TGIF: Are Movado Watches Luxurious?

There are a lot of people in the watch enthusiast community that hate on Movado watches. These enthusiasts claim that quartz Movado watches are too expensive and that the company doesn't make enough mechanical watches to be legitimate with collectors. Other enthusiasts claim that Movado watches are too cheap and that they are sold in too many outlets to middle class consumers. They claim that department stores like Macy's are not high end enough for a Movado watch to be considered a luxury brand.  All the conversational hubbub is enough to raise the question:

Are Movado Watches Luxurious?

A Movado Desk Clock

The Cambridge Dictionary defines luxury as "something expensive that is pleasant to have, but is not necessary." A Movado watch definitely fits that bill. They look cool. Everyone recognizes the classic Museum dial design. They are expensive. For practical purposes, an inexpensive George-brand quartz watch will keep time just as well.  And, no one really needs a Movado watch.  At least not for a basic practical need.  Watches like the Movado Museum Classic Automatic (below) scratch some deeper psychological itches.

Movado Museum Classic Automatic for Men (Amazon photo)

The dial of the Museum Classic is one of the world's most recognizable watch designs.  It's aesthetically pleasing to many and it is a triumphant combination of luxury and minimalism. It definitely brings a sense of art and style to the wrist.

Movado is also widely recognized as a premium watch among millions of middle-class American consumers. If you buy a Movado watch, you can certainly expect to get complimented on it and people who see you wear it will identify you as an upper middle class or even a rich person. While Movado watches may not be as expensive or exclusive as Rolex watches, they are definitely a status symbol. I can't afford one right now. But, they are in the range of watches that I can aspire to as a middle class American. Maybe that's what upsets the watch snobs?

If someone can buy Movado watches like they are bags of potato chips, then Movado watches are probably not a luxury watch for them. As I've written before, we all get to define what a prestigious watch is for us. Movado is definitely a luxury watch for America's middle class and there's nothing wrong with that!  If you want a quartz Movado watch, they aren't cheap, but they are a little more affordable than mechanical movement watches. 

Movado Quartz Men's Signature Watch 

If you've been able to buy any Movado, you should be proud to wear it. It is an accomplishment. It is a luxury.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Nautica Quartz Watch with Yellow Strap

If you want a watch that you can't easily misplace, check out this bright ray of sunshine from Nautica.  It's a great watch for summertime wear and one that's likely to cure seasonal mood disorders during the dark days of winter.

A Nautica Quartz Watch with Signal Flags and Yellow Strap

If you like the ocean and all things nautical, this watch is a great choice.  I like the signal flag theme.  The globe motif in the background.  It's another great looking quartz watch for men and, if you can find it, it won't break the bank.  I picked this one up in a Ross store.

A Nautica Quartz Watch in its natural environment

Affordable Alternatives to the Richard Mill RM 72-01 Lifestyle In-House Chronograph Wristwatch

If you've been in the market for an amazing watch like the Richard Mille RM72-01 Lifestyle In-House Chronograph in Black Ceramic, but you've found yourself $377,475 short of the used asking price.  Despair no more!  I've found a solution.

But, first, let's take a look at this very exclusive watch that was listed on wristaficonado.com.  It has Richard Mille's first in-house chronograph movement with a flyback feature.  The case is of rose gold and ceramic.  It's an awesome watch from one of the world's most elite makers of watches.  But, let's face it:  this watch is completely out of a middle class price range.

Photo from Sale Listing on - wristaficionado.com

As an alternative, you can get a watch with a similar form factor, designer art work, and a much lower price point.  It's an Ed Hardy watch that brings the famed tattoo artist's artistic flair to a quartz watch with a stylized rendition of mechanical watch's mechanisms on the dial.

An Ed Hardy Quartz Watch

My wife lucked into this watch when she was shopping at Ross and it was only $25.  You can find a similar Ed Hardy Singles Watch on Amazon at a low price point.  Make no mistake:  this is not a mechanical watch.  This is an art work on the dial.  But, it will save you over $377,000.  That can make a real difference in retirement.

The Price Tag at Ross

Wristwatch Review: Geneva Men's Quartz Dress Watch with Date Window

I recently purchased a Geneva brand Men's Quartz Dress Watch with Date Window (Model KH8070SL)  from Kohl's.  It's a nice looking dress watch that seems very well finished for a basic department store watch.

A Geneva Dress Watch from Kohl's (Model KH8070SL)

Geneva Watch Features

This watch features quartz movement and a small date window about the 6 o'clock hour baton.  There is a small amount of lume on the tip of most silver-toned hour markers.  The watch also comes with a generously-sized synthetic leather strap.

Geneva Watch Dimensions

The case is 40mm in diameter and 10mm thick.  The watch strap is 22mm wide at the lugs and tapers to about 20mm.  The case is thin enough to slip easily under a shirt cuff and the strap is long enough to fit a large wrist like mine.  According to the Kohl's website, the overall circumference is 200mm.

The Geneva Men's Quartz Dress Watch doesn't stand too tall on the wrist

Geneva Watch Construction

This Geneva watch offers a stainless steel caseback and a silver-toned alloy case.  It has a glass crystal that is very slightly domed.  For a watch that is listed as $30 to $35 and much less on the Kohl's website, construction seems fairly robust. Quality appears to be on par with most watch makers in the sub-$100 segment of the market.

Geneva brand Watch Origin

The watch was created by Concepts in Time for the Geneva brand sold at Kohl's.  I don't know enough about the progeny of this watch or the Concepts in Time company to definitely figure out who made the watch.  The Concepts in Time company is behind the Geoffrey Beene and Caribbean Joe watch brands for men.  You'll detect a common ancestry behind many quartz watches sold in stores today.

A short video review on X

Here is my short video review from X / Twitter --

Got a new watch. This one is an affordable, but beautiful, classic men's quartz dress watch from the Geneva brand sold at Kohl's. You can read a more detailed review here on my blog -https://t.co/SFWksZJQWS

More proof that you don't have to spend a million bucks to look like… pic.twitter.com/KHOqviAcBP

— TheWatchDude (@the_watch_dude) July 21, 2024

Where to Find this Geneva Watch

If you'd like to get this watch, you can find it at some Kohl's stores or here on the Kohl's website.

Sharp Watch Shout Out: Tactical Frog Steelflier 36mm Military Style Watch

If you are looking for a military-style watch, you might check out the Tactical Frog Steelflier. It's a good looking watch that evokes military style watches of the past. The elongated case is 41.5mm by 36mm. The case looks similar to something you might see on a DOXA 300T. The watch is rated for 200 meters of water resistance and comes on a NATO strap.

Tactical Frog Steelflier Military-style Watch

I think this watch offers a cool variation on the field watch theme, brings vintage flair, and comes in at an affordable sub-$100 price point. That's why it gets the Sharp Watch Shout Out!  You can find this watch on Amazon and various Alibaba-type sites.

TGIF: Watches that Pass the Fast Food Worker Watch Test

They say men notice other men's watches.  That may be true, but it has been a long time since I attended a meeting in person.  I've been very fortunate to work from home since well before the pandemic.  It has its pros and cons.  The work-from-home lifestyle can be a little isolating.  Other than my wife and a few friends, I don't see that many people.  As a side effect, the people who are most likely to notice a watch that I'm wearing are fast food workers.  They will notice a watch during that quick exchange of debit or credit card for food at the window.

What watches have fast food workers noticed and complimented me on lately?

Two or three of my watches have garnered recent praise when I've been out and about town.  Amazingly, the watches haven't been my most expensive ones.  They've been watches that almost anyone can afford.

US Polo Association Green Diver-Style Watch

One watch that got noticed is my US Polo Association Diver Style watch. They should be able to notice it pretty easily since the watch comes in green and silver. The color combo really does pop. It got a "Nice watch, Sir," from a McDonald's worker on a late night cheeseburger run.

US Polo Association Diver-style Watch

Made by Accutime, the US Polo Association Watch comes in a nice faux leather box with a stitched top and the familiar figure of a polo player.  The watch features a Japanese quartz movement, a non-rotating bezel, and cost less than $25 at a Ross or Burlington store.

Geoffrey Beene Blue Sapphire Watch

Another watch that passed the fast food worker test is my Geoffrey Beene Blue Sapphire Watch.  It garnered a "nice watch" from a worker at our best local Baskin-Robins ice cream shop.

Geoffrey Beene Blue Sapphire Watch

Again, this is another low priced masterpiece coming in at only $22 at a local shop:  Burlington or Ross.

The Watch Dude gets Social on X

 If you'd like to see watch and timepiece content on Social Media, I invite you to visit and follow this blog on X (or the social media platform formerly known as Twitter).  Come check out some of my posts here --

@the_watch_dude

The account is new and I'm trying to grow a following.  I share my watches, post deals, and I'm even getting started with short video reviews. Here's one of my first posts with a short watch video:

I love a good deal when I find one. Here's my quick review of a Kenneth Cole REACTION watch that I found at a Ross - Dress for Less - Store. Here's a link to other REACTION watches on Amazon - https://t.co/T4jIFHiwgP#WatchLover #watches #Mensfashion pic.twitter.com/0fovR9aYyx

— TheWatchDude (@the_watch_dude) July 17, 2024

If enough watch collectors get on to X and participate in conversations, we might ignite some interest in watches.  Maybe watches could become popular again just like film cameras?

Regardless of our hobby's popularity, I'd love to see some of your watches and collections online as well. X is a great platform to share our watches on and discuss our deepest wristwatch desires.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Structure Instrument Panel Watch

I've been wearing my Structure Instrument Panel watch lately. I always liked the square aircraft instrument panel look of these watches.

A Structure Instrument Panel Watch at an Aviation Park

Unfortunately, this look seems to be fading from the watches available from Amazon. Even Bell & Ross, the inspiration for this watch, doesn't seem to have as many square watches among their listings on Amazon. You can still find one here on Amazon.

A Structure Instrument Panel Watch

Unfortunately, this look seems to be fading from the watches available from Amazon. Even Bell & Ross, the inspiration for this watch, doesn't seem to have as many square watches among their listings on Amazon. You can still find a square Bell & Ross here on Amazon. I guess the moral of that story is that, if you like a trendy watch, you better get it when you can. Otherwise, it might zoom away.

A Structure Instrument Panel watch and a Porsche

This Structure watch has been revived with a new battery and a new NATO strap.  But, it has a few idiosynchrasies.  For example, if you don't push the crown in with some authority, it will lose a few minutes every couple of hours.  It's been working fine for the last few hours.  But, I'm keeping my eye on it.  I'm also keeping an eye out for a new instrument panel watch.

The Truth About Watches: Do You Really Need Subdials?

When I was younger, I thought subdials were cool.  As someone who likes reading about fine mechanical watches, I also recognize that complications are the highest expression of a watchmakers design capabilities and craftsmanship.  But, in daily life, I'm not so fond of subdials anymore.

These Subdials Add To The Watch Designs (Invicta & AVI-8 watches shown)

First, subdials are often hard to read.  I'm in my mid-fifties now and it's not so easy to read subdials anymore.  They make me reach for reading glasses and make me feel my age.  If I can't read the subdials, I wonder if they even need to work.  I have attractive, inexpensive, watches from Caribbean Joe and Ed Hardy that have completely non-functional sub-dials.

Caribbean Joe Watches (left) and an Ed Hardy Watch (right)

Second, subdials aren't really that practical.  I'm sure all the Rolex Speedway fans would beg to differ, but who can read subdials at 150 miles per hour?  According to the Ministry of Totally Made-up Statistics, 32.9% of all sportscar accidents are caused by drivers glancing at subdials. When I was younger and used to race sailboats, we would use digital watches or even digital egg timers to count down the 3 minutes until we were supposed to cross the starting line at speed. We would never have time to fiddle with sub-dials while trimming sails, steering, and watching out for other boats.

These Invicta Subdials Gave up the Ghost after the Watch Sat for a Long Time with a Dead Battery

Third, it seems like subdials on quartz watches don't like to work if you've let your watch sit for a long period of time with a dead battery.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it's related to something else.  But, I've changes batteries and verified that pusher buttons are closing the appropriate circuits and nothing. 

Anyway, my truth is that sub-dials, and my eyes, aren't what they used to be.  I won't say never to subdials, but they aren't the exciting feature I once valued.

Wristwatch Review: Caribbean Joe Watch with Coin-Edged Bezel and Two Faux Subdials

This wristwatch review covers another simple, but interesting, watch from Caribbean Joe.  It's an all black watch with two faux sub-dials, white hour marker numerals outlined with a shiny silver accent, and  a coin-edged bezel. While the watch has a reliable quartz movement, it is not a precision timepiece. If you rock the watch back and forth, sometimes you may notice that the minute hand can move just a little.  It's enough that the minute hand might be half a minute off.  That little bit of play certainly reminds you that this is an inexpensive $20 to $30 watch.   

Caribbean Joe Watch with Coin Edged Bezel

However, this Caribbean Joe watch has it's merits.  For example, it has a smooth, gently domed, crystal. It's lightweight and comfortable. The case is 42mm in diameter and doesn't stand too tall on the wrist.  It's weird to me that they went to the trouble to have a wonderfully domed crystal and then undermined it a bit with non-working sub-dials.

Caribbean Joe Synthetic Leather Strap

The synthetic leather band is quite generously sized and is comfortable to wear.  I like not being on the very last hole in a watch strap.

The Watch Strap is generously sized.

Overall, this Caribbean Joe watch offers a sophisticated, casual, look for very affordable price.  It's a great bang around watch for travel to a tropical island because it's inexpensive and easily replaced.

TGIF: Another Watch Bites the Dust

I can't believe how much rubber watch bands can deteriorate in a little over a decade.  I went to revive one of my older Armitron digital watches and found the band was slick, almost oily, and crumbling apart in my hands.  It made quite a mess.  Even worse, when I examined the mechanism for attaching the band to the watch, it was more than a little bit unusual.  It doesn't even look like replacing the band is really practical.  The same thing happened to one of my Structure watches.

An Armitron Digital Watch and the remnants of its band

While this watch is an inexpensive digital watch, it is kind of a bummer that the strange strap attachment mechanism and deteriorated rubber watch band have rendered it useless.  In the future, I'll try to take a close look and make sure watches I buy have a conventional lug and spring bar setup.  I might avoid some rubber watch straps, too.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Fossil Rhett Chronograph with Navy Blue Dial and Leather Strap

 Here's an interesting watch to wear around town.  It's a Fossil Rhett  Chronograph with a navy blue dial, a date window, and a leather strap.  According to the caseback, the watch has a stainless steel case a nice rose gold tone.  Of course, it's not actually gold because I found it at Ross for only $59.99. 

Fossil Rhett Chronograph

I like this watch because it has a old nautical look that, on some primal level, harkens back to the age of sail.  I think the gold tone on the subdials, the hands, and the marker batons, really classes up this watch.

Fossil Rhett Chronograph with Blue Dial and Leather Strap

If this watch grabs your attention, you can still find it on Amazon as the Fossil Rhett Chronograph.

Sharp Watch Shout Out: Movado Bold with Gray Case and Dial

This Sharp Watch Shout Out goes to Movado for their Movado Bold with Ionic-plated Gray Case and Gray Dial.  It's simply a beautiful and understated watch.  It's also a reasonably attainable for most watch enthusiasts.

A Movado Bold watch (Amazon photo)

Movado is an intriguing luxury watch brand.  It carries a high degree of cache with upper middle class America and has long been the kind of luxury watch that we would buy at a high end department store or typical jewelry store.  Personally, I'm fascinated with all the permutations of their classic museum-style watch with its minimalist dial and a single dot at 12 o'clock. I very much like the design. I even have this Movado Museum-style desk clock.

Movado Museum-Style Clock

However, I think anything above a $500 price point is quite a bit for a wristwatch.  Fortunately, there are sales and other lines of Movado watch.  For example, I really like this Movada Bold watch with a gray case and dial brings the Museum watch motif to watch collectors at a far more attainable price point.  That's why it has earned the sharp watch shout out!

If you've been looking to add the essence of the classic Movado watch design to your collection without dipping into savings or running up a credit card balance, this may well be your watch!  You can find this men's Movado Bold watch here on Amazon.

Wristwatch Review: Vintage Oris Men's Manual Wind Watch from India

The Allure of Vintage Watches on Etsy

It's alive! I recently purchased an interesting vintage watch off of Etsy. It is a vintage Men's Oris manual wind watch that has been extensively restored.  I found this watch when looking at the wide variety of vintage watches on Etsy.  The price tag was amazingly low for such a beautiful looking watch. 

Vintage Oris Manual Wind Watch

Fear of the Unknown Watch

When I teased its impending arrival from a faraway land on the Watchfreeks forum, some members warned me of "Frankenwatches" from India. These watches are made up of a hodge-podge of parts and can be of dubious reliability.  To be honest, once I learned of this and did a little research, I was quite worried about what I would actually be getting. This watch was inexpensive and from India. I was scared, but the die was cast and I was determined to see what I would get.

A well packed Vintage Oris Watch

Shipping, Packing, and Tracking

The seller and Etsy did a great job tracking the package from India and it made its way from India through a shipping company to my mailbox in only 13 days. Upon opening the small, thoroughly wrapped, box, I found that the watch was just as described. I immediately placed the watch next to my Timex Weekender for comparison sake.

A restored Oris compared to a Timex Weekender

Watch Dimensions

Some posters had warned that some of these watches could have very small cases. However, the reconstructed Oris ended up with a 35mm diameter case which makes it a little smaller than a current Timex Weekender and about the same diameter as a vintage Timex Mercury.  The watch is about 10mm thick. The included leather strap was nice, but just a little short for my wrist. I replaced it with an inexpensive fabric expansion strap. This Oris is a smaller watch than most contemporary timepieces, but it is definitely wearable and a man's watch.

Vintage Oris Caseback

Watch Construction

The caseback says that the watchback is made out of stainless steel and the movement is reportedly shockproof. I'll try not to shock it. The crystal is nicely domed and seems to be some sort of glass. The hands are simple silver-toned dress watch hands with no lume. This seems faithful to vintage Oris dress watches of the day. I didn't see any obvious problems with the construction of this watch. While Oris purists will scoff at the full replacement of the case, dial, hands, and crystal, the result is a nicely functioning watch that keeps good time for long periods.

Vintage Oris Watch from India on the Dashboard

Watch Daily Wear

As I wear this, the watch has been keeping accurate time for over a day.  I wind it up gingerly since the crown is small and the winding seems a little tight.  Without a manual, I err on the side of caution.  But, winding it with several short slow spins of the crown, it seems to run and run.  Due to my clumsiness with the caseback press, I'm not pulling the back off.  From the photos provided, the watch  mechanism appears to be a Swiss FHF96 movement.  I wind it a little more each day.  

Vintage Oris FHF-96 Movement in Oris Vintage Watch from India

Once wound, I notice that second hand doesn't stop when I pull out the crown.  This will make precisely timed cat burglaries, jewelry thefts, and casino heists difficult, but I shall persevere.

Authenticity of A Vintage Watch From India

The authenticity of this watch remains an interesting question. You can dig and dig into the topic on forums like WatchRepairForum and Watchuseek. Since the seller revealed that the case, dial, and hands were all replaced, I feel that is fairly transparent. The movement appears to be Swiss and has been running like a champ. Obviously, the new plastic guide ring needed to be in place in order to fit the movement to its new case.  

Ultimately, the question is somewhat irrelevant to me. When I look at new and used Oris models in places where the provenance has a good paper trail, I see Oris watches priced from $1000 to $3000 or so. I don't have that much money for a watch right now.  For a watch, I have about $35 or so.

If I did have serious money for a genuine Oris watch, I'd be quite tempted by this Oris Big Crown Automatic that is available from Bob's Watches in Amazon.  It has an authenticated pedigree and a serious price tag.

Oris Big Crown Automatic from Bob's Watches

Researching this topic has certainly driven me to the Oris site, to Bob's watches, and to various watch movement sites than I could have previously imagined.  It's planted a seed that may yet grow into a "if I ever have some money I should look at an Oris" tree.

I'm satisfied in calling this a genuine Indian "frankenwatch."  I'd liken it to a "restomod" car built completely new from the remnants of the engine and frame of a very old car. I'd like to think that this  watch is using a movement made by Fabrique d’Horlogerie de Fontainemelon, Fontainemelon in Switzerland for Oris.  

I'm not expert enough to definitively call this watch a fake. It seems unfair considering the workmanship that has gone into this watch.  The watch has been completely rebuilt around the movement.  However, if this watch has a Swiss movement but not an Oris-labeled one, then the restorers should name the watch something else. They've done work they can be proud of.  Perhaps they should rebrand it as "Vintage Revival" put "Swiss Made" on the bottom of the dial and "Rebuilt in India" on the top?  I think they've made an earnest attempt to re-use and re-work this watch and provide a good value for the money.

Should you buy a watch like this from India?  

If the authenticity and provenance of each watch in your collection is important, you should not buy these sorts of inexpensive watches from India. If you just want a mechanical watch that is interesting, works well, and is very affordable, then give it a shot.  Don't spend too much money.  Keep it fun.

My Vintage Oris Watch from India reflected on an ebony table

Overall Impression

I love this little watch. It was affordable at $32. It sure has an  interesting backstory. The mystery of this watches origin story has kept me engaged and busy for hours. In my opinion, the restorers in India did a great job matching a case and dial to the movement and staying true to the vintage Swiss watch spirit. It is working watch and a fun addition to my collection.

TGIF: Spotting a Rolex Submariner in the Wild

I saw a Rolex out in the wild a couple of weeks ago.  It was a Submariner of some sort with a gold and stainless band.  I didn't see it up close, but you couldn't miss it.  At a glance, the Submariner appeared to be like the one pictured below and for sale here on Amazon.

The original uploader was LuckyLouie at English Wikipedia.,
CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

It was late at night and the man with a Rolex was sitting in a suit and open collared shirt was holding court at a table in one of his four successful restaurants.  He was clearly the King of his domain. He could see and circulate among his customers, keep an eye on his waitstaff, and have visibility to the kitchen and the cash register.

It's not like he had to micromanage every aspect of his business.  The rules, systems, and supervisors have been in place for years.  But, he is a presence.  You can tell he runs a tight ship. His staff, friends, and family treat him with congeniality, but also great deference and respect.  In turn, you can tell he takes great pride in the restaurant and his staff.

So where does the Rolex come in? It was probably never the restaurateur's initial objective. Instead, it was a reward that came with taking on the risk, taking on the responsibility, and investing the time, the money, and the soul into building and maintaining a successful business venture.  Instead of focusing on the timepiece, an aspiring Rolex owner might be better served by focusing on how they spend their time.

A focus on developing entrepreneurial skills, business acumen, persevering, and taking calculated risks might be the key to unlocking the prosperity required for an epic timepiece. 

Watch Wearing Wednesday: George Retro 70s Watch

Today's watch is from George.  Yes, the Walmart brand George.  It's just an inexpensive watch that only cost $10.98, but I think it captures the 1970s vintage look of the watch everyone's dad owned back in the day.

A George Watch from Walmart

I did a little sleuthing on the internet about this watch and uncovered a few interesting details. First, I thought George brand was originated by George Foreman.  I was wrong.  George brand originates from British fashion designer George Davies.  He had a deal with the British retailer Asda and sold the brand to Walmart when Walmart bought Asda in the UK.

Using the factory service instructions from the box and discovered that the watch was made by E. Gluck Corporation (EGC).  E. Gluck is no stranger to making watches. The company owns Armitron and Torgoen. More importantly, EGC makes many, many, private label watches for retailers around the world. The company definitely knows about making watches.

A George Watch from Walmart with Green Dial

There's no doubt that $10.98 is an incredibly low price.  Some corners definitely have to be cut to bring this watch to consumers at this price point.  Compared to more expensive watches, the bracelet feels lightweight and hollow and the crystal seems to be made of some kind of plastic.  Still, I think this is a really good looking watch, a great way to fight inflation, and it is fun to wear.  It's another example of retro style in low cost timepieces.

Watch Store Report: Watch Shopping at Burlington

Burlington (formerly known as Burlington Coat Factory) remains a good source of inexpensive quartz watches.  The watch brands for men that I've seen over the past year or so at Burlington stores include the following:  Armitron, Beverly Hills Polo Club, Caribbean Joe, Ed Hardy, Roca Wear, Sean John, Tahari, and Van Heusen. Almost all of the watches at Burlington are inexpensive. You won't find any watches that require locking up in a cabinet for special handling.

A Burlington Store in Georgia, USA

The styles at Burlington tend towards urban trendy and outright gaudy, but you can find sometimes find some real gems on the shelves.  If you like a little bling, you'll likely find something interesting.

A typical store display of watches at a Burlington store

Prices are reasonable with many models coming in at $20.  Sometimes slightly nicer watches might be $30 to $35.  Clearance watches can be found for as low as $15.

Armitron Model 20/5497

A good example of an understated gem of a watch might be this quartz Armitron (model 20/5497).  This Armitron has a classic dial design that would be perfectly appropriate for an office setting.  Naturally, I bought it.  It fits my wrist perfectly--almost too perfectly on the snug side.  But, it is a great bang around watch and the Burlington price was just $20.

For casual shoppers, Burlington is a great store for inexpensive big and tall clothing (shorts, sweatpants, and graphic Tee Shirts) and has a great selection of reasonably-price brand name shoes.  If you find yourself shopping at a Burlington, you might give the watch selection a quick glance.  You never know when you might find something interesting. 

Wristwatch Review: Armitron Men's Date Function Dial Bracelet Watch

Many watch branches are reviving vintage watch looks with great fanfare. But, the big secret is that vintage watch looks never really went away. They were normalized in countless normal quartz watches that are available at low cost from retailers all around the country. A great example of a modern watch with a vintage vibe is my latest Armitron watch. It's model 20/5497. It's a simple straight forward analog quartz watch.

Armitron Stainless Steel Quartz Watch with Date Function

Watch Construction

The watch is an all stainless steel watch with a stainless steel bracelet.  In a world where plastic and base metal cases are common, all stainless steel construction seems unusual at the sub-$30 price point.  The watch also has a very slightly domed mineral glass crystal.  The bracelet and the watch case incorporate flat and shiny silver tones.  But, the dial is done in a deep navy blue.

Watch Dimensions

This Armitron watch has a sensible 40mm case that is 9mm thick.  However, the bracelet could have been a little longer.  I found the watch to be just a bit snug on my wrist.  It also had a double-locking foldover clasp that didn't provide any easy way for me to easily adjust the size.  Instead, I opted to get a nice 20mm nylon strap from Bisonstrap to replace the metal bracelet.  The result was a good look and a strap that matched the dial.

Armitron pictured with BisonStrap 20mm Nylon Strap

Overall Impression

Overall, I really like this Armitron and I'm glad I got an alternative strap.  It's a nice watch for everyday wear and it's equally comfortable at work or on the weekends.  I think it was a treasure to find at Burlington.  However, you can easily pick this Armitron up on Amazon for an amazing price.

Sharp Watch Shout Out: Timex Men's Standard 41mm Chronograph

When you're in job search mode, every cool watch you ever wanted to buy is on sale and, temporarily, off limits.  In that regard, Timex is on a roll!  When I was researching retro watches, I must have triggered something in the Amazon algorithm and it revealed this gem of a watch: 

The Timex Men's Standard 41mm Chronograph.  

Timex Men's Standard 41mm Chronograph

I suspect this watch is doing "vintage" better than any actual vintage watch. I like the way that the dial has a faded blue color and the dial has a rather flat white color for the subdials and tachymeter track.  The fancy crown further suggests a glorious past. The strap also complements the watch color scheme and looks like it would be easy to replace sometime down the road. This watch definitely deserves a sharp watch shout out!

TGIF: Do "Retro" Watches Already Live Among Us?

Every few days, you'll see an article in the watch press or on a company website trumpeting the return of watches from the past.  Companies will be said to dig deep into their catalog of prior timepieces to develop new retro watch offerings.  An example of a wonderful retro watch would be this Citizen Quartz Stainless Steel Classic.

Citizen Stainless Steel Classic Quartz Watch (Amazon Photo)

Since these retro offerings provide us with some of the coolest watches, I don't want to disparage or discourage them in any way.  But, I think a parallel movement in the market might be just as important. The classic retro styles have been worked into hundreds of commonplace quartz watches with little fanfare.  

You can get Retro for Cheap At Walmart

As an example, let's check out the George quartz watch that I recently purchased from Walmart.

A George brand quartz wristwatch from Walmart.

This watch (above) was created and manufactured by FMD for the George brand of clothing and accessories sold at Walmart stores.  It is a very simple watch with painted numerals on the dial for hour markings and simple dots for minute markings.  It has a silver-on-silver motif with black numerals.  It retails for somewhere between $10 and $13.  It reminds me of my old Timex (below).

Timex Mercury Wristwatch

While this Timex was quite a bit more expensive back in its day at $25.95 and comes with the date-day complication, it also features painted on numerals, a silver-on-silver design, and an expansion bracelet.  Just like the George watch, this old Timex was focused on telling the time.

Another recent retro watch find was this Caribbean Joe Green Sunburst watch.  It has a slightly domed crystal and classic batons to mark the hours.  It's the kind of watch that used to be commonplace once upon a time.  But, now, it's a cheap, quartz, fashion watch.

A Caribbean Joe Retro Watch

I've been writing about retro watches or neo-classic watches for a long time.  It's a trend that has legs.  This post is just a reminder that, if you want retro, you can get plenty of retro for a very low price and you don't even have to clean the funky stuff off of an estate sale watch find.  The Retro watches are here among us already!

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Invicta Specialty Quartz Pro-Diver Chronometer

Here are some photos of my Invicta Specialty Quartz Pro-Diver Chronometer from a night out on the town.  

Invicta Specialty Quartz Pro-Diver Chronometer Among Rubber Ducks

I can't believe that I first published a review of this great looking watch back in 2015.  Today, with a fresh battery and a new watch strap, it looks as great as ever.

Invicta Specialty Quartz Pro-Diver Chronometer

The replacement watch strap is a Fullmosa 22mm Silicone Watch Band (No Gaps) and has proven to be nice replacement for the original strap. 

The guilloche dial of the Invicta Specialty Quartz Pro-Diver Chronometer

Watches with gold tones look nice in the low lights of a restaurant.  One of the things that makes this watch special is the guilloche dial.  Guilloche has repeating patterns in the dial. There are lots of Invicta Pro Diver watches here on Amazon, but it's hard to find one with that kind of unique dial.  It's kind of neat when you find something unique.