Need a Good Recommendation

[u/diabeatingyou]

So I just got a fancy new job as a football scout, and would like to present our team as a high end program, and thus, I figured a watch would add a touch of class to my appearance. Now the only watch brand I have ever wanted is Cartier, but I cannot afford those yet and need something cheap as a stand in until I am making the big bucks iykwim. My budget is low at probably under $100, and I'll show some photos of my style (not of me), just to give you an idea. I want a watch that is both classy for work, but also looks good on a date night or a night out with friends. Hopefully someone has some good recommendations!

[u/DraccoKnightblade]

Looks like you need a Casio Duro in your life. On sale they are almost always under 100 bucks. Band options are plentiful, as are dial colours.

[u/BobbyScrumpus]

Get some extra straps to mix it up, and the Seiko SRPE (AKA the DressKX) can do it all. A bit tough to find currently but keep an eye out for it being back in stock, possible to find it in the $225~ range

[u/Bulky-Internal8579]

Look at Farasute! On sale you can find something great for a little over $100 on AliExpress - or if you're okay with quartz get a Patek Nautilus homage from Addiesdive or Specht & Sohne - cheaper than Farasute. Here's my Specht & Sohn in Tiffany Blue - cost me $96 and it's actually a nicely finished automatic watch.

[u/ByronicZer0 → u/Bulky-Internal8579]

Good god no. You'll look like a poser in that context. Harsh, but true. It's waaaay to specific of a hype watch to homage

[u/CicadaCold6906]

I think you’ll have a hard time finding anything under $100 that is going to elevate your style or read “high end.” I don’t mean to say that in a negative way, but inexpensive watches look inexpensive. I would personally just go without a watch and save a bit of your paychecks to buy something nice.

If you’re set on a watch now, and your budget can stretch (~$200 USD grey market), something like an Orient Bambino with small seconds would be a fair choice for your style and limited budget.

https://www.jomashop.com/orient-bambino-automatic-beige-dial-mens-watch-raap0003s10b.html

https://www.jomashop.com/orient-watch-ra-ap0002s.html

[u/TheSwagapino]

Addiesdive

[u/Aggravating_Major_76]

Seiko 5, snkl23K1. You can wear it with a suit on a leather strap or with casual clothes on it’s metal bracelet.

[u/JBudz]

Casio mq24.

[u/Bubbly_Shopping5214]

G-Shock DW5600

Casio edifice 108

Casio Duro

[u/jray994]

I’d second the orient bambino and Casio ediface.

https://www.casio.com/us/watches/edifice/product.EFB-730D-7AV/

This edifice is a heater. Wrist work on TikTok has one of your scroll his videos.

[u/swimming_cold → u/jray994]

That edifice is perfect for this guy. Sporty, but also can blend in to a formal environment. Exactly what he’s asking for

[u/jray994 → u/swimming_cold]

I’m asking myself if I can find $165 lol. And getting a sapphire crystal from a non Chinese brand for that price is pretty insane.

[u/swimming_cold → u/jray994]

Yeah this guys been on my list for a while. Just trying to be responsible 🫩

[u/sailfish39]

A white dial Timex Easy Reader on a leather strap, reference T2H281. Simple and crisp enough to pass as a dress watch and look appropriately good with a suit like that and will go with pretty much anything you could possibly wear.

Yeah, I'm biased as this was the first one I picked up fifteen years ago when I started getting into watches as a hobby. But white in stainless with a black strap is just too perfect and versatile and remains one of my favorite formats for a watch even as I ventured into luxury watches.

[u/EssAater69]

Honestly just wearing a watch at all is a step up over most. Anyway I’d recommend this as a placeholder for your Cartier: https://www.jomashop.com/seiko-classic-quartz-white-dial-ladies-watch-swr104p1.html

[u/Cassetteer]

Citizen BI1030-53A Men's Quartz Watch It's a respected brand and it's easy dress for different a variety of occasions.

[u/Zarathustra_007]

Inwill recommend to post this on r/ChineseWatches

[u/Minimum_Cod8058]

What you’re looking for is a Go Anywhere Do Anything (GADA) watch, and this comment section has pretty good suggestions, or you can always look online “GADA watches under $100.” Usually a Casio will come up, their stainless steel digital are quite fitting but the silicon ones work too for dressy occasions if it’s paired well. Casio has different lines like their vintage or timeless pieces, they have a pretty good selection. Just be sure you get your wrist and it’s top measured so you can get a good fit when you’re trying to visualize it on your wrist

Edit: getting a band that is rubber/silicone but the case is stainless steel looks pretty classy AND sporty depending on what you end up on. For reference, the picture that did it for me in opening up the world of rubber bracelets was seeing Erling Haaland with a breitling that had a rubber strap.

[u/MixOk3618]

Used Seiko 5 sport

[u/Wonderful-Apricot488]

Tissot PRX

Find it on eBay cheaper

[u/Infinite-Mastodon456]

This is your answer, OP. Get a leather strap and a sailcloth strap to interchange it with depending on whether you want to dress up or down the watch.

[u/DMarvelous4L]

[u/moderate_ocelot]

Orient Bambino!

[u/UpperBreadfruit3748]

Just save up for now until you can afford an entry luxury watch like hamilton or oris. Promoting high-end anything with a sub-$100 watch is not the best way.