A Cool Structure Brand Watch from Sears

You might be surprised, but Sears has a great selection of affordable watches.  Structure watches are only $29.99 and look very, very good.  This ana-digital watch makes an affordable Christmas gift and looks great.

 This watch is also available in black and red.


Structure watches tend to be "on trend" and sometimes draw inspiration from well known watches.  I love this $30 alternative to Bell & Ross.

This Structure watch had a periscope or artificial horizon theme, but had a strange case and a white strap so I returned it.  It was an innovative design.

I simply prefer classic designs most of the time.  For example, this watch captures the timeless elements of a great dive watch.

Finally, I recently added this cool diver-style watch from Structure to my collection.  It's not Russian and it's not a dive watch.  But, it looks cool!

Check out my full review of this watch here:

Wristwatch Review:  Structure Analog Diver-Style Watch

If you'd like the watch, you can get it here:

Sometimes it's not the brand ...

Sometimes it's not the brand that makes a watch cool.  Sometimes, it's the circumstances that brought you the watch that make a watch cool.  For example, I recently got this Riviera-brand Women's Quartz Watch.  Sure, it's cheap and it's made in China.

But, this watch is very cool because I won it at Dave & Busters.  It was in a "Claw Machine" and I grabbed it on my very first try.

It's the first time I've ever managed to win something with a claw machine.  With three gripper claws, I'm pretty sure that the odds were stacked against me.

I wonder if my wife will wear it with pride once I replace the band with one that actually fits?  This cheap little watch is definitely one of the coolest in our house now.  Why?  Because it represents -  Victory!

Watch Gift Ideas for Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving!  Now that everyone is stuffed from Thanksgiving Dinner, it's time to make plans for the biggest shopping day of the year.  Black Friday is when Americans beat down the doors of their local big box retailers and start buying Christmas gifts with gusto.  Naturally, wrist watches make fine gifts!

If you are thinking about shopping online, I invite you to check out some of the advertisements on this blog:  Bulova Box, Casio Corner, Timex Timeout, and the Watch Slides.  I've built these areas with links to good affordable watches from Amazon a respected retailer.  Except for the Bulovas and some of the watches in the slides, I own many of these watches and you may find my reviews in links from this blog.

If you are looking to save money this Christmas, check out this article on watches that fit low budgets:

Seven Great Men's Watches for Less Than $30 

Good luck and Happy Hunting!

A Stainless Steel Watch from Hamlin

I got a good deal on this Hamlin stainless steel dress watch at Sears.  While this picture doesn't do it justice, it's a thin, light-weight, watch that is super comfortable with a mesh band that doesn't pull hairs.  To read more about it, check out my review at --

Wristwatch Review:  Men's Hamlin Ultra Thin Stainless Steel Dress Watch

 

Another Dress Watch from Armitron

This dress watch from Armitron was a real buy at less than $50.  While this watch would work with a suit, I think that it goes very well with the khakis and boat shoes that are so common in today's business casual environments.

Affordable Style and Class from Armitron!

Every guy has to dress up from time to time.  You need a good watch for date night, job interviews, weddings, church, and special events.  I've got many wristwatches to choose from in my watchbox, but one of my most elegant is an inexpensive watch from Armitron.

In this era of televised watches on the shopping channels, this understated Armitron is tasteful and affordable. Here is a more contemporary take on the Armitron Diamond.

Dress Watches

If you've got to be a macho, macho, man, you'll definitely find an cheap watch to fit your needs.  But, if you need a more refined look, can you find an inexpensive dress watch to go with your suit?  You bet!  Here's a nice looking Pulsar that I've had for many years.  For the next few posts, I'm going to emphasize dress watches.  Now, if you need to know how to wear the nice suit to go with a watch like this, the Driven By Fashion blog is a great place to get tips on dressing well:  Driven by Fashion

 

I like Pulsar watches because they are a Seiko brand with quality components at an affordable price.  Here's my favorite Pulsar.

 If you haven't read my review of this Pulsar, check it out here:
Wristwatch Review:  Pulsar Men's Analog Dress Watch

Do You Like Flock of Seagulls?

Me neither!  But, if you want an 80's throwback watch, you might check out the classic Casio Men's Digital watch (W-201).  It has all the classic 80's style that you remember, plus a stopwatch and alarm.  here is a complete review:

Wristwatch Review:  Casio Men's Digital Watch (W-201)

My Dream Watch

My dream watch is from Bell & Ross.  It has a unique squared off look and a design inspired by aircraft instrument panels.  They retail from $3500 or so and up.

This Bell & Ross watch (model BR01-94) picture came from Wikimedia Commons and was contributed by Rama under the Creative Commons License.


I've been plotting and planning on how to get one.  If you'd like to read an essay on the matter, check out:

Dreaming of a Bell & Ross Watch

If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford a real Bell & Ross, go for the gusto.  Here is a nice one from Amazon:


For now, I make due with an instrument panel imitator from Mossimo.  It sells for about $20 at Target.

Are you Iron Man? Here's your watch!

If you are planning to start working out, jogging, and getting fit, you might check out the Timex Ironman Digital watch.  It's a watch that looks good in any setting and has plenty of good stopwatch functionality.  Here is my complete review:

Wristwatch Review:  Timex Men's Ironman Triathlon 30-lap Oversize Digital Watch (T5K4139J)

 

This might make a good Christmas gift for that jogger on your list!

A Nice Watch from Hong Kong

Hong Kong has long been known as the place to get inexpensive watches.  The watchmakers there can make watches worthy of any price point.  One well-known Hong Kong watchmaker is the Lafayette Watch Company.  I have one of their watches.  It has a plain white face with simple black numerals and simple cursive script proclaiming the company name in classic style.  The quartz timepiece is powered by a Japanese movement.  It has a stainless steel back and at least some degree of water resistance.  In many ways, this watch reminds me of my Pulsar.  The only aspect of this watch that I'm not enamored with is the red bezel.