So despite being Tuesday and forgetting to wear my speedy today, I threw on my seiko 5 and realized how much I love the small size (37mm) but hate how it doesn't have lume. Well it has lume but it lasts almost 20 seconds after being fully charged. Any suggestions cause I can't find anything that fits the bill that can get smacked around while working(I'm a railroader). Heres what it needs to have, brand doesnt matter. Used my smart watches for years but hate the size while I'm working (Mostly the thickness)

36-39mm
Would prefer Arabic numerals, at least 3/6/9/12
Automatic
Between $1 to 300
Brite lume
Day date
Anything else extra would be a perk.

 

$249

 

Thanks, looks like little to no lume on the dial though. Working at night and around train schedules requires me to constantly check the time. I actually just got the railmaster with intentions of it being my daily until I recieved it and it was in near mint condition. Now I dont want to use it at work Haha. My original intentions were to find a low cost RM that was pre beat. And yes I only got the RM cause of the name lol

 

My first big boy watch, which has now become one of my beaters. A Swiss Army Maverick II Chrono. The dial is a bit larger than your specs above, but is no obtrusive in anyway. Water resistant, and the rubber band means I don’t have to worry much about scraping against anything. Durable as hell too, watch is over ten years old now and save for a couple nicks on the bezel, no issues with it.

 

I like it. Gonna check out those models now and see what comes up.

 

Here’s a shot of the lime. Not a professional photographer so this is just a few seconds with the phone flashlight.

 

The small size SKX? I forget which not the 007/009 though.

 

This Seiko Prospex might fit the bill:


(from ABTW)

No day though and 42mm...

 

Timex Indiglo $30. My wife has the women's. She calls it her movie watch. Looks good.

 

SKX 013
38mm and a real little beater. All the lume you need, day-date function and within your price range.

 

Not auto and no day date, but otherwise fits most if your requirements nicely and for my personal taste the perfect beater.


https://www.cwcwatch.com/collection...wc-g10-issue-watch-no-date-with-battery-hatch

 

I can speak for the Maverick and Victorinox in general ... beat the living crap out of mine and now my son is beating the crap out of it. Still going strong.

 

Honestly size isn't a factor but more the thickness is. This would be a contender.

 

This might be the winner. Although not auto, I dont really need it to be. This will fit the bill.

Thanks for the suggestions guy!!!

 

Get the dial swapped out on your Seiko. There are lots of after market parts for these models and plenty of dial designs with Superluminova even

 

I did actually look into this. Although you can end up with a perfect piece that's your own the cost isnt cheap Haha. Still something I'm considering

 

This checks every box, except for the day complication, and I love mine... If the day complication is a must, then Seiko is probably the way to go.

36-39mm --- it's 38mm
Would prefer Arabic numerals, at least 3/6/9/12 ---- has them all
Automatic --- Auto, handwinding, and hacking
Between $1 to 300 --- new it can be found for $360, used for less, obv.
Brite lume --- Very bright
Day date --- Day, but no date.
Anything else extra would be a perk. --- Sapphire crystal, very thin profile (11mm, I believe) and very little to snag on.

 

First model of Hamilton Field Mechanical had had the price drop alot after release of the second iteration.

Not automatic and no day however

 

The day comp isn't a deal breaker but I do work weird hours, days and nights, and i also have a terrible memory hence why the day feature is on the list. (I dont know if I'm coming or going some days never mind what day of the week it is) If my seiko 5 didnt have the day feature it would never get worn honestly. Its probably the only thing about the 5 that even keeps it from getting gifted to my young nephew Haha.

Hamilton has been on my radar for this purpose as well. I'm also considering selling both my Samsung S3s to fund the newest version that is smaller diameter (I forget how small) The S3s i have have the same thickness as my speedy pro but since the Speedy is 42mm it just wears wayyyyy smaller than the S3s. Id have to hit up best buy and try finding the new version cause they haven't been on display yet near me. Smart watches really do check all the boxes for me when it comes to work. And being automatic isnt really a deal breaker and could actually be more convenient.

 

You mentioned smart watches... so I had an odd idea. Look up the Pebble Round. They used to make amazing simple smart watches. The company was bought out by FitBit and they closed that division (a huge shame), but there is a company called Rebble that picked up a small monthly subscription support for the watch (something like $3/month). The Pebble uses color e-paper so the battery lasts for approx 2 days. 15 min charge to get it there. Can change the screen to any type you want that will display pretty much anything you want. Its backlit, small and super light. Looks very nice too with both leather or steel bands. Could be had for half the price you listed.



In fact, that makes we want to dig mine out of the drawer and see what features still work on it or not... I'll report back later tonight.