Holiday watch...

[cannedheat]

Off to Turkey in a couple of weeks and I don't really fancy taking my Snoopy Speedmaster as I can't swim with it and the hotel doesn't have room safes.

I fancy getting something cheap but nice to take with me, budget up to about £100... any suggestions?

I like a lot of the stuff on Werners but the pilot watches are all rated at 5atm (50m), is this enough to swim with, anyone swam with one of their Werners purchases? I know they do a range of divers watches too, but not a massive fan of the designs...


Criteria:

Able to swim with,
At least 40mm width
On a strap rather than bracelett (I want to fit a deployment buckle)
Under £100
Not an obvious copy of something else, so no Sub/GMT style copies

Cheers
Rich.

[Fittster]

Seiko Monster?

[Don1]

Casio G-Shock. You know it makes sense...

[Twit]

G shock a good shout, thats what I tend to use, but these look ok, tad more than a 100 but well rated.

http://www.christopherward.co.uk/PL2_MENS_C6-KING_...

I have one of his watches and they are built like granite so prob well worth the price.

[Pesty]

I would have said somthing like this but its on a bracelet. still at this price you could buy a decent strap and still be under you budget
100m
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Seiko-100M-Tachymeter-Chrono...

or this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Seiko-100M-Chronograph-Tachy...

both versions available with black faces as well i think

Edited by Pesty on Saturday 31st May 19:16

[BigAlinEmbra]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swatch-Dark-Phoenix-watch/...

I got one of these recently for a knock about watch for anywhere I wasn't happy taking my seamaster (off to south america in nov!), and it seems ok so far.
Not tried swimming in it, but from what I've heard 50m is ok if you're just pissing about in the pool or at the beach.

If you're going somewhere on the med, you could always wait till you get there and pay something from a "lookie, lookie" man for about a tenner. You know the sort of things I'm on about.
Ralgex GTMs
Brightlings
Umegas
etc.

Not going to break your heart if it gets nicked, but should do the job.

[cannedheat]

BigAlinEmbra said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Swatch-Dark-Phoenix-watch/...

I got one of these recently for a knock about watch for anywhere I wasn't happy taking my seamaster (off to south america in nov!), and it seems ok so far.
Not tried swimming in it, but from what I've heard 50m is ok if you're just pissing about in the pool or at the beach.

Interesting call on the Swatch, I bought my dad that exact model from the Swatch Time Sq store in NYC. I like it, but they're only rated to 30m...

No to the G-shock, don't like digital, I have been looking at Seikos though...I like the 200m divers watch they do with either the black or orange face.

[Seb d]

cannedheat said:

No to the G-shock, don't like digital, I have been looking at Seikos though...I like the 200m divers watch they do with either the black or orange face.

I have the previous generation model with the Pepsi bezel which I bought as a knockabout watch and I really like it. Good size, feels very chunky and robust, looks more expensive than it is and I paid under £100 for mine. Alternatively, how about this? http://www.wernersflyingwatches.com/products.asp?ProID=125  I know you said you weren't a fan of the Werners dive watches and I'm sure you've seen it but I think it could be a winner. Even cheaper than the Seiko, has a hint of the Monster about it, silly depth rating, big as you like and on a strap. Personally I think it looks really smart.
Just wanted to add that 50m is only just about enough to swim with. Here's rough guide of how useful depth ratings are:

Water resistant
Protected against rain and accidental water splashes.
3 bar/30 m
Brief immersion in water, not suitable for swimming.
5 bar/50 m
OK for shallow swimming, car washing.
10 bar/100 m
OK for snorkling.
20 bar/200 m
Diving with regular air tubes.

Edited by Seb d on Saturday 31st May 22:41

Edited by Seb d on Saturday 31st May 22:44

[cannedheat]

Seb d said:

cannedheat said:

No to the G-shock, don't like digital, I have been looking at Seikos though...I like the 200m divers watch they do with either the black or orange face.

I have the previous generation model with the Pepsi bezel which I bought as a knockabout watch and I really like it. Good size, feels very chunky and robust, looks more expensive than it is and I paid under £100 for mine. Alternatively, how about this? http://www.wernersflyingwatches.com/products.asp?ProID=125  I know you said you weren't a fan of the Werners dive watches and I'm sure you've seen it but I think it could be a winner. Even cheaper than the Seiko, has a hint of the Monster about it, silly depth rating, big as you like and on a strap. Personally I think it looks really smart.

Edited by Seb d on Saturday 31st May 22:41

Good suggestion, I quite like that one... I think I like this one more though, which has the added benefit of being mechanical...




Hmmm, I think it's going to be a toss up between the Seiko divers with a new strap (don't like the rubber one) and the Werners U91 Military Divers...

[Seb d]

That looks nice.

[BigAlinEmbra]

Hmmm, says the swatch is 50m...

[Trommel]

Capri Watch Rex.

[WTD]

this looks cool, a shade over budget but never mind


http://www.wernersflyingwatches.com/products.asp?P...

[StevieGee]

I bought a Luminox about 5yrs ago for work, slightly over budget at £124 but can't reccomend this watch highly enough for a cheapy.

As a Truck Driver working nights this watch has taken so much punishment over the past 5yrs I'm suprised it still looks as good as the day I bought it.

It could do with a new strap now, but I'm not suprised after all it's had to go through.

200m water resist, sapphire crystal face and swiss quartz movement gives it excellent accuracy.

[cannedheat]

Well, finally bought something



£68 plus del from Hong Kong. Should be delivered in a couple of days...

Seiko SKX007
200m WR
Screw down crown
21 Jewel movement

Don't really like the rubber strap so going to replace it with some sort of leather item with a deployment buckle.

Very happy, plus they'll refund any duty or vat charges

[BigAlinEmbra]

Good darts, that's a lovely looking beast.

[snapper seven]

Ha, I was just reading down the thread thinking 'what you need is a Seiko 007' and hey presto! Well done, good choice. I've had mine for about a year now and love it.

ETA - I too ditched the Jubilee bracelet and stuck a Bond NATO on it. Suits it very well.

SS

Edited by snapper seven on Wednesday 4th June 21:31

[cannedheat]

BigAlinEmbra said:

Good darts, that's a lovely looking beast.

I think beast could be a rather apt description. I keep reading quotes that it's a bit of a chunky bugger...

Just gotta find a good strap now...

Thinking a brown Alligator with deployment buckle...



Opinions? Will it just look gash?

[BigAlinEmbra]

I'm more of a fan of bracelets or black rubber straps on diving style watches, but then Clarkson's Planet Ocean with the black leather strap looks ace imo.

And then again, I bought that dark phoenix cos I like the tan croc strap, so I'm probably best ignored.

[Seb d]

Nice choice, I've the SKX009 on a bracelet.