What to buy

[Johnnie]

Hi all, I have quite a few vintage/interesting watches but feel like adding something modern, so I thought I would get your opinions on a currently available, large size (big hands and wrists) decent water resistance, (like to swim in sea) and to be mechanical and made of stainless steel. I don't care if it's a rarely mentioned/obscure brand. If funds were unlimited it would be easy to pick a watch, in this case I am thinking £150.00 or less, any ideas???? Many thanks Johnnie

[M.Frias]

 Based on your description of what you want in a watch here are my suggestions.

1.- Orient Mako 2. It comes on blue or black dial, 200m water resistence, 41.5mm without crown, hackable, manual wind and also automatic. https://www.orientwatchusa.com/shop/mens-watches/faa02001b9/

1.1.- Orient Ray 2, very similar to the Mako 2 https://www.orientwatchusa.com/shop/mens-watches/faa02005d9/

2.- Vostok Amphibia. Russian watch, hard as nails, is a tool watch and it comes on many designs. Here's one I found on ebay https://www.ebay.com/p/Vostok-Diver-420526-Wrist-Watch-for-Men/144452855?iid=112692461758

3.- Any Seiko diver, or you can get the SKX009 or SKX007, with the caliber 7s26 very serviceable, 200m wr, rotating bezel, etc https://divewatchesblog.com/reviews/seiko-skx007/

4.- Invicta 8926OB, Despite what a lot of people say about invicta watches, they are not that bad, the have seiko calibers and are workhorses, here's one that is a Submariner homage. https://www.invictawatch.com/watches/detail/8926ob-invicta-pro-diver-men-40mm-stainless-steel-stainless-steel-black-dial-nh35a-automatic

[Johnnie]

Hi M.Frias. thank you for taking the time to gather those watches together for me. I like them all !

[Johnnie]

I think I will go for the Orient mako or the Seiko 007.. thanks again. 

[digginstony]

£150 or less ? The Orient and Seikos retail for more and tend to hold their value very well on the used market. Consider the mechanical Invicta pro diver as already mentioned. Not like their quartz version, they are great value divers. Also the Vostok as mentioned are great watches.

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[Johnnie]

Thanks Digginstony, I would pay more if there was a watch I really fancied, I said £150.00 as whatever price I picked it would have been wrong. I have seen the Seiko at £163.00 so not much over budget. 

[Johnnie]

Ops,, I lied, Seiko is £137.00 and Orient £120.00, so both well in budget. Amazing what you can get without breaking the bank. 

[jdm]

2 minutes ago, Johnnie said:

Ops,, I lied, Seiko is £137.00 and Orient £120.00, so both well in budget. Amazing what you can get without breaking the bank. 

With these low prices it's likely that you're looking at purchasing from outside the UK and EU, in that case be aware that unless the seller falsely declare customs value, you'll pay 20% VAT plus handling fees.

[digginstony]

Ops,, I lied, Seiko is £137.00 and Orient £120.00, so both well in budget. Amazing what you can get without breaking the bank. 

Just be careful on the used market as you can end up buying somebody else's trouble.
I would go for the Seiko as parts are readily available and due to design, is far more versatile.

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[M.Frias]

With these low prices it's likely that you're looking at purchasing from outside the UK and EU, in that case be aware that unless the seller falsely declare customs value, you'll pay 20% VAT plus handling fees.

I'm truly sorry, I was checking USA prices for most of these watches. The skx is £181.11gbp on Amazon, Wich is crazy! Even in my country (Mexico) is like $4,000 pesos (£155gbp).
Said that, the skx is a workhorse very respected among watch enthusiast. Read the description for the thickness, for my small wrist is too tall.
The Invicta pro diver is a very solid decision too, I'm almost 6 months with that watch and I love it.

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[digginstony]

Ops,, I lied, Seiko is £137.00 and Orient £120.00, so both well in budget. Amazing what you can get without breaking the bank. 

If you are buying new from outside EU , as Jdm said you will pay 20% vat + handling. Also on the Seiko you're be just over the limit and have to pay import duties as well.
The prices quoted I assumed to be used examples?

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[digginstony]

I'm truly sorry, I was checking USA prices for most of these watches. The skx is £181.11gbp on Amazon, Wich is crazy! Even in my country (Mexico) is like $4,000 pesos (£155gbp).
Said that, the skx is a workhorse very respected among watch enthusiast. Read the description for the thickness, for my small wrist is too tall.
The Invicta pro diver is a very solid decision too, I'm almost 6 months with that watch and I love it.

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Prices in the UK are high ! Assuming you're not intending to wear your diver with a suit, it's not so much the height but the lug to lug distance and the Seiko wears small on the wrist. Go to a retailer and try one on before making your mind up.

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[Johnnie]

Hi Digginstony, both new with boxes and papers. 

[Johnnie]

M.Frias, no problem, the watches you picked are all excellent choices and very good food for thought. Many thanks Johnnie

[M.Frias]

Prices in the UK are high ! Assuming you're not intending to wear your diver with a suit, it's not so much the height but the lug to lug distance and the Seiko wears small on the wrist. Go to a retailer and try one on before making your mind up.

 

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I agree with you, the cushion design on the skx helps a lot and wears smaller, but then again the 009 and the 007 are big for me, my wrists are small, like really small, I'm considering the skx013 Wich is 38mm. Perfect for me since any 40mm watch looks like 45 mm on my wrist [emoji20]

 

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