TGIF: Are Caribbean Joe Watches Any Good?

Yes. Caribbean Joe Watches Are Good!

Caribbean Joe makes attractive watches that are very inexpensive. It's natural that potential buyers would ask, "Are Caribbean Joe watches any good?" The immediate answer is "Yes!"  Caribbean Joe watches offer attractive, classically-styled, men's watches that are functional and look good. I have several (probably 15 total) and I find that they generally fit me well, and I've never had any issues with them working.  

Part of My Caribbean Joe Watch Collection

For $15 to $30, Caribbean Joe sells great watches. Since they don't cost much, they are fun to collect. If you are just looking for a fun fashion watch to bang around in, Caribbean Joe is a good watch.

Why Caribbean Joe Watches are Good!

Here are three reasons that Caribbean Joe watches are good:

1. Attractive Style - They look like classic watches. They are simply beautiful.

2. Inexpensive Price - You can find Caribbean Joe Watches in the $15 to $25 range at stores like Burlington and Boscov's.

3. Decent Quality - Caribbean Joe watches work and fit well for their low price point.

This Caribbean Joe watch is no classic, but it looks great!
For more info see my review: Caribbean Joe with Gold Tones

But, Caribbean Joe Watches are Cheap

I love Caribbean Joe watches. But, I'm a cheap bastard.  If you let other considerations slip into your watch choice, there are some good reasons you might want to consider other watches.

1. No Brand Pedigree. Caribbean Joe doesn't seem to have a real history or heritage as a watch maker. The company is primarily a casual beach apparel brand reflecting "an American vision of comfort, ease, and relaxation." Their website, Caribbean-Joe.com, doesn't even mention or sell watches. Inexpensive watch makers like Casio and Timex have rich corporate histories with milestones and break-throughs that you can be proud of when you wear one of those watches. For many watch enthusiasts, buying a watch is akin to joining a tribe. That said, there may yet form a tribe of Caribbean Joe watch enthusiasts. Who can resist that hut and palm tree logo?

A Caribbean Joe Watch
For more info see my review: Caribbean Joe Watch with Green Sunburst Dial

2. Lack of Precision. Caribbean Joe watches have a Singapore-made Quartz Movement that is reliable and works just fine. However, if you push the crown in too hastily once you've set the time, the minute hand may jump a minute or two on one direction or another. If you take it slow and develop some finesse, you can generally set the watch just fine. In fairness, this can happen with other brands, too. However, it is a reminder that you are dealing with an inexpensive watch.

3. Inexpensive Materials. To sell for $20 or so, a watch has to be made very inexpensively. While I haven't had any problems, every once in awhile, you might glance at a Caribbean Joe watch and wonder if the case is made of a really inexpensive tin alloy. The case back is made of stainless steel, but sometimes the case of a Caribbean Joe watch can look a little cheap.

4. Not Ruggedly Constructed. While I do have a Caribbean Joe watch that looks like a Tudor Ranger, it isn't a real field watch. The inexpensive materials mean that a Caribbean Joe watch probably doesn't have much water resistance. I don't wear mine out in heavy rain, use it to wash dishes, or go swimming it. It's a "bang around" watch in that I can bang it into something and go get another watch if it breaks. Beater doesn't mean go beat things with it. Obviously, I wouldn't rely on it for navigation, rock climbing, or any activity more rugged than eating shrimp at a seafood shack by the river.

This Caribbean Joe watch looks like a Tudor Ranger or Rolex Explorer
For more info, see my watch wearing post:  Caribbean Joe Tudor Ranger Alternative

5. Non-functional sub-dials. For $20, you don't get a sophisticated quartz movement with complications that can drive sub-dials. Instead, Caribbean Joe just puts sub-dial markings on the dial and we all just pretend that we have sub-dials. Since sub-dials are generally too small for me to read on most watches, I don't care that much. But, it is a reminder that the watch is cheap. I go back-and-forth on this topic. I don't care. I do care. Ultimately, I'm not a huge fan of sub-dials but, on better watches, the sub-dials work.

This Caribbean Joe watch has fake sub-dials
For more info, see my watch wearing post:  Caribbean Joe with Blue Dial

I hope this list of pros and cons has been useful in helping you decide whether to buy a Caribbean Joe watch. If you do decide to get one, Kohl's, Boscov's and Sierra are probably the best places to find them online or in the store.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Steve Madden Diamond Fluted Bezel Quartz Watch

I've been kicking around the idea of a watch with a fluted bezel for some time now. For some reason, the eye-catching aspect of fluted bezel and the way they scatter the light intrigues me lately. I've also seen quite a few cool looking fluted models lately.  But, as I hem and haw and wonder about wearing one, I've been testing the idea out with a cheaper watch or two from Tahari and Steve Madden. Take a look at this Steve Madden Quartz "Diamond" watch with a fluted bezel. According to the Amazon description, the "Diamond" is a tiny crystal.

Steve Madden Fluted Bezel Quartz Diamond Watch

I like this watch because the profile from the side isn't too high. But, unfortunately, the bracelet is a bit too tight. I'll be tackling that issue separately since it is a non-standard bracelet.

Steve Madden Fluted Bezel Quartz Diamond Watch (Angle View)

I was able to get this watch at a Burlington store for about $20. That's a good deal for a bang around watch. It's also available in some different configurations online at Amazon. You can see it in black and gold here on Amazon.

Steve Madden Fluted Bezel Quartz Diamond Watch (Amazon Photo)

If I were to pull the trigger on a somewhat more respectable fluted bezel watch, I might pick something like this Mathey-Tissot Mathey III Automatic. It is an attainable, mechanical, and Swiss-Made watch that I can afford. You can see it here on Amazon.  Alternatively, I might consider a fluted rectangular watch like the Bulova Super Seville that I've admired in a post here.

Mathey-Tissot Mathey 3 Automatic (Amazon photo)

Trying out looks are one thing that inexpensive watches like the Steve Madden Diamond are good for. They let you tell the time, wear a similar design for awhile, and see if you really want to commit hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a watch.

Wristwatch Review: US Polo Assn Accutime Men's Quartz Watch in Silver and Gold Tones

When it comes to inexpensive watches for men, US Polo Association is a name that comes up regularly. You can find this brand (spelled US Polo Assn) online at Amazon and in brick-n-mortar stores like JC Penney, Burlington, and Ross. In 2025, these watches are typically priced in the $20 to $30 range. They make great bang around watches.  You can find lots of analog US Polo Assn watches for men here on Amazon. Let's take a look at one of my US Polo watches in silver and gold tones.

US Polo Assn Watch in Silver and Gold Tones

Watch Style

This watch is awfully glamorous for an inexpensive timepiece that likely cost less than $25 at a Burlington store. But, the companies who make cheap watches are often on-point when it comes to fashion.  This one has a large silver dial with gold numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9, and gold tones for the hour batons US Polo Assn script and trademark polo pony and rider. The second hand is gold and the hour and minute hands are gold with a white insert. The gold tones continue with the bezel, crown, and alternating columns of a glossy gold and silver-tone bezel. It's quite the shiny watch.

Watch Construction

With gold at $3255 an ounce and silver just over $32 an ounce as of this writing, all gold and silver are definitely just tones at this price point. The watch has a stainless steel caseback and bracelet and a base metal case. The case and watch seems pretty solid and the metal doesn't scream cheap. However, the bracelet links are pretty light weight and clink with a hollow sound. One drawback that I don't like is that the watch bracelet is integrated into the case rather unconventionally.  While there is a pin you could push out to remove the bracelet, it would not be easy to just swap the bracelet for another strap. 

US Polo Assn watch riced bracelet connection to case

None of this is surprising at this watch price point. You could almost buy another US Polo Assn watch for the price of a replacement strap. One good thing about this watch is that it is manufactured by Accutime. They make good store-brand and team logo watches at affordable prices and I've never had any issues with their products.

Watch Dimensions

This watch has a 44mm diameter case that is 10mm thick. Some might find this watch large, but it is perfectly sized for me. I have a 9-inch diameter wrist and the bracelet fits me just fine. I'm on the last adjustment hole of the clasp.  With 20mm of adjustment holes, this watch bracelet can easily be resized to fit most wrists without removing links.  If more adjustment is needed the link pins are visible and should be easy to remove to take out a link.

The bracelet and clasp of my US Polo Assn Silver and Gold Tone Watch

Overall Impression

I like this watch and this brand for cheap bang around watches. The US Polo Assn brand offers attractively-styled watches that go well with most preppy and business casual wardrobes. If you buy a watch like this and invest the money you save over more expensive branch, you'll be a rich man for sure one day. I would definitely recommend this 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.

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

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

Caribbean Joe Watch with Coin Edged Bezel

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

Caribbean Joe Synthetic Leather Strap

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

The Watch Strap is generously sized.

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

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Brigada Minimalist Watch for Men

Here's an interesting watch!  The Amazon listing for it is quite a mouthful.  Here goes!  It's the  BRIGADA Men's Watches Cool Black Blue Business Casual Waterproof Quartz Analog Wrist Watch for Men.  I just like to call it the Brigada Minimalist Watch for Men.

The Brigada Minimalist Watch has a thin case.

In these evening shots, you can see that the watch has a generously-sized dial with roman numerals in a gold-tone that is perfect for catching the last rays of a slowly setting summer sun.  The strap is of synthetic leather that looks good and gets the job done.  In looks, this quartz watch compares favorably to other minimalist watches from bands like MVMT.

The dial of this BRIGADA is simple and delivers the time.

Sometimes, I find it difficult to justify minimalist designs that cost a lot of money.  This BRIGADA is cheap. I think it compares favorably to watches that cost between $50 and $125.  But, this watch actually costs much, much, less.  Incredibly, as of 2024, this watch was less than $20.  It is much, much, better than the $5 Youyoupifa watch I ordered from China many years ago.

Brigada Men's Quartz Watch

I've posted about the Brigada brand before and recently reviewed one of their watches.  I think this watch fully delivers on the promise of low cost watches.

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.]

Watch Sighting; Sutton Watch at Sears

Recently, my wife and I wandered over to our local Sears store to see what was on clearance.  Like so many Sears and Kmart stores around the country, our local Sears is closing and many items were marked down.  Unfortunately, we didn't have much in the budget to make any purchases.  However, I did see an interesting watch brand:  Sutton.  It sounds like an upscale name, but it is actually an affordable watch brand created by Armitron.  They offered this interesting looking diver-style mens watch at a very affordable price point.

A Sutton Brand Diver-Style Watch

I really like the look of this watch because it offers a classic, almost vintage, dive style look. It's unlikely that many people will be familiar with the Sutton brand. They will most likely just think that it is an upscale brand associated with a store or a boutique watch maker.  If the watch really is resistant to 165 feet that would be a nice plus.  At $34.99 (back in 2018), I would definitely suggest taking a look at this watch.

[While Sears is dead, you can still bang the link to get: Sutton by Armitron watches on Amazon. As of 2025, you can get most Sutton watches for around $20.]

Wristwatch Review: SKMEI Military-style Watch

I recently ordered a new Ola Oficina  SKMEI Men's Analog Luminous Hands Day and Date Black Watch With Black Leather Strap (SK9113A) from Amazon.  Just two days after I placed my order, this box arrived on my doorstep.  If you are accustomed to a 3 week wait for an inexpensive watch to arrive from China, the quick turnaround time was a pleasant surprise.

Unboxing the Ola Oficina SKMEI Men's Military-style Watch

Unboxing the SKMEI Military-Style Watch

I had a small unboxing ceremony.  To find a smaller cardboard watch box and a bit of plastic bubble cushioning material inside.  There was plenty of room in the Amazon box for the watch to slide around.  But, there really wasn't anything to damage the watch which was snug in a cute little cardboard box.  For less than $10, I didn't expect to find a fancy watch tin.  But, I thought Ola Oficina did a good job in creating very polished and presentable cardboard packing.

SKMEI Watch Design

While this watch has a very utilitarian name, I prefer to think of it as a SKMEI Military-style watch.  The timepiece is basically inspired by a classic military camp-watch inspired design.  It has a compass-like dial with minutes marked in 5-minute intervals and inner rings with 12 and 24-hour time markings.  The watch has a fairly readable panoramic date window at the 3-o'clock position.

SKMEI Watch Dimensions

This SKMEI watch has a 43 mm diameter case, a 13 mm thick case, and a 22 mm wide genuine leather strap.  While the watch seems perfectly dimensions, the watch strap is just a little short for my approximately 8-inch circumference wrist.  It barely fit with the buckle grabbing the very last hole on the strap.

Surprisingly, the SKMEI watch strap and watch seem close to the size of one of my favorite Nautica  watch and strap combinations.  However, the leather strap of the SKEI just doesn't stretch as much as the slightly longer plastic or resin strap of the Nautica.

SKMEI Watch Construction

To reach a less than $10, Ola Oficina had to make some hard decisions about materials and construction.  However, this watch offers an alloy case, a plastic bezel, and an acrylic crystal. The manufacturer even claims that the watch is water resistant to 50 meters.  Like many low cost watches, there is minimal lume on the watch hands, but none on other markings.  The SR626SW battery is a commonly available watch battery that should pose no challenge to change.  The leather strap is genuine and thick.  Some Amazon reviewers thought it was stiff, but I found it short, but easy enough to work with and soft.  I found that the acrylic crystal had a slight tendency to pick up fingerprint smudges that were easily wiped off with a shirt tail.

Overall, I'm pleased by my purchase.  For $10 or less, I had very low expectations.  However, I found this watch to be similar to the commodity quartz watches that you'll find in many department stores.  In my opinion, it is a little bit nicer than the no-name watches that you'll see at Walmart or Target.  If you are looking for cheap bang around watch, you might give SKMEI a try, they have a ton of different models available from a variety of Amazon sellers.

Walmart Sub-$10 Diver From MZ Berger

Every once in awhile, I'll find a gem among in among the cheap watches st Walmart.  I unearthed one of those gems recently in the form of a watch I call the Walmart Sub-10 Diver.  It's a diver style watch made by MZ Berger.

Walmart Diver Style Watch by MZ Berger

This diver-style watch successfully evokes the looks of famous dive watches at an amazingly low price.  The hands have arrowhead points like those of an Omega Seamaster.  The bezel has nice and clear numbers and dive style markings, but does not rotate.  The silicone band is supremely comfortable and has a red pastel color that will appeal to unisexuals.  I wish the band was black.  However, both men or women can wear this watch.

Walmart Diver Style Watch Up Close

The most incredible feature of this watch is the everyday low price.  For only $7.88, this watch is a great deal.  At that low price, replacing a watch strap is simply trivial.  If you are looking for a cheap timepiece that you can leave in your shoes at the beach this summer, this Walmart watch is a great choice!

New Watch Brand at Walmart: Marathon by Timex

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

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

A Beautiful and Affordable Armitron Watch for Men

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

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

Armitron Men's Stainless Steel Quartz Watch

Armitron Model 20/4859GNSVBN

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

Courtside with my Walmart Watch

You know you are a watch nerd when you think the tennis court is a great place to shoot some watch pictures. 

This basic black Walmart watch doesn't get enough respect.  But, sometimes it's nice to go to the back of the watch box and pull something out that is just a little different.  This watch is all business in basic black.  But, there is nothing wrong with a basic watch with a readable dial.  It has a shiny polished (enamel?) black band and case.  It cost less than $15. 

If you'd like to learn more about how to find a great watch like this at Walmart, read my article:

How to Find Great Watches at Walmart

 

Of course, if you play tennis on a more high falutin' court, you may want to get your basic black wristwatch from Gucci!