Watch Wearing Wednesday: Caribbean Joe Cushion Case Quartz Watch

Lately, I've been wearing my new Caribbean Joe Cushion Case Quartz Watch. It was the Caribbean Joe watch I sighted a week ago. That's willpower. I held off buying it for a whole day. However, it was a great deal at Kohl's. With all the different coupons and Black Friday deals, I was able to get it for less than $20. It's pictured here at the Unclaimed Baggage store under the watchful gaze of professional diving equipment that was lost in the air transportation system.

A commercial dive mask appears to be looking at my Caribbean Joe Watch

The watch has non-functional subdials for decorative purposes. In some ways, I hate non-functional subdials. However, I'm also a little relieved not to have to fuss with setting the subdials. Once again, Caribbean Joe achieves the mission of achieving good looks on a low budget.

Titanium Tuesday: The Bertucci Men's A-2T Original Classic Field Watch

Bertucci is a small watch company that is quickly making a name for itself.  Bertucci designs and patents many of its watches and components in the United States and assembles the watches in the United States using a mix of US and globally sourced parts. They have the Bertucci A-2T Original Classic with a 40mm diameter  Titanium case. I've been looking at field watches for quite some time and this one is a good choice.

Bertucci A-2T Original Classic Titanium Watch

The watch has some impressive features that make it field ready.  Quicksand, swamps, and river fording are all easily undertaken since the watch has a screwdown crown and screwdown caseback that provides 200 meters of water resistance. It also has an R-Type harden mineral crystal for scratch resistance. The watch has a Japanese or Swiss quartz movement.

The Bertucci A-2T Original Classic Titanium Field Watch is listed on Amazon here.

Sharp Watch Shoutout: The Bulova Super Seville

The hot trend in men's watches right now is the return of dress watches and the return of smaller dial sizes. Perhaps it is due to the mass realization that we won't all be SCUBA diving today? Or, maybe, it's a matter of men making the best of return to the office mandates? I'm not sure. But, it has certainly surfaced some interesting watches lately. The Bulova Super Seville (Model 97B223) brings together a high tech Precisionist quartz movement, the richness of a gold tone, and the best of retro style. This is a watch that really deserves a sharp watch shout out!

Bulova Super Seville (Bulova photo)

Sometimes, I think that gold-toned stainless steel watches with fluted bezels are simply copying the famed Rolex Datejust. But, Bulova brings in an interesting twist with what they call a retro TV case shape. The iconic tuning fork also brings in a touch of class. The 262 kHz Precisionist movement brings in technology that brings extraordinary timekeeping and a smooth, almost sweeping, motion to the second hand. I think Bulova has brought together a unique package with the Super Seville.

Bulova Super Seville - Bulova Photo

Finally, I can't really afford this watch. But, at about $500 to $800, it's not entirely out of reach either. If I had to suit up on a regular basis and interact with executives or argue cases in a courtroom, this watch would be a great choice. Heck, in a situation where business casual means a nice dress shirt with no tie, a great pair of slacks, and really nice shoes, the Bulova Super Seville would be a great choice. 

I can really envision this watch as part of a very sharp outfit for a high profile job. But, I can't see it on Amazon yet.  If you'd like a Bulova Super Seville, you can find it here on the Bulova Website. The watch is also available at Zales, Reeds, and other jewelers.  For something this nice, it might be good to see it in person and have the bracelet adjusted as needed.

Watch Shopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Store

I recently added a Diesel Mega Chief to my collection. With a 51mm diameter dial, it's an iconic big watch design from Diesel.  It's a quartz watch with subdials and an interesting metal shield or guard around the 3 o'clock position.  You can read all about, and possibly buy, this great watch here on Amazon. For me, the source of my watch is the more interesting story.  I bought this watch used at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, Alabama.  It has some wear  and tear, but it was only $54.

My Diesel Mega Chief

According to the Unclaimed Baggage store website, whenever airlines lose passenger bags or recover items left behind on airliners or in airport terminals, they try to find the owner for 3 months.  Then, they sell the goods to Unclaimed Baggage.  They recycle some, donate some, and sell the best at their retail store and online.  Getting to the brick-n-mortar store is quite a journey, but they have some amazing items at often amazing prices. You can see a tiny fraction of their inventory on the watch portion of their website.

Watches Priced from $30 to $59 at the Unclaimed Baggage Store

The store segments watches into price categories.  They have tons of inexpensive (less than $30) digital and analog fashion watches hung from pegs on displays out on the sales floor of the jewelry section.  Under the counter, the store has watches usefully segments by price up to about $300 or $400.  Above that, they have luxury watch displays with brands like Movado and then even more expensive brands like Nivada, Tudor, and Rolex. Store management generally has a good idea of what watches are worth from various used watch stores, online auctions and the like. You can get some good discounts from new prices, but you won't find a Tudor watch with a scuffed strap for $200.

The shop offers battery replacement for $4.99 on watches you purchase.  That is probably a good idea since you don't know how long the watches on display have been ticking.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Timex Tribute NCAA Team Logo Watch

It's always great to be a Florida Gator watching your team trounce FSU while attacking a big plate of ultimate nachos with chili! I bring this watch out pretty regularly when I go somewhere to watch my team play.  Timex makes watches for fans to show their support for many college football teams.  You can read my review of the Timex Tribute Citation here on this blog.

Timex Citation Tribute Series Watch

This 42mm diameter Timex Citation has a 50 meters of water resistance, Indiglo-backlighting for easy night time reading of the dial, and a small date window.  Watches for 45 college teams are available here on Amazon.  Overall, this is a nice watch that I wear regularly.

Titanium Tuesday: Boderry Landmaster Men's Titanium Automatic Field Watch

For this Titanium Tuesday, we turn our attention to an offering from Boderry. Established in 2019, Boderry is an unabashedly Chinese watch company. They are focused on harnessing Chinese advantages in manufacturing (with their own factory in Guangzhou) to bring high end watches to consumers at very competitive prices.  For example, this Boderry Landmaster  automatic field watch offers a titanium case, an automatic movement, and 100 meters of water resistance for a low base price of $139 on the Boderry website and slightly less here on Amazon. 

Boderry Landmaster Titanium Field Watch

You'll want to do your own research into these watches. But, it is interesting to watch the rise of factory direct and factory brand watches in the watch business. Being the middle man between watch manufacturers and consumers may certainly get to be more challenging in the future.

Watch Sighting: Caribbean Joe Silver Tone Four Dial Watch

Caribbean Joe watches are like potato chips. You can't stop with just one. They are just a guilty pleasure.  They have a cool name. They have a little hut logo on the dial. They are dirt cheap.

The trademark Caribbean Joe hut

I saw one at Kohl's the other night. It was tucked into a display with several other similarly priced Caribbean Joe watches, some Geneva watches, and a few assorted Timex models. 

A Watch Display at Kohls

I passed on it. Instead, I bought a Geneva watch with a cool cyclops over the date. But, the little bugger imprinted itself in my brain.  It has a cushion case which reminds me of a classic watch that I've seen before.  The cushion case gives this Caribbean Joe watch a vintage vibe and, with the multiple non-functional subdials, it remains a masculine watch.  It's a nice simple design. I kind of want it.  As I research cushion cases further, I find that iconic Italian watch maker Panerai uses cushion cases extensively on their Luminor and Radiomir models.  [Oh, wow, here's a whole Amazon treasure trove filled with Panerai watches that I can't afford.]

A Caribbean Joe watch with a cushion case and non-functional subdials.

In contrast, this Caribbean Joe watch only costs $29.99 regularly and is available with all kinds of sales and discounts for Christmas. Of course, as a married dude, one doesn't walk into Kohl's lightly. The trip might be expensive. I may have to ponder this one a bit.

[For today only 12/1/2024 - it is available here online only on the Kohl's website for only $16.79.]