Proving that some stereotypes are well earned, the KC2508 is a disposable ladies automatic. Even with a bargain-basement price of $125, the entire watch is a total let down. It takes relatively attractive packaging, fills it with an unknown automatic movement, and then puts little care into anything else. Total junk.
There’s a lot of competition in the $500 to $1,000 price bracket, and the Hamilton Jazzmaster is a bit of a heavyweight in the segment. As a daily wearer, the Jazzmaster Day/Date is a great watch- it’s good looks, reliable ETA movement, and sapphire/stainless steel combination make for a watch that will look and run great for years. I like it’s somewhat understated styling, its weight and balance, and the quality of its build. Recommended.
The Sea Gull ST16 movement used inside the T2N289 is pretty good and well-known in the affordable watch world. Timex did a good job styling the T2N289, though the build quality is average at best. If you can find it priced around $150 or less it’s good value, too. I’ve seen it as high as $250, and frankly, it isn’t worth anything close to that.
The Stuhrling Original Delphi Acheron, assuming that it follows the standard the brand now sets, is not a bad purchase when acquired for its $150 street price. It’s absolutely an attractive automatic that gets attention, and it’s built pretty well. Time will tell about longevity, but my experience with it so far has been positive.
I’m in love with the Auto Chrono. Of course it’s beautiful, but it’s the fine details Hamilton put into this version of the Jazzmaster, along with the new H21 automatic movement, that created something genuinely brilliant. I can’t think of a single watch that retails for under $2,000 that I’d recommend before the Hamilton Jazzmaster Auto Chrono.
The unique Jazzmaster Open heart is designed to let the exposed movement do the talking. Lacking any complications, the Open Heart is an attractive and understated watch despite the open heart dial. It’s built well and uses an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement. Recommended.
I quite enjoy the Valiant Auto for being an overall elegant and affordable timepiece. Its $645 price tag buys you higher-grade ETA automatic movement, good quality of build, and a sapphire crystal. It’s comfortable to wear, compliments just about any outfit, and won’t break the bank. Recommended.
My experience with the Tissot Couturier Automatic has been wonderful. For nearly three years it has been a reliable and accurate automatic that has held up quite well aesthetically. I like the C01.211 chronograph movement- it’s given me no reason not to. As a result of the C01.211, you can get a mechanical chronograph from a Swiss manufacturer for under $1,000- and I like that, too.
Hamilton has priced the Khaki Field right. At $500 it offers a sapphire crystal, a Swiss-made ETA 2824-2 movement, and a date display. Hamilton is known for quality of craft, and the Khaki Field is another example of that. I’m not a fan of the strap it ships with, but that’s an easy fix and doesn’t sour my opinion of an otherwise fine watch.
Where do I start with this one? From eighteen months into ownership, the day display hand came out of alignment, lining up just below the actual indication. One of the diamonds has a very obvious occlusion visible to the naked eye. It’s big, bulky, and has no idea what it wants to be. It’s horribly inaccurate. It’s not a good buy, period.
The dial on the 96A101 is a little polarizing, but that’s the only fault I can really find in this Bulova. The open heart display gives you a constant reminder of what lies beneath the surface, and the fact that this watch is built as well as it is means you’ll probably be looking at it a lot. Found for under $400… it’s a good buy. Found under $300 and it’s a great buy.
Great looks, excellent build quality, and a quality movement make this classic by Victorinox a good buy. Priced at $875, the Infantry Vintage Mechanical comes with a reliable ETA movement and plenty of value built in. Recommended for those willing to spend a bit more for something unique.
