Hi all

I generally only like vintage watches, so my knowledge of cheap modern watches is quite low.

My wife wants to buy a watch for her father. He's a Chinese farmer, who likes watches, but doesn't really have any knowledge of watches.

She wants to spend < $250.

I think Fossil make lots of branded watches (Armani etc.) but my feeling is these are probably low quality. (Maybe I'm wrong?)

I'm thinking Seiko, but maybe for this price point it's not worth it.

Can you recommend anything?

Thank you.

 

Seiko Monster is a good choice or Orient watches. I would look at the Mako. https://www.ablogtowatch.com/orient-mako-usa-watch-review/

 

Second Orient. I own a Blue Ray (first generation) and it's a great watch.

 

Seiko Monster or SKX009 Pepsi. I've owned both, and will always own a Seiko dive watch to fill my beach/beater slot.

 

On a dressier note... Timex Marlin...

 

Anything Seiko is the way to go. You can find mechanical and quartz options on amazon for that price point. You can also select sport or dressy or whatever style you’re looking for.

I purchased a Seiko 5 diving watch from amazon that was automatic for about 200 a few months ago and I like it a lot.

 

Seiko skx173 or what ever they call it these days.

have fun
kfw

 

+1000 for the Seiko SKX

 

Really? Since when 1k for a 7s26c or current variation?
Well, if that's the case...007 or 009

have fun
kfw

Edit. Well...

 

mako xl if you are still on the hunt. little under $200. nice crown guard design (crown almost totally covered) and clsssical hugging lugs.

 

Marlin
SKX
Bambino

/done

 

Are you looking for something sporty or classy? If it is sporty, as others have said, Seiko makes great dive watches. You could probably also look at a Seiko Flightmaster.

For a classier watch, the Orient Bambino is an amazing dress watch for it's price.

 

Citizen also has some nice looking dress watches in the Eco-drive lines in the needed price range.
I would think the quality is also good?

 

You’re proposing to buy a Japanese watch for your Chinese father in law? Do you think this will go down well?

Obviously I don’t know your father in law but my experience with Chinese people would lead me to think they whatever you buy it MUST be Swiss.

 

To clarify, there’s no cultural love between the Chinese and Japanese. Look up the history of the two countries. If you buy him a Japanese watch you run the risk of huge cultural insensitivity and greatly offending him.

 

Around $250? If you think he's willing to wind it daily, how about a Hamilton Khaki mechanical? The original one, rather than the 2018 release, can easily be had around that price:



It's the H69419933 and is available lots of places for around $260.

 

I am very curious as to the popularity of the Timex Marlin: why?

 

Size, look, price, nostalgia for a once great brand.

It’s a gorgeous rerelease of a nice vintage piece.

 

I personally don't get it either. It has a Chinese movement (not that there's anything wrong with that), that might cost Timex all of $15 in bulk. It's a $100 dollar watch that sells for $200.