Looking to buy a new Watch - advice needed

thermionic

gumbothewiddler said:

Are automatic’s easy to look after? Do they need regular servicing etc?

They do need servicing every few years, yes. My Seikos have gone between 4-7 years at a guess. Send them to the Seiko UK service centre, they take about 10 days and come back like new. Current cost is £95 for the basic movements.

Penn

Few others have said orient. I have one and I bought one for a friend. Very good watches for the money but they have gone up a bit if late.

Dominic

Offset said:

Oris, secondhand.

Absolutely agree ........whether Oris or not I'd far rather buy a nicer quality watch secondhand ....after all , it's secondhand the minute you put it on !

mo6020

Can't really go wrong with a Seiko at that price point. Elliot Brown are worth taking a look at, too. They make the watch thats currently issued to the SBS, and their whole USP is UK made, super robust watches, at a good price point. 

I just bought this one on a whim - it's really nice and cost around the £300 mark: 

https://elliotbrownwatches.com/products/arne-606-004?variant=55140617388415

BlueStrat

For £300 I’d be looking at the above Seiko, or Tissot, Citizen

these two look great and 10% off with the code
https://www.houseofwatches.co.uk/tissot-mens-pr100-sport-watch-t101-610-11-051-00

https://www.houseofwatches.co.uk/tissot-pr-100-silver-blue-watch-t1504101104100

Just as with buying anything used the risk is on you. I bought one of my Omegas used but it was sourced from a quality dealer that I’d bought my others from so I felt confident

Haych

I have this one, it's gorgeous, although a little more than your budget:

https://www.tissotwatches.com/en-gb/T1256173705101.html

I also have this one, which I love but am always torn between this and the Tissot as which to wear:

https://www.citizenwatch.co.uk/red-arrows-limited-edition-skyhawk-a-t-grey-ion-plated-stainless-steel-watch-jy8087-51e.html

Again, a bit more than your budget but a lovely thing all the same.

And I have one similar to this, which is within budget and is still quite nice:

https://rotarywatches.com/products/rotary-apex100-chronograph-watch-rgb10013-05

Finally I also have an old Bulova Longchamp which I inherited from my Grandfather.  There must be hundreds of these things kicking around the country with a British Steel engraving on the rear, given to employees as a long service gift.

It's not a fancy watch but is flawless in its reliability and looks the part with the right outfit.

Koa

zepp76 said:

Check out Orient watches, a very good, old Japanese brand who still even though now owned by Seiko still use their own in house movements. You can get a good looking, reliable automatic movement watch for very little money and within your budget.

I only found out about Orient yesterday on Stuart Fillinghams YouTube channel…I really liked the pilot style flight watch with nato strap 

guyinlyon

Get a nice Seiko for under $300.

zepp76

Koa said:

zepp76 said:

Check out Orient watches, a very good, old Japanese brand who still even though now owned by Seiko still use their own in house movements. You can get a good looking, reliable automatic movement watch for very little money and within your budget.

I only found out about Orient yesterday on Stuart Fillinghams YouTube channel…I really liked the pilot style flight watch with nato strap 

They really are great watches for the price and their history makes for good reading. Yes the flight watch/Flieger style is something I really like.

AK99

tony99 said:

300 buff is solid Seiko 5 territory 

Stratavarious said:

https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/0143355/Seiko-5-Sports-SNXS-Rinse-Blue-Classic-Sports-374mm-Automatic-Mens-Watch/p?meta=NonBrand&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17420475355&gbraid=0AAAAADxLjNdzYLq-rX7Hg28sL2Ay5dJqO&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjPbF6-bHkAMVK5tQBh0hzQO8EAQYBCABEgK9JfD_BwE

Seiko 5 is a solid option. 

Anybody interested in the SNXS range though - I'd advise going to check them out in the flesh first. They're slightly smaller than you might imagine (which is generally no bad thing) but in real life the reflections from the crystal mean it rarely looks anything like the pics with that lovely matt black or blue face.