Sponsored Spotlight: The Olev's Men's Stainless Steel Luxury Diamond Chronograph

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For this month's sponsored spotlight, I have another great watch from Olev's.  This time it's a men's stainless steel quartz chronograph with diamond markers. Olev's is an interesting watchmaker as you can see luxury elements coming together in a budget-friendly watch. This one appears to have a faceted crystal that the ad copy refers to as a "rhombic mirror." It further heightens the visual interest of this watch.

Olev's Luxury Chronograph with Diamond Markers (Amazon photo)

To me, this watch has a rather New Orleans style.  It has the old appeals to royalty with a crown and diamonds, Roman numerals and a faceted crystal and bezel. I also like the black coloring with just a hint of gold.  However, this watch is available in ten different dial design, color, and watch bracelet configurations. 

Olev's Luxury Chronograph Dial Designs (Amazon photo)

This watch has contemporary proportions at 43mm in diameter and 10mm thick. The style is luxurious and the brand is striving for their crown to mean something. While this is a budget-friendly watch, it feels like a better grade of watch than the low-end timepieces that you might find at a discount store. For example, this watch has a stainless steel case and a practical 30-meter water resistance.

That said, I have a similar Olev's model that I bought for myself back in 2024 and I've been quite  pleased with it. If you'd like to take a closer look, please use my Amazon affiliate link here. This watch qualifies for a slightly higher commission via the Amazon Creators program and any purchase will help support this blog.

If you're looking for something a little more square, check out last month's sponsored spotlight for a sophisticated-looking square Olevs!

TGIF: Defining Watch Affordability

Do you ever get frustrated by watch blogs and magazines that promise affordable timepieces and then direct you to articles on expensive luxury watches? I know I do. I'll read a headline teasing us about an "affordable" watch and then find myself reading about a $4500 watch that I won't be able to afford any time soon. Since I don't want to aggravate you, I figure this might be a good time to throw out some general definitions of watch categories. I'll use some terms that come up regularly on this blog and in my X posts:  cheap, affordable, attainable, and achievable.

An Inexpensive Watch at Walmart

What is a Cheap Watch?

To me, a cheap watch is a watch that costs less than  $50 US. Most of us can purchase a cheap watch without deeply affecting the family budget during a given pay period. At this price point, there are legions of watches available. Reliable brands like Armitron, Caribbean Joe, Casio, George, Timex, and US Polo Assn are solid brand names in this category. However, as my Ten Dollar Tuesday blog posts show, these brands are being pursued by lesser known Chinese brands that are delivering surprising features in this price category.

A Rumours Quartz Watch

A good example of a cheap watch is this square watch from SKMEI. It seems inspired by Bell & Ross, but it has a smoothness that seems like it should be perfectly at home in a Bugatti.  The surprise is the price. This watch is art, but the price is well less than $50.

An SKMEI Square Watch for Men

You can take a closer look at this beauty on Amazon. It's available via here via my affiliate link.

What is an Affordable Watch?

I believe an affordable watch is a watch that generally costs less than $300 US. Most of us can purchase an affordable watch with just a little savings or a credit card. An affordable watch shouldn't impact family finances much.  At this price point, brands like Casio and  Timex are joined by brands like Caravelle, Guess, Invicta, Hilfiger, MVMT, Nautica, Perry Ellis, and Wenger. Watches from brands like Bulova, Mathey-Tissot, Momentum, Orient, and Seiko also start to appear on shopping lists.

A Wenger Grenadier Watch

What is an Attainable Watch?

To me, an attainable watch is a watch that generally costs less than $1200 US. It's not always easy or prudent to purchase an attainable watch, but diligent savings, a nice tax refund, a decent work bonus, or some other windfall should sometimes allow an attainable watch to enter the collection from time to time. Attainable watches might come from brands like Bulova, Hamilton, Laco, LIV, Mido, Mondaine, Movado, or Tissot. There are lots of attainable watch brands from France, Germany, Japan, and Switzerland. I consider these watch brands something special, a real luxury, and they evidence a strong commitment to watch collecting.

A Bulova Watch with Diamond Markers

What is an Achievable Watch?

To me, an achievable watch is a watch that generally costs between  $1200 and $2500 US dollars. You have to be financially successful to have the disposable income to buy these watches.  However, if you work hard, save, invest, and make all the right moves, you should be able to achieve the success necessary to buy one of these watches. I cover these watches from time to time because they are interesting and because they might be something we can get our hands on without using a ski mask and a hammer. But, this blog doesn't dwell on these watches because they are beyond the prudent reach of many readers.

What lies Beyond Achievable?

Once we get beyond $2500, we enter the world of the highly successful. These might be the luxury and ultra-luxury watches of entrepreneurs, lawyers,  doctors, and real estate moguls of our world. This blog ends where many mainstream watch magazines and influencers begin. We might admire these watches from afar. For most of us, watches from brands like Panerai, Tudor, and Rolex are out of prudent financial reach. I spot them from time to time on people who are successful entrepreneurs. God bless them for putting in the hours and taking the risks to fuel our economy. These brands established the icons that serve as aiming points for the rest of the watch industry. I don't generally cover these watch brand on this blog unless I notice one in the wild, find a great deal on a used one, or use one as an inspiration for finding similar looking more affordable watches

Hopefully, these definitions help a bit. Obviously, they can be a little fluid from time to time. But, this should cover the gist of what I cover on this blog.  May all of you attain the prosperity to only visit this blog in search of beater watches for gardening and mowing your lawn.

Affordable Watches for Father's Day 2026

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21, 2026, and a watch is always an appropriate gift for the occasion.  A watch is both functional and a keepsake.  But, in these inflationary times, finding a watch that is a nice gift and affordable on a child or young adult budget can be a challenge. I've put together a list of a few watches that are both affordable and respectable as gifts. Here are three watches that cost $50 or less that will be great Father's Day gifts.

1. Timex Expedition

The Timex Expedition is currently on sale for 34% off and it is being offered at an awesome price.  It's less than $25! If you are on a kid's budget, this is the watch to buy.

Timex Expedition Scout (Amazon Photo)

This watch has a 40mm diameter case, 50 meters of water resistance, Indiglo backlighting, and a fabric strap. You can get it here via my affiliate link.

2. Timex Easy Reader

This Timex Easy Reader can ship quickly and costs less than $50. This one has a 35mm diameter case, 30 meters of water resistance, and a date window.

Timex Easy Reader (Amazon Photo)

You can see this one here via my affiliate link and, if you poke around, you can find many other color and case size combinations.

3. Casio Enticer

The Casio Enticer (Model MTP-VD01D-1BV) is one of the nicest looking budget-priced watches around. It still costs $50 or less and it looks great. I've got a similar model in blue and you can read my full review in my post here.

Casio Enticer MTP-VD01D-1BV (Amazon Photo)

To get the Casio Enticer, you can find it here via my Amazon affiliate link. For more great Father's Day watch ideas, poke around on this blog. Most of the watches highlighted in my posts are very affordable.

Ten Dollar Tuesday: The Kakabi Minimalist Men's Watch

One glaringly obvious truth in the watch world is that China can produce a perfectly good wristwatch.  If you aren't trying to make a socio-economic statement or support old world craftsmen, an inexpensive watch that looks good and tells time is sufficient for most people. The Kakabi Minimalist dress watch for men may be a good choice for the basic time-telling mission and it fits within our $10 watch pricing criteria.

Kakabi Minimalist Watch (Amazon Photo)

In the looks department this watch competes well with the Timex Easy Reader and Casio Men's Standard Watches. The watch has a generously-sized 40mm diameter case, easy to read numerals, 304-grade stainless steel case, and a Japanese quartz movement. While some purchasers, aren't happy with the longevity of this watch, the Kakabi gets 4.4 stars overall out of 205 ratings. If you'd like to purchase a watch like this one, you can find it here using my Amazon affiliate link.

Ten Dollar Tuesday Watch: EAJOMIN Gediyar G713 Sport Watch

 As we deal with a challenging economy, it can be fun to grab a good looking watch from time to time. This EAJOMIN Gediyar G713 watch recently caught my eye. I'm just a sucker for silver-on-silver watch case and dial combinations. This watch regularly sells for less than $10 and is currently 11% off on top of that to make for a low, low, price. It's a pretty tempting price.

EAJOMIN Gediyar G713 Sport watch (Amazon Photo)

The watch is 43mm in diameter and 9.5mm thick. It comes with a long silicone strap that is 25 centimeters long. That allows this watch to accommodate wrist diameter of up to 9.85-inches. The watch is advertised as waterproof for daily life. (I take that to mean a few splashes or light rain capable.)

The main drawback that I see to this timepiece include the unknown metal quality. There is a review that indicate the wearer got a rash from the clasp to this watch. I'll have to add this drawback to my TGIF post on The Drawbacks of Cheap Watches.

Still, it's a great look, a great size, and an incredibly low price. If you want to test your resistance to temptation, check this EAJOMIN Gediyar watch out here via my affiliate link.

Ten Dollar Tuesday Watch: LN Lenqin Diver-Style Watch

The US economy is really rough these days. Lay offs stretch across the land and young people have trouble landing entry-level jobs due to foreign competition and the rise of AI. When young people are living 4-people to a 2 bedroom apartment, it makes luxury watches seem like a distant dream. However, there are plenty of inexpensive watches that can give you great watch looks on a low budget. One watch company that offers low cost watches in China's LN Lenqin. They currently have a diver-style watch for only $10.  It's normally a $20 watch and, as of February 16, 2025, it is 50% off. It's a nice looking Rolex Submariner homage at a very affordable price.

LN Lenqin Diver-Style Quartz Watch

There is a chance that this watch might be inspired by a classic dive watch. It has the dive watch look. The watch has a quartz movement, a date window, a silicone strap, and a mineral glass crystal. There are some complaints with the metal bracelets for this watch, but reviewers seem satisfied with the silicone strap. Water resistance is highly suspect with much of the Amazon copy cautioning against fully immersing the watch. Nevertheless, this watch is faithful to the classic dive watches of our dreams. It comes in several color and case variations. It is available with a date cyclops bubble to mimic the Rolex Submariner look. Overall, it gets 4.1 stars on Amazon. To check it out, visit it here via my Amazon affiliate link.
 

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.

Wristwatch Review: Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch

The Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph for men is is one of the Chinese watches that has to worry traditionally low-priced watch brands like Armitron, Casio, and Timex. It provides a good look, chronograph functionality, and what seems to be a factory-direct price on Amazon. It's a competitive watch now and only a few minor flaws stand in the way of it being an outstanding watch choice at its price point.

Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch

Nibosi Watch Design and Features

The design of the Nibosi Chronograph is a solid.  It has the expected three watch hands plus three functional sub-dials that provide the 24 hour time, the elapsed seconds and elapsed minutes as chronograph features. Like most subdials, they are a little difficult for me to read as a watch enthusiast in my late 50s. The date window is canted at the 4:30 position which may be upsetting to some. I don't mind it.  The outline of our planet with longitude and latitude lines is etched into the dial background. Hour marker batons are thin chrome or stainless steel that matches the watch finish. The watch has a stainless steel bracelet secured by a deployant clasp.

The Push-button Deployant Clasp on the Nibosi Chronograph

Nibosi Watch Construction

This Nibosi watch has all stainless steel construction and seems quite solid. At this price point, it is an unexpected. The inside edges of the watch are a little sharper and rougher than the same places on more established brands like Casio or Timex. This is the one flaw that is noticeable on this watch. The effect on comfort is negligible, but might be noticed by some wearers. I found the watch fairly comfortable for extended wear. But, removed it from time to time when typing for long periods.

The Nibosi Case Back

The watch is marked as 3 Atmosphere or 100 feet of water resistance and the construction quality seems like it would easily provide that level of water resistance.

Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph

Nibosi Watch Dimensions

This timepiece has a 42mm diameter case and 22mm diameter bracelet. It's not too thick either. The bracelet comes a little long and has a link removal tool included in the packaging so that it can be adjusted down to fit.

The Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph is no classic, but it's pretty cool!

Overall Impression

Overall, the Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph provides tremendous value. It only costs about $20. I found it comfortable and substantial on my wrist. If you are looking to scratch the watch bug at an affordable price point, I'd recommend trying Nibosi out.

Where to Buy Nibosi Watches

You can find the Nibosi Stainless Steel Chronograph here on Amazon.

Sharp Watch Shout Out: MASTOP (SKMEI) Diver-Style Nylon Strap Watch

If you are looking for an inexpensive watch and have $20 to blow on Amazon, check out this diver-style quartz watch with a nylon strap from MASTOP. It's just a cheap watch, but the way the strap design carries across the dial is very cool. There are several color combinations of strap and dial and all are really eye-catching. That's why this watch gets a Sharp Watch Shout Out!

MASTOP (SKMEI) Quartz Diver-Style Watch

If you are cool with $20 watches, I don't think you'll have a problem with this one. I won't attempt to navigate the ins and outs of Chinese watch companies. However, it looks like the company sells many watches with the SKMEI dial label on Amazon. I've had pretty good luck with SKMEI watches over the years. You can read about them here on this blog. I had one that was very difficult to get the caseback off for a battery change. But, that's about it. You aren't risking much at the $20 level.

You can check this watch out here on Amazon.com.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: George Quartz Chronometer-Style Watch with Faux Subdials

Today's watch is another inexpensive pickup from Walmart. It cost all of $11.96 or so. It's a silver-on-silver quartz watch sold under the big box retailer's George brand. I was drawn to the bright blue subdials that remind me of several more expensive watches.

George Watch with Faux Subdials

George has many attractively styled watches for really inexpensive price tags.  For example, this post highlights Six Watches Under $70. Next time you are in a Walmart, check out their watch section. Knowing what low priced watches offers lets you be a better judge of what high priced watches offer.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: US Polo Association Quartz Sport Watch in Red & Black

This US Polo Association quartz sports watch in red and black shows that even the most inexpensive watches can have a dramatic look and keep time accurately. Here's a shot of this US Polo Assn watch and the sun setting over a strip mall.

US Polo Assn Quartz Sport Watch

This watch has a non-rotating bezel that has GMT markings.  However, at this under $30 price point, you won't find actual GMT functionality. It's still a great looking style.

Where to Find US Polo Assn Watches for Men

Of course, when it comes to watch styles, there is nothing more fleeting than an inexpensive quartz watch from a fashion brand like US Polo Assn. You can typically find these watches at department stores like JC Penney and discount stores like Burlington or Ross. Encounters with the brand can be random and sometimes retailers disappear entirely (like Kmart and Sears).  Fortunately, you can find a nice selection of inexpensive watches from US Polo Assn here on Amazon.com.

US Polo Assn Quartz Watch

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Aeropostale Quartz Watch for Men

I wore this Aeropostale Quartz Watch for men the other day. It's an attractive watch with a beautiful blue dial and fixed non-rotating bezel. It has modern field watch markings that give the watch a strong masculine look. It was a very low cost watch pickup at $25 or less from Burlington. But, it has some drawbacks.

Aeropostale Quartz Watch

My primary issue with this watch is that I don't like the way the watch bracelet attaches to the case with a narrow link. It won't be easy to find a replacement bracelet, remove the current bracelet, or attach a NATO strap. A non-replaceable bracelet is one of the many problems with cheap watches that I've encountered.  This watch also fits a little loose and I'll need to carefully remove a link. Perhaps these are minor quibbles, but they do keep me from fully enjoying this timepiece.

If you do like the looks of this watch, you might search for the brand. I've seen many listings for Aeropostale watches on Poshmark, Etsy, and EBay.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Caribbean Joe Watch with Coin-Edged Bezel and Two Faux Subdials

My affection for my little collection of Caribbean Joe wristwatches continues to grow. They are great beater watches and have a style that is carried throughout the watch line up. I've reviewed this watch before on this blog at the watch review post linked here. I don't know why I like them. It must be the hut.

My Caribbean Joe Coin-Edged Bezel watch and a Great Book

If you like Caribbean Joe watches, you can typically find them at Kohls or Boscovs. I guess bringing a little tropical island flavor to the wrist isn't a bad idea.

The Caribbean Joe Watch with the Fishes

Watch Workshop: Fitting a George Watch with a brand new Strap

This is another neat looking cheap watch from Walmart. It's a George brand watch.  It has a black dial, black case, a black fluted bezel, a dark crystal, and red/orange hands and markers.  It does have sub-dials, but they are just for decoration.  The watch came with a black metal bracelet, but it didn't fit me well (too big) and it was a little too shiny for my taste.

A George Watch from Walmart

I opted for an inexpensive strap from a company called Niziruoup. They say it is a nylon elastic parachute-style watch band that is French paratrooper style. That's a lot to put on a $9.99 watch strap.  But, you can see it here on Amazon. I opted for the 22mm width and it fit this inexpensive watch perfectly.  The watch was about $12 or $13 at Walmart so the combo was less than $25.

A George Watch from Walmart at a Niziruoup Nylon Elastic Paratrooper Style Strap

Since the strap has elastic, it's a bit more flexible than the typical ballistic nylon straps I usually use.  It was comfortable for all day wear.

TGIF: Six Great Watches for Under $70 -- Total!

A Complete Watch Collection for Less than $70

Over the past few years, western consumers have really been pushed up against the wall with a sluggish job market for some professions, widespread job layoffs, and rampant inflation.  If you've been affected by these broader conditions, but still want to collect watches, here is a complete watch collection of cool low budget watches for less than $70 total. I've included links to these, but I'm not an affiliate of Walmart.

1. George Retro Watch

I've enjoyed wearing this George watch quite a bit. It has a nicely domed plastic crystal and what I can 1970s Retro Hashmarks.  They just remind you of the watches our dad and granddads wore in the 1970s.  It's quite a nice looking watch (Model 28/3017GNTT)

and it's made by E. Gluck Corporation (EGC)--that's the company behind Armitron.

A George Retro-Style Watch from Walmart

For $10.98, you really can't go wrong with this watch.  But, if you tap the crystal with your fingertips, it'll seem a little cheap.

2. George Brown Strap Watch with Tachymeter Markings 

This George Watch (Model 28/2043BKG) features a genuine leather strap, tachymeter markings on the bezel, and an easy to read dial. It's a simple watch that seems like a hybrid of military and sports styling cues. It's not my favorite in this inexpensive collection, but it is quite functional.

A George Watch with a Red Tachymeter Bezel

This is a nice basic watch made by the E. Gluck Corporation.  EGC makes watches for a variety of fashion names and private labels. I think I paid $10.98 in the store.

3. George Gunmetal Men's Field Watch

I consider this watch a baseline field watch. It has the simple look and the markings for sure. It has a gunmetal case, black easy read dial, and cognac vegan leather strap. The 44.5mm diameter case helps make the watch easy to read. This watch is made by, what is reportedly a manufacturing division of Fossil, FMD. At $10.98, the price is certainly entry level.

A George Field Watch with a gunmetal case and brown dial

I like this watch because it really hits the right tones as a simple field watch.  It's very practical.

4. George Men's Watch:  Matte Silver Tone Case Easy Read Dial

I also call this watch a field watch.  It made by FMD and the model number is MDOGE048.  It has a very legible off white dial and a tan vegan leather strap. It's listed at $10.98 online with Walmart.

A George Field Watch with silvertone case and white dial

It's another watch that is practical and easy to like.  There are far more expensive field watches in our world, but their dials look the same.

5. George Silver-on-Silver Men's Watch 

This FMD-made George watch (Model:  FMDOGE024) is only $9.99.  It features a 41mm diameter silver-tone case, a silver-colored easy read dial, and a silver-tone expansion band.

A George classic watch with silver on silver color scheme

I really love the looks of silver on silver.  Of course, in a watch that sells for price this low, there are trade-offs to be made.  The numbers are simply painted on the dial.  

6. George Octogon Watch in Silver and Black

If you have Audemars Piguet tastes and a Totino's Pizza budget, check out this Octagonal model from Walmart.  It's made by Accutime (42028WMM) and sold under the Walmart George brand.  It has a silvertone case and black dial with a decorative subdial.  It evokes the famed Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, but it sells for over $40,000 less. You'll look rich from a distance, but you'll definitely want to slip out of the Polo match before its time for the divot stomp.  It's was $12.98 at Walmart.

An Audemars Piguet Alternative for less than $15

Obviously, this watch collection is a little tongue in cheek. But, cheap watches like these tell time perfectly well. They might well prompt you to question whether premium brands are delivering real value for your money.  Many of these low cost watches incorporate classic retro features.

What these watches can't do is intangible. They can't boost your self esteem or transmit to others that you are a man of substance and means.  For you single guys, they won't attract women. 

Of course, on the other hand, cheap watches like these might weed out women who just want you for your money. Plus, if you are trying to build lasting generational wealth, the $40,000 you don't invest in a prestigious watch could provide a healthy stream of passive income when put into other investments.  There's a chance that a cheap watch collection might not be as stupid as you think.

[Revised in May 2026, to remove Walmart links as many of the styles have changed.  Your best bet is to check in the stores to see current inventory.]

Watch Sighting: Ed Hardy Watches at Walmart

Guess what I just saw at Walmart? Ed Hardy wristwatches. You probably knew that from the title of this post. But, I was shocked and surprised to see sizeable watch aisle end cap full of watches from the famed tattoo artist's brand. Two varieties on display caught my eye. The first (below) has the famed Ed Hardy "Love Kills Slowly" design.

Ed Hardy "Love Kills Slowly" Watch

The second design (below) was a variation on the skull watch.  It's cool to see a skull sculped into the watch dial itself.  This one also incorporates a rose design into the strap and what appears to be a serpent weaving its way through the strap and the skull. It's nice to see the tattoo art that Ed Hardy is renowned for incorporated into the watch designs.

An Ed Hardy Skull Watch incorporating a rose and chain motif on the strap

At Walmart, both of these watches are only $20.98. 

Once made synonymous with Jersey Shore and various reality TV and celebrity jackasses, the Ed Hardy brand has seen its ups and downs and has been in the hands of various branding companies for many years. Since 2021, the Ed Hardy brand has been licensed exclusively in North America by the American Exchange Group as part of a three year deal with the brand company Iconix Brand Group Inc. 

I never watched Jersey Shore and I don't keep too close of a track on fashion, so for me the Ed Hardy story boils down to a couple of key points:

1. You'll find Ed Hardy brand watches in Burlington, Ross, and just recently, Walmart stores for very affordable prices.

2. Ed Hardy's tattoo art is cool looking and has a lot of visual appeal.

It's kind of cool that the Ed Hardy brand and the artistry of these watches are now available to so many people through affordable outlets. I find that these watches definitely add variety to a watch collection. I'll probably add more myself as time and finances permit. 

 

Watch Wearing Wednesday: The Ed Hardy Skull Watch

Since the Halloween month is upon us, it's time to break out a spooky watch or two. If you are looking for a little watch wickedness, check out this inexpensive watch from Ed Hardy. It's got the whole sinister skull thing going on.

Ed Hardy Skull Watch

While the black & white photo really makes the skull in relief on the dial pop, the watch is a bit more subtle in day-to-day wear.  Since the color scheme is black on black, you don't necessarily notice the skull from all angles and in all lighting.

Ed Hardy Skull Watch

Keep an eye on this blog for an upcoming post on where I've found Ed Hardy watches lately!

Wristwatch Review: Brigada Men's Business Casual Quartz Wrist Watch

This review is for a Brigada Business Casual Quartz Wrist Watch.  It's a very inexpensive watch that offered some interesting looking features. With a bronze case, a leather band, and a dial that looked like a camouflage pattern, I thought it would be an interesting watch to check out.  I've been watching the Brigada Brand for awhile and they are definitely an up and coming source of inexpensive watches.

The Dial of my Brigada watch.

Brigada Watch Prices

I now own two Brigada brand watches. The first watch was a conventional dress watch that was a very good value for about $30 in 2023 and this second Brigada watch is a more casual watch that I purchased for roughly $16 in 2024.  Both watches have to be viewed as very inexpensive watches that are really competing with no-name quartz watches on the shelves of stores like Walmart.  This watch arrived in a bundle of bubble wrap instead of a traditional box and I found that a little off-putting.

Brigada Watch Dimensions

This watch was a little lighter and thinner than I had expected. The case was 40 mm in diameter and just 7mm thick.  The band was 20mm wide at the lugs.  Unfortunately, the small size rendered watch features that I thought would be manly and rugged as just a bit dainty.

Brigada Watch Features

The watch has individually placed hour markers and batons.  The bezel is non-rotating.  The crown has a Brigada logo and the caseback is quite attractively etched.  The watch has a Japanese quartz movement and 100-feet of water resistance.

The Brigada Caseback Design

The watch has a brushed aged bronze look that looks a little cheap.  (It's a $16 watch.)  The strap is made of comfortable leather and has a generous length and width.

Detail on the Crown of a Brigada Men's Business Casual Watch

From this perspective (below), you can see how thin and light this watch is.  In a dress watch, the thin nature of this watch would be an asset. However, in a watch with a diver-style bezel, it seems too thin to be credible as a man's watch.

The thin 7mm case of this Brigada Watch

Finally, the strap is off a nice width and comfort level, but for me the buckle design is strange and would just look more at home on a woman's watch.

The wide buckle design on the strap of the Brigada watch

OVERALL WATCH REVIEW

This Brigada watch brings together many desirable features at a very low price point. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work for my personal style and old school sensibilities about traditional masculinity.  I need to dig out my Brigada dress watch and give that a review.  It brings everything you need for a dress watch together very nicely. It may not have worked for me, but it does demonstrate the many features that can be brought together on a low cost watch.  If it fits your sense of style, go for it.

[Unfortunately as of 2025, this brand seems to have disappeared from Amazon.]

Off Brands on Point: Rumours Quartz Watch

Some of my favorite watches are from off-brands that sell at Department Stores.  For example, my Rumours watch (below) has a very cool monochromatic look.  I bought the watch over a decade ago in a department store.  But, I recently popped in a new battery and it runs great.  When it comes to quartz movement watches, sometimes all you need is a fresh battery.  This watch wasn't expensive, but everytime I wear it, I remember why I bought it.

Vintage Rumours Quartz Watch

If you are looking for a watch battery, (as of 2025) there are about 7000 watch battery listings on Amazon.