Amazon Haul or How I Made My Cheapest Watch Purchase EVER!

During my quest for $10 watches, I discovered a new online outlet on Amazon.  It's called Amazon Haul. They have lots of deals on watches--particularly inexpensive watches from Asia. Many of the brands that you see on Amazon for $10 or less are on Amazon as well.  Despite having Amazon Prime, you still have to pay low fees for shipping.  But, the savings can still be quite significant.  For example, I bought a watch for 1 cent.  Yes, $0.01.  Even with a $3.99 shipping fee, the watch only cost me $4.00. That's super cheap! It's even cheaper than the Youyoupifa Best Birthday watch that I posted about here back in 2015.

Ruige Automatic Watch for Men

The watch I bought is a Ruige Automatic Watch for men.  It's a diver-style watch that normally retails on Amazon for $70. It has a rotating uni-directional bezel, a transparent caseback, and sun/moon, day, date, and 24-hour time sub-dials in an attractive two-tone stainless steel case with a blue dial and gold-tone accents.  Of course, even as I write this, the watch has disappeared off of the Haul website and can only be found on Amazon. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of watches on Amazon Haul. This Poedagar multifunction watch with moonphase complication is priced at less than $4! It's rather comically listed as "Men Watch Fashion Sport Men's Wristwatch Waterproof Luminous Leather Date Quartz Watches Man Clock."

It's always interesting to see what you can get for your money with deals like these.  You can get this inexpensive watch here via my affiliate link on Amazon Haul.

Amazon Haul has lots of different watch deals to choose from and all of them are less than $40.  If you'd like to see all the men's watches on Haul, visit using my Amazon affiliate link!

TGIF: Watches ARE an Accessory

This Friday rumination is to remind people that watches are fashion accessories. Sometimes I think that many watch enthusiasts think of watches as THE thing. If they can just attain that elite watch, that will automatically convey upon them--wealth, status, and class. But, the watch doesn't provide any of those things. The watch is a byproduct of those things.

A Rolex Datejust

If you have wealth, your watch is a byproduct of that wealth. If you have status, your watch might reflect it. For example, a company owner might have a better watch than the company's rank and file employees. If you have class, you might wear a watch that reflects taste and an appreciation for the finer points of horological  heritage. 

An Orient Bambino

A luxury watch by itself is a bit of an anomaly. As I've explored on this blog before, there are many appealing aspects of a luxury watch. However, a watch alone is not a path to instant respect. Respect is earned through achievements. Achievements in the military, business, entrepreneurship, education, family, the arts, athletics, charity and religion accumulate over time. Achievements, personal conduct, and ethics help form your reputation and, to be a bit too trendy, your personal brand. 

Rolex Sea Dweller

To symbolize class or rank or wealth, a luxury watch also needs to be accompanied by a suitable wardrobe, car, home, and boat. In other words, a luxury watch is just one of the coolest trappings of wealth. Alternatively, an adventurous watch is the perfect complement to the way veterans and military members dress and carry themselves. Experience in far away place with nowhere to spend a paycheck can lead to some nice watches. 

Your watch can reflect your personality, taste, and values. But, you have to do you. If you want the respect, become that elite SCUBA diver and have some adventures. If you want status, climb that corporate ladder.  If you want wealth, start that business and succeed. The watches can follow.

The Hundred Dollar Grail: A Good Skeleton Watch

It seems like every watch collector needs at least one skeleton watch. There is just something cool about having a watch that lets you see through the dial and caseback and observe the mechanism at work. I was fortunate to find a great skeleton watch at Walmart (read about it in this post) early in my watch collecting efforts and then receive an ornate skeleton pocket watch as well. But, the question is - can watch collectors on a budget still find affordable skeleton watches today? I've found one that fits our $100 budget.

Relic Men's Skeleton Watch

The Fossil brand Relic has a skeleton watch for 49% off. It's has a 42mm diameter case that is 14mm thick. It's quite practical for a skeleton watch with readable hands and markers that should make this one a very practical choice.  It has an automatic movement that can be hand-wound if the watch stops.

The discounts bring the price of this timepiece in under $90. To see it, click here on my Amazon affiliate link.

  

Affordable Watches for Father's Day 2026

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21, 2026, and a watch is always an appropriate gift for the occasion.  A watch is both functional and a keepsake.  But, in these inflationary times, finding a watch that is a nice gift and affordable on a child or young adult budget can be a challenge. I've put together a list of a few watches that are both affordable and respectable as gifts. Here are three watches that cost $50 or less that will be great Father's Day gifts.

1. Timex Expedition

The Timex Expedition is currently on sale for 34% off and it is being offered at an awesome price.  It's less than $25! If you are on a kid's budget, this is the watch to buy.

Timex Expedition Scout (Amazon Photo)

This watch has a 40mm diameter case, 50 meters of water resistance, Indiglo backlighting, and a fabric strap. You can get it here via my affiliate link.

2. Timex Easy Reader

This Timex Easy Reader can ship quickly and costs less than $50. This one has a 35mm diameter case, 30 meters of water resistance, and a date window.

Timex Easy Reader (Amazon Photo)

You can see this one here via my affiliate link and, if you poke around, you can find many other color and case size combinations.

3. Casio Enticer

The Casio Enticer (Model MTP-VD01D-1BV) is one of the nicest looking budget-priced watches around. It still costs $50 or less and it looks great. I've got a similar model in blue and you can read my full review in my post here.

Casio Enticer MTP-VD01D-1BV (Amazon Photo)

To get the Casio Enticer, you can find it here via my Amazon affiliate link. For more great Father's Day watch ideas, poke around on this blog. Most of the watches highlighted in my posts are very affordable.

Wristwatch Review: Bulova Men's Dress Classic Multifunction Watch with Diamonds

Sometimes when you see a cool watch, you have to be ready to pounce.  That's how I got my Bulova Men's Dress Classic Multifunction Watch with Diamonds. It was surprised to see it sitting under the glass at a local Ross store one night and I did a double-take. It was a little more expensive than most Ross finds, but it was a great deal for a Bulova watch. I hemmed and hawed and then my wife made me go get it.  The Model is 96D143 and it is still available with online retailers like Walmart. The little diamonds aren't usually my style and the watch was a little large for me so I let it languish in my watch box for a long while.  

Bulova Men's Dress Classic Multifunction Watch (96D143)

The diamonds grew on me over the years. Now, I'm really glad I pulled the trigger on this one and bought it. With a return to office life, this Bulova is now one of the nicest timepieces in my regular rotation of watches. 

Bulova Dress Classic Multifunction Features

This Bulova has three subdials to provide the Date, Day, and 24-hour time. It has eight tiny diamonds working as hour markers.  

Bulova Dress Classic Multifunction Watch with Subdials & Diamond Markers

The watch has a stainless steel case and bracelet secured to the wrist via a deployant clasp.

Bulova Dress Classic Showing Deployant Clasp and Stainless Steel Construction

Bulova Classic Style

This watch has a very upscale look and feel. The tiny diamonds also  increase the visibility and readability of the watch. The bracelet style makes great use of flat finished stainless outer links and highly polished inner connecting links.

Bulova Men's Dress Classic Multifunction Watch Stainless Steel Bracelet

I removed a link or two from the generously-sized integrated bracelet and it fit perfectly.

One strange thing about this watch is that it does have a dial texture and color. It has vertical stripes on the dial created by a wave pattern. The dial is also deep green. However, the watch often appears to have a black dial and the udulations in the dial don't really show up in casual wear or photography. You can barely see the stripes in this posts top photo. The pattern shows up much more easily in the Amazon photo shown below.

Bulova Dress Classic Multifunction Watch with Diamonds (96D143) - Amazon Photo

In daily office work wear, I find that this watch has a professional and successful look. 

Bulova Classic Watch Construction

This Bulova watch has a stainless steel caseback, bracelet, and case. It also has a mineral glass crystal that seems ever so slightly convex. The watch offers 30-meters of water resistance. 

Deployant Clasp and Bulova Fit and Finish

All metal on this watch seems well constructed for comfort. You don't get any sharp bits or arm hair pulling from this watch. The high quality finish of this watch separates it from budget-oriented brands.

Bulova Dress Classic Watch Dimensions

The Bulova Dress Classic Watch with Diamonds is perfectly sized for office and formal wear. The case is 42mm in diameter and 10mm thick. The bracelet is 20mm wide and can fit lengths from 140mm to 220mm long. 

Overall Impressions of the Bulova Dress Classic

I've grown quite fond of this watch due to its distinctive look, comfortable fit, and apparent quality. It's great for the business casual office where it is eye-catching, but not a distraction. It's a stylish bit of luxury from a respectable brand that does not constitute an ostentatious display of wealth or social status. If you can find a deal on it, this is a great watch to add to your Bulova Collection.

Bulova Dress Classic Multifunction Watch with Subdials & Diamond Markers

Where to Buy the Bulova Dress Classic

This Bulova watch is listed, but not currently offered for sale on Amazon. However, it does appear on the Walmart.com and other online sales sites.

Watch Spotlight: Casio MTP1183E Analog Watch with Date

It's not often that you see a Casio watch with the style of a timeless classic, but I found one.  It's the Casio MTP1183E Water Resistant Watch with Date. I know. I know. A catchy beautiful name would help them sell more watches. Then, they could charge more, too.  Let's take the cool watch and a great price.  It's a basic Casio analog watch with 50-meter water resistance, a simple date window, and a mineral glass crystal. Voila!

Casio MTP1183E Analog Watch with Date

To me, there is something special about the shape and the patina of the case and the simplicity of the dial, that gives this watch a classic look. To see it for yourself, use my affiliate link to it on Amazon. You might see what I see. I've added it to my wishlist.
 

TGIF: Shop Your Watch Box

One way to save money on watches is to replace the batteries in quartz watches that have died and that haven't been worn for awhile. I pulled out one of my old watch boxes that had been packed away for a bit and found this Wenger Swiss Military Grenadier quartz watch. Since I had stored it in the nice box it came in, the watch really looked like new.

A Wenger Swiss Military Watch

I originally bought this watch for just $99 at a TJ Maxx store. I figure I saved about $95 by replacing a battery and NOT buying a new watch. Of course, that was before I saw this new Wenger.

Wenger Seaforce in Black (Amazon photo)

It's the Wenger Seaforce and it has 200-meters of water resistance. That's not going to change my course. I'll let that beauty stay right where it was on Amazon here at my affiliate link. I'm not buying it. I've got lots of watches that need new batteries.