What watch did you buy for under $500, 2025

I’ll start. I picked this up off of Craigslist. Came with service history and all parts from service. Discontinued variation.

Acquired, not working, for $25.00. It was destined for an auction at one point, but I gave the auction house a standing offer, and if it didn’t sell, I would be good for it. I took a bit of a chance on this Eterna Sonic, hoping I could resuscitate it. The circuit appeared to be okay, so I figured that cleaning it would do the trick. It has been a long time since I last encountered a watch that was so stuck together as this one was. But cleaning it did the trick. The crystal was poor, so I hoped I’d be able to find a replacement. I did! It was $90.00 (ouch), but the watch deserved it. I love the colour of the dial (taupe), and it is an excellent performer. The date is incorrect, but it is not on my wrist today. The tuning fork movement is a calibre ETA 9162, otherwise call F 300. Same movement used by Omega, and numerous other makers. (Come to think of it, the last time I paid more than $500 for a watch (Cdn., even) was 36 years ago! Call me a “bottom feeder”).

A couple cheap little Seikos to scratch the collecting itch.

A nice Seiko 7625-8030, and waaaay under 500$!
😀

Well, I can't resist posting, even if I have yet to receive the watch, and polish/change the crystal, etc. That I was able to win it for <$500 (not including the auction fees) illustrates two things: the current state of the (buyers) market, and that some desirable watches do still occasionally slip through the cracks in smaller auction houses.

I'm chuffed, as the Brits would say!