Twenty Dollar Tuesday: US Polo Assn Men's Quartz Analog Bracelet Watch

Now that the Ten Dollar watches are mostly in the rear view mirror, we can cruise at more exclusive levels. At the twenty dollar level, you can join the ranks of the US Polo Assn. Your friends may start to call you Big Money, your barrista may look at you with newfound respect, and the waitress at Waffle House may call you honey, baby, or even sugar. They should because this US Polo Assn Quartz Bracelet Watch with a Blue Dial with gold tone bezel and two tone stainless steel bracelet is a genuinely nice looking watch.

US Polo Assn Men's Quartz Analog Bracelet Watch (Amazon photo)

We laugh, but Amazon sells over 500 of these watches each month and they've earned a 4.4 star rating in over 682 ratings. Customers usually keep this watch due to its appearance and value for the money.

The case has presence at 44.4mm in diameter and 11mm thick. The case is likely based metal, but the ad copy claims the bracelet is stainless steel. The ad copy also claims no water resistance, but the specifications say it has 100-feet of water resistance.  At less than $20, you can leave it in a shoe by the pool. One thing casual wearers will like is the wide range of adjustments on the clasp. Most buyers won't have to remove links themselves.

US Polo Assn Quartz Watch Profile (Amazon Photo)

US Polo Assn watches are made by Accutime. Over the years, I've never had a problem with any of the countless watches the company makes. This one is  a fashion watch for sure, but Accutime brings a level of quality control to watch production and this one looks good. You can use my affiliate link to check it out here on Amazon.

For more on US Polo Assn and their watches, read my post Watches A to Z: US Polo Assn.

Timex Under $60: Timex Expedition Gallatin!

The Timex Expedition Gallatin is a great watch for armchair commandoes and cat burglars. It simply has the commando look at a very affordable price point under $60.

Timex Expedition Gallatin Watch (Amazon Photo)

This 42mm diameter watch offers 50-meters of water resistance, a black resin case, an acrylic crystal, a non-rotating bezel, a date window, and green silicone band. It also has indiglo back lighting. Most importantly, it has looks that rival watches costing thousands more. You can check this great looking watch out here on Amazon!
For a full review of this watch, check out my Timex Gallatin review post.

How to Change A Battery on an Ed Hardy Watch

With the Halloween holiday upon me, I decided to bring two or my Ed Hardy watches back from the dead. Both have creepy skulls in relief on their dials. It's just the right amount of creepiness for the day.

Step 1: Open the Case

I used the small watch back opening blade from my Walmart watch repair kit. There is a very small notch between case and caseback where it meets the case. That's where you stick the blade and pop the case off.

But, in truth, I could have used any pocket knife with a sturdy blade that can be used as a lever.

Step 2: Determine the battery needed

I removed the white plastic spacer by gently lifting up out of the watch. I could then see that both of these watches use 377/SR626SW watch batteries. You can find them easily on this blog's battery page.

Step 3: Remove the dead batteries

Next I gently pry out the old battery while being careful not to bend, fold, or mutilate the small clips that overlap the edge of the battery. Sometimes you can get the battery on an angle and just pop or push it out.

Step 4:  Insert the new battery.

Inserting a new battery is the reverse procedure. I just work gently and press the battery flat when I'm done. I peak at the dial to make sure the second hand is moving.

Step 5: Press the Plastic Retention Back  Ring In

To hold the works together and keep the dial aligned with the case and movement.

Notice there is a slot in the plastic ring that is open for the crown stem that runs from the crown into the movement.

Step 5: Press the case back on.

You'll see a small indent of the caseback to give space for the watch stem. But, this watch is so thick, it doesn't really come into play. However, I line it up anyway.

Next, I break out my Watch Case Press,  select the nylon die that fits the bezel of the watch and press the case back on. You can purchase an inexpensive watch case press here on Amazon using my affiliate link. It's an easy process.

If you like watches with skull designs, come visit the collection on my Amazon storefront.

TGIF: Check Out the Amazon Storefront

The Watch Dude Amazon Page has really grown into something. It's become a really useful way to aggregate watches and list off alternatives in various categories. It also allows me to post eye catching watch photos and link to cool watches directly. The page is great fun, but as of this Halloween, it's a bit of a ghost town. I'd love to get more interaction.

If you are looking for more great watch ideas about affordable watches and the watches we can dream about and attain, check out my Amazon affiliate storefront here! You'll find watch content including idea lists for thin watches, affordable Swiss watches, ten dollar watches, fluted watches, and more. Photo montages highlight various groups of watches (preppy, racing, Made in USA, and more) so that you can find watches at a glance. It's a cool way to check out watches and get ideas. Visit, bookmark it, and enjoy!

Watch Spotlight: Bulova Men's Marine Star

If you are looking for a solid chronograph watch from a name with history and cultural presence, you might just want to check out the Bulova Marine Star Series B Chronograph. This Bulova Marine Star with a blue dial is a good deal at its regular price point. It slides in under $300 and beats many competitors prices.

This Marine Star features a stainless steel case, mineral crystal, 100 meters of water resistance, and 1/20 of a second chronograph. I've had good luck wearing a similar Marine Star myself. These watches pack a lot of functionality into a manly watch package.

You can check this great looking Bulova watch out here via my Amazon Affiliate Link!

Watch Deal Alert: Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison Blue Dial 3-Hand Date Watch

Deal on! I've been watching the Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison watch on Amazon for awhile and it's deeply discounted again! The blue dial version of this solar-powered field watch is on sale for 45% off! The watch has a 42mm diameter stainless steel case, a date window, traditional field watch markings, a robust leather strap, and 100-meters of water resistance.

Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison (Amazon photo)

With eco-drive, the Citizen Garrison is a thoroughly modern take on the classic field watch. This Citizen is the perfect watch for summer activities: camping, hiking, fishing, and more. You can check it out here on Amazon. At under $200 in the lead up to the holiday season, this watch may be the perfect choice for early holiday gift shoppers.

Twenty Dollar Tuesday: SKMEI Men's Business Quartz Watch

 If you are looking for dress watch elegance on a tight budget, SKMEI is a good brand to start with. This SKMEI Men's Business Quartz Watch is a great choice. I had a silver-tone one in my collection for many, many, years. I finally retired it when an applied Roman numeral marker became detached. You can read my SKMEI dress watch review here. For less than $20, this is one heck of a watch!

In this iteration, SKMEI says the case diameter is 40mm.  The thickness is 10mm. That seems about right. The watch is secured by a leather band. The only difficulty that I've had with SKMEI watches over the years is that sometimes it can be difficult to get the caseback off to make a battery change. You can see all my SKMEI watch posts here on my blog.

For less than $20, this watch is a great addition to an inexpensive watch collection. Simply said, it looks like a million bucks. If you are intrigued, check it out here with my Amazon affiliate link.