Wristwatch Review: Gosasa SKMEI Men's Quartz Chronograph Watch

This is a review of a Gosasa SKMEI quartz chronograph watch that I purchased off of Amazon for less than $10. In fact, it was on the Amazon Haul portion of the site with a clearance price of only $5.  But, don't le the low price fool you. This watch is surprisingly capable. The established watch brands should be quaking in their boots and thank their lucky stars that this watch was listed with the laughable name of "Gosasa Men's Elegant Quartz Watches Waterproof Big Face Date Analog Watch Dainty Business Dress Watches for Men Stainless Steel/Silicone Strap Gifts for Men." Few western men want a "dainty" watch.

Gosasa SKMEI Chronograph Watch

I'm not sure if Gosasa is a brand name or the Amazon store name. Chinese watch manufacturing can be pretty opaque. I've seen watches being sold with the SKMEI label in many outlets.

Gosasa Watch Features

The most surprising thing about the Gosasa Quartz Chronograph is that it actually has features. In fact, it has functional subdials that provide a 1/10 of a second timer at 12 o'clock, a second timer at 6 o'clock, and a minute timer at 9 o'clock. The watch also has the date in a window at 3 o'clock.

The subdials all work, but the 1/10 of a second time stops after 2 to 3 minutes. I think this may be intentional. Perhaps the designers think that after the first 3 minutes, wearers are no longer interested in 1/10 of a second times? This may be an intentional design as the product video shows the 1/10 of a second subdial stocking after just a couple of minutes. It does save some wear and tear on the watch.

This watch has traditional chronograph markings around the bezel. However, these are just for style since the large second hand does not work like a traditional stop watch. This isn't a strike against the watch design. Many watch manufacturers provide chronograph markings without chronometer functionality.

Gosasa SKMEI Chronograph

Gosasa Watch Style

This watch has traditional chronograph styling and comes is sometimes offered in a wide variety of colors. As of this writing, the only color being offered is a rose gold-tone case with blue dial and bezel. In terms of style, this watch hits the mark and sticks the landing it is a great looking watch.

Gosasa Watch Construction

The Gosasa SKMEI Chronograph looks like a pretty solid watch. The Amazon listing says that this watch has a zinc alloy case and a stainless steel caseback. It also has a mineral-reinforced glass crystal that is gently domed.

Gosasa SKMEI Men's Quartz Chronograph Caseback

If there is an area of cost cutting, it might be the bezel. It is made of a hard black plastic that actually looks very good. The Amazon copy claims that the watch is water resistant to 30 meters. The watch comes with a silicone strap, but it is also sometimes offered with a stainless steel bracelet. Overall, this watch is built at a quality level and materials level that is similar to other watches that cost less than $50.

Gosasa Watch Dimensions

This Gosasa chronograph is a fairly big watch and it has some heft. It feels substantial. It has a 45mm diameter case. It's 46mm in diameter if you include the crown. The case is a bit thick at 15mm.  Lug-to-lug, I measure 47mm. This watch isn't dainty. 

Gosasa SKMEI Chronograph Profile

The black silicone strap is 18mm wide at the lug and tapers to about 16mm at the clasp.  The strap is generously long and fit my 7 3/4-inch wrist perfectly and doesn't have too much overhang. 

Gosasa SKMEI Chronograph Silicone Strap

The strap curves to conform to the round case, but it should be easy to replace since it is a conventional silicone strap.

Overall Impressions of the Gosasa SKMEI Chronograph

The Gosasa SKMEI Chronograph was a great buy. It looks good, seems solidly constructed, and works well. With this watch, I do miss being connected to a historic brand with an origin story and a legacy. Gosasa SKMEI is a fairly unknown entity to western watch purchasers. However, the Amazon store for this inexpensive fashion brand shows quite a few daring designs and they are all affordably priced. If I want to entertain myself with a watch purchase that doesn't break the bank, I'll look to Gosasa and SKMEI again. 

Where to Buy the Gosasa SKMEI Chronograph Watch

You can get a rose gold tone and blue version of this watch here via my affiliate link to Amazon.

Watch Deal Alert: Timex Men's 40mm Expedition Scout

If you are looking for a great deal on a field watch, check out the Timex Men's 40mm Expedition Scout with fabric strap. This is the traditional Timex Expedition watch that is familiar to many watch enthusiasts and outdoorsmen. I reviewed the leather strap version of this watch back in 2018, you can read my Timex Expedition Scout review here.

Timex Men's 40mm Expedition Scout

This Timex Expedition watch has Indiglo Backlighting, 50 meters of water resistance, and a NATO-style watch strap. It gets 4.3 stars among Amazon purchasers and they sell over 2000 watches per month. It's a solid choice for a beater watch that can stand up to everyday wear and outdoor activity.

The Timex Expedition Scout Amazon Deal

As of February 12, 2026, this watch is 14% off to bring it in just over $40. If you'd like to jump on this deal, you can find this Timex Expedition Scout here on Amazon.

The Best Timex Offerings on Amazon

I've collected some of the best Timex watches being offered on Amazon in one convenient page - Best Timex Watches on Amazon.

TGIF: Watch Shopping at a Local Pawn Shop

I had a chance to visit a pawn shop and look at watches last weekend. It was a first pawn shop visit for me as a watch blogger. The pawn shop was located in a suburban Atlanta location that sat between lower income, gentrifying, and not too far from well-off neighborhoods. 

What Kinds of Watches Can You Find at a Pawn Shop?

The watches for sale behind the glass ran the gamut from higher end names like Rolex, Breitling, and Frederique Constant to more attainable watch brands like Tissot, Bulova, Seiko, Invicta, and Pulsar.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust

Watch Prices at a Pawn Shop

Prices ran the gamut from $10,000+ for iced out luxury watches to $50 for a Pulsar watch. The shop had 3 Rolex Datejust watches for $7000 apiece without papers or boxes. A Breitling Aeromarine watch with some signs of wear was available for about $3000. I felt that prices were fair across the board and reflected the demand, value, and conditions of the watches well.

Breitling Aeromarine Watch

While all of the luxury watches had prestigious pedigrees, I found it a little difficult to envision buying any of them. Simply put, $6000 or even $3000 is quite a bit of money. It's enough for a nice family vacation, a used vehicle, or many other more practical purchases or investments. Thus, I found myself gravitating towards more affordable watches that instinctively felt more comfortable. I was quite surprised to find a great selection of affordable watch. The pawn shop had plenty of Bulova, Tissot, Invicta, and Seiko watch models under the glass. I'll highlight some of my favorites in future posts.

Watches to Celebrate Super Bowl LX: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

The 60th National Football League Super Bowl will be held today at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The clash between America's best football teams will feature the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. If you are a fan and a watch enthusiast, you're in luck as both teams are well-represented in timepiece choices. There are seven Timex watch models dedicated to the Seattle Seahawks and nine Timex watch models dedicated to the New England Patriots. Perhaps that gives a slight edge to the Patriots? We'll see who wins.

Timex Tribute Series Citation Patriots Watch (Amazon Photo)

I have this Timex Tribute Series Citation 42mm quartz New England Patriots watch (above) to celebrate my favorite college football team and it's a great timepiece. If you're interested in purchasing this watch, it's available for the Patriots, the Seahawks, and many other NFL teams on Amazon at my affiliate link.

Timex Men's NFL Acclaim Watch (Amazon Photo)

If you prefer a watch with a dark finish, the Timex NFL Acclaim watch is the flip side of the Citation coin. Both watches offer a practical 50-meters of water resistance, Indiglo backlighting, and high quality brass cases.  You can check out the Acclaim here on my Amazon affiliate link. Whether your team wins or not, these Timex watches are long-lasting timepieces that will celebrate your team's Superbowl appearance for years to come.

Watch Spotlight: Seiko SNE593 Prospex Dive Watch

An  Extreme Action Winter Weather Watch

The weather forecasters are going crazy with predictions for snow in the American South. In Atlanta, Georgia, people have rushed to the grocery stores seeking milk, eggs, and other necessities. They look ready. People are digging out their winter weather gear. Of course, some folks around here have been wearing parkas and boots ever since temperatures dipped below 60-degrees. But, all this weather talk does make me wonder if there are some attainable watches that would be appropriate for extreme winter conditions.

American Explorer Lt. Robert F. Perry in his arctic gear 

One watch that comes to mind is the Seiko Prospex dive watch. The Seiko Model SNE573 accompanied the 63rd and 64th Japanese Antarctic expeditions in 2021 and 2022. It had a very reliable V147 Solar Quartz movement. Today, the comparable Seiko Prospex model is the SNE593. It has the updated Seiko V157 solar quartz movement. Seiko Prospex watches have been tested in conditions down to 20-degrees Celsius.

Timex SNE593 Prospex (Amazon photo)

Like its predecessor, the Seiko SNE593 has a 10-month power reserve when fully charged, water resistance for up to 200-meters, a rotating unidirectional bezel, lumibrite hands and markers, and a reputation for ruggedness. You can peruse or purchase this watch at my affiliate link on Amazon here.

Sharp Watch Shout Out: MVMT Astro Blue Men's Quartz Chronograph Watch

The MVMT brand is a great choice for collectors who want great looks at affordable price points. They've zeroed in on younger watch collectors who can't afford the premium luxury brands that get so much attention in the watch media.  Originally a microbrand, MVMT grew into a company that was bought by the Movado Group. It's a watch company founders' dream. Today, I'm highlighting a sharp looking chronograph that looks like a million bucks, but costs less than $100.  On the MVMT website, this watch is called on Astro Blue. On Amazon, I call it one heck of a deal.

MVMT Astro Blue (Amazon Photo)

At 47mm in diameter, the Astro Blue is a big watch with lots of wrist presence.  But, it also has a sophisticated minimalist style that looks like a watch of substance. I love the dial color, the sophisticated old world crown, and the minimalist dial.  That's why the MVMT Astro Blue gets a sharp watch shout out!

If you'd like to get this watch, it's available at a bargain price here on Amazon via my affiliate link. This watch is proof that beauty, sophisticated style, a compelling brand story, and a bargain price can come together in a masterpiece.

An Indiana University Watch: The SunTime Men's Competitor

The Indiana University Hoosiers football program had an incredible season. They went undefeated all season and won the 2025-26 National College Football championship by defeating a strong Miami Hurricanes team. They also defined how winning college football programs are built in this era of compensated players and the transfer portal. If you are a long suffering Indiana football fan, you deserve a watch to celebrate this season. Fortunately, Suntime has a great dive-inspired watch with a 40mm diameter dial. It's called the SunTime Men's Competitor.

SunTime Men's Competitor (Amazon photo)

The SunTime Men's Competitor is available here via my Amazon affiliate link. It's a watch to celebrate champions!

Wristwatch Review: Kenneth Cole REACTION Quartz Chronograph Watch

This is a review of a Kenneth Cole REACTION watch that I've had for quite awhile. It's probably three or four years old. That's probably an eternity in the product life cycle of a fashion watch company. But, it is worth taking a look at this watch so that you can know what to expect from the brand.

Kenneth Cole REACTION Quartz Chronograph Watch

REACTION Watch Features

My Kenneth Cole REACTION chronograph has functional subdials and pusher buttons powering chronograph functions that include a 1/10 of a second timer at 12 o'clock, a second timer at 6 o'clock, and a minute timer at 9 o'clock. The watch also has the date canted at an angle in a window near 5 o'clock. The bezel has sporty diver-style markings, but is of the fixed (non-rotating) variety. From a functional perspective, the watch works well and the chronograph features work very well. I could easily use this watch to time some sort of event.

REACTION Watch Style

This watch has a bold, athletic, style. I think the blue case and blue dial work very well together. The dial has vertical stripes in relief to provide some additional visual interest.  

REACTION Watch Construction

Inside, the watch is powered by a Chinese-made  quartz movement. The watch has a stainless steel case back, a presumably base metal case, and a textured silicone strap. The watch takes an SR920SW watch battery.

Kenneth Cole REACTION Stainless Steel Caseback

This chronograph has 3 Atmosphere (30-meter) water resistance. That is enough to avoid damage from incidental splashes. However, the watch should be protected from full immersion from showers, swimming, dishwashing, or heavy rain.

REACTION Watch Dimensions

This Kenneth Cole REACTION chronograph is a bold presence on the wrist. It has a 45mm diameter case. It's almost 47mm if you include the crown. The case is 11mm thick.  The lug-to-lug measurements come in at 47mm. The stainless steel bracelet is 25mm wide at the lug and tapers to about 17mm at the clasp.  It's  long enough to fit my 7 3/4-inch wrist perfectly without adjustment.

This Kenneth Cole REACTION Chronograph is not a dog

When it comes time to replace this watch strap, I may face a challenge due to the unusual tapering of the strap to fit in the lugs and match the curvature of the case.

Overall Impressions of the REACTION Chronograph

The Kenneth Cole REACTION Chronograph was a great find for me at Ross. It has excellent chronograph functions and an easily read dial. Functional, affordable, and good looking, this was a great fashion watch buy.

TGIF: How much watch do you need?

It dawns on me that I'm not going to hike the Pacific Crest trail. I'm not going to dive on a Caribbean shipwreck in search of Spanish gold. I'm not even going to fly an aging DC-3 over the Sahara to deliver mercenaries and steal the Holy Grail. While I might imagine such adventures, it's enough to make me wonder if I really need to buy the perfect watches for them. When the watch ceases to be a necessary tool for adventure and becomes a talisman to ignite the imagination about potential adventures, you have the opportunity to save quite a bit of money on watches.

This Rolex Sea Dweller Might Be Overkill

Enter the fashion watch. A fashion watch might nail the adventuring look perfectly, but cost much less than the premium adventure watch. You could step down from the genuine dive watch to the diver-style watch. Externally, they look much the same. In fact, the diver-style watch might be a little skinnier and work more easily with your wardrobe. I've covered the differences between dive watch and a diver-style watch here with this blog post defining dive watches. I've also covered that you don't need a helium-release valve unless you are a commercial diver working with a diving bell. It's pretty simple. If you aren't Jacques Cousteau, you don't really need his Rolex.

A Commercial Dive Helmet

We've got a lot of programming to overcome. Financial success and hard work are often reflect on the wrist. But, with the rare exception of a few financial deal makers and salesmen, the high-end Swiss watch doesn't necessarily help build towards that success. After all, a $12,000 Rolex is the equivalent of 2400 $5 Lattes at the coffee shop down the street.

Affordable Alternatives to the Patek Philippe Nautilus

The Patek Philippe Nautilus is a watch with a value in the stratosphere. It was originally introduced in 1976 as a response to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and marketed as the costliest steel watch in the world. The model shown (below) is the Reference 5711-1A and was produced from 2006 to 2021 is the most coveted in the collectors market. On Chrono24, a used Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711-1A is being sold for $124,999. It's a staggering price for most of us, but that blue dial is very popular.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus, Ref 5711-1A (Patek Philippe SA, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Reference 5711 is a 40mm diameter case, a date complication, and it also has an exhibition caseback that allows you to see the movement including its 21-carat gold rotor. As listed on Chrono24, the one I saw also has its original box and papers. It is definitely an amazing investment grade watch that may see its value rise and fall over the years. However, as a resident of a crime-plagued American big city, I'll definitely have to keep mine in a vault and look for an affordable alternative that I can present to muggers and home invaders.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Homage Watches

Fortunately, there is no shortage of Patek Philippe Nautilus homage watches. This iconic watch has inspired many watch designers.

Nibosi Nautilus Homage

Let's start with Nibosi. This brand makes some nice homage watches and some independent designs of their own. They make a nice looking quartz homage to the famed Patek Philippe. It even comes in 9 different dial and bracelet color combinations.

Nibosi Men's Quartz Analog Stainless Steel Watch (Amazon Photo)

You can check this watch out here on our Amazon affiliate link. It won't be nearly as comfortable as a real Patek, but you can wear it to Walmart or Waffle House without fear. It costs about $35.

Specht & Söhne Nautilus Homage

If you are looking for a slightly more upscale experience, Specht & Söhne offers a 5711 homage with a reliable Japanese Miyota 8215 automatic movement,  a screw-down crown, a stainless steel case and bracelet, and 50-meters of water resistance.

Specht & Söhne Nautilus Homage (Amazon Photo)

This watch movement allows hand-winding but can also be wound through the natural movement of your wrist. It might also be more analogous to wearing an actual Nautilus 5711. It also has an exhibition caseback. However, you'll miss that rotor of gold. You can check this watch out here with our Amazon affiliate link. If you like the Patek Philippe Nautilus design, this may be your best bet. It comes in 6 different case and color combinations. The brand also has homage watches that are similar to the Patek Philippe Aquanaut and Cubitus timepieces.

If you don't want a copycat homage to this famed watch, keep your eyes open. You may find similar design language with aspects of the porthole design theme or integrated bracelet in other watches from brands that might evoke the Nautilus in more subtle ways.

Watch Deal Alert: Timex Expedition Scout in Blue

Timex has a great Amazon deal on its Timex Expedition Scout watch with a blue dial and blue fabric strap.  This Timex Men's 40mm Expedition Scout has a blue dial and a denim-like blue fabric strap mixed with leather in all the right paces.  I reviewed the leather strap version of this watch back in 2018, you can read my Timex Expedition Scout review here. If you are allowed to wear jeans to your office, this watch is just perfect for that kind of casual look!

Timex 40mm Expedition Scout Watch (Amazon photo)

This Timex Expedition watch has Indiglo Backlighting, 50 meters of water resistance, and perfect blue watch dial and strap combination. It gets 4.4 stars among Amazon purchasers and they sell over 600 of these watches every month. It's a great beater watch that can stand up to everyday wear and outdoor activity. Plus, it's easy, breezy, and casual. No one will suspect you are part of an invasion force or anything.

The Timex Expedition Scout Amazon Deal

As of January 11, 2026, this watch is 35% off to come in under $30. If you'd like to jump on this deal, you can find this Timex Expedition Scout here via my Amazon affiliate link.

The Best Timex Offerings on Amazon

I've collected some of the best Timex watches being offered on Amazon in one convenient page - Best Timex Watches on Amazon.

Watches A to Z: Torgoen

If you are a watch enthusiast interested in affordable watches. One brand may deserve a second look: Torgoen. The Torgoen watch brand was founded in 2009 by watchmakers and aviation enthusiasts who were inspired by aircraft instrument panels. Led by Israeli-born pilot and entrepreneur, Benzi Rozenski, the brand focuses on practical, readable, aviation-themed, timepieces. The brand was acquired by E. Gluck Corporation in 2019. However, the focus on quality, design, and affordability continues unabated.

Torgoen T10 Carbon Pilot Watch for Men (Amazon photo)

One of the Torgoen watches that caught my eye is the Torgoen T10 Carbon Pilot Watch (above) for men. It has a 44mm diameter case, very readable hands and markers, 100-meter water resistance, and a Swiss Quartz Ronda movement. The Torgoen T10 watch is available here on Amazon via my affiliate link. 

Torgoen watches use quality Swiss movements, comfortable silicone or Italian leather straps, and high grade materials like 316L Stainless Steel for watch cases and K1 or sapphire for watch crystals. For affordability, final assembly of the watches may be done in Asian manufacturing centers. While a handful of Torgoen watches are offered on Amazon at very attractive prices, the brand primarily sells direct to consumer from their own website. 

Torgoen XP-51 (Torgoen Photo)

Some of the brand's most interesting timepieces are created in collaboration with the award-winning historic aircraft preservation firm, Pacific Fighters. As of this writing, all of the Torgoen x Pacific Fighters watches sell at price points between $350 and $500. Unfortunately, most of these limited production timepieces have sold out except for the current offering. The amazing Torgoen XP-51 Mustang Quartz GMT watch. It is made from wing flap skin metal from an actual P-51 Mustang that is undergoing restoration. You'll definitely want to check their website out for this watch, current offerings, clearance deals and more.  You can find them all here at Torgoen.com.

How to Buy A Lorus Watch in the United States

Lorus is a Seiko brand that was launched in 1982 to bring reliable, affordable, timepieces to younger markets. At the time, Lorus supplemented the Pulsar and Seiko line-ups and was launched internationally. I've owned a few Lorus watches over the years that I bought in the 1990s in various American department stores.

An Older Lorus watch from my collection

However, the brand is not officially sold in the United States. Apparently, the official markets for Lorus watches are Europe, Canada, South Africa, Fiji, and Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand. It's a shame that the brand isn't more widespread in the United States since the timepieces generally offer great value.

What if you want to buy a Lorus watch in the United States?

Lorus watches are available in the United States from a variety of gray market sources including foreign watch shops online. In a quick search, two Dutch watch companies (links provided), Masters In Time and Mightywatches, both offer Lorus watches.

Lorus Men's Quartz Watch RG245XX9 (Amazon photo)

Lorus watches can be conveniently ordered online from dealers on Amazon.com and Walmart.com. The Amazon.com offering seem to have a wide variety, but cost more to ship. Walmart has just a couple of Lorus watches, but shipping is free. The Lorus Model RG245XX9 (shown above) is offered on Amazon here at my affiliate link. As a gray market watch, shipping is $24.99 and may take a month or so.

Lorus Sports Watch with Blue Dial (Amazon Photo)

The Lorus brand offers good value and, for American collectors, the opportunity for an unusual watch choice. For example, this Lorus sports model looks pretty solid.  You can check it out easily via my affiliate link on Amazon. Ultimately, there are most likely equally solid choices for similar watches from other Seiko brands like Citizen or Orient. Still, it is fun to live in a world full of watch choices.

TGIF: Stepping Up Your Watch Collection

Long, long, ago when real stereos with speakers, tape decks, and turntables and, maybe, CD players, there was a magical place called Circuit City. If you bought stereo speakers there, you could trade them in for full store credit towards better stereo speakers during the next year. Ultimately, you could step right up to a mondo pair of stereo speakers that would rock your whole block. I know a few people who did. Sometimes, I wish we could do that with watches. 

This Van Heusen has the look of more famous chronograph watches

I suspect that some savvy sellers on ebay, Etsy, or Poshmark might be able to do just that and work their way up through the ranks of watches. I could see a progression of stepping up from fashion watches to Timex to Nautica to Bulova to Tissot to Movado to Tudor and beyond. Alas, more pressing economic concerns hold me back from that pursuit for now. That's a whole lot of buying and selling. Plus, there are many accessories that surround a watch like a Rolex. The accessories might include a rental property empire, a successful restaurant or two, or an actual executive position. It's not enough to just afford the watch. It's to build the economic success needed that the watch just comes naturally. In a world of global competition, that can be quite a challenge.

This Timex Waterbury Traditional 41mm Chronograph watch (Amazon photo)

However, you can step up your watch collecting one watch at a time. If you are interested in stepping up from a false subdial watch with a chronograph look to a bona fide chronograph, the step up from the Van Heusen with non-functioning subdials at the top of this article is about $100 to this Timex Waterbury Traditional 41mm chronograph. You can check out this Timex using my Amazon affiliate link here!

Watch Spotlight: The Caravelle Tradition Quartz Day-Date Watch

There are many broader social and economic forces at play in our world. We can't do much about that big picture. Sometimes it seems like little personal luxuries become more and more difficult to attain. Sometimes it seems like an elite European timepiece might be attainable. Sometimes economic instability threatens and you need to play it safe. When it comes to the world of watch collecting, we get to make our own rules. The look, the aesthetics, the functionality of a good timepiece can be presented in a number of different ways and at a number of different price points. Good design and good taste isn't exclusive to Europe. For an example, let's a take a took at an  affordable watch from Caravelle.

Caravelle Traditional 3-Hand Watch

This Caravelle Tradition 3-Hand Watch with Day, Date, and Backlighting is a great example of a nice looking 40mm watch that would be right at home in any business casual environment. It's a practical, readable watch, with backlighting at the push of a button (located at 2 o'clock). You can see the elements of a basic field watch in the design. The black case, black strap, and blue dial are all strong traditionally masculine design elements.

Caravelle Tradition Watch for Men (Amazon Photo)

You can take a look at this watch here via my Amazon Affiliate link. As of January 2026, this Caravelle is being offered at a nice sale price on Amazon. As an offshoot brand of Bulova, the Caravelle name carries a bit of the parent brand's prestige and history. It has class without a crazy price tag.

Watch Spotlight: Bulova Marc Anthony Sport Classic Watch

Ordinarily, a celebrity collaboration watch is more exciting for a celebrity's fans than for watch collectors. What can a celebrity bring to the table? Well, when it comes to the Bulova Marc Anthony collaboration watch, a celebrity can bring some quite refined design sensibilities.

The Bulova Marc Anthony Sports Strap Quartz watch has a stylish WW2 aviation watch look and the strap inserts into a leather attachment to convert it into a nice bundt strap. You can see the squiggle of Marc's signature on the watch strap just below the 6 o'clock position.

Bulova Marc Anthony Collaboration

The numbers 1, 3, and 5 on the dial are a bit of a mystery as the Bulova site notes that they are numbers of personal significance to the singer. I think the numbers may have to do with the dates of some significant musical awards. On 11/3/2005, Marc won two Latin Grammy Awards. One for Best Latin Pop Album and one for Best Tropical Album. But, that is just my personal theory.

Bulova Marc Anthony Collaboration with Bundt Strap

Even if you aren't a big fan of Marc Anthony as a music star and celebrity, the Marc Anthony Sport Classic watch certainly is easy to love! For a classic look, check this one out here via our Amazon Affiliate Link.

Watch Deal Alert: Casio MDV-106 Duro on Sale!

 In tight economic times, people tend to gravitate towards watches that deliver real value.  The Casio MDV-106 Dive Watch might just be that watch. Popularly known as the Casio Duro and sometimes called a Casio Marlin, this watch is the leader in low priced dive watches. It has the right look, the right performance, and the right price. It offers 200-meter water resistance, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a fish right on the dial, a reliable quartz watch movement, and classic dive watch looks.

Casio MDV-106 Dive Watch (Amazon Photo)

Right now (as of January 6, 2026), the Casio Duro is being offered with a resin band for 30% off on Amazon. In these inflationary times, it's a great deal at less than $70. There are many styles to choose from and all are less than $100.  You can check this watch out using my Amazon affiliate link here. 

Wristwatch Review: Tahari Quartz "Datejust Homage" Dress Watch

Do you like the look of a fluted bezel like the one on the famed Rolex Datejust "Presidential" dress watch? I've been playing around with fluted bezel watches for awhile. On the one hand, I like the way that the fluted bezels catch the light, but on the other, I typically wear more utilitarian watches. Before plunking down big money on a Rolex, it's worth exploring the look a bit more thoroughly.  That's where a watch like the Tahari Quartz Datejust Homage comes in.

Tahari Datejust Watch Features

The Tahari Datejust has a quartz movement made in Singapore. It is a dress watch with a domed crystal, a magnifier bubble (or cyclops) over the date window; a gold-tone fluted bezel, case, bracelet, and hour markers; and the number 12 at 12 o'clock. It's a simple watch.

Tahari Datejust Quartz Watch

Tahari Watch Style

The Rolex "Presidential" Datejust is a watch that has long been associated with presidents, prime ministers, and other leaders around the world. With the Tahari, the style is a bit more relaxed. You don't need to do any of that leadership stuff. You just need to take $20 or so down to Burlington. Other than that, the Tahari mimics a traditional Rolex Datejust--without actual gold, diamonds, or crowns here there and everywhere.

Tahari "DateJust" Homage

On a more serious note, the Tahari does give an approximation of how a datejust might look on your wrist. It's not a substitute for a Rolex, but it is a placeholder. It'll help the wearer figure out if they like fluted dials or not.

Tahari Watch Construction

The Tahari Datejust is made by Accutime in Asia (most likely in China or Hong Kong). The watch has a stainless steel case back, a base metal case, and a Chinese stainless steel bracelet. Over the years, I've been satisfied with other watches made by Accutime over the years. The company makes many watches under license for sports teams and store-brand watches. 

This Tahari watch does have a few little things that reveal its low price point. For example, the bracelet is very light weight and there are a few brush or tool marks on the case. None of these minor things are showstoppers for a $20 fashion watch.

Tahari Watch Dimensions

The Tahari "Datejust" case is 39mm in diameter and 10mm thick. Without the room requirements of Swiss, antique-style, mechanical works, the Tahari (not counting the 1mm cyclops) actually comes in a little thinner than a 41mm Rolex Datejust which measures 11.6 to 12mm thick. The lug-to-lug measurements come in at about 47mm. The stainless steel bracelet is 19mm wide at the lug and tapers slightly to 15.5mm at the clasp.  It's  long enough to fit my 7 3/4-inch wrist perfectly without adjustment.

The Tahari Datejust Bracelet tapers significantly

Overall Impressions of the Tahari Datejust Homage

The Tahari Datejust Homage is a comfortable, cheap, watch that has allowed me to experiment with the fluted bezel watch look. It's a nice looking watch for casual wear. However, I probably wouldn't wear this watch in a professional setting. While it does mimic the look of a far more expensive Rolex, it doesn't have the brand reputation or high quality look that we expect from more expensive brands like Bulova, Seiko, or Timex. Still, its a fun bang around watch for the weekend.

[Do you want to see five more alternatives to the Rolex Datejust Presidential watch? Read my blog post here!]

TGIF: Is this US Polo Assn Watch orange enough?

 As a Florida Gators fan, it's time to address a fundamental question about this watch. Does the orange color of this US Polo Assn watch match my team's orange color? I think it comes close, but the color is, perhaps, too pale. This is an important question because our college basketball season shifts into conference play tomorrow (January 3, 2026).

A US Polo Association watch is inspected by the Florida Gator logo

Ultimately, I think the orange of this US Polo Assn watch would probably match well enough to wear to a game watch party or a sports bar to see my team play. After all this watch handled a recent trip to Mambo Italiano with style and flair. You can read my review here on this blog.

Is your watch collection keeping you poor?

Tricks for Saving, Investing, and Still Buying Cool Watches

As we enter 2026, thoughts turn to New Years resolutions and personal finance. I find that it's always tempting to grab the latest, best looking, shiniest, most technologically advance watch you see online in a given month. But, having witnessed the recent meteoric climb in silver and gold prices over the past year, I have to wonder and wish that I'd have invested more in precious metals or mutual funds. When I look around, I have to wonder if my watch collection is keeping me poor.  Perhaps, our watch collections are keeping all of us poor. If so, how can we change that?

One thought I have had is to make a game of watch buying and investing. Here are three things you can do to make sure you are growing your wealth while still enjoying your watch collecting.

1. Match your watch with an investment purchase.  It is easy to do.  If you want to buy a watch that costs $500, invest $500 in a financial asset when you buy your watch. It's a simple concept. You have an incentive to save up $1000 so that you can buy that $500 watch and a matching investment. If you have $500, but saving up $1000 seems far, far, away, you have an option. Find a watch that is roughly equivalent to the $500 watch at $250 and then you invest the $250 into a financial instrument of some kind. This way you have an incentive to save up for a watch purchase and, if you can't be patient, you have an incentive to save money on your watch purchase so that you can invest an equivalent amount appropriately. For example, a Movado Calendoplan watch costs just over $500 on Amazon. You can see it on my affiliate link here.

Movado Calendoplan (Amazon photo)

Now, the challenge becomes finding a suitable substitute for the Movado. For example, would this Bulova Men's Classic fit the bill? It's quartz, but it doesn't have lume. It's normally a bit over $300, but it's 31% off for a price that would meet the $250 savings goal. Now, you have a watch a few ounces of silver bullion or another investment notch towards fully funding the Roth IRA for the year.

Bulova Men's Classic Quartz Dress Watch (Amazon photo)

You can see this Bulova Men's Classic quartz dress watch here via my Amazon affiliate link. There is no lume on this watch, but does it provide the same satisfaction? This isn't to pick on the Movado. It may well be a substitute for a $1000 watch. The point is to play the game well.

2. Substitute and save. An alternative strategy is to substitute a less expensive watch for the one you want to buy and invest the difference.  For example, if you want a field watch like the Rolex Explorer, but find that an MVMT Field II watch (below) can accomplish the same mission for you, buy the MVMT and invest the difference between the Rolex Explorer price and the MVMT. It can be a substantial amount of money.  You can see the price of the MVMT Field watch here at my Amazon affiliate link.

MVMT Field II Quartz Field Watch (Amazon photo)

With these first two strategies, you have a nice watch collection and you've tricked yourself into saving and investing money along the way. If you want more watches, you have to invest more.

3. Buy Investment Grade Watches. Finally, if you already have significant wealth, you could buy investment grade timepieces from reputable brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Ulysse Nardin, and Vacheron Constantin. Classic timepieces from these brands stand firmly at the intersection of technology, art, and social status. They have values that are closely tracked and that can fluctuate with economic conditions. But, these sorts of watches are assets and can retain or build value. For a middle class investor, I suspect that much wealth would be concentrated into just a few watches that might have the risk of being counterfeit, getting damaged, or getting stolen.

Watch Collecting for Beginners by J.S.

I'll have to read up on the watch collecting topic before getting started with any sort of serious timepieces. I suppose one could flip their way to nicer and nicer watches by buying low and selling high. But, it's hard to know where to get started. In the new year, I'll try to start with the book "Watch Collecting for Beginners" by J.S. You can get it here via my Amazon affiliate program link. 

Ultimately, finding cool watches and meeting investment goals is just a matter of time and consistency.