Affordable Watches Experts & Sellers LOVE ft. Federico Iossa

While there is a general connotation that great timepieces have great movements and come with a hefty price, there are actually affordable watches that also have great movements. We’ll discuss options experts and sellers love that won’t break the bank.

Video Transcript [Lightly Edited for Clarity]:

Nathan Price: Welcome back to the Gentleman’s Gazette. In today’s video, we’re going to be talking about inexpensive or cheap watches that are respected and liked by watch experts. And hey, we would know because we have one here today.

So, you might have noticed that we have added quite a few timepiece videos to our YouTube channel. That has been all because of Federico over at Delray Watch. He has been very gracious in sending us watches that we get to wear and shoot videos of and take good care of. We do not let Raphael and his knife get near it.

So, it’s my great pleasure to welcome back Federico to the Gentleman’s Gazette YouTube channel. Hey, Fed, thanks for being here.

Federico Iossa: Hey, pleasure, Nathan. Thank you so much for having me, and this is a riot. I love shooting these videos.

NP: In today’s video, we’re going to talk about cheap and inexpensive watches that get a lot of respect from collectors and enthusiasts, and we figured that there was no one else better to talk about this than someone who handles dozens of watches on a day-by-day basis so we brought Federico along.

I have a few watches picked out, and Federico has a few picked out to talk about, but since he is our guest, we’ll let Federico take it from the top.

Inexpensive Watches That Experts Love: 1. Seiko SKX

FI: So, first, I’m going to start by saying that “inexpensive” or “cheap” is relative, particularly in the watch game; or things can be thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of dollars. So a quality watch, a high-quality watch to some people, you know, may sound inexpensive; to some, it is expensive. But it’s all relative.

I’m going to start with a watch in my personal collection and that is the Seiko SKX. I absolutely love it. It’s my beater watch. Recently discontinued, so you can’t pick one up new anymore but you can certainly pick them up used. They’ve gone up in price, though. Three, three hundred fifty dollars.

Here you get an automatic, diver-style Seiko that, in the watch community, people love. Pepsi bezel options, black bezel options. You know, it’s sturdy, it’s reliable, and you know, there’s not much else to say. Apart from the fact that a watch geek sees you wearing one, he’ll know exactly what it is.

NP: Yeah, surprisingly, the SKX is not one that I’ve ever owned. Although, I really, you know, like them and appreciate them. I will say that there are people in my life that I know of who aren’t into watches or who aren’t watched people, but if I see them and I see that they have an SKX it’s like, “You actually thought about buying that!”

FI: No! For sure, because it’s just expensive enough that where a non-watch geek, you know, thinks twice about spending a few hundred dollars on a watch. But as a watch geek, someone who owns watches that are a hundred times that price (even more), it’s still a pleasure to have on my wrist, and it serves its function beautifully.

NP: Yeah, and I’ve heard you say this before. Where you don’t have to worry about it, you know when you take it traveling. It’s why it’s your travel watch because if it, you know – I don’t know – gets full of water at a pool somewhere, you know, you aren’t going to cry about losing a $300, $400 watch.

FI: So, while I would obviously be upset to lose four hundred dollars, whether – you know, that’s never fun – but if I get mugged on my travels or if I lose it at a TSA checkpoint or if it falls off my wrist while riding a motorcycle in Southeast Asia, you know, it’s not the end of the world. It’s not, you know, a Moser. And so, it’s a purpose-made watch for me.

It scratches the watch geek itch, but at the same time, it is relatively (and I hate to use this word, but it’s true), it’s relatively disposable.

NP: Yeah, yeah, I agree, and I also think it’s sort of… The ones that I’ve handled, you know, the SKXs, they seem to be sort of that first watch that you kind of get that “watch geek” itch. You have a rotating bezel that you know clicks a little bit, and it feels a lot higher-end than something that you’d buy at a regular old department store.

FI: Yeah, and on top of that, you know, honestly, it’s very comfortable. Like, the bracelet is not well-made at all, but because it’s so poorly made (in the bracelet, I mean), it makes it very supple to wear.

2. Seagull 1963

NP: So, my first pick is a watch that actually our cameraman, Chris, has, and it’s the Seagull 1963 Chronograph. Tell me why watch guys like that watch.

FI: So, actually, I think that’s a fantastic pick. There are multiple itches that this scratches. First, it’s a manual-wind chronograph, a column wheel chronograph. So, something usually found in much higher-end watches. It’s vintage styling. It’s extremely attractive, and honestly, this movement, which Seagull copied because they bought the machinery from an old Swiss company, originally was in very high-end chronographs. And I think this one – somewhere around $300 – and you get a lot for your money.

Now, there are a few negatives, I will say. The movement breaks a lot. Not because it’s not a good movement, but because it’s a very complex movement, and at that price point, you can expect it to be put together particularly well.

But, if you have a functioning Seagull 1963, then you have a very high-end, or logically speaking, watch for a fraction of the price.You know, manual-wind, column-wheel chronograph. What’s there not to adore?

NP: For our viewers, could you give like two or three examples of what a column-wheel chronograph movement, similar to this one would be? Like a watch example in the three to five thousand dollar range.

FI: Three to five thousand dollar range for a column wheel is almost unheard of. It’s usually in the 15 to 20,000 dollar range, but a couple of examples are: Longines makes a column-wheel chronograph, but it’s just a column wheel put onto a base 7750 movement. For you guys that don’t know what that is: it’s like a Chevy small block in the car world. It’s a utilitarian, extremely common movement modified with a column wheel.

So, you know, that’s one in that range. I think Frederique Constant makes a column wheel as well. But, generally, column-wheel chronograph movements, you’re talking Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Rolex Daytona, Zenith El Primero. Zenith is probably the most famous, truly high-quality, column-wheel chronograph movement for under ten thousand dollars. 

NP: So, there you have it. If you want to get the experience of owning a manual-wind chronograph, especially with one that has some quality components that are similar to higher-end watches, our cameraman Chris got one for about 200 bucks, but they can go up to five or six. So, I think this is also a great option.

3. Casio G-Shock

FI: So, this choice is one watch geeks love. Doesn’t necessarily fit in with a lot of the things you guys do here at the Gentleman’s Gazette, but I’m sure you know what I’m about to say. That is the Casio G-Shock.

The ultimate sports watch on rubber. Indestructible. Quartz movement. Digital display. They go anywhere from 30 bucks to 3,000, depending on what features you get. But, if you get like a standard multi-band six, which is the timing function that uses radio signals to keep the time essentially, you know, it’s a great, hundred-dollar, beater sports watch. I bought one for myself. 

Originally bought it for the gym, but then I realized I don’t like wearing a watch to the gym. So, now I just wear it when I’m messing around with my car or something. It’s the antithesis of an elegant timepiece, but it’s durable, and it just works. And every watch geek, whether they own a Patek Tourbillon or, you know, a Royal Oak Offshore, they know what a Casio G-Shock is, and they appreciate them.

NP: Yeah, I mean, I have one. It’s just a simple gray one, and I use it much the same way that you do. I use it when changing the oil, or you know, I’m moving you know moving my home or mowing the lawn. It’s got a rubber strap, typically a rubber case as well. It can, you know, take a beating. I swear you could almost run over it with a lawnmower and it would be just fine. I take it, you know, in the pool with me.

I absolutely 100% agree with this. I think, even for our viewers who are like, “I need to always have a dress watch. I’m a dress watch guy,” I think you should allow yourself to enjoy a G-Shock, and I think you’ll find that you’ll wear it a lot more than you might expect.

4. Swatch Sistem51

NP: Okay, so staying in that sort of same realm as the G-Shock, let’s go with the Swatch Sistem51.

Now, you can get these in a multitude of colors, in rubber, in metal. Different materials, but this is a watch, I think, really you can show off your personality. I think, for a lot of people, the Swatch Sistem51 is something they pick up when they’re on a holiday or it’s their first watch as a kid.

So, that’s another pick that I personally like, and you know, I think it looks really cool. What do you think?

FI: Personally, I love them, and actually, you nailed it because I bought two of them and I bought them at airports. So, you’re right there.

It’s the first automatic watch that’s built entirely by robots in an assembly line. So, not particularly high quality, though fully functional, and not serviceable, so eventually, when it does break, there’s no way to open the watch. It is a disposable watch, but it is the first automatic watch that is entirely built without the touch of a human hand, which is historical in Swiss watchmaking.

Now, maybe it’s not the stereotypical “high-end watch,” but every watch geek knows what a Sistem51 is, and I guarantee you, every watch geek if they don’t own a Sistem51, they’ve at least thought about owning one because it’s 100-150 bucks, have a multitude of colors, it does a lot of what the G-Shock does, and it’s just a ton of fun, and you get to let your watch geek flag fly without having to break the bank. And you know what, who says hobbies have to be that expensive?

NP: Yeah, I plan on getting one for my son’s first watch. I will also say if you like to choose, get an automatic watch or like a first nice watch with a whole bunch of color options, this is a better choice than trying to pay three or four times the price of an Omega Moon Swatch. 

5. Orient Bambino

FI: Here, here in regards to the Moon Swatch. But, now, I picked one specifically for your audience. But, I do genuinely believe it’s a fantastic watch and that is the Orient Bambino. It is a dress watch, a dress watch for under $200. Impossible, you say? Absolutely not!

It is a Japanese-made watch with an in-house movement; a few dial variations, but I do love that cream dial; in classic dress watch, time-only proportion.

The only thing I will say: at this price point, you have that faux alligator print strap, which in all honesty, is garbage throw that right away if you buy a Bambino. But, put it on a nicer, maybe calf strap or if you buy an alligator strap, it might cost as much as the watch, but it’s worth it because it’s very, very handsome.

It’s high quality, and watch Geeks love them (once again) for not a lot of money.

You know what? If I was ever in a pickle, where like I’m running to a wedding, I’m getting dressed, and I realized I forgot my dress watch, and I could, you know, Amazon Prime me an Orient Bambino for the next day, I would be totally proud to wear that to any event.

NP: Yeah, I totally agree. I think in a world where a lot of men think that, “I’m gonna get my first nice watch,” and they go to Nordstrom and they buy a movement, I think that this is a much better option. It shows that you actually put some thought into it.

You didn’t just go to the department store and pick something out of the case. It’s also much higher quality than a lot of just the Daniel Wellingtons and the cheap fashion brands that are “dress watches.”

FI: Side note: if you guys ever watch a little “Watch YouTube” and you see these ads, whenever you see a watch brand that “cuts out the middlemen,” do me a favor, just don’t buy it. You are the middleman. You know, ultimately, the middleman between you and the garbage can.

6. Hamilton Khaki

NP: Okay, for my final choice, I’m gonna pick a watch I think that can fit into most gentlemen’s wardrobes from dressed up to dress down, and that is the Hamilton Khaki.

Whether it’s the manual wind or the automatic, 38-millimeters, 42-millimeters, maybe with a complication, there’s a lot of options here for various gentlemen.

FI: This is the most expensive watch on the list – starts roughly at, I think, about $300 for the manual wind, goes up five, six hundred bucks to the Khaki King. This is also owned by Swatch Group that owns Briguet, Blancpain, and other very high-end watch brands. It’s kind of like your entry-level, nice, Swiss mechanical watch. I absolutely love it. 

I own a Khaki Field Mechanical myself. I love the bead-blasted case and the army green dial with the green, canvas strap. Obviously, I own much higher-quality watches, but this just feels right. It fits my wrist right. It’s, you know, I wear it almost like when I want to wear a G-Shock, but I want something mechanical.

It’s rough. It’s tumble. It’s vintage-inspired. There’s very little to not like about this Hamilton, and personally, you know, I think it’s a home run in every sense.

NP: Yeah, and I’ll say from a style standpoint, if you get one with either a black dial or the silver dial, in one of the cases that are not bead-blasted, this is a watch that you can wear with that army green strap and wear it with a casual outfit or you can take this army green strap off and put on a nice leather or a nice suede, and it looks good with a sports jacket or a more casual suit.

If you’re a young man or you’re a man, you know, who says, “I want to get a watch, and I really don’t know where to start,” this is a great starter one because it’ll go with a lot of different outfits, and it’ll really help you sort of go down the rabbit hole that is, you know, watch collecting.

Conclusion

NP: So, those are our picks. These are six affordable watches that watch geeks and watch enthusiasts really respect.

What do you guys think about our picks? Do you agree? Do you disagree? Is there something that we missed? Are we totally off-base? Please let us know in the comments.

Also, remember to stick around for more videos with Federico. Also make sure to check out his channel: “Federico Talks Watches on YouTube, and go over to delraywatch.com, which is the best place for a watch geek to buy a pre-owned watch.

Outfit Rundown

NP: In today’s outfit, I’m wearing a combination of a sports jacket and trousers, which is great for the warm weather here in Minneapolis. I’m wearing a blue, micro-houndstooth sports jacket. This was made-to-measure for me by Beckett & Robb.

My shirt is a Oxford cloth button down, and it was made-to-measure by Proper Cloth. My trousers are in a cream Huddersfield cotton. They were made-to-measure by the Singapore online brand, Collaro.

Since it’s warm out, I’m not wearing socks, but my shoes are the Yanko and Skolyx travel loafers.

On my wrist, courtesy of delraywatch.com, is this awesome gray dial Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, which is a watch that is underrated no longer.

My pocket square is from Fort Belvedere. It is our orange, large Paisley pocket square. It has light greens and purples, perfect for the warm weather months.

If you want to check out this pocket square, some socks, some ties, or anything else that you need for these warm weather months, check out the Fort Belvedere shop down in the description below.

FI: Today, I’m wearing a sports coat and trouser combination. My sport coat is a linen and cotton mix, made to measure by my tailor in Hong Kong. I’m wearing an Oxford cloth white shirt, also made to measure by the same tailor.

I’m wearing Navy chinos by Brooks Brothers, and some shell cordovan Allen Edmonds in my size 10 and a half, triple-E.

On my wrist is my H Moser, aventurine dial, perpetual moon. My favorite watch, and the hardest watch to get in my collection.