Ten Dollar Tuesday: Nibosi Men's Square Quartz Chronograph with Diamonds

 Can you get a square quartz chronograph watch with diamonds and a moonphase subdial? No.  I don't quite think so. But, you can get square quartz multifunction watch with diamonds and a moon phase subdial. Nibosi is offering this Patek Philippe homage for just under $10 on Amazon. Let me explain the watch below:

Nibosi Quartz "Chronograph" Watch (Amazon Photo) 

The Amazon copy says it's a chronograph, but the photo clearly shows a watch with a multi-function dial including the day of the week, the date, the 24-hour time, and a moonphase complication. It also has "diamonds" embedded in the bezel. While it may not be a chronograph, I believe this watch will deliver a nice looking watch with working subdials..  That's why I ordered it.

I have bought a few Nibosi watches and they all seem pretty good.  They aren't perfect, but they are certainly worth a $20 to $40 price tag. Of course, you could pay $244,000 for a similar watch from Patek Philippe. But, the subdials on the one I saw lack the symmetry of the subdial layout on the Nibosi. In addition, quartz movements require less maintenance beyond battery changes. These advantages make the Nibosi the obvious choice.  You can get it here via my Amazon affiliate link.

Watch Deal Alert: Timex Men's E Line 34mm Automatic

Timex isn't just about quartz watches.  They also sell automatics. If you are looking for a sophisticated watch with an elegant design, you might check out the Timex Men's E Line 34mm Automatic.  It's was first issued in 1983, but it remains a contemporary looking timepiece. It has a 34mm diameter square case and a Japanese automatic movement. It also is a great deal on Amazon right now!

Timex E Line 34mm Automatic (Amazon photo)

The Timex E Line 34mm Automatic with a blue dial is currently 27% off on Amazon. That's a great deal and several versions of this watch are available at prices up to $100 more. 

As a cautionary note, this watch is a frequently returned item.  There are two reasons for this:

1. A 34mm watch is small.  That's great for people with smaller wrists, but many people would consider it a women's watch size. Many people are looking for smaller sizes and this one, as a reissue of a vintage watch, may fit their needs.

2. It's an automatic.  Many casual watch shoppers that are drawn to the Timex name may not realize that an automatic is wound by the movement of the wearer's wrist or by the winding the crown.

Overall, the Timex E Line averages 4.3 stars on Amazon in 75 ratings.  If you recognize the diminutive size and the automatic movement implications and are still interested in the Timex E Line, you can get it here via my Amazon affiliate program link. To save even more, check out the "used-like new" offering on Amazon. This looks like an interesting addition to any watch collection.

The Hundred Dollar Grail: Timex Q Reissue 38mm Watch

Is there a grail watch that you can get for $100 or less? I think there is! If you've been reading about the much celebrated Timex Q series reissue, you might want to add one to your collection.  With inflation and Timex moving a little more upmarket lately, you might want to get one soon! I found one for under $100 on Amazon.  It's the Timex Men's Q 38mm watch.

Timex Q 38mm Reissue (Amazon Photo)

It's an attractive watch with a 38mm diameter case, the day and date, a bi-directional rotating bezel, a gently domed acrylic crytal, 50-meters of water resistance, and a silicone strap. It also has an additional feature that intrigues me:  a battery hatch!

Timex Q 38mm Reissue Battery Hatch (Amazon Photo)

You can open the battery hatch with a coin and change the SR626SW/377 battery easily. If you need batteries, check out this blog's battery center. I think quartz batteries should be super-easy to change and I hope that a hatch like this helps.

The Timex Q 38mm watch looks like something a little special and it's available here via my affiliate link on Amazon for less than $100.

The Hundred Dollar Grail: Affordable Moonphase Watches

The moonphase complication is a staple of the most sophisticated European watch makers like Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, and Breguet. During the day, the sun shows in an aperture and at night a sun shows. Sometimes, the sun and moon have delightful faces and smiles reminiscent of old fairy tales. I've enjoyed moonphase watches since my first one from Relic (reviewed here on this blog).

Mondia Mistral Moonphase Watch - Photo by Clyde94, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Today, we can find affordable quartz moonphase watches from a variety of manufacturers. While the mechanical masterpieces from the elite watchmakers may never grace our wrists, the elegant looks can.  If you collect watches, a moonphase watch is an attainable $100 grail.

The Harry Williams Moonphase Quartz Watch

I recently bought a Harry Williams Moonphase watch off of Amazon. I like the clean minimalist design and the contemporary 40mm diameter size of this watch. However, this whimsical brand has one definite quirk that may be upsetting to some. The sun and moon phases appear upside down in their aperture. I think it is just European humor from an unusual brand. These watches have commanded nearly $80 on Amazon, but now they are available for a song.  Check out my affiliate link here for astonishing savings on the Harry Williams Quartz watch.

Peugeot 14K Gold-Plated Moonphase Watch (Amazon Photo)

Another brand that offers a variety of inexpensive quartz moonphase watches is Peugeot.  The have several dial options and many of their watches are plated in 14K gold.  Amazingly, they all cost less than $100. To check out the Peugeot Men's 14K Gold Plated Men's Vintage Leather Dress Watch, check out my Amazon affiliate link here. Peugeot also offers free lifetime battery replacement.

Several other brands also offer inexpensive moonphase watches.  Check out brands like Fanmis and Olev's on Amazon. If you'd like to add a moonphase watch to your collection, it's a very attainable grail!

TGIF: Is it time to reset our grail watch expectations?

With all the outsourcing of jobs, international competition, and the rise of the bots, it might be time to reset our notions of a grail watch.  What if the grail watch didn't cost $30,000? What if it didn't cost $3,000? What if it didn't even cost $300? It would take some of the financial pressure off and let you focus on the fun of watch collecting. Perhaps, the watch is just the McGuffin.  Your quest to find it, incorporate it into your personal style, and achieve a goal is the important story.

Tissot Carson Powermatic 80

My Tissot Carson Powermatic 80 was the culmination of a long quest to find and incorporate a Swiss automatic into my collection. I spent lots of time searching for an affordable Swiss watch. When the perfect sale came along, my wife saw it and suggested I pounce. It checked my Swiss watch goal.

A Grenen by Skagen watch from my collection

Watch collecting really is a "choose your own adventure" endeavor. Reflect on how Steve Jobs made the black turtleneck sweater an iconic look for tech leaders. If you wanted that modern minimalist look, what kind of watch would you choose? Skagen? Fossil? MVMT? The grail becomes the watch that creates that modern look perfectly. I was fortunate to find a Grenen by Skagen brand to bring that black modern minimalist vibe to my wrist.  (You can read my Grenen by Skagen review here.)

A Casio Forester

If you enjoy the outdoors and activities like hiking, fishing, wildlife photography, and hunting, how are those hobbies reflected on your wrist? What watch do you take on adventures? What watch do you wear everyday that reminds you of those adventures? When I lived in Florida, a Casio Forester (above) proved to be the perfect choice for outdoor adventures in the heat. It was light and had a breathable fabric strap. You can read my Casio Forester review here. The grail watch can be any watch that you search for and find and that fits your purposes perfectly. Happy Hunting!

Watch Spotlight: Movado BOLD Access Stainless Steel Watch

There was a time when refined gentlemen could identify a watch brand and call it luxury.  It was a Friday, long ago on this blog in my post: Is Movado a Luxury Watch?  There is also a time to take a look at a watch from that brand.  That time is now.  Gaze upon the Movado BOLD Access Stainless Steel watch. Look at this watch.  Behold it's beautiful!

Movado BOLD Access Stainless Steel Watch

This watch is no dainty museum piece.  It has a 41mm diameter dial that is a slim 8.55mm thick. As a sporty, dress watch, this timepiece provides 30-meters of water resistance. If you want to take a closer look, check it out here on my Amazon affiliate link --

Movado BOLD Access Stainless Steel Watch

Watch Spotlight: Caravelle Men's Retro Quartz Dress Watch

A few weeks ago, I saw a Bulova Accutron II Surveyor watch in a local pawn shop. It was a nice looking timepiece with a vintage look. I posted about it here in this Watch Spotlight. It looked like a cool watch, but vintage watches come with their challenges. I wondered if a modern watch might capture some of that vintage feel.  One watch that comes close is this Caravelle Retro Quartz watch.

Caravelle by Bulova Retro Quartz Watch

This watch has a vintage feel due to it unique tonneau case shape, slightly domed crystal, gold tone, and leather band. The hands are slender as is appropriate for a dress watch. The watch has an accurate Miyota quartz  movement.  It also offers 50-meters of water resistance for extra security on a rainy day. As a modern version of retro, the case for this Caravelle is 39.9mm in diameter and 10.2mm thick. It offers plenty of wrist presence.

Update:  It looks like this one just ran out of of stock on Amazon (as of April 29, 2026), but if you are interested in checking it out, use my affiliate link to see it here.