A Guide to Minimalist Watches

Minimalist philosophy offers a simple, intentional, approach to architecture, decor, clothing, and life. Instead of having dozens and dozens of watches, it invites us to have only one or a few that are simple, readable, and versatile parts of a wardrobe.  The philosophy stresses quality over quantity.  So, one might only have a watch or three, but they might be a better than ordinary without venturing too far into material excess. 

A Minimalist Fossil Watch

Minimalism also stresses simplicity over complication. Something like the Tudor Ranger or Rolex Explorer I might be the perfect expression of a high quality minimalist timepiece.  Fortunately, when it comes to minimalist timepieces, there are a few attainable brands that come to mind.  

Movado Minimalism

As a brand that has built itself around its fabled Museum watch since 1947, Movado does minimalism well. Many of their watches have no markers. Hands, sometimes a date window, and a disc at 12 o'clock are sufficient for the Movado Museum model.

Movado Museum Model Automatic (Amazon Photo)

You can see the Movado Museum Model here using my Amazon affiliate link. It's the most expensive watch on this list.  However, if you poke around a bit, you can find quartz models for half the price of the automatic.  You might also try outlets like the Movado Company Store. However, buyers should be very aware of differences between Movado models. For example, the Museum Classic is a little more upscale than the Movado Signature watch.

MVMT Minimalism

If you are looking for minimalism in an enthusiast-oriented watch at a minimal price, MVMT might well be your brand.  Initially started as a microbrand, MVMT made an impact on the watch world and was purchased by the Movado Group. This gave the upstart brand international presence and a strong manufacturing base. The brand has many minimalist offerings, but their inexpensive starting point is the MVMT Astro Blue Chronograph. It's from the MVMT Blacktop Collection and it earned a sharp watch shout out here on this blog earlier this year. 

It's simply an incredible deal at less than $100 and you can get it right here via my Amazon Affiliate Link!

Skagen Minimalist Watches

Everyone is gaga about microbrands today.  But, every brand started somewhere. Skagen was the brainchild of Danish immigrants to the United States and draws heavily upon the design influences of artists in Denmark's Skagen area. When they achieved commercial success, they were acquired by Fossil. Now, they benefit from that companies scale and breadth.  But, the watches still remain Scandinavian in design.

A Skagen Signatur Watch

Most Skagen watches are minimalist in nature.  However, the Skagen Signatur Stainless Steel Watch for Men stands out as a very practical and affordable way to scratch the minimalist bug for less than $100.  You can get yours here on Amazon using my affiliate link.

This post just scratches the surface of minimalist watches as a topic. You'll want to check out my Watches A to Z post on Mondaine. If you want to save serious money, check out my watch deal alert post on the Stuhrling Original Minimalist watch.

 

Watch Deal Alert: Citizen Eco-Drive Weekender Watch Limited Time Deal!

This post is just a quick heads up to let you know that a very sharp Citizen watch is priced to go! On Amazon, the Citizen Eco-Drive Weekender is 25% off for a limited time! It's a beautiful watch with a deep blue dial and strap that are perfect for a summer weekend!

The watch is Citizen Model AW1158-05L and it's an awesome looking watch with an eco-drive movement and 100-meters of water resistance. It has a 44mm diameter case and a polyurethane strap. The watch is normally a bit over $200, but the Amazon price is perfect at 25% off! You can check it out here using my Amazon affiliate link!

Watch Spotlight: Bulova Marine Star Series B

Tool watches from the prestigious watch brands have an almost cult-like following. The Rolex Explorer and Tudor Ranger are well-built watches that do their jobs. They are grail watches for many watch enthusiasts. But, if you want a solid watch that does its job well, you need not look much further than the Bulova Marine Star Series B (Model 96B382). It's a quartz watch with a rotating internal bezel and 100-meters of water resistance. It also has a 43mm diameter case that brings a strong masculine presence to your wrist. I think it's a great looking watch.

Bulova Marine Star Series B (Model 96B382) - Amazon Photo

In 2025, I highlighted sale prices and discounts that brought the watch down to about $250.  Today, those sale prices are the new standard prices. No fuss. No muss. No pining away for months while waiting for a sale.

Bulova Marine Star Series B (Model 96B382) Back - Amazon Photo

I love my vintage Marine Star (see my post) and I'm sure this one will be a great vintage watch someday. Adventure-oriented watches like this Marine Star fill the role of being rugged, readable, respectable, and eminently practical with a sense of purposeful style.

If you'd like to take a closer look at this great Bulova watch, you can see it here on Amazon!

Bulova Two-Tone Classic Dress Watch for Men (Amazon Photo)

If the Marine Star isn't your style, check out this PRX-like two-tone Bulova here on Amazon (shown above).

Are Nibosi Watches Any Good?

People are always worried about whether inexpensive Chinese watch brands are worth spending money on. It's a fair question to ask. Over the years, I've had pretty good luck with inexpensive Chinese watch brands but, every once in awhile, I'll get a lemon.  However, when it comes to Nibosi watches, I've generally been pleased by the value I've received from every purchase. The brand is poised at a sweet spot in watch pricing with most of their offerings priced between $25 and $45 on Amazon. In the $30 range, almost anyone can afford to buy a Nibosi watch. Plus, there are often some great discounts and deals.

The answer is - Yes. Nibosi makes good watches.  They are well built and a great value for the price.

You can see the value from this brand in my small collection of Nibosi watches.

Nibosi watches

In terms of build quality, I've been pleased by my Nibosi watches. Most Nibosi watches use stainless steel for the case, caseback, and often the bracelet. They are somewhat water resistant, but I tend to err on the side of caution and remove watches before washing dishes, showering, or swimming.

My Nibosi Watch Collection

This brand offers both homage and independently-styled watches that are generally well conceived and well executed. I have two Nibosi Homage watches and two Nibosi styled watches. 

Nibosi Datejust President Homage. I have one Nibosi that is an obvious homage to the Rolex "Presidential" Datejust (below) models.  The watch sells for just less than $40. It has decent construction and looks pretty nice.  It has working date and day windows.

Nibosi Rolex Datejust Homage

This one has a bit of a Chinese typo on the dial's small print.  It brags of "superlative chronometery." That flaw aside, this watch proved to be a great opportunity to try out the fluted bezel style.

Nibosi Datejust Homage Fluted Bezel

Nibosi Patek Philippe Homage. The most stunning watch in my Nibosi collection is this Patek Philippe homage that looks much like a watch that retailed for over $224,000.  While it is far flashier than my normal watches, it is fun to wear. It's all stainless steel, typo-free, and comfortable to wear. It has multifunction subdials that accurately record the date, day of the week, 24-hour time, and provide a moonphase complication.  Amazingly, this watch was available for less than $10. It's just a fun-to-wear watch that you can give to any mugger on the subway.

Nibosi Patek Philippe Homage

Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph. If you are looking for a watch that is less obviously an homage, this chronograph is solidly constructed and attractively styled. The bracelet is not quite as well finished as watches from established brands like Casio, Timex, or Bulova. I felt like some of the metal edges of the bracelet were a little sharper and rougher than than the bracelets of more established brands. Still it is a nice looking watch and pretty decent for daily wear.

Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph

You can read my full review of this Nibosi chronograph watch in this post. At the low price point, this watch is a great value.

Nibosi Black Stainless Steel Watch. Finally, my black stainless steel watch is a simple no-date watch with a minimalist dial and elegant gold-tone markers and hands. It's an exceptionally comfortable watch for everyday wear. You can read my review of this amazingly inexpensive watch here in this post.

Nibosi Black Stainless Steel Watch

Nibosi watches aren't perfect, but they are a good value for the money and they can help make watch collecting fun and affordable again. If you'd like to check out Nibosi watches on Amazon, you can find them here via my affiliate link.

Ten Dollar Tuesday: Gediyar "Spider" Men's Quartz Analog Watch

Sometimes Chinese companies make a cool looking watch, but seem to have no idea how to name it.  For this ten dollar Tuesday, I submit to you the Gediyar "Men Quartz Analog Watch Luxury Military Business Fashion Casual Calendar Male Man Waterproof Wrist Watches for Men." I'll nickname this one the "Spider" due to it's cool dial design. It's an interesting design that can be had in three different color schemes all of which are less than $10.

Gediyar Men's Quartz Analog Watch (Amazon Photo)

This watch has a very interesting design with symmetrical legs extending from a central hub, an exposed date track, and a window offering a peek into the quartz movement. It's a 45mm watch that's 11mm thick.  It has a silicone strap of generous length that should be able to fit wrists up to 10 inches in circumference. The watch is water resistant for daily wear and looks awfully good for just $10.  If you are interested in this watch, check it out further here on Amazon via my affiliate link.

Just remember, this is a $10 watch. You may encounter some of the issues that I've outlined in my post on the drawbacks of cheap watches.  Most of my cheap watches have turned out to be pretty decent, but you might find that the silicone straps are a bit thin or you might encounter short battery life. I didn't see any mention of this watch having a stainless steel case or caseback. You might get a rash or you might get a cool watch.  It can be a role of the dice.

The biggest danger posed by this watch is that it just might spark a question.  That question would be:

If I can get a watch this nice for just $10, how much are the bigger watch brands actually paying for their Asian-manufactured watches?

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

Sometimes, it's hard to look at rising watch prices without remembering what the watches cost back in the 90s or early 2000s. While we know about inflation and the bite it takes out of our purchasing power, it can be tough to see escalating prices impact our watch collections.  That's why it's nice when you see old-time pricing on a familiar watch.  For example, Amazon has some versions of the Timex Men's Expedition Scout on sale.  As of June 14, 2026, it's only 34% off.  But, at less than $25, you'll think you've returned to the times of yore. 

Timex 40mm Expedition Scout

This Timex 40mm Expedition Scout has Indiglo backlighting and 50-meters of water resistance and comes in a Green Strap, Gray Case, and Black Dial Configuration. It's a great starting point for anyone wanting a field watch.  You can check it out here using my Amazon affiliate link. The watch comes in a variety of color combinations that range up to just over $50.  But, if you poke around a bit, you may find that Amazon has quite a few used-good or used-excellent condition Timex Expedition watches available at a substantial discount.  Since they are great beater watches, it's hard to go wrong with one.

[Updated June 14, 2026 - Just in time for Fathers Day]

An Affordable Alternative to a Vintage Omega Seamaster

I find myself drawn to the looks of classic watches like this 1967 Omega Seamaster Day-Date watch currently being sold at the vintage watch dealer Second Time Around Watch Co. It's a beautiful timepiece with a stainless steel case plated with 14K gold.  It has a classic automatic movement and a timeless look.

1967 Vintage Omega Seamaster (Photo credit to SecondTimeAroundWatchCo.com)

If money were no object, I'd try to get a watch like this and add it to my collection. It's $2100. It would be a wonderful timepiece. It was made in Switzerland when that meant something. It is 14K gold plated. It has the classic looks and dimensions (37mm diameter) of a bona fide classic. Once upon a time, that would have been attainable. But, IT sector lay offs take their toll. If you are in position to get the real thing, you can find this vintage watch here.

From Vintage Omega to Modern Olevs

Instead, I'd like an easy, affordable watch, that might be somewhat inspired by the look, but that would fit into my tight budget. I can probably afford a $40 watch somewhere along the way. The OLEVS men's brown leather strap watch hits that mark well. The watch is powered by a Japanese quartz movement and has a 39mm diameter stainless steel case that is 9mm thick.

Olev's Quartz Watch with Brown Leather Strap (Amazon photo)

To check this vintage-inspired watch out, visit my Amazon affiliate link to this Olevs watch here.

TGIF: The Best Watches at ANY Price Point?

Best Men's Watch for $50 and Under

I recently saw a post on X that highlighted a watch expert's opinion on the best watch to buy at any price point.  Of course, the watch prices started at $1,000 with a recommendation to buy a Tissot PRX.  Then, the expert was off to the $10,000 level.  For me, the post missed all the price points that most people can afford.

For me, the point is to have cool watches and the price point doesn't matter.  If you can afford a Ulysse-Nardin, you are living the dream.  But, I'm pretty proud of the $10 watch I found on Amazon recently.  So, I'll start my recommendations there.

$10: "Nibosi Waterproof Luxury Diamond Luminous Dial Business Dress Watch"  Online they call it a chronograph.  It's actually a multifunction watch with day, date, 24-hour time, and moon phase.  It is a little blingy, but it's a very nice watch for the money.

Nibosi Men's Waterproof Luxury Diamond Luminous Dial Business Dress Watch

I bought the black dial version, but supplies are running out.  It's still available for less than $10 with a green or blue dial.  You can get it here via my Amazon affiliate link.

$25: "US Polo Assn Quartz Watch." If you want to put all your extra money into polo ponies, you may want to keep watch expenses down. US Polo Assn offers an attractive variety of quartz watches that are priced between $17 and $25 and can be found in a variety of stores including Burlington and JC Penney. You can see a wide selection via my Amazon affiliate link here.

 

$40: "Burei Men's Dive Watch." For years, the undisputed choices for inexpensive dive watches were the Casio Duro and the Invicta Pro Diver.  But, a newcomer has been entering my search and it's been getting great reviews. Burei offers a men's dive watch with 200-meter water resistance, a screw-down crown, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a date window, and a Japanese quartz movement.

Burei Men's Dive Watch with 200-meter water resistance (Amazon photo)

This watch averages 4.5 stars on 26 ratings and has some great reviews.  You can check it out here on Amazon.

$50: "Casio MTP-VD01D-1BV Men's Enticer."  I recently purchased the blue dial version of this watch (you can read my review here), but now the best deal is on the black dial version at 11% off. This is an attractively styled watch that is great for everyday wear. You can get this beautiful timepiece here on Amazon.

Casio Men's Enticer (Amazon Photo)

The list could go on, and might in a future post, but you should really buy a watch that fits your style and personality.  It's your money.  Have fun. You get to spend it anyway you like.

(If you are looking for more budget-friendly watch ideas, check out my post on an Affordable Three Watch Collection. The challenge: build a three watch collection for $75 a watch or less.)

The Hundred Dollar Grail: Finding A Guilloché Dial Watch for a Benjamin!

Can you find a watch with a guilloché dial design for $100 or less? To answer this question, we have to know what guilloché is.  

An engine-turned (guilloché) watch dial made by Derek Pratt and rejected by him due to imperfections (Public Domain photo)

What is a Guilloché Dial?

According to Grok:

Guilloché is a centuries-old decorative engraving technique used to create intricate, repeating geometric patterns on watch dials (and other metal surfaces). It is produced on a specialized rose engine or straight-line engine lathe that cuts precise, continuous lines—such as sunbursts, waves, basketweave, or moiré effects—into the metal, creating a textured surface that beautifully catches and reflects light. The result adds depth, visual interest, and a luxurious handmade feel to otherwise plain dials, and is a hallmark of high-end watchmaking.

The answer to whether you can find it on $100 watch depends on what your definition of design is.  You can't get a genuine hand-crafted guilloché dial on a watch costing $100 or less,   But, you can get a "guilloché dial design" on a watch that costs $100 or less. The technique for creating the design is different.  In many cases, the design is automatically engraved via a computerized CNC machine or stamped into the disk of metal that serves as the dial.  It's not hand-crafted.  It's kind of like cheese and cheese food product.

A Perry Ellis Solar Powered Dress Watch (Amazon Photo)

The Perry Ellis Solar Watch for Men

If you can't afford a high end European watch with a guilloché dial, you might check out the guilloché-inspired dial on the Perry Ellis Solar Powered Dress watch.  This watch has specifications that are suspiciously similar to those of a Citizen Eco Drive watch.  Once charged, it will run for four months.  It has a 41mm diameter case that is 30-meters water resistant.  You can check out this beautiful watch here using my Amazon affiliate link.  It's less than $100 and it comes in three different case and dial color combinations.

If you've been wanting to add a watch with a guilloche dial to your collection, this is your chance.

Wristwatch Review: Casio Enticer (Model MTP-VD01D-2EV)

An Enticingly Affordable Watch from Casio

I've long been intrigued with the Casio Enticer (Model MTP-VD01D-2EV) as an inexpensive, but very attractive, timepiece.

Casio Enticer Watch Style and Features

The Casio Enticer is a casual, fashion, watch.  This all stainless steel watch has a shiny fixed diver-style bezel, 50-meter water resistance, an accurate Japanese movement, and a date window. The designers made good use of alternating shiny and flat stainless steel in the bracelet design. The case and bezel are shiny stainless steel.  In terms of style, this watch is a quantum leap ahead of my first Casio Analog watch from 2011. The Enticer is a sexy watch.

Casio Enticer Watch Dimensions

The watch is perfectly sized for my sensibilities. The case is  45mm in diameter and 10.5mm thick. 

The Casio Enticer has a slim profile that is perfect for office wear.

The bracelet is quite generously sized. I actually had to adjust it downward a little to fit my fairly large 7 and 3/4 inch wrists. 

The Casio Enticer has a generously-sized bracelet

Luckily, I was able to tighten the bracelet by adjusting the clasp to be a little tighter.

The Deployant Clasp of the Casio Enticer

Casio Enticer Watch Construction

Overall, this watch is very solid for the under $50 price category.  50-meter water resistance is reassuring for casual wear. The movement is accurate for +/- 20 seconds per month. 

Casio Watch Overall Impression

This Casio feels like money well spent.  It's a great looking watch.  Prices can vary quite a bit, but I was able to get mine for under $40. The watch comes in a variety of dial and case color combinations and is sold in a price range from about $35 to $55.  To see the broad array of models available and the best prices, use my Amazon affiliate link. It's a great watch at an affordable price point.

 

TGIF: How to Shop for Luxury Watches on Amazon

Have you ever wondered how to find luxury watches on Amazon?  They used to be found through common searches, but the unwashed masses found them and left comically sarcastic reviews. It's still easy to find the high end watches at Amazon. You just have to select "Luxury Stores" on Amazon's category menu before conducting your search.

The Luxury Stores Menu on Amazon

I recently saw a Panerai watch in the wild and wanted to check them out on Amazon. I found two pre-owned models on the site:  a Radiomir and a Luminor. Both were being sold by a luxury goods reseller named Rebag. The models were between $5000 and $6500 on Amazon. As a vendor of pre-owned luxury goods, there was only one of each available. If you are interested in Panerai, you can find them here via my affiliate link.

Pre-Loved Panerai watches on Amazon

The watches may never make my cart, but they might make my dreams. It's always fun to find some of the vaunted luxury watch brands on a site that we all use.

The Hundred Dollar Grail: Affordable Swiss Quartz Watches

Once you get a pretty cool looking watch or two or three, you realize that you've started a collection.  You want to broaden the scope of your watches and stretch a little for unusual watches or to get the standards that seem to be the backbone of many a collection. For me, a Swiss watch was a grail. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about.  But, price was a big obstacle then--and now.  In my quest for a Swiss watch, I was fortunate to find the Wenger Swiss Military Grenadier watch (reviewed here) for just under $100 in 2015 money. Today, with inflation chewing away at currency values, finding a Swiss watch for $100 or less remains a daunting task.  However, there are three watchmakers to keep an eye on:  Swatch, Wenger, and Mathey-Tissot.

Swatch New Gent Biosourced Lacquered Quartz Watch

According to the internet, all Swatch watches are Swiss made.  With quartz movements and the Sistema 51 design to limit the number of parts to 51, they are quite affordable with many falling below $100. The Swatch New Gent Biosourced is a basic quartz watch with a 41mm diameter case, 100 feet of water resistance, and free battery exchange at Swatch retail locations.

Swatch New Gent Biosourced Lacquered Quartz Watch (Amazon Photo)

The strap and glass of this watch are bio-sourced. The dial is a translucent gray that allows the wearer to see the underlying movement. It's an interesting minimalist watch.  If you'd like to take a closer look at it or buy, please use my Amazon Affiliate link to see this Swatch watch here.

Wenger Men's Urban Metro Quartz Watch

There used to be an intense rivalry over all things "Swiss Army" between Wenger and Victorinox.  That ended when Victorinox bought out their rival.  Then, Wenger stopped manufacturing watches under their name and Victorinox started going upmarket with their timepieces.  Just when I thought we were being left behind, the Wenger name is back in the watch market.  They make a few timepieces and they are affordable for most of us.  The most affordable Wenger watch on Amazon meets our $100 Grail Watch threshold.  It's the Wenger Urban Metro Quartz Watch (below).  It has a 42mm diameter stainless steel case, 100-meters of water resistance, a canted date at the 4:30 position, and a leather strap. The numerals and fonts remind me of a Tudor Ranger.

Wenger Men's Urban Metro Quartz Watch (Amazon Photo)

You can check this Wenger watch out here using my affiliate link. It's a very practical addition to any watch collection.

Mathey-Tissot Atlas Quartz Watch

If you are looking for a manly man watch in this sub-$100 price category  from Switzerland, you might check out the Mathey-Tissot Atlas. It's a big black 43mm Swiss quartz watch with a coin-edge bezel and tachymeter markings.

Mathey Tissot Atlas (Amazon photo)

If you'd like to check out this bold watch, you can use my Amazon affiliate link to the Mathey Tissot-Atlas here.

The hundred dollar price point is a tough target to hit, but some Swiss makers are hitting that mark. If you aren't made of money, these watches provide the chance to add a little Swiss flair to your collection.

Ten Dollar Tuesday: Nibosi Men's Square Quartz Chronograph with Diamonds

 Can you get a square quartz chronograph watch with diamonds and a moonphase subdial? No.  I don't quite think so. But, you can get square quartz multifunction watch with diamonds and a moon phase subdial. Nibosi is offering this Patek Philippe homage for just under $10 on Amazon. Let me explain the watch below:

Nibosi Quartz "Chronograph" Watch (Amazon Photo) 

The Amazon copy says it's a chronograph, but the photo clearly shows a watch with a multi-function dial including the day of the week, the date, the 24-hour time, and a moonphase complication. It also has "diamonds" embedded in the bezel. While it may not be a chronograph, I believe this watch will deliver a nice looking watch with working subdials..  That's why I ordered it.

I have bought a few Nibosi watches and they all seem pretty good.  They aren't perfect, but they are certainly worth a $20 to $40 price tag. Of course, you could pay $244,000 for a similar watch from Patek Philippe. But, the subdials on the one I saw lack the symmetry of the subdial layout on the Nibosi. In addition, quartz movements require less maintenance beyond battery changes. These advantages make the Nibosi the obvious choice.  You can get it here via my Amazon affiliate link.

Watch Deal Alert: Timex Men's E Line 34mm Automatic

Timex isn't just about quartz watches.  They also sell automatics. If you are looking for a sophisticated watch with an elegant design, you might check out the Timex Men's E Line 34mm Automatic.  It's was first issued in 1983, but it remains a contemporary looking timepiece. It has a 34mm diameter square case and a Japanese automatic movement. It also is a great deal on Amazon right now!

Timex E Line 34mm Automatic (Amazon photo)

The Timex E Line 34mm Automatic with a blue dial is currently 27% off on Amazon. That's a great deal and several versions of this watch are available at prices up to $100 more. 

As a cautionary note, this watch is a frequently returned item.  There are two reasons for this:

1. A 34mm watch is small.  That's great for people with smaller wrists, but many people would consider it a women's watch size. Many people are looking for smaller sizes and this one, as a reissue of a vintage watch, may fit their needs.

2. It's an automatic.  Many casual watch shoppers that are drawn to the Timex name may not realize that an automatic is wound by the movement of the wearer's wrist or by the winding the crown.

Overall, the Timex E Line averages 4.3 stars on Amazon in 75 ratings.  If you recognize the diminutive size and the automatic movement implications and are still interested in the Timex E Line, you can get it here via my Amazon affiliate program link. To save even more, check out the "used-like new" offering on Amazon. This looks like an interesting addition to any watch collection.

The Hundred Dollar Grail: Timex Q Reissue 38mm Watch

Is there a grail watch that you can get for $100 or less? I think there is! If you've been reading about the much celebrated Timex Q series reissue, you might want to add one to your collection.  With inflation and Timex moving a little more upmarket lately, you might want to get one soon! I found one for under $100 on Amazon.  It's the Timex Men's Q 38mm watch.

Timex Q 38mm Reissue (Amazon Photo)

It's an attractive watch with a 38mm diameter case, the day and date, a bi-directional rotating bezel, a gently domed acrylic crytal, 50-meters of water resistance, and a silicone strap. It also has an additional feature that intrigues me:  a battery hatch!

Timex Q 38mm Reissue Battery Hatch (Amazon Photo)

You can open the battery hatch with a coin and change the SR626SW/377 battery easily. If you need batteries, check out this blog's battery center. I think quartz batteries should be super-easy to change and I hope that a hatch like this helps.

The Timex Q 38mm watch looks like something a little special and it's available here via my affiliate link on Amazon for less than $100.

The Hundred Dollar Grail: Affordable Moonphase Watches

The moonphase complication is a staple of the most sophisticated European watch makers like Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, and Breguet. During the day, the sun shows in an aperture and at night a sun shows. Sometimes, the sun and moon have delightful faces and smiles reminiscent of old fairy tales. I've enjoyed moonphase watches since my first one from Relic (reviewed here on this blog).

Mondia Mistral Moonphase Watch - Photo by Clyde94, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Today, we can find affordable quartz moonphase watches from a variety of manufacturers. While the mechanical masterpieces from the elite watchmakers may never grace our wrists, the elegant looks can.  If you collect watches, a moonphase watch is an attainable $100 grail.

The Harry Williams Moonphase Quartz Watch

I recently bought a Harry Williams Moonphase watch off of Amazon. I like the clean minimalist design and the contemporary 40mm diameter size of this watch. However, this whimsical brand has one definite quirk that may be upsetting to some. The sun and moon phases appear upside down in their aperture. I think it is just European humor from an unusual brand. These watches have commanded nearly $80 on Amazon, but now they are available for a song.  Check out my affiliate link here for astonishing savings on the Harry Williams Quartz watch.

Peugeot 14K Gold-Plated Moonphase Watch (Amazon Photo)

Another brand that offers a variety of inexpensive quartz moonphase watches is Peugeot.  The have several dial options and many of their watches are plated in 14K gold.  Amazingly, they all cost less than $100. To check out the Peugeot Men's 14K Gold Plated Men's Vintage Leather Dress Watch, check out my Amazon affiliate link here. Peugeot also offers free lifetime battery replacement.

Several other brands also offer inexpensive moonphase watches.  Check out brands like Fanmis and Olev's on Amazon. If you'd like to add a moonphase watch to your collection, it's a very attainable grail!

TGIF: Is it time to reset our grail watch expectations?

With all the outsourcing of jobs, international competition, and the rise of the bots, it might be time to reset our notions of a grail watch.  What if the grail watch didn't cost $30,000? What if it didn't cost $3,000? What if it didn't even cost $300? It would take some of the financial pressure off and let you focus on the fun of watch collecting. Perhaps, the watch is just the McGuffin.  Your quest to find it, incorporate it into your personal style, and achieve a goal is the important story.

Tissot Carson Powermatic 80

My Tissot Carson Powermatic 80 was the culmination of a long quest to find and incorporate a Swiss automatic into my collection. I spent lots of time searching for an affordable Swiss watch. When the perfect sale came along, my wife saw it and suggested I pounce. It checked my Swiss watch goal.

A Grenen by Skagen watch from my collection

Watch collecting really is a "choose your own adventure" endeavor. Reflect on how Steve Jobs made the black turtleneck sweater an iconic look for tech leaders. If you wanted that modern minimalist look, what kind of watch would you choose? Skagen? Fossil? MVMT? The grail becomes the watch that creates that modern look perfectly. I was fortunate to find a Grenen by Skagen brand to bring that black modern minimalist vibe to my wrist.  (You can read my Grenen by Skagen review here.)

A Casio Forester

If you enjoy the outdoors and activities like hiking, fishing, wildlife photography, and hunting, how are those hobbies reflected on your wrist? What watch do you take on adventures? What watch do you wear everyday that reminds you of those adventures? When I lived in Florida, a Casio Forester (above) proved to be the perfect choice for outdoor adventures in the heat. It was light and had a breathable fabric strap. You can read my Casio Forester review here. The grail watch can be any watch that you search for and find and that fits your purposes perfectly. Happy Hunting!