help me find a watch.

[iced_theater]

I'm looking for a nice watch for me. Are the watches that have the very smooth second hand any more or less accurate than the standard click seconds? Here are some things I'd like in the watch.

luminous hands, either tritium or some other form of illumination
not very busy, date and day is fine, but I don't want one with three dials or anything like that.
thin 10mm or less
battery, solar, or automatic so long as it's accurate.
sapphire lens or other strong scratch resistant lens
not extremely expensive. $400 at the very most and that's really pushing it.

I've sorta looked at a couple of Accutrons, a Pulsar, and Bulova so far. I think that's all the things I'd like on it.

[Dizos]

I went through several watches before ending up with this Marathon TSAR. It did the trick, I haven't looked for a watch since.

http://www.dizos.com/miscellaneous/USN/tsar.jpg

[boomstick]

I've got one of these,

Seiko Kinetic Auto Relay had it about 5years and it doesn't miss a beat.
rated for 200m but I've only taken it to 30m

http://image.localstreets.com/StoreBuilder/chronograph/chronograph/6.jpg

The auto relay is a cool feature too. You take the watch off and if you don't use it for around 4 days it goes into hibernation, pick it up again, give it a shake and the hands wizz round and set themselves to the correct time. You can also induce hibernation by pulling the crown in and out quickly and it will like this for up to 4 years.

[Jumpmaster]

I went through several watches before ending up with this Marathon TSAR. It did the trick, I haven't looked for a watch since.

http://www.dizos.com/miscellaneous/USN/tsar.jpg


I think that one does not meet the 10mm or less thickness criteria. A nice watch, but huge.

JM-99

[iced_theater]

I've been looking at some watches at the local jewelery stores and really, I think I like a lot of those larger ones too. Not too big though as I have small wrists and hands. I found a couple Accutrons, Bulovas, Seiko's and a Paul Maret watch I liked. Has anyone ever heard of Paul Maret? I looked online for a website but couldn't find anything on that brand.

[Jumpmaster]

Check out the St. Moritz watches also...the have some nice watches that fit your criteria. Very affordable also.

Haven't heard of Paul Maret though...

If you can find a good antique Glycine Airman, those are really neat. 24-hour movement (hour hand goes around once per day), has date window, automatic, and relatively thin. Be careful of fakes though on those.

JM-99

[Dizos]

I think that one does not meet the 10mm or less thickness criteria. A nice watch, but huge.

doh!

[Deaths Head]

I know you said 10mm, but could you go 11mm.* 10mm is pretty slim.
I recommend the Seiko Alpinist.* It is a really good watch which is made to last.* It is made of Ti and has a sapphire crystal.

Seiko Alpinist (http://www.pmwf.com/Watches/WATCHSALES04/SeikoProspexAlpinistPerpetualCalendarYellowTitaniu mSBCJ021/SeikoProspexAlpinistPerpetualCalendarYellowTitaniu mSBCJ021.htm)

[iced_theater]

Well since I was in Ft. Collins today I went to the mall and checked out some more watches. Of the brands I've tried, these are the ones I like most. Paul Marat, Accutron, Bulova, and Citizen. I'll see if I can find the models I like from each.

[Deaths Head]

I have a Citizen and like it very much. I know a little about Citizens, but not much about the other watch brands. I'll see what I can dig up for you.

[iced_theater]

Alright, I got all the ones I'm mostly interested in.

Accutron - Model 26B29
26B46
26B54
26B65

Bulova - Model 96G55
96G59
98H29
98H41

Citizen - Model Calibre 8700 BL8000-54L
Calibre 9000 BL9000-59L

Paul Marat. I cannot find a single thing about that watch brand online. I know they exist and according to them, have been around for decades. I found them at one jewelery store here, and a different one in Ft. Collins, CO. But that's the only two places I've seen them.

[iced_theater]

Also while looking at different jewelers in Ft. Collins, I came to one that sold Tag Heuer, and Rolex watches. I tried out a Tag, and then a Rolex both being about $5K, then he was almost insistent that I try out the $13K Daytona Rolex :P While cool to try on and look at, I didn't think that Rolex was really all it is cracked up to be. It felt about the same as the Citizen's to me.

[boomstick]

I used to be a bit of a watch junkie but was burgled whilst I was at work 3 years ago and I lost a Rolex GMT II, a TAG S/E.L. and a TAG 2000 and the insurance didn't pay out for the Rolex so I lost interest, hense the Seiko above. Nice watches are nice to own but my new 'posh' watch lives in the safe and rarely see's the light of day :(
may as well put the money into a new car or something...

[iced_theater]

The list has been lowered even more. These are the ones I'm going to go look at and see which I like most. What would you chose of these choices?

MSRP: $550 Citizen Calibre 9000 BL9000-59L or F

MSRP: $350 Bulova Marine Star 98H29

MSRP: $795 Accutron Breckenridge 26B29

MSRP: $695 Accutron Lucerne 26B54

MSRP: $695 Accutron Excursion 26B65

MSRP: $450? Paul Marat.....Again still no info.

[iced_theater]

I've went and raised the list again :P I'm probably going to go down to Salt Lake City this Tuesday to the retail store of www.ewatches.com so I can look at the ones I think I like most. Of these watches, what ones do you think are the best and why?

Accutron Excursion 26B65 MSRP: $695

Accutron Excursion 26B67 MSRP: $595

Accutron Killington 26B46 MSRP: $675

Accutron Lucerne 26B54 MSRP: $695

Citizen Calibre BL9000-59L MSRP: $550

Oceanus OCW600TDBA-1AV MSRP: $600

Seiko Sportura SNA451 MSRP: $575

Seiko Arctura SNP009 MSRP: $750

Seiko Coutura SNP007 MSRP: $675

[Deaths Head]

My vote would be to the Citizen. I am a Seiko guy too, but I don't like the styling of th ones listed above.

[loveit]

Would the Tissot PR50 automatic work for you?* It isn't too pricey, but it also isn't as sporty.* I like the look. This has the ETA standard auto movement just like many of the more expensive models.

[iced_theater]

Not sure, I'll take a look into it.

[SF1]

I have always felt a man should have at least one nice, high quality Swiss watch.

You may want to up your budget and get something you can keep for the rest of your life. A good Swiss time piece is serviceable. The Asian brands do not offer this, and over the years, it is cheaper to invest is a good watch,

I have had Rolex watches for over 20 years, and I still love to put them on in the morning. They are that good and worth every penny.

This is just something for you to think about. There is nothing wrong with the brands you are considering.

Best of luck,

SF1

[iced_theater]

It's been narrowed down to two watches. A Seiko Coutura SNP007 http://www.ewatches.com/Seiko/SNP007.html and a Accutron Gemini 26A09 http://www.ewatches.com/Accutron/26A09.html#

The pro's the Seiko has over the Accutron. Perpetual calender, cheaper
The con's of the Seiko over the Accutron. quartz *not that bad I guess, I just like auto's* :), bigger in height, doesn't quite feel as sturdy to me; but that might be completely untrue.

I'm trying to see if the lack of the perpetual calender and it being more expensive is a big enough detractor to go with the Seiko instead.