Store Brand Watches: Ma-Ma-Ma My Merona from Target!

A Look at a Merona Tanker Watch

In this era of Far Eastern commodity manufacturing, you can sometimes get amazingly attractive products for incredibly low prices.  My Merona watch from Target is an excellent example of a good product for a very low price.  It's a simple, but incredibly sharp looking, watch that costs $15 or less.

A Merona Wristwatch from Target

[As of 2025, I'm not sure I have this watch any more. It might have gotten purged in a move. It also might also be in storage. In retrospect, I think I'd like a tanker watch with more of a classic vintage look.]

All-White Mossimo Watch from Target.

I can't get into the all-white watch look at all.  To me, an all-white watch would make a guy look like Liberace.  Of course, if the guy had a piano and lots of diamonds, I guess an all-white watch could be an alright watch.  At any rate, here is an all-white watch from Mossimo.  In some ways, it looks like a very high end, ceramic, watch.  It's an interesting design alternative for only $20 at Target.

All-Wite Mossimo Watch

[Update:  Looking back from 2024, I can't believe that all-white watches are still a thing. Also, to be honest, the plastic white bezel looks a little cheap and cheesy. Target doesn't even sell watches anymore.]

A World Class Casio for a Low Price!

I've been sporting my Casio Telememo 30 World Time Ana-Digital Watch for a few months now and I still love it.  I think the design combines modern and retro elements.  Plus it offers useful telememo and world time functions!  

Casio Telememo 30 World Time Ana-Digital Watch

You can read a complete review here:

Wristwatch Review:  Casio Telememo 30 World Time Ana-Digital Watch

 

Timex Weekender at Night

What does Indiglo Lighting Look Like At Night

If you are on a budget, you don't need tritium, you need indiglo.  Here's what the Timex Weekender looks like when you press the crown in and activate the Indiglo backlighting at night.

Timex Weekender Indiglo Lights Up

Very cool.  Very easy to read!

For a complete review of this watch, check out my post -

Wristwatch Review: Timex Weekender Men's Tachymeter Analog Strap Watch

A Casual Weekend Watch with Class from Timex

Looking at a Timex Weekender with Tachymeter Markings

You've seen my newest old Timex; now check out my newest new Timex.  Timex has recently introduced it's Weekender series of men's analog watches.  They have a touch of preppy sophistication that would look right at home in the Hamptons, Cape Cod, Rehobeth, Nags Head, or Destin.  Since Target had them at an attractive price, I couldn't resist.  However, I upped the ante from the canvas straps of most Weekender watches and chose the Timex Weekender Tachymeter watch with a leather band.  I think you'll agree that it is a beautiful watch.

For a complete review (now hosted here on this blog):

Wristwatch Review: Timex Weekender Men's Tachymeter Analog Strap Watch

[As of 2025, I still wear this watch. It has provided great value and looks good. To peruse current Timex Weekender offerings, look know further than this affiliate link to Amazon.]

A Brand New . . . Old Timex

Looking at a New Old Stock (NOS) Timex Mercury

Many people assume that collecting vintage watches isn't affordable.  However, I recently bought a brand, new, in the original box, (new old stock), Timex Mercury manual wind wristwatch on eBay for about $40.

A 1970s vintage Timex Mercury watch

It's a simple watch.  But, it is interesting to compare it with today's Timex watches. I like the no nonsense styling of this 1970s vintage watch. It looks sharp! I can't believe I was able to find it in New Old Stock condition in its factory box.

[To read my full review, see this post:

Watch Review: Vintage Timex Mercury Manual-Wind Watch]

A Professional Look From Pulsar: A simple dress watch

A Look at my Pulsar Day-Date Watch

Sometimes a man needs a watch that looks good for an office job.  This Pulsar fits the bill precisely.  It's neither cheap nor pretentious.  It's also a trusted brand from the Seiko company. 

A Pulsar Day-Date Watch

  

An All Business Pulsar Wristwatch

Here's another picture of my Pulsar when I was dressed up and on my way to important business.  It's a great watch when you want a professional look without distraction.

[Update 2024:  You don't see too many Pulsar watches these days and even fewer with the clean lines and simplicity of my original.  This silver Pulsar (Model PS9683X1) comes the closest.]

[Update July 2025: One thing I've noticed about my old Pulsar is that it looks like many of the classic watches enthusiast post photos of on X. It's just a classic straight-forward watch design. As of 2023, Seiko quietly discontinued the Pulsar brand. If you are looking for one, they may still be available from some Walmart.com sellers and on online auction sites.] 

A Retro Masterpiece Watch from Walmart

My Almost Steampunk Watch

Here's another watch that I love from Walmart.  It's so retro that it's almost steampunk and yet it blends old world style and digital technology.

A Walmart "steampunk" Watch

If I could only stop it from beeping on the hour!

ThinkGeek Steampunk-styled Tesla Watch

[Update 2024:  I wonder if I still have this watch.  The leather strap for it is outstanding and would look good on many other watches.  Also, I can't believe I thought this Walmart watch was a steam punk watch.  A simple search on Amazon will reveal some steam punk watches.]

A Vigoroso Steampunk Pocket Watch (Amazon Photo)

[As I updated links in 2025, I found this interesting skeleton "Steampunk" watch (above) from Vigoroso. Check out the Vigoroso Skeleton here on Amazon. One thing I've learned over my years collecting watches: mechanical watches don't have to come from Switzerland.]

Bring Out Your Dead! Bring Out Your Dead Watches!

If you like inexpensive watches, then you probably have a box full of dead ones that need batteries.  Every once in awhile, it's fun to pull out a box on non-working watches and bring them back to life.  Sometimes all you need is a cheap band or a new battery to have a "like new" watch again.  I've recently revived watches that I haven't worn for years.  If I get them working, it's fun to wear them again!

Watch Collectors Need A Watch Repair Kit

To start, you'll want to get yourself a nice watch repair kit.  It will come with the tools you need to hold a watch securely, to replace watch straps, or remove links from a watch band that is too big.  It will also come with tools needed to gently remove watch case backs.

The one pictured is available (as of July 2025) on Amazon here: Eventronic Watch Repair Kit.

A Big Boxy Watch from a Big Box Store

A Mossimo Alternative to a Bell & Ross Watch

I know, I know, I'm supposed to want the finest of Swiss Watches.  I do want them.  But, I can't afford them right now.  So, it's much easier to succumb to the allure of the watch shelves in big box stores like Walmart and Target.  Watches in the $10 to $20 range are often interesting and innovatively styled. My favorite watches from the Big Box stores often evoke the style of far pricier watches from high end jewelers.  For example, this big boxy Mossimo watch from Target looks much like a far more expensive Bell & Ross.  

Mossimo Ana-Digital Instrument Watch

Of course, if you have the money for a Bell & Ross Watch, don't let me slow you down.  As of this July 2025 update, here's one of the latest B&R ceramic models on Amazon. 

[As I look back on this watch from the vantage point of 2025, I loved the shape of this watch. But, there are a few things I didn't like about this Mossimo watch. One, it had a strangely integrated bracelet that couldn't be easily swapped out. The other is that anything digital might have a beep or an alarm go off at weird times. It was still fun to own since I never did get a real Bell & Ross watch.]