The great inexpensive watch thread! (Page 1 of 10)
Posted: 4/29/2026 7:24:50 PM EDT
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Watches must be under $1000 bucks. A thread for the more practical or even value based but interesting timepieces. I love my Citizen Nighthawk Eco Drive. I wear it when I travel and sometimes when out and about. Probably paid 300 bucks for it 15 or so years ago. Soaks up the sun and just keeps going.  |
Under 1K? How about $45 and one of my favorite watches. 
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| I have an old LL Bean field watch that I got in college. It still runs, and I still wear it from time to time. |
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Bikini Bottoms underneath, but the boys hearts still skip a beat, when them girls shimmy off, them old cut offs
Bikini Bottoms underneath, but the boys hearts still skip a beat, when them girls shimmy off, them old cut offs
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Originally Posted By TimeOnTarget: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/432675/IMG_8937_jpeg-3754876.JPG Inception! |
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Originally Posted By TimeOnTarget: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/432675/IMG_8937_jpeg-3754876.JPG Ha! Niiice. |
Current favorite. Maratac DC-50, $630 on sale. They came out with a 24-hour hand version of this design not too long after I got it.  |
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Originally Posted By neshomamench: Watches must be under $1000 bucks. A thread for the more practical or even value based but interesting timepieces. I love my Citizen Nighthawk Eco Drive. I wear it when I travel and sometimes when out and about. Probably paid 300 bucks for it 15 or so years ago. Soaks up the sun and just keeps going. https://i.postimg.cc/SNhWCg6L/IMG-1246.jpg I have the same watch in black as my daily driver. It’s showing some age but I can’t find anything I like better to replace it with. Plus all the numbers make me look smart.  Attached File |
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In my defense I was left unsupervised.
In my defense I was left unsupervised.
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Originally Posted By Torf: Current favorite. Maratac DC-50, $630 on sale. They came out with a 24-hour hand version of this design not too long after I got it. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/10628/IMG_7539-3562810.png |
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Originally Posted By Arkturus: This thread and I have different definitions of inexpensive. I was trying to keep it from turning into a Rolex across a high end steering wheel thread but more than just a “I buy armitrons at wal mart….” Lots of really cool watches in the “several hundred dollar” range. |
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Attached File Omega Seamaster quartz bought about 20 years ago for about $700. Put about 5 batteries in it over the years. Better time than a mechanical. Omega made a few to compete with Japanese quartz. |
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Seiko Turtles. I have 3. Attached File This one is the “Nemo”. Along with it I have a “Save the Oceans” and a PADI. Have a few SKX’s as well. |
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From the left. Deep Blue, Seiko clone Seiko Orange Monster 2nd gen Maratac large pilot Citizen Nighthawk Attached File |
What doesn't kill you WILL try harder next time.
'07 FXDC, '11 KLR, '18 V1K, '24 Tiger 900 Rally Pro.
'07 FXDC, '11 KLR, '18 V1K, '24 Tiger 900 Rally Pro.
 new around $600 used paid $750, full kit, bracelet and steel bracelet around $400 new around $400 new around $750 new around $500 new think this was around $800 new Maybe $400-$500 new
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"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
This is more my speed over the other thread  I'm really new into kinda geeking about watches so only have a couple of cheap Timex expeditions which kinda got me hooked. So I bought a Seiko automatic first then this one from Ali express to see if I like the heavier diver watch style and I really like this one, not a picture from today I know how to set it Attached File |
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Now a real killer, when he picked up the ZF1, would have immediately asked about the little red button on the bottom of the gun.
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VOSTOK Amphibia Scuba Dude Back when you could get them for $60 on ebay. I think changing out the bezel, insert and strap cost me almost as much as the watch. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By BTccw: I have the same watch in black as my daily driver. It’s showing some age but I can’t find anything I like better to replace it with. Plus all the numbers make me look smart. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/318955/image_jpg-3754889.JPG Originally Posted By BTccw: Originally Posted By neshomamench: Watches must be under $1000 bucks. A thread for the more practical or even value based but interesting timepieces. I love my Citizen Nighthawk Eco Drive. I wear it when I travel and sometimes when out and about. Probably paid 300 bucks for it 15 or so years ago. Soaks up the sun and just keeps going. https://i.postimg.cc/SNhWCg6L/IMG-1246.jpg I have the same watch in black as my daily driver. It’s showing some age but I can’t find anything I like better to replace it with. Plus all the numbers make me look smart. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/318955/image_jpg-3754889.JPG I always laugh at the idea of some pilot doing fuel calculations in a shaking plane on the slide rule that has numbers just big enough to tell that they aren't letters.  Also that may be the single hardest watch to fully set ever. Note op's date and gmt hand are wrong. |
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I killed a bacon puppy. :(
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Attached File Attached File 
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Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
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Attached File Caravelle Sea Hunter Retro dive watch Japanese automatic Around $300Attached File |
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
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I have several, here’s 2. The Citizen is recent and a new favorite. Attached File |
I'd leave immediately. Sometimes Muslim people just fucking blow up.
It's amazing how far stupidity and determination can take you in life.
It's amazing how far stupidity and determination can take you in life.
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Originally Posted By ScottsGT: Seiko Turtles. I have 3. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32016/IMG_5130_jpeg-3754901.JPG This one is the “Nemo”. Along with it I have a “Save the Oceans” and a PADI. Have a few SKX’s as well. Turtles are classic 
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Garmin Enduro 3. I think I paid $420 after my companies health reimbursement. The watch’s built in flashlight is a game changer!Attached File |
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Originally Posted By RobertL: The Citizen Tsuyoa is another great affordable. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/67156/IMG_2344-3754950.jpg Attached File |
I killed a bacon puppy. :(
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My wife (GF at the time) got me the black one around '95. Pretty sure she got it from Service Merchandise. I wore it daily for probably 20 years before replacing it with an Orient automatic which was ok but I never liked as much as my Seiko. A few years ago I found the orange one on ebay. It was a display piece that had never been worn, still had the blue plastic protective plastic on it. Now I wear it mostly with sometimes switching to the black one.
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| About 7 years ago, in a moment of rare generosity, I bought my Wife and I matching Seikos for about $130 each at a watch store in Potomac Mills, Virginia. Other than battery replacements, they run like a contented cat and still look good. Hell, I don’t even know if the store is still there. At the same time I bought a Bulova Mantle Clock that still sits above my fireplace, the chimes driving my dog crazy to this day. |
 Traser P67 in green when I’m in the scif. I got it for 350 a couple years ago. Prices have really gone up. Outside of the scif I have an issued instinct 2. And since the image doesn’t show it, the green background is super superluminova so walking from the outside into a theater it absolutely glows for a good bit. |
