to believe that they are actually a luxury watch brand. To check this watch out, visit it here via my Amazon affiliate link.

Statement Watch: Tissot PRX (Quartz)

Where Watchtime offers a Yema watch with an integrated bracelet and a camouflage design as a statement, I offer the venerable quartz version of the Tissot PRX. "I have a Tissot PRX" is definitely a statement.

Tissot PRX - Quartz Model (Amazon photo)

The Tissot PRX is a wildly popular watch design from a quality Swiss watchmaker. It's not cheap. In the mid-$400 range, it's a watch that you might want to watch for awhile until it's a good deal for you. To keep an eye on it, you can use my Amazon affiliate link here. If you are looking for a PRX alternative, check out my post "Are All The Watch Companies Being PRX" and you'll find some similarly designed timepieces.

Conclusion: Buy What The Watch You Want

In truth, I wish I could afford some of the watches that grace the pages of Watchtime Magazine.  It's a rarified world. However, the rest of us can take solace in the watches we can afford. Each of the brands I feature in this article have an interesting history and bring heritage and panache to the wrist. But, even this list still represents  almost $2000 in watches. If you need to find even more affordable alternatives, they are out there. Over the next few weeks, I may find alternatives to these watches to present as Hundred Dollar Grail watches.  But, ultimately, watch collecting is more fun when you make your own watch list and share your finds with the watch collecting community. Happy hunting!

Watches A to Z: Orient

The world of luxury timepieces is filled with high priced mechanical watches with automatic movements that are sold at price points that soar into the stratosphere. The thought that a high quality mechanical watch is unattainable for people of average means is very discouraging to many prospective watch collectors. But, if they are lucky, they discover Orient.

Vintage Orient Tri-Star Automatic Watch

Orient was founded in 1901 when Shogoro Yoshida opened the Yoshida Watch Shop in Ueno, Taito, Tokyo, Japan. They started out selling imported pocket watches and grew into a manufacturer of watch cases and clocks. Between 1920 and 1934, they manufactured their first watches. In 1951, the company changed its name to Orient, manufactured their first Orient Star watch, and started the development of in-house movements. They weathered the quartz watch crisis by sticking to their resolve to create the longest lasting mechanical watches. 

The caseback of my Orient Bambino

In more recent times, Orient joined Seiko Group when Seiko Epson bought 51% of Orient in 2001. In 2009, the company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seiko. In 2017, Orient became a completely integrated Seiko brand. It's a good match. For collectors of modest middle class means Orient and Seiko automatic watches provide great value.

The Orient Bambino, 2nd Generation, Version 3

To read my review of my vintage Orient Tri-Star click here. To read my review of my Orient Bambino, 2nd Generation, Version 3 click here. To see all of my Watches A to Z posts click here.

Ten Dollar Tuesday: Time100 Quartz Sports Watch for Men

The best time to buy a post-apocalyptic watch is pre-apocalypse. Today's $10 watch is this clunky Time100 from the deepest recesses of the Amazon. The case and straps look very cool. As I write this, I strongly suspect that the subdials will be non-functional, but Chinese watches have surprised me lately.  

The Time100 Men's Quartz Watch (Amazon photo)

The listing for this watch had no product details. No highlights. No real description. The specifications offer that it's a quartz watch with 30-meter water resistance. They also list a 43mm diameter case, 13mm thick, with a 22mm wide silicone strap. Of course, I did what any irrational watch collector would do. I ordered it! It was only $9.

Fortunately, the watch arrived on Monday, just prior to this post. In many respects, I'm surprised and pleased by the watch I received. It came in a real box with a collector's tin! A collector's tin for a $9 watch!

The Time100 Chronograph in its collector's tin

Here are some of the answers to some of the key questions you might have:

Do the subdials work? Yes. This watch is a chronograph. It works and the date function works as well.

Does the watch fit? Yes.The strap is generously sized. 

Does it have a stainless steel caseback? Yes. That should help keep allergies and skin conditions at bay.

Is there lume? Yes. There is actually a bit of loom on the hour and minute hands.

The functionality and fit of this watch are astounding. Watches that are available at retail stores and cost less than $30 generally don't have working subdials.

The Time100 Chronograph watch

What's disappointing? The watch in the product photo has a flat finish which would have given the timepiece an industrial look, but the actually watch has a very glossy case appearance. This is not a show stopper--just a surprise.

Overall, I'm quite satisfied by the value delivered by this watch.  If you are interested, you can get the Time100 watch here via my Amazon affiliate link. I'll get a teeny-tiny commission. But, you'll get a watch for less than $10. It'll be cool to see how this one holds up over time. I was crazy to buy a watch with so little product information, but it's off to a great start. To check out most of my $10 Tuesday watches, visit my Amazon store front via affiliate link here.

Wristwatch Review: Nautica N/83 Finn World Quartz Watch

One watch I snatched up pre-owned on Amazon is this Nautica Finn World watch (Model NAPFWF201).  It's a beautiful dive-style watch inspired by Finn class sailboats and the sea. The styling of this watch is just amazing with the boldest of blues, a purposeful looking diver-style bezel, and a silicone strap that fits an up to 8-inch wrist.

Nautica Finn World Watch (Amazon Photo)

It looks perfect on Amazon, but this great deal story has a twist.

Incredible Watch Deal but Shockingly Unacceptable Delivery

Amazingly, I found this Nautica watch as a pre-owned deal for just under $15.00. But, I was shocked when the watch arrived.  It was in a box that had about a tablespoon of beach sand inside. It covered the watch, the original box, and any papers inside.

My Nautica N/83 arrived in beach watch condition

I almost sent the watch back. The watch was new in box, but the box was terrible. I dusted the watch off, removed the sticker protecting the crystal and the sticker protecting the case back and rinsed off the straps. 

The dusty wrist strap of my Nautica N/83

Fortunately, clean up revealed that underlying timepiece was undamaged.

Nautica N/83 Finn World Watch Style and Features

Like nearly all Nautica watches, this watch is a winner in terms of style and design. The color combination, nautical reference to the Finn class of sale boats, bezel look, and strap design are all winners. This is one of my best looking watches. As a fashion watch, this Nautica is on point.

From a feature perspective, this Nautica N/83 is a little sparse. The bezel is fixed. That's a bit of a shame because I do like a rotating bezel for timing pizzas and other important things. However, the simplicity of the design is also refreshing. There are no tiny subdials or date windows with numbers I can't read. I don't have to check and set the date with this one when I pick it up after awhile to put it in rotation. The watch has a practical water resistance of 50 meters. I'll rate the lack of features a win for this watch.

Nautica Watch Dimensions

I like the size of this watch. The case is 44mm in diameter and 12mm thick. The strap is 22mm wide and provides plenty of length.

 

Nautica Watch Construction

Founded in 1983 by designer David Chu and a partner, the Nautica brand is now owned by Authentic Brands.  In the fashion space, Nautica is slots above Izod and below Brooks Brothers in Authentic's portfolio of brands. Nautica watches have been designed, manufactured, and distributed by the Timex Group since the 1990s. The design direction and quality guidelines have worked well in the partnership to yield some great looking and affordable watches.

This Nautica N/83 Finn World watch features stainless steel construction, a silicone strap, and a mineral glass crystal. It's a very solid watch.

Nautica Finn World Watch Overall Impression

Overall, I really love this watch. I'm glad I didn't send it back. It's genuinely one of my favorite casual watches. It has a great look. It's very readable and it has practical water resistance.

Where to Buy Nautica Watches

Fashion watch brands move fast and constantly evolve. This watch is no longer available on Amazon.  But, it is listed online at Kohl's for $125 new.  It also appears regularly on secondary sites like eBay. Since Nautica shows remarkable consistency in design theme and style, you may find another Nautica watch appealing using my affiliate link here on Amazon.

TGIF: The Rolex versus Invicta Rivalry

It's amazing how much tribalism and hatred can be generated by watch brands. There are animosities in the watch world that run nearly as deep as Ford versus Chevy and Coca-Cola versus Pepsi. It's too bad because, if one watch brand was truly the best choice for everyone, the watch world would really be boring. I suspect the rifts run deep because some of watch brands strike deep at the insecurities of rival owners.

A Rolex Datejust in a Pawn Shop

Take a look at the hatred Rolex owners have towards Invicta owners. Each brand strikes deeply at the insecurities of the other tribe. A Rolex is an expression of material success. Beyond its function as a watch, a Rolex is a status symbol. Many owners purchase a Rolex to signify a big success in their professional life.  A Rolex could cost $10,000, $20,000, or even more. You can see for yourself by checking out these Rolex watches at the Amazon Luxury store using my affiliate link. The high price tag keeps Rolex watches well out of reach of most Invicta owners. That likely strikes at deep economic insecurities of Invicta owners. Are Invicta owners just wannabe Rolex owners striking a pose?

However, many Invicta watches provide the mechanical function and nearly identical looks to popular  Rolex models. Use my affiliate link to see the wide variety of Invicta watches on Amazon. While the quality levels are obviously not nearly the same, if the Invicta watch keeps good time and looks good on the wrist, one has to wonder how wise Rolex owners actually are with their money. On paper, a Rolex might be a better investment, but high fidelity homage watches and outright fakes challenge that notion. If buyers, shopkeepers, and watch experts can't identify a true Rolex from a fake, that can't be good for resale values in the long term. Of course, the "millionaire next door" is wearing a Casio and employing 100 hard working people and sending them all over town to do plumbing, AC work, and electrical repairs, while this silly watch debate continues.  It might be real, honest, money that looks at flashy Rolex people as posers.

For less than $50, this Casio Enticer can send everyone else home

Both tribes accuse each other of being suckered by their chosen brand. The truth is pretty ugly. When it comes to the treatment of their customers, neither company has a great track record. Invicta has been accused of taking advantage of a vulnerable customer base through late night infomercials. Rolex makes their customer buy a watch they don't want and wait on a list for years in hopes of buying the watch that they do want. Honestly, it's not a good look for either company and not a great feeling for their customers.

Rolex Sea Dweller 

The next area for attack is watch designs. Invicta has some over-the-top watch designs that leave good taste far behind in the rear view mirror. But, Rolex is using the same designs that had in 1955. Sometimes the dial colors and materials change. That's not exactly innovative. Both companies could do better.

Invicta Specialty Pro Diver

Ultimately, the watch brand hate should stop. A Rolex owner would be better served wearing an Invicta if he wants to eat safely at Waffle House in the middle of the night. The Invicta owner might strike it big one day and really want to join that Rolex tribe.

Invicta Pro Diver Automatic

Watch Deal Alert: Fossil Coachman with Leather Bundt Strap

If you are looking for something slightly different in the world of watches and straps, get a watch with a bundt strap. In that strap design, a leather pad is placed between you and your watch.  It's probably a great design for people who have reactions to the metals commonly used in watches. Right now (as of July 2026), Fossil has a great discount on their Fossil Coachman Chronograph with a leather bundt strap. On Amazon, the watch is 59% off to come in at well under $100.  That's a deal for a good quality quartz watch today.

Fossil Coachman Chronograph

The watch has 44mm diameter case, 100-meter water resistance, a date window, and three subdials to handle chronograph functions and 24-hour time.  It gets 4.6 stars in over 18000 ratings on Amazon. If you like this watch, check it out here via my affiliate link to Amazon.

Sponsored Spotlight: The Olev's Men's Stainless Steel Luxury Diamond Chronograph

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For this month's sponsored spotlight, I have another great watch from Olev's.  This time it's a men's stainless steel quartz chronograph with diamond markers. Olev's is an interesting watchmaker as you can see luxury elements coming together in a budget-friendly watch. This one appears to have a faceted crystal that the ad copy refers to as a "rhombic mirror." It further heightens the visual interest of this watch.

Olev's Luxury Chronograph with Diamond Markers (Amazon photo)

To me, this watch has a rather New Orleans style.  It has the old appeals to royalty with a crown and diamonds, Roman numerals and a faceted crystal and bezel. I also like the black coloring with just a hint of gold.  However, this watch is available in ten different dial design, color, and watch bracelet configurations. 

Olev's Luxury Chronograph Dial Designs (Amazon photo)

This watch has contemporary proportions at 43mm in diameter and 10mm thick. The style is luxurious and the brand is striving for their crown to mean something. While this is a budget-friendly watch, it feels like a better grade of watch than the low-end timepieces that you might find at a discount store. For example, this watch has a stainless steel case and a practical 30-meter water resistance.

That said, I have a similar Olev's model that I bought for myself back in 2024 and I've been quite  pleased with it. If you'd like to take a closer look, please use my Amazon affiliate link here. This watch qualifies for a slightly higher commission via the Amazon Creators program and any purchase will help support this blog.

If you're looking for something a little more square, check out last month's sponsored spotlight for a sophisticated-looking square Olevs!