The Solid Citizen - Basic Citizen Watches for Men

When it comes to watches for men, sometimes basic models are best.  They have a simple, functionality, that can be refreshing.  The trend towards basic models that sometimes invoke the classic watches of the 1960s and 1970s, has been called the classical revival.  I just think basic watches are good for readability, reliability, and focus on the essential task of telling the time.  I recently spotted two excellent examples of basic watches from Citizen at my local Belk department store.

Citizen Men's Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Watch

The first watch I sighted is this Citizen Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Watch (Model BF0580-57L).  It has a brilliant blue dial, a stainless steel band, and a pair of classic Citizen batons at 12 o'clock.  It has a 40 millimeter diameter case, and a day and date window in the 3 o'clock position.  It's the kind of no nonsense wristwatch that lets potential employers know that you are ready for business.  The crown is protected with bump-outs from the case.  Water resistance is only 30 meters so you'll have to leave it in your shoes when you go to the beach.

Citizen Stainless Steel Watch

Watches like this Citizen Stainless Watch go on sale regularly and can bring customers into a department store.  Updating this post in July of 2025, the price of these watches on Amazon is still quite reasonable.  Here is the similar Citizen (Model BF0580-06E). As of this update in 2025, it is 29% off and comes in at just less than $100. You can see this watch here on Amazon.

Citizen Quartz Day-Date Watch (Model BF0580-06E)

Citizen Men's Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch

This Citizen Men's Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch (Model BI1030-53A) is another no-nonsense watch that is perfect for job interviews.  It has a 42 millimeter diameter case with a date window at the 6 o'clock position.

Citizen Silver Tone Three Hand Watch (Basic)

In 2016, Belk called this watch the Silver Tone Three Hand Watch (Basic) and sold it for around $90.  It was a good deal. In 2025, you can still find similar watches (the Citizen BI5010-059E) with a price of around $140.  However, it is now available in black and, as of July 2025, was selling at 29% off.  With that 2025 deal price, you can find it here on Amazon for less than $100.  

Citizen Quartz Watch (BI5010-59E)

As simple as these watches seem, it's tempting to simply buy a generic watch.  There are plenty of them around.  However, you notice the fit, finish, and quality of materials simply aren't up to the levels set by the mainstream powerhouse brands like Citizen, Seiko, or Pulsar.  It's worth it to get into the respected brands.  Otherwise, a watch might get noticed for all the wrong reasons.

[This post was updated in July 2025 to provide new comparison watches and links.]

MeisterSinger Watches: A Single-handed Watch for Maximum Tranquility

I recently read about MeisterSinger Watches in About Time magazine. MeisterSinger is a premium watch brand dedicated to single-hand watches. One of the most affordable watches in their lineup is the Metris Men's Watch.  I find the vintage look of the ivory dial.

MeisterSinger Metris Men's Watch

The company believes that some things are simply not to be rushed. On their website they link their watches to the medieval single-hand clocks in towers all over Europe. People devoted themselves to spending quality time, taking time to do things right, and not being rushed. The absence of the minute hand encourages a state of mind that is not pushed or stressed by the passage of minutes.

Meistersinger explains this is section of their website titled the Rituals of Time. Customers are encouraged to enjoy the rituals of their day and to savor and value time. If that so, customers would likely really enjoy the Meistersinger Lunascope watch that features a beautiful moonphase complication.

Meistersinger Lunascope Watch

If you are interested in a high quality single-handed watch from a premium Swiss maker, you should definitely check them out!

Watch Sighting: Shinola Rambler GMT

Shinola has been one of the bright spots in the world of watches over the past few years.  They are an American company committed to making watches, bicycles, and leather goods right here in the United States.  They are bringing much needed jobs back to Detroit, Michigan.  For more on the Shinola story, check out their website.

Detroit, Michigan - photo By Shawn Wilson [CC BY-SA 1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I had never seen a Shinola watch before, but I recently saw one for a great price at Nordstrom Rack.  It's a Shinola Rambler GMT.  It's a quartz watch with an bi-directional rotating Bezel and a cyclops over the date window.  It only held it for a few seconds, but it had a nice, substantial weight, and a soft supple leather band.  The caseback had an impressive design.  Overall, it looked like a really great watch.  It has an orange 4th hand that I believe indicates the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  I found a more detailed review on WristWatchReview.com ,

There are an impressive number of Shinola watches on Amazon.com. As the company grows, they are offering more models and models with different features.  While these luxury watches are just out of my comfortable reach, I'm glad to see such luxurious models being made in America. 

Watch Spotlight - The Graf Zeppelin 100 Years of Zeppelin Watch

Once upon a time, air travel was not the nerve-wracking exercise that it is today.  The wealthy traveled in style, floating in the clouds, and moving at a leisurely pace in huge airships called Zeppelins.  One of the largest and most stately of the monster airships was Germany's Graf Zeppelin.  According to airships.net, it was commissioned on July 8, 1928 and flew until shortly after the Hindenberg disaster in 1937.  While in service, it circled the globe carrying passengers in grand style.

The Graf Zeppelin

Looking back on the airships today, there is a mix of elegance, romance, technology, the innocence of a bygone era, and the edginess of the danger from hydrogen.  The era of these magnificent airships is celebrated by Germany's Zeppelin watch brand.

The gondola of the Graf Zeppelin. Photo edited by Grombo [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Zeppelin's were ships of the sky and they featured controls and instrumentation that might look more at home aboard a ship at sea.  The classic calfskin band and vintage instrument look of the Graf Zeppelin 100 Years of Zeppelin watch evoke the classic efficiency and engineering excellence of the airship era.  However, this Zeppelin watch is also perfect for the modern traveler as it has a date window at 4 o'clock, and alarm subdial at 6 o'clock, and a subdial at 9 o'clock which looks like it should keep time in another timezone.

Graf Zeppelin Watch

The Graf Zeppelin is a proper watch with stately proportions that look just right on the wrist.  The 42 millimeter diameter case is just perfect for most wrists.  At 13 millimeters thick, it can even fit under a cuff when a gentleman dresses properly for dinner as they did aboard the airship Graf Zeppelin.

Diners aboard the Graf Zeppelin - Source Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-08200 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

While today's Zeppelin watches are powered by precise Swiss Quartz movements, the Zeppelins of the 1920s were powered by massive power plants.  You can see the way one of the engines dwarfs a legion of ground crew.

Graf Zeppelin Engine - Photo from Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-00735 / CC-BY-SA 3.0 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

One of the coolest things about Zeppelin watches is that they are actually made in Germany.  The watch highlights a proud German achievement.  It's also reasonably priced for a European-made watch with a Swiss Movement.  It's not easy to pull off the tricky combination of elegance, quality, and affordability.  But, the Zeppelin Graf Zeppelin watch succeeds!

Wristwatch Review: Nautica Quartz Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

For my recent birthday, I received two new watches.  Here is one of them.  It's a Nautica Quartz Watch with a black dial and signal flags on the bezel.  My wife found a pretty good deal on this model at Belk.com.  According to Amazon, this Nautica is listed as the NAD09509G NSR 100 FLAG Analog Display Quartz Black Watch.  As with many watches these days, I think there are some opportunities for marketing departments to come up with better names for watch models.

Nautica Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

Nautica Watch Design

I really like the design of this Nautica signal flag watch.  This Nautica combines traditional elements of a diver style watch and the nautical signal motif with a bit of the black seriousness of "commando" watch.  Nautica has several watches where the signal flags are on the dial and are actually colorful flags.  Those watches have a lighter mood about them than this Nautica in black.

The Nautica logo is featured in this design on the watch strap.  It is positioned on the upper part of the strap and faces away from the wearer.  Thus, it isn't a distraction to the wearer and let's the world know that you are wearing a Nautica watch.  The Nautica logo is also featured prominently on the nicely engraved back plate of the watch.

The Nautica label is also featured with the brand name on the clasp and on the logo faintly etched into the crown of watch.  These are premium details that are expect in a watch at this price level.  I thought they were nicely done.

Nautica Watch Proportions

This Nautica is just about the right size for daily wear.  The case is 44 millimeters in diameter and 12.5 millimeters thick.  Since the bezel doesn't rotate, the watch could probably be a millimeter or two thinner.  However, this watch hides under a long sleeved dress shirt with no problem.

Nautica Watch Construction and Function

This Nautica has a reliable quartz movement.  Warranty service is provided by Timex.  The watch has a stainless steel case and case back.  It offers water resistance to 50 meters (165 feet).  The dial is protected by a durable mineral crystal.  The strap is made of silicone.  It seems durable and a little more pliable than a resin strap. After 15 days of wear, the watch and strap seem to be holding up well.  Overall, the timekeeping and water resistance capabilities of this watch are great.  If there is a downside to the functionality of this timepiece, it's that the bezel doesn't rotate.  Yes, it is a cool looking fashion watch, but a rotating bezel would make it even cooler.

Nautica Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

Nautica Watch Overall Review

This Nautica Signal Flag Black Dial watch is a great watch for daily way.  It is comfortable and good looking.  Overall, I really like it and recommend it.

Summer Watches

I was fortunate to get two new watches for my birthday and reviews will be coming soon.  Now that I have a substantial collection of watches, it's interesting to see which ones see the most wear.  This summer, I have been wearing my Sperry Topsider watch and my Pulsar Diver-style watch constantly.  They've both been good looking watches that have stood the test of time.

Sperry Topsider Skipper Watch

The Sperry watch has been supremely comfortable and has been great for casual wear.  If you'd like to read a full review on this blog, you can find it here:  Sperry Topsider Skipper Watch Review.

The Sperry Topsider Skipper Watch

Pulsar PS9319 Diver-Style Watch

The Pulsar Diver-style Watch has a beautiful dial.  The other day I noticed the clouds reflected on the crystal with a deep blue back ground.  It was a moment of Zen.

Pulsar PS9319 Diver-style Dress Watch

It's the Pulsar PS9319 and you can read a full review of it here on this blog.  

Wristwatch Review - Men's Sperry Top-Sider Skipper Analog Watch

It's time to review the watch I've been wearing the most this year.  It's my Sperry Top-sider Skipper watch.  I like this watch because it has an interesting dial design and a wonderfully comfortable strap.  This men's watch is a great casual accessory for a night out on the town or just down to the local pizza joint.

Sperry Top-Sider Wristwatch

Sperry Skipper Watch Design

This watch made is in accordance with nautical visions of the same folks who make Sperry Top-Sider shoes.  The dial evokes the compass rose and perhaps--looking at the hour batons--the wheel of a tall ship.  The dial is especially interesting because it has a traditional date window--or porthole in this case--at 3 o'clock and a panoramic view of the exposed date card in the 7 to 10 o'clock positions.  You'll also notice the 24-hour time is shown on the inner circle of the dial.  It's a very cool look.  Unfortunately, those of us who are middle aged and above may find it difficult to read the date and other small markings on this somewhat busy dial.

Sperry Top-Sider Skipper Watch

While some of the descriptions on Amazon claim that the strap is calfskin, this watch most definitely has a silicone strap.  However, it is comfortable and well-made.  I really like the white stitching on the outer edges of the strap.  It adds to the watches nautical motif.  There is a small silhouette of a sail boat on the buckle for the strap.  It's a nice detail for a watch at this price point.

The Sperry Top-Sider has a Small Sperry Sail Boat Logo on the Buckle

Sperry Skipper Watch Proportions

The Sperry Skipper is a well-proportioned watch.  The case is 42 millimeters in diameter and a solid 12 millimeters thick.  It's quite simply not too big or too small.  I find that it stays easily centered on my wrist without trying to escape to one side or the other.  The watch strap is 22 millimeters wide and as you can see just fits my wrist.  I measured the strap as being 13/16 of an inch wide.  The strap length including the watch and excluding the buckle was 9 1/4 inches long.

Sperry Skipper Watch Construction

The Sperry Skipper watch is a well built watch.  It has a stainless steel case and caseback which provides 50 meters (165 feet) of water resistance.  The pliable silicone strap is waterproof and comfortable.  The dial is protected by a scratch resistant mineral crystals.  While this watch may not make it 20,000 leagues under the sea, it will certainly be fine for a typical boater.

Sperry Skipper Watch Recommendation

 Overall, I highly recommend the Sperry Topsider Skipper watch.  I wish that the markings and date portal were a tad larger, but the watch has a distinctive design that really sets it apart from many competitors in it's price range.