Can ya help me out guys?

[jrs99]

Wife's birthday coming up and I'd like to get her a nice watch. She pretty much wears cheap quartzes now.
I don't have a lot so I'm looking for a nice all stainless automatic for $200 or under .
I'm thinking Seiko or Citizen mostly but am open to suggestions.
Any ideas?

[Mike B]

I would lean more towards a Seiko personally.
Have a look at Amazon, you'll find many great Seiko watches are fairly decent prices !
I've bought two Seiko Monsters via. Amazon and could not be happier !!

Linkey :

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...x=Seiko+womans

[crossplatform]

Orient Watches

[redwolfoz]

Are your sure she's going to be happy with an automatic? If people are used to the convenience of quartzes, having an automatic run down may be a turn off. Obviously only an issue if she cycles watches.

Pretty much everyone here is a watch freak who will happily wind their watches if they cycle, but watch freaks don't think like normal people and wives tend to lean towards being normal people who favour convenience over dealing with communing with the watches in the morning.

That said, have you considered Hamiltons?

[chrisok]

My wife is hooked on Invicta,she has like 4 of them...give them a look as another option they make tons of watches!

[jrs99]

Lol, she's pickier than I am!
Didn't see much in the Orient or Hamilton line that she liked.
She sent me this link of an Eco-Drive that she does like so I may go with it.
EW3120-59A Eco-Drive Corso
For around $200 We're just not seeing any autos that she likes. Personally I swap between 2 autos and a quartz so I'm used to setting the time/date whenever I swap. Not sure if she'd be up for that or not. The Eco-drive would seem to cover that issue, I just wonder about longevity of the watch. How long before the Eco-drive system wears out and the watch is shot?

[cjcar631]

Originally Posted by redwolfoz

Are your sure she's going to be happy with an automatic? If people are used to the convenience of quartzes, having an automatic run down may be a turn off. Obviously only an issue if she cycles watches.

Pretty much everyone here is a watch freak who will happily wind their watches if they cycle, but watch freaks don't think like normal people and wives tend to lean towards being normal people who favour convenience over dealing with communing with the watches in the morning.

That said, have you considered Hamiltons?

Good point redwolfoz. Here is an excellent brand in your price range with a quality Swiss made quarts movement. I have owned one, (same model... all stainless, men's version), for almost 10 years and have only replaced the battery twice. The quality is outstanding right down to the presentation box + 5 year warranty. This is no small, light-weight quartz watch. Right out of the box it has that heft and feel of solid stainless steel. The woman's dial is probably the size a men's Datejust. She will be impressed. Best of Luck!

http://www.timepiecesusa.com/product...0&vlang_id=154

The men's version wouldn't be a bad option either. It's about the same size as my Submariner and has the extra sub-dials and pushers for the same price. There are also many other models on this site, but I would stick to the Klaus Kobec rather than the other two brands.

http://www.timepiecesusa.com/product...25&vlang_id=69

[Noonan]

I bought my gf one of these and she loves it. I had the same issue where I wasn't sure if she'd want to deal with an auto so the eco-drive was a good compromise.

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BM8080...285944&sr=8-12

The shade of blue on the dial is stunning.

[Stipey]

+1 for Seiko. Great value for money.

What kinda size where you thinking about? Is she used to small sized watches or larger sized watches (35-40mm)? Seiko has some great automatic watches in that size...

Check out the "poor mans grand seiko" SNKE01K1 for instance.

Chronograph.com has a good selection.

[sam.]

How about a Seiko 5?
I think they are called 5 because they have to have 5 functions,like day, date, automatic,shock resisting,water resistant,(something like that anyway)
a lot of them have hardex see through backs, 21 jewels,i think they are one of the best value watches money can buy.