Sharp Watch Shoutout: Hilfiger Men's Multi-Function Quartz Watch

I just noticed this Hilfiger watch on Amazon.com and had to give it a shout out. This watch has everything that makes Hilfiger a great fashion watch brand.  It's a multi-function watch with the Date, Day of the Week, and 24 hour time provided by functional sub-dials.  It has a comfortable silicone strap in the bluest of blues. It just looks great for a little under $100. That's why it gets a Sharp Watch Shoutout!

Tommy Hilfiger Men's Multi-Function Quartz Watch - Model 1791349

There a plenty of more storied watch brands, but this watch compares well against them. Why? Perhaps because they are designed and manufactured by the Movado Watch Group--an outfit that knows a little about making excellent watches. Hilfiger watches have a consistent level of quality in their designs, material, and manufacturing. They also pair well with the brands clothing lines.  Basically, this watch will pair well with that shirt that makes you look good. That's a powerful combination.

If you'd like to check this watch out, you can see it here on Amazon.

Wristwatch Review: Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch

The Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph for men is is one of the Chinese watches that has to worry traditionally low-priced watch brands like Armitron, Casio, and Timex. It provides a good look, chronograph functionality, and what seems to be a factory-direct price on Amazon. It's a competitive watch now and only a few minor flaws stand in the way of it being an outstanding watch choice at its price point.

Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch

Nibosi Watch Design and Features

The design of the Nibosi Chronograph is a solid.  It has the expected three watch hands plus three functional sub-dials that provide the 24 hour time, the elapsed seconds and elapsed minutes as chronograph features. Like most subdials, they are a little difficult for me to read as a watch enthusiast in my late 50s. The date window is canted at the 4:30 position which may be upsetting to some. I don't mind it.  The outline of our planet with longitude and latitude lines is etched into the dial background. Hour marker batons are thin chrome or stainless steel that matches the watch finish. The watch has a stainless steel bracelet secured by a deployant clasp.

The Push-button Deployant Clasp on the Nibosi Chronograph

Nibosi Watch Construction

This Nibosi watch has all stainless steel construction and seems quite solid. At this price point, it is an unexpected. The inside edges of the watch are a little sharper and rougher than the same places on more established brands like Casio or Timex. This is the one flaw that is noticeable on this watch. The effect on comfort is negligible, but might be noticed by some wearers. I found the watch fairly comfortable for extended wear. But, removed it from time to time when typing for long periods.

The Nibosi Case Back

The watch is marked as 3 Atmosphere or 100 feet of water resistance and the construction quality seems like it would easily provide that level of water resistance.

Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph

Nibosi Watch Dimensions

This timepiece has a 42mm diameter case and 22mm diameter bracelet. It's not too thick either. The bracelet comes a little long and has a link removal tool included in the packaging so that it can be adjusted down to fit.

The Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph is no classic, but it's pretty cool!

Overall Impression

Overall, the Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph provides tremendous value. It only costs about $20. I found it comfortable and substantial on my wrist. If you are looking to scratch the watch bug at an affordable price point, I'd recommend trying Nibosi out.

Where to Buy Nibosi Watches

You can find the Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph here on Amazon.

TGIF: Are Caribbean Joe Watches Any Good?

Yes. Caribbean Joe Watches Are Good!

Caribbean Joe makes attractive watches that are very inexpensive. It's natural that potential buyers would ask, "Are Caribbean Joe watches any good?" The immediate answer is "Yes!"  Caribbean Joe watches offer attractive, classically-styled, men's watches that are functional and look good. I have several (probably 15 total) and I find that they generally fit me well, and I've never had any issues with them working.  

Part of My Caribbean Joe Watch Collection

For $15 to $30, Caribbean Joe sells great watches. Since they don't cost much, they are fun to collect. If you are just looking for a fun fashion watch to bang around in, Caribbean Joe is a good watch.

Why Caribbean Joe Watches are Good!

Here are three reasons that Caribbean Joe watches are good:

1. Attractive Style - They look like classic watches. They are simply beautiful.

2. Inexpensive Price - You can find Caribbean Joe Watches in the $15 to $25 range at stores like Burlington and Boscov's.

3. Decent Quality - Caribbean Joe watches work and fit well for their low price point.

This Caribbean Joe watch is no classic, but it looks great!
For more info see my review: Caribbean Joe with Gold Tones

But, Caribbean Joe Watches are Cheap

I love Caribbean Joe watches. But, I'm a cheap bastard.  If you let other considerations slip into your watch choice, there are some good reasons you might want to consider other watches.

1. No Brand Pedigree. Caribbean Joe doesn't seem to have a real history or heritage as a watch maker. The company is primarily a casual beach apparel brand reflecting "an American vision of comfort, ease, and relaxation." Their website, Caribbean-Joe.com, doesn't even mention or sell watches. Inexpensive watch makers like Casio and Timex have rich corporate histories with milestones and break-throughs that you can be proud of when you wear one of those watches. For many watch enthusiasts, buying a watch is akin to joining a tribe. That said, there may yet form a tribe of Caribbean Joe watch enthusiasts. Who can resist that hut and palm tree logo?

A Caribbean Joe Watch
For more info see my review: Caribbean Joe Watch with Green Sunburst Dial

2. Lack of Precision. Caribbean Joe watches have a Singapore-made Quartz Movement that is reliable and works just fine. However, if you push the crown in too hastily once you've set the time, the minute hand may jump a minute or two on one direction or another. If you take it slow and develop some finesse, you can generally set the watch just fine. In fairness, this can happen with other brands, too. However, it is a reminder that you are dealing with an inexpensive watch.

3. Inexpensive Materials. To sell for $20 or so, a watch has to be made very inexpensively. While I haven't had any problems, every once in awhile, you might glance at a Caribbean Joe watch and wonder if the case is made of a really inexpensive tin alloy. The case back is made of stainless steel, but sometimes the case of a Caribbean Joe watch can look a little cheap.

4. Not Ruggedly Constructed. While I do have a Caribbean Joe watch that looks like a Tudor Ranger, it isn't a real field watch. The inexpensive materials mean that a Caribbean Joe watch probably doesn't have much water resistance. I don't wear mine out in heavy rain, use it to wash dishes, or go swimming it. It's a "bang around" watch in that I can bang it into something and go get another watch if it breaks. Beater doesn't mean go beat things with it. Obviously, I wouldn't rely on it for navigation, rock climbing, or any activity more rugged than eating shrimp at a seafood shack by the river.

This Caribbean Joe watch looks like a Tudor Ranger or Rolex Explorer
For more info, see my watch wearing post:  Caribbean Joe Tudor Ranger Alternative

5. Non-functional sub-dials. For $20, you don't get a sophisticated quartz movement with complications that can drive sub-dials. Instead, Caribbean Joe just puts sub-dial markings on the dial and we all just pretend that we have sub-dials. Since sub-dials are generally too small for me to read on most watches, I don't care that much. But, it is a reminder that the watch is cheap. I go back-and-forth on this topic. I don't care. I do care. Ultimately, I'm not a huge fan of sub-dials but, on better watches, the sub-dials work.

This Caribbean Joe watch has fake sub-dials
For more info, see my watch wearing post:  Caribbean Joe with Blue Dial

I hope this list of pros and cons has been useful in helping you decide whether to buy a Caribbean Joe watch. If you do decide to get one, Kohl's, Boscov's and Sierra are probably the best places to find them online or in the store.

What is a nurse watch?

A nurse watch is a type of watch designed for medical professionals (particularly nurses). Originally, the watches were designed to hang upside down from a lapel or via a fob from a nurses uniform. The face was also designed to be read upside down.  Nurse watches were expected to be easy to read, easy to clean, accurate and made of hygienic materials like stainless steel.  The one pictured (below) is from a Swedish company named Tärnan. The watch has some extra markings to help a nurse measure a patient's pulse.

Tärnan Nurses Watch (Public Domain)

Many people collect vintage nurse watches. They are an interesting subset of the watch community. Today, the legacy of nurse watches lives on in more modern offerings like the Spiedel Original Scrub watch (below).

Speidel 38mm Scrub watch (Amazon photo)

It's a 38mm quartz watch that comes in a wide variety of colors to match medical scrubs.  You can see the 38mm Speidel Original Scrub watch here on Amazon.com. 

Since today's nursing professionals still have to watch their hands many times per day, Speidel also makes a fob-style watch (below) that can be clipped onto clothing and is connected to the fob by a 25-inch retractable rope. You can also see the Speidel Nurse Fob Watch here on Amazon.com.

Speidel Nurse Fob Watch (Amazon photo)

Watch Deal Alert: A Great Deal on a Tissot Gentleman!

The Tissot Gentleman has long been admired as an all-around watch for men. It now has the much celebrated Powermatic 80 movement with a silicium balance spring that makes the watch more resistant to magnetic fields from everyday electronic devices. Now, it is on sale, for 40% off on Amazon.  This brings the watch down below $500.

Tissot Gentleman with Powermatic 80 Silicium movement (Amazon photo)

Under $500 is a great price point for a watch that has often been compared to the much more expensive  Rolex Datejust. It's also the kind of price that enthusiasts need to look for in an environment of tariffs and trade wars.  If you'd like to take a look at this one, check out--

The Tissot Gentleman here on Amazon.

Types of Watch Hands

Identifying Watch Hand Styles On Affordable Watches

Watchmakers, the watch press, and high-end watch collectors have standard names for the many different styles of watch hands. Some of these same watch hand styles are used on the more commonplace watches that we all wear. Learning about these watch hand styles enriches everyone's watch wearing experience.

Alpha Hands

Alpha Hands are shaped like lances with a narrow base that widens and then has an extended taper to a very narrow point. This style of watch hand is very common. Caribbean Joe uses them to great effect on this rich-looking casual $20 watch.

Alpha Hands on a Caribbean Joe Watch

For more information on this Caribbean Joe watch, check out my review here on this blog.

Arrow Hands

Hands that end in an arrow head are called arrow hands. Sophisticated, huh? On this Nautica N/83, you can see that the hour hand and the second hand are both arrow hands. The minute hand is another story. In some cases, watch hand styles can very on the same watch.

Arrow Hands on a Nautica N/83 Sports Watch

For a full-sized photo of this Nautica watch, check out this Watch Wearing Wednesday post.

Baton Hands

When watch hands are simple narrow rectangles, they are called baton hands. When the hands are very narrow, they are sometimes called stick hands.  Guess what the French word for stick is? Baton.

Baton Hands on the Vintage Buler Automatic

Baton hands can sometimes have a bit of taper to them, but they generally don't end in a point. The hands of my minimalist Fossil watch provide a great example. 

Baton Hands on a Fossil Watch

I've noticed baton hands working well on Timex Easy Reader models.  For example, they make this gold-tone Timex Easy Reader even more readable.

Timex Easy Reader with Baton Hands (Amazon photo)

If you are looking for an affordable addition to your watch collection, this Timex Easy Reader is a steal here on Amazon.

Cathedral Hands

When a watch has an ornate hand that reminds you of a stained glass window, it could be a classic cathedral hand watch. This Tactical Frog Militado D12 definitely has a cathedral hand for the hours, but the minute hand is more like a sword hand.

That's the thing with watch companies: they get to decide what kinds of hands to use and when. If you'd like to take a closer look at this Tactical Frog Militado D12, check it out here on Amazon.

Dauphine Hands

When watch hands have a taper to points on either side of the pinion (the axis around which they rotate), they are considered to be Dauphine hands. My Citizen Eco-Drive dress watch has them and, now, I'm very proud of this timepiece. It's far more sophisticated now than it was last week!

Dauphine Watch Hands on a Citizen Eco-Drive Dress Watch

Obelisk Hands

Obelisk Hands (Obelisque for the fancy) are watch hands that mimick the shapes of obelisks like the famed Washington Monument.

The Wrangler watch has Obelisk Hands

The Obelisk is a fairly common watch hand shape. You probably won't have to look far to find it in your collection.

Sword Hands

If you are going on an adventure, you might check to see if your watch has sword hands. Sword hands widen like a sword and then taper down to a point.  This Nautica watch has a good example of them.

A Nautica Watch with Sword Hands

Syringe Hands

Finally, this Adee Kaye timepiece has syringe hands.  They are wide for most of their length for readability at a glance, but then taper to a needle point for timekeeping precision.

Syringe Hands on an Adee Kaye

There are more types of watch hands so I'll update this post as I come across them in my collection and online. It's fun to know more about watch design considerations and hunt for different hand styles on our watches.

To See More Watch Hands

If you are interested in this topic, I found this very helpful article about it in the Australian watch magazine, Time & Tide.  You can see a few more hand designs and all of these watch hand types on higher end timepieces that set these sorts of standards.  Check out:

The Ultimate Watch Hand Style Guide here on Time & Tide.

TGIF: Non-Homage Watches to Collect

Sometimes, the chase for a grail watch can get exhausting. It seems like the price of a fine Rolex or a Patek Philippe, or an Audemars Piguet timepiece put them forever out of reach. In truth, they might be. These watches are priced very high because they are a status symbol and a way to display wealth. As aspirational symbols and wealth totems, these watches are meant to be out of most people's reach. 

Collectible Watches for the Rest of Us

One alternative is the homage watch that looks almost like its inspiration timepiece. For example, I've found plenty of alternatives to the Rolex President. But, sometimes homage watches are a constant reminder of what they are not. They are not the grail watch and they don't symbolize that accomplishment.

 

This Nibosi is not a Rolex (Amazon photo)

I find that when a grail watch is out of reach--and most of them are lately. It can be good to find a watch that I can actually afford, that isn't an homage, that is worth wearing, and that is interesting in its own right.

Affordable Watch Brands

Companies like Bulova, Diesel, Invicta, Orient, Seiko, and Timex make watches that most collectors can afford. With a some best-selling exceptions, these brands also make watches that are based on their own traditions, their own design sensibilities, and their own product visions. Brands like Bulova, Orient, Seiko, and Timex have rich histories to draw upon and build upon. Newer brands like Diesel and Invicta make many watches that break with watchmaking traditions and give us bold new watch designs that just catch the eye.

Collectible Timex Watches

If you are yearning to plug into a long horological history a rich  watch-making heritage, and affordable watches, Timex is a great place to start. The company was founded as a clock company in 1854 and always innovated in ways that made watches affordable to anyone. Today, they still have plenty of very practical watches like the Easy Reader, Expedition, and Ironman. But, they also have watch lines that are solidly aimed at middle class watch collectors. Check out their Chicago, Marlin (available here on Amazon), and Waterbury watch lines for some great choices.

A pair of Timex Waterbury Watches

Collectible Diesel Watches

Alternatively, you could collect the bold, brash, designs of a great fashion watch company like Diesel. They make watches that are bigger than most watches and that incorporate design elements that aren't found in the designs of staid, traditional, watch companies. Watches like this Diesel Mr. Daddy 2.0 draw attention and evoke reactions. It's no shrinking violet. Hence the logo: "Only the Brave." You can find this Diesel on Amazon here.

Diesel Mr. Daddy 2.0 Watch (Amazon photo)

The list of collectible watches could go on and on. The main thing is that you get to define and create your own watch collection and you don't have to adhere to the watch collecting norms established by the Swiss brands. You get to decide what you consider a prestigious watch. You can choose what to collect and what your criteria are for buying timepieces. Just have fun!

Where to Buy Diesel Watches

I've put together a page with some of best Diesel watches that I've found on Amazon as a convenient buying guide and reference.  You can find my Best Diesel Watches on Amazon page here!