Wristwatch Review: Pulsar PS9319 Diver-style Dress Watch

For Christmas 2014, my wife got me this nice Pulsar diver-style watch.  It's model PS9319 and she purchased it at Kohl's.  It was originally marked at $145, but with Kohl's sale price + a 30% off coupon + a $10 off coupon for watches over $50, the price came way, way, down to just over $60.

Pulsar PS9319 Diver-style Dress Watch

It's a well proportioned watch with nice readable markers and a panoramic date window that I don't need to squint to read.  The watch has a curved mineral crystal, a sunburst dial, and a brilliant blue dial color.  The case and bracelet are stainless steel and the watch is water resistant to 100 meters.  That's a lot to like about a reasonably priced watch from the Seiko family of watch companies.  The only downside to this watch is that it has a non-rotating bezel.  That could result in some burned pizzas.  On the plus side, the bezel can never be knocked askew and will always look great!

Initially, this Pulsar Men's PS9319 Quartz Watch was a little too large.  But, I removed a link using the Android watch repair kit that I won in a contest sponsored by my friends over at ZuluTimeZone.com.  With one link removed, the watch fits perfectly.

The watch has a 45 mm diameter case that is 11.65 mm thick.  That makes the watch just the right size for the office without being too heavy or too big.  The bracelet and case have an alternating high gloss shine and satin finish motif that makes the watch dressy enough for an office and rugged enough for casual wear.

Overall, I like this watch very much.  This Pulsar comes in with great looks, perfect proportions, and a very wearable weight.

Pulsar PS9319 Diver-style Dress Watch

A Look at the Shopping Mall Watch Kiosk

I've been noticing the watch kiosk at my local mall.  It seems to attract a little more attention than the conventional watch stores.  For the young urban mall crowd, bigger and flashier watches seem to rule.

A Watch Kiosk at the Mall

Many of the brands seem to be Diesel inspired.  However, Diesel watches aren't clearly displayed.  I think they may be on a higher shelf behind the glass lest they walk in the bustling mall.  The kiosk features brands like Gino Milano, Onyk, Omax, and Charles Raymond.  I'm not sure what they are charging for each watch. I wish prices were clearly marked.  Some watches are packaged in a premium way and others are just laid out on the shelves.  However, these watch brands actually actually appear to be inexpensive online.

Watch Shopping Before Christmas

It's Friday night before Christmas at my local mall.  The energy of the holiday shopping crowd is palpable.  Watch stores and kiosks abound.  But, I'm not shopping.  Many watches at Sears are 25% off.  But, I need to buy some tires soon.  Tonight, I'm just an observer.  Unfortunately, the watch stores nearby seem pretty empty to me.

A Watch Retailer at My Local Mall

Why?  Well, for starters, they've tucked the price tags under the watches.  They seem to teach this is Jewelry Merchandising 101.  Thus, you as a customer have to talk to someone before you even know how much your potential purchase might be.  When you finally can see a price, it's likely to be higher than the prices offered on the Internet.  Finally, many of the watches aren't really my style.

If they wanted to lure me in, they'd have prices clearly marked and promotional displays with watches for $50, $75, and $100.  They'd also have a sign promoting certain brands starting at $200.  That would give me a clear indication of where potential gifts would lie in my gift giving budget.  Plus, I don't really want to talk to anyone until I'm hooked on a potential purchase.

Gift Ideas: Watches for Gamblers

Do you or does someone on your gift list enjoy the glitz and glamour of the casino?  A sharp suit, highly polished shoes, cuff links that dazzle, and an incredible watch complete the mental image of a sharp dressed high roller.

Fastest Hands Steve Dacri - Photo By Pattymooney (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

The bright lights of Vegas beckon everyone to the world of wrist watches!

Vegas Strip By Nandaro (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

For those who close their eyes and imagine the click of a roulette wheel, check out this Invicta Roulette Wheel watch. If any watch company brings the bling to town, it's Invicta. It puts all the glamour of Vegas on right on the wrist.

Invicta Roulette Wheel Watch

A Guide to Ultra Thin Wristwatches for Men

The Quest for the Thinnest Wristwatch

[This article is reprinted in a slightly updated form from my contributions to the now defunct Yahoo Contributors Network.  If you are looking to get or give a sleek thin wristwatch, this Christmas, this guide may still come in handy.]

If you believe the shopping channel watch shows, you'll see that men's wristwatches are growing larger and larger. Some men's watches are up to an inch thick. But, here's a watch making secret: thick watches are easy to make. Thin wristwatches are more challenging to make. I enjoy thin wristwatches like my Grenen Men's Stainless Steel Mesh Watch. It's thin, light, and a joy to wear all day. If you want a watch that is comfortable, practical, and fits under the cuff of your shirt, join me on the quest for the thinnest watch.

Grenen Men's Stainless Steel Mesh Watch

Thin Swiss Mechanical Watches. Our first stop is La Côte-aux-Fées, Switzerland, the birthplace of Piaget. In 1874, Piaget got its start making watch movements. In 1943, they became a full-fledged brand and in 1945 they built a factory that became world renowned for making thin watch movements. In 1957, Piaget introduced the Caliber 9P - a hand-wound mechanical movement that was only 2 millimeters thick. In 1968, Piaget followed up with the Caliber 12P which remains the world's thinnest self-winding watch movement at 2.3 millimeters thick. Since then Piaget has made many sophisticated and very thin movements. Today, Piaget makes premium Swiss watches and fine jewelry. They also make the world's thinnest mechanical wristwatches. For example, the thinnest Piaget is the Piaget Altiplano 43 Automatic watch which has a case that is only 5.25 millimeters thick. Unfortunately, such rare watches have high price tags. The base Piaget Altiplano 43 costs about $19,000. If you want the 43 millimeter Piaget Altiplano in white gold, with the dial surrounded by 88 brilliant-cut diamonds, it will run nearly $30,000.

Thin Quartz Watches. At that price, everyone get back on the jet. Our second stop is the Amazon. No, not the exotic anaconda and piranha-filled Amazon of South America. We're stopping at the watch-filled Amazon: Amazon.com. If we want an ultra thin and affordable watch, the Skagen Men's SKW6068 Havene Quartz 3 Hand Stainless Steel Silver Watch has a case that is 6.5 millimeters thick.  It's thin and has a mesh band. But, it's almost a little too dressy for my taste.

To find a more traditional watch with Roman Numerals, check out the Steinhausen Men's TW493G Dunn Horitzon Thin Swiss Quartz Gold Watch is only 5.5 millimeters thick according to Amazon.com. In a silver finish, the Steinhausen is available for a little less.

Finally, if we pop over to overstock.com, we can find the very traditional Stuhrling Original Men's Black 'Belmont' Ultra Slim Watch for $59.05. It has a 6 millimeter case.

Thin Watches in Local Markets. Of course, I have quite a few watches already. Most of my watches come from affordable sources like Kohl's, Sears, Walmart, and Kmart. So before I buy anything exotic, I'd better grab a ruler and check my own watch collection. I found a great watch called the Hamlin Ultra Thin Dress Watch at Sears and it has a case around 7 millimeters thick. My Grenen watch with a stainless steel mesh band looks great in black, has a stainless steel mesh band, and has a case that is similarly only 7 millimeters thick. It's bigger brother, the Grenen Men's Analog Watch with Subdials has a case that appears to be between 7 and 8 millimeters thick. Since Grenen watches are designed by Skagen and are widely available at Kohl's, I don't need to order a watch today. For less than $100, perfectly comfortable thin watches with cases that are only a quarter inch thick were just around the corner the whole time!

Hamlin Ultra Thin Dress Watch

Sources:

Amazon.com
Overstock.com
Piaget Official Website
"Piaget Altiplano 43 Automatic Wristwatch Hands-On," Ariel Adams. Ablogtoread.com
"Piaget Altiplano Skeleton Ultra-Thin Automatic Watch," Ariel Adams. Ablogtoread.com
WatchTime Buyer's Guide 2012, WatchTime Magazine. Special Edition 2012.

Timex Watches at Walmart: Timex Expedition (Model T49908)

Late at night, it can be fun to peruse the watch counters at Walmart.  It gives me a chance to peruse the watches that are available at affordable prices.  Lately, I've been intrigued by the Timex offering at the big discount store.  For example, some of the Timex Expedition watches pictured below sell for far higher prices at other brick and mortar retailers.

The watch on the far right is intriguing because it reminds me of my AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane watch.  However, without the fighter plane motif and insignia, it's not nearly as cool.  The Timex Expedition on the far left looks much like my Timex Vintage Metal.  It's a birthday gift watch that my wife paid $54 for at Belk.

Premium Timex Watches at Walmart

Of the watches pictured, I am most interested in the second watch from the left.  It's Timex Expedition (Model T49908) and it features a simulated wood grain dial.  The band is leather. 

Timex Expedition (Model T49908)

This Timex Expedition provides a natural look at an affordable price.  I often find good watches at Walmart on clearance or within the realm of an impulse purchase.  Of course, this Timex is available at the best price here on Amazon.

Stuhrling Original Concorso Raceway Watch - Affordable Exotic

A Rolex Daytona Cosmograph Alternative

If you feel the need for speed, there is no greater watch than the Rolex Daytona. It's a fantastic watch that sets the standard for fine Swiss-made chronographs. It goes well with all manner of sporting marques from Aston Martin to Lamborghini.

 By Axion23 (Porsche 917 Racecar) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsAdd caption

Unfortunately, the Rolex Daytona Cosmograph isn't a watch that everyone can afford. Good taste doesn't always come with the requisite income.  Luxury brands like Rolex make things worse by pricing themselves far above the modest means of common folks.  They are an exclusive brand. 

By Andrew Basterfield (Lada rally car) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Yet, we can dream.  Fortunately, companies like Stuhrling Original can help us make those dreams come true with watches that allow us to show off our good taste and fashion sense.  Speed and taste aren't just for the rich anymore! If you like the classic looks of a Rolex Daytona, check out the Stuhrling Original Concorso Raceway watches. These watches have the looks and lines of the Rolex Daytona at a fraction of the price. 

Sturhling Original Concorso Raceway

[As of 2025, the Concorso branding seems to have been dropped, but this great looking Stuhrling Original watch is still available here on Amazon.]

Watch Sighting: Movado Vizio Stainless Steel Watch

A couple of weeks [and as of 2024 a decade] ago, a co-worker wore an interesting stainless steel Movado Vizio watch.  It had the signature dot at 12 o'clock, but it also had multi-function dials. It was a sensibly sized watch with a 44.5 millimeter diameter case. The stainless steel band was a good manly, man width.  It was a Casio Vizio series watch much like the modern one shown below.  This one has a black carbon fiber dial.  If you'd like to look into this watch, it is available here on the Movado web site.

A Movado Vizio Watch with Carbon Fiber Dial

When it comes to Movado, I prefer some of the simpler "museum watch" and some of the more affordable Movado Bold designs. However, this Movado Vizio watch is a luxury watch that definitely catches the eye.

[In July 2024, this posted was updated to reflect a contemporary Movado Vizio available on the Movado website.]

Christmas Gift Ideas: Watches with Leather Straps

There is something nice about wearing watch with a soft and supple leather strap.  Leather strap watches are comfortable to wear, look good, and fit well.  They also don't pull all those little hairs off your wrist.  If you are looking to give a watch this Christmas, don't overlook watches with leather straps.

As I look through my own collection, I find that I often choose leather watches for daily wear.  For example, a watch like my Invicta 1461 has a timeless, classic look, that is only enhanced by its riveted leather strap.

Invicta 1461 Vintage Collection Riveted Leather Strap Watch

Leather strap watches are also the perfect fit for a business casual world.  I find that the earth tones of a brown leather strap go quite well with the khaki pants that are found in every business casual wardrobe.

AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber

If you are looking to give a Christmas gift this season, a watch with a leather strap might just be the perfect choice.

Drive by Citizen Eco-Drive Watch

Of course, there are hundreds of watches with leather straps in this world.
Fortunately, Amazon has a wonderful selection of them here:  Leather Strap Watches. All you have to do is look through their vast selection!

Wristwatch Review: GameTime Agent Series College Team Watch

An Inexpensive Wristwatch to Express Your Team Spirit 

[Since this is the last day of the Florida Gators regular season football, this review seems appropriate.  It is republished from Yahoo Contibutors Network.  But, I still love the watch!]

Want to show your team spirit? The GameTime Agent Series is an officially licensed team watch for every day use.

 

If you are looking for an officially licensed team wristwatch, you might try the GameTime Agent series team watch. These watches retail for about $30 on the Gametimeshop.com website, but my wife happened across a Florida Gator watch for me from GameTime at Walmart for $20. The Gametime Agent series watch is a traditional analog watch featuring a stainless steel case back, a silver plastic case, a rotating black bezel, and a black nylon and Velcro strap. The face of the watch features a team logo on a background of team colors.

Agent series watches are available for most major college teams, most pro football teams, many pro basketball teams, several pro hockey teams, several NASCAR drivers, and even the fictional favorite driver Ricky Bobby. My Florida Gator watch has the familiar toothy Gator logo in an orange oval set against a beautiful blue background. It looks great.

According to literature supplied with the Florida Gator watch, the Gametime Agent Series has a quartz movement and is shock resistant and water resistant down to 3 Atmospheres. The Gametime Agent series is covered by a limited lifetime warranty that mandates an $8.50 handling fee to service the watch. When my wife initially bought me the Gator Watch, I was re-assured to see that a tiny plastic spacer was preserving watch battery life by keeping the watch stem from being pressed in. Nothing is more annoying to watch buyers than seeing a battery-powered wristwatch ticking away valuable battery life in a store case.

As a Gator fan, the team logo immediately biases me in favor of this wristwatch. Beyond the officially licensed Gator logo, the Gametime Agent Series watch has sharp styling. The black bezel rotates easily and can be used to measure elapsed time with the first twenty minutes marked with white 1-minute hash marks and additional hash marks every five minutes around the bezel. Legible white numbers are placed on the bezel at 10 minute increments. From a distance or on casual examination, the GameTime Agent series watch does not look cheap and would not be embarrassing in any social situation. Fit and finish are good and meet typical expectations for Chinese-made consumer products.

The watch is light weight and easy to wear all day. This NCAA-licensed watch is sized for men without being a clunker. The Gametime Agent series watch has a 1 and 5/8-inch diameter face and 3/8-inch thick body. My Gator watch does not have the weight, heft, or polish of my larger multi-function watches. However, the Gametime Agent Series team watch functions well and the Japanese movement kept accurate time over two days of observation against an accurate clock. Since I have rather large wrists and have trouble finding watches that fit, I was most impressed by the generous 10-inch band length provided.

Of course, no $30 wristwatch is perfect. Even a Gator wristwatch has a few flaws, for example the Velcro wrist strap looks like it would be difficult to remove from the watch. Since the wrist strap covers the stainless case back, it is difficult to read the etching on the back and it would be difficult to change the battery. The Velcro band is backed by typical black nylon webbing and tends to trap heat and perspiration. This NCAA licensed watch also lacks "glow in the dark" or back light features. You also won't find any calendar features on this inexpensive Gator watch. This watch just doesn't provide the date or day. Finally, at $8.50, the warranty handling fee hardly seems worth the trouble if the watch breaks.

Overall, I'm pleased with my GameTime Agent Series wristwatch. It simply looks nice and allows me to show support for the Florida Gators every day.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Watches for Women

At Christmas time, we traditionally exchange gifts with family.  It's a good time to look beyond the typical dude watches we want and think of gifts for other people.   We may even want to consider watches for some of the women in our lives.

Flipping through the pages of my wife's InStyle and People Style magazines, I see plenty of great watches at attractive price points.

If you are headed to the mall, you can hit the watch counter at Sears.  You wouldn't think of the struggling giant as a place to buy jewelry, but they often have good deals on Armitron, Bulova, and Caravelle watches.  I'd recommend a look at women's Armitron watches with Swarovski crystals.

If you are looking for something more upscale, Macy's department store is a good place to start.  They carry plenty of women's watches that have style and class.  The designer brand, Anne Klein, offers a variety of nice watches at Macy's starting at $95.

Great Gift Watches: Men's Invicta 8932 Pro Diver Quartz Watch and Invicta Pro Diver Coin Edge Automatic

For the duration of this holiday season, I'm going to keep an eye out for great Christmas gift watches and black friday alternatives.  If adventure wears a watch, it surely wears a dive watch.  Of course, the tone for dive watches was set by the original Rolex Submariner.  It's a wonderfully capable and iconic watch.

A Rolex Submariner

However, it is priced well beyond the means of most of us.  Fortunately, there are plenty of watches that are inspired by the classic Rolex design.

One of the most attractive and affordable is the Invicta 8932 Pro Diver.  It's a nice looking dive watch with a quartz movement.  Plus, with 200 meters of water resistance, it's not a bad watch for taking a swim.  The 39 millimeter case will look at home on any wrist.  This watch makes a respectable, but affordable, Christmas gift.

Invicta 8932 Pro Diver Quartz Watch (photo from Amazon)

If you'd like to step up to an automatic movement, the Invicta Pro Diver Coin-Edge Automatic Watch is another excellent choice.

Invicta Pro Diver Coin-Edge Automatic Watch

Both of these Invicta watches provide great dive watch looks and affordable prices.

New Watch Brand at Walmart: Marathon by Timex

I noticed another new watch brand at Walmart:  Marathon by Timex.  If you are a fan of digital watches, you'll find that this new brand offers traditional Timex digital features like a stopwatch, alarm, and indiglo lighting at a much lower price point:  $15.88

 It looks like a pretty tough bang around watch and a great watch for kids and adults who like to play outside.   For less than $16, the watch makes a great stocking stuffer this Christmas.

Great Watch Deals: ZuluTimeZone Insignum

My friends over at ZuluTimeZone are still blowing out there remaining inventory of Insignum watches at bargain clearance prices!  You can get a $250 Insignum watch for less than $75 + shipping.  All of the watches feature contemporary German design and quality control. 

Insignum is a fledgling brand from Germany.  They combine German engineering and Asian manufacturing to bring an affordable high quality watch to your wrist.  However, as I understand it, the brand seems to have withdrawn from the American market to focus on Europe.  That means you get a European designed watch that NO ONE in your office will be wearing.

The Insignum Forum Black 3 Eye Sports Chronograph shown below looks great.  But, the ZTZ clearance sale is a no returns, all sales final, while supplies last kind of deal.  If you want a great deal, you need to jump on it.

Insignum Forum Sports Chronograph

If you peruse the rest of the ZTZ website, you'll notice a couple of great buys.

First they have a pre-sale going for Android Parma 200 Automatic Dive watches.  These are limited edition watches that can be ordered with a free kit.  The Android Parma 200 offers 200-meter water resistance and a traditional dive watch look with a bit of Android flare that looks really good.

Second, you might notice another interesting brand at affordable prices: Techne. They've got some really sharp looking aviation inspired watches like the Techne Merlin at prices that compete with the department store watches that everyone wears.

[Update 2025: ZuluTimeZone.com was a cool watch retailer. However, they are no longer in business.]

New Watch Brand at Walmart: globlu

On a recent excursion to Walmart, I noticed a new watch brand:  globlu.  These watches sell for only $11 and they have dial lighting system similar to the famed Timex Indiglo system.  As my watch boxes are overflowing, I didn't buy or try any of these watches.  However, they might be a good choice for a bang around watch.

To activate the dial light, you simply press the offset "pusher" button at the 1 o'clock position.

Sometimes I think Walmart just puts these low prices out in order to push name brand suppliers like Timex, Casio, and Armitron to keep prices low.

In terms of style, these watches are pretty generic.  However, globlu watches are an interesting option if you are in the market for a low cost watch.  With the holiday season approaching, they also might make a good stocking stuffer.

A Beautiful and Affordable Armitron Watch for Men

Armitron makes watches that come in at a variety of price points.  It's not considered a particularly prestigious watch brand.  But, when the designers at Armitron sit down and decide to make a great looking watch, they make a great looking watch.  I've gotten plenty of compliments on Armitron watches over the years.

For example, the Armitron below often draws double-takes, second glances, and questions.  People are always surprised to learn that it is an Armitron watch.  You can read my original review of this watch here.

Armitron Men's Stainless Steel Quartz Watch

Armitron Model 20/4859GNSVBN

If you are looking for a really nice watch that fits into your Christmas shopping budget this year, you'll want to check out the latest Armitron watches for men on Amazon.

Is this Jaguar the Perfect Car for my Drive by Citizen Watch

As the winter chill finally makes its way down to Georgia, I ran across the perfect car to go with my Drive by Citizen EcoDrive watch!  It's a black Jaguar XK!  With a 5-liter V-8 and a top speed of 155 miles per hour, it would definitely get me to work on time.

Drive by Citizen - Eco Drive Watch

It think that this Jaguar would really complement my wardrobe and watch collection.  Since these black cats start at only $84,500, I'm only about $84,600 away from owning one of my own!

Fortunately, we can all afford the watch! If you'd like to read a review of my Citizen Eco-Drive watch, click here:

Wristwatch Review: Drive by Citizen Men's Black Ion Plated Eco-Drive Strap Watch

Official NHL Watches

One thing we don't make a big deal about in the south is hockey.  It's too bad.  We could enjoy the coolness of a hockey rink and the sport confirms that Yankees can be rude--with all those checks into the boards.

LA Kings Hockey Player:  PHoto By Kaz Andrew (Flickr: NHL Hockey Players (1)) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

In Atlanta, we lost our NHL team to some place in Canada.  We still have a great minor league team called the Gwinnett Gladiators.

Choosing A Job Interview Watch

What kind of watch should I wear for a job interview?  

It's a common question.  When it comes to job interviews, I like to dress in a conservative suit with a very nice tie.  I choose a watch that is tasteful, but not distracting.  I like for that watch to be from a reputable, but not extravagant brand.  Typically, I wear a Pulsar, Seiko, or Bulova watch for job interviews. 

I like the band to be metal and I usually prefer silver tones to gold.  I think silver or black goes best with navy blue or gray suits.  I don't think brown is appropriate for those suit colors.  I would reserve brown watch straps for wear with a tweedy combination of brown and tan or khaki.

For a job interview, I should be the center of attention not my watch.  The watch is a contributor to an overall look of professionalism, reliability, and polish.  For these traits, my Bulova has been getting the nod lately.

Florida-Georgia Game Day Watch

Today, at 3:30 p.m, the Florida-Georgia Football game is played in Everbank Stadium in beautiful Jacksonville, Florida.  My Florida Gators have had a tough season this year (2014).  We've lost some tough games and some of our stars haven't reached their potential.  Our coach Will Muschamp is definitely on the hot seat.  However, I hope that the Gators can overcome their problems and come together for an upset victory over the Georgia Bulldogs.  It would be a stunning upset and there's nothing more fun than upsetting a football rival.

Jacksonville Florida Skyline - photo by Jonathan Zander [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://ceativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

My official watch for today's game will be one of Game Time's with our toothy logo front and center. Amazon.com has a ton of them!

However, Bulldog fans shouldn't fret.  They can get a wristwatch of their own.  Of course, they may need to get someone to help them learn to read it.

How did the 2014 Florida-Georgia game turnout?  The Florida Gators surprised Georgia with a fake field goal for a touhch down and then chomped down on the Bulldogs.  They never let up with an amazing running attack and beat them 38-20.

As a English major who graduated from Florida in the late 80s, I know victory doesn't make the hero.  Overcoming adversity, facing challenges, suffering set backs and then rising to victory makes heroes.  I hope that the team enjoys the winning feeling.  If they persevere, fight hard and win many of the remaining games, they'll be bowl bound!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  If you are looking for the perfect watch for escorting trick-or-treaters, you might want to choose a Timex with Indiglo dial lighting.

 

I find that the Timex Weekender is the kind of watch value that you can really sink your fangs into!

Wristwatch Review: Marvel Comics Hero Watch - Ghost Rider

Are you into comic books? Do you want a bad looking watch at a low price?  If you like a watch with a slightly sinister dial, you might check out the Marvel Comics SuperHero watches at Kohls.

AccuTime Ghost Rider Watch from Kohls

My watch.  I got this watch with a flaming skull motif on the dial.  It celebrates the Marvel Comic series:  Ghost Rider.

Price.  All of the Marvel Comics watches cost less than $34.99 at Kohls.  The Ghost Rider watch that I bought cost around $22 when all of the sales and discounts were applied.  The Kohls that we visited also had Batman and Superman wristwatches in the Marvel series.

Style.  The watch itself has very normal-size proportions with a non-rotating diver style bezel.  The silicone strap is soft and comfortable and sports three shiny ribs on each side of the watch for a little extral pizzazz.  Adults will be relieved to know that the silicone strap is long enough to accommodate full-sized wristscwith ease.  The skull motif on the dial is subtle so you can probably wear this watch to work without executive notice.

Construction.  The Marvel Comic book watches at Kohls are made by Accutime, a large importer of Chinese-made quartz watches.  It has a base metal case and a stainless steel case back.

The Caseback of the Marvel Comics Ghost Rider watch

Overall. I really like this watch.  It adds a bit of whimsy to my watch collection and makes a for a interesting conversation piece.  As a comfortable and inexpensive bang around watch, The Ghost Rider watch is just about perfect.  

The case of the Accutime Marvel Comics Ghost Rider watch

[New Photos were added to this post in 2024. With a new battery installed, the watch runs strong. This watch is no longer available on Amazon as of 2025.]

One Hand Watches: Unusual Watches For Collectors

Are you looking for an unusual watch to add to your collection?  You might try adding a one-handed 24-hour watch. Watches like the UNO 24, One-Hand Men's Watch by Botta-Design encourage a different sense of time. Instead of measuring time down to the very minute, a 24-hour watch tangibly shows the progress of your day. You see your entire day in a single glance. You know how many hours are left in your day. Watches like this encourage the wearer to make the most of his day.

The UNO 24 has a 40 millimeter case that is a slim 7.5 millimeters thick. It comes in a decidedly masculine black and grey color scheme. It is powered by a Swiss Quartz movement and has a 20-millimeter wide leather strap.
For a brighter design scheme, the UNO 24 NEO by Botta Design has similar dimensions and features with a brighter wide dial. You can read more about these watches on Amazon.

These one-handed watch designs are also great for retirees. They provide minutes in broad 10 minute increments.  Relax!  Who has to be somewhere at 12:37 p.m. on the dot anyway?

Tudor Watches: A More Affordable Entry To the World of Rolex

Rolex is one of the best known and most respected luxury watch companies in the world.  But, few Americans know that Rolex has a complementary sister brand called Tudor.  That's unfortunate.  Tudor brand watches offer a different value proposition than Rolex and it's a value proposition that many Americans might find attractive.

In 1926, the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, founded a company based on the idea that Rolex-style and reliability could be brought to customers at a more modest price.  Instead of using in-house Rolex-made movements, Tudor watches utilize other high quality Swiss-made movements.  While some Tudor watches are similar to Rolex models, others are designed expressly for more youthful buyers who are just entering the prestigious and exclusive world of Rolex.

Tudor Prince - Photo By Sputniktilt (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Tudor also offers some style options that are a little different than Rolex.  For example, the Tudor Heritage Black Bay brings a slightly sinister commando look to the Rolex-style diver.  It has an aged black leather strap and a black dial.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay

If you'd like to read more about the business background of Tudor and the re-introduction of Tudor to the American market, here is a good article on Forbes:

Watch Out America, Tudor Has Arrived (Again) to Invade Your Wrists

If you are looking for a slightly different entry into the rich heritage of Rolex watches, Tudor-brand watches might be a more nuanced choice.

The Perils of Searching For Fine European Watches

I've been researching high end watches lately with searches for brands like Towson Watch Company, Rolex, and Tudor.  Now, according to the ads I'm seeing, the Internet thinks that I may want to buy a Mercedes or borrow up to a million dollars.  I guess that is just one of the perils of searching for watches that I can't really afford.

Aaaah, but, it is nice to dream of European engineering and design. 

Of course, if you look hard enough, you'll also discover some wonderful brands that bring European design to your wrist at affordable prices.  While the manufacturing may be handled in Asia, the heart and soul of some of these brands is European.

ADNA.  The watch I'm wearing right now came to me courtesy of a Belgian firm called ADNA. ADNA XXL watches combine diver-style practicality with innovative interchangeable straps and fun color combinations.  The ADNA XXL collection was designed by one of the best watch design minds in Europe!

Insignum.  Germany's Insignum brand also brings teutonic design sensibilities to your wrist at a reasonable price point.   When the brand was first launched in the U.S. my friends at ZuluTimeZone.com sent me a really cool example to review.

Neither ADNA or Insignum watches are overly expensive.  They fit most wrists and they fit most budgets.  If you aspire to own a product with fine European design, these watches cost considerably less than a Mercedes or Maserati!