Dappered | The Best Affordable Watches for Grads or Dads of 2021

[Dappered | The Best Affordable Watches for Grads or Dads of 2021]() --------------------------------------------------------------- [The Best Affordable Watches for Grads or Dads of 2021](r/Dappered/~3/PXNUATeoVZo/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 02 Jun 2021 03:00 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head [here]( to learn more. Recent grads will be hooked to [their mobiles, tablets, and laptops for the rest of their life](. But a watch is a ticket to disconnect. You can go off on your own, but know when to be back. Dads could use some unplugged time as well. Meanwhile, Father Time is undefeated, and seeing those seconds physically tick by on your/his wrist might be a good reminder to really appreciate every moment. That… and watches just plain look good. Congrats to the grads, and kudos to the dads who didn’t just procreate, but are also working hard to be great fathers. [Casio 200m Dive Watch in Blue]( or [Black – $50ish]( [Casio 200m Dive Watch]( Now available [in blue too](! Review of [the original black dial/bezel can be found here](. Rolex looks on a top-ramen budget. For about $50 you get 200m of water resistance, a stainless steel case, and a rotating bezel which feels much more expensive than many other watches in the under $100 category. Even the stock rubber strap that it comes on is decent (soft-ish, not rigid plastic). Throw an aftermarket strap on it and you’ll get more style points. Beat it up. It can take it. [Timex Weekender Chronograph – $50ish]( [Timex Weekender Chronograph Blue Dial]( Easy to read, easy to wear, and cheap. Lots of color combos, but that dark blue dial with the tan strap? That’s the wristwatch equivalent of a blue suit and cognac shoes. That combination works. And then some. Although this isn’t dressed up enough to wear with a suit. But it can pull tons of duty with casual gear. [Timex Expedition Chronograph – $53.95]( [Timex Expedition Chronograph]( For the rugged Dads (or grads). This thing does NOT feel like a run of the mill sub $100 Timex. No flimsiness. None. It’s a beast, this one. 42mm case so it’s not enormous, but it does have some real heft to it’s overall weight thanks to a black brass case and tangible thickness. Sueded topside to the leather strap adds to the whole outdoorsy vibe. And it has indiglo! [Invicta Pro Automatic – $80ish]( [Invicta Pro Automatic]( Has to be mentioned. Good feel and solid 200m water resistance too. Nice stainless steel band and case. Automatic movement. Exhibition case back. 40mm case dial. Also looks great on all sorts of straps. NATO especially. A gateway drug that many of us have worn the heck out of for years. [Orient Bambino V3 “Bauhaus” Automatic – $110 – $120]( [Orient Bambino V3 "Bauhaus" Automatic]( More simplicity. Automatic movement here, and a more traditional round case instead of barrel shape of the Timex Milano. Super simple stick hands and indices. Lots of clean space. Domed crystal. [Full review here](. Available in the silver dial shown above, as well as black, blue, and a sneaky handsome dark gray option. [MVMT The 40 in Rose Gold and Natural Tan – $118]() [MVMT The 40 in Rose Gold and Natural Tan]( MVMT might not be given much of a chance by a lot of style-conscious guys, and that’s probably unfair. This is [our guy DeJuan’s]( daily watch. He loves it. Swears by it. Clean lines, that rose gold toned case is handsome, and it’s affordable. Hard not to like. [Orient Ray II Automatic – $125ish]( [Orient Ray II Automatic watch]( There might not be a better bang-for-the-buck diver on the market. Automatic movement that hacks and hand winds. 200m water resistance. 120 click bezel helps keep track of elapsed time. Classic dive-watch looks. Not everyone will like the shined up inserts on the bracelet, but it’s more subtle than many other competitors. [Orient Bambino Small Seconds Automatic – $160ish]( [Orient Bambino Small Seconds Automatic]( One of, if not the classiest watch Orient has come out with. Everything you’d expect from a Bambino. Simple dial. Domed crystal. And here, that perfectly proportioned and placed small seconds sub dial. [White dial variant]( is shown above, while a [full review of the champagne dial can be found here](. [Q Timex 1978 Reissue Day Date – $169]( [Q Timex 1978 Reissue Day-Date 37mm Leather Strap Watch]( Outstanding. Maybe the best new Timex of the last 10 years, which is saying something considering the incredible run the brand has been on. 37mm case. Domed “period correct” acrylic crystal. Quick release strap. And it does NOT make a loud “tick” noise as the seconds hand moves around the dial. Many other Timex watches have a classic “tick” sound that drives some nuts. Not with the 1978 reissue. [Full review here if you want it](. [Timex MK1 Mechanical 36mm Archive Field Watch – $185]( [Timex MK1 Mechanical 36mm Archive Field Watch]( 36mm diameter and 18mm lugs. Sticking true to it’s roots, this thing is powered by a hand-wound (mechanical) movement. It’s not quartz. And it’s not an automatic. This thing should go with all kinds of casual wear, and quickly become a daily partner for those who spend most of their time dressed down. [Full review here](. [Huckberry x Timex “Cola” Sport Watch exclusive – $189]( [Huckberry x Timex “Cola” Sport Watch]( Not just another Timex Q diver (although [the Timex Q diver]( would also be a terrific Dad or Grad watch). Still Seiko Quartz. Still has those nifty 1970s angles to the 38mm case. Still has the generously domed crystal, day and date window, and a clickless bidirectional bezel. Still has the stainless steel mesh band. Where they nail it is on that bidirectional bezel, and the dial right under the glass it encircles. Slimmed down indices, a red cross-hairs, and a “cola” style red zero to twenty minutes sweep. [Seiko 5 Sports 5KX Automatic line – $200ish]( [Seiko 5 Sports 5KX Automatic watches]( What replaced the old (and well loved) SKX 007 and 009 watches. Not quite as robust as those old tanks, but for the vast majority of us, these’ll get the job done. And they certainly do look the part. Lots of different colors to pick from. [Full review can be found here](. Link above goes to Macy’s, where they seem to have the more popular models on hand, and often on sale. [Also worth a shot is Amazon](, since they have finally trickled down to gray market sellers there. [Armogan E.N.B. Chrono – $220]( [Armogan E.N.B. Chrono]( Used to be called the Le Mans, but has since been renamed the E.N.B. Lots of elements from the golden age of auto racing. Like… all the elements. Full review of this model (from when it was still called the Le Mans) [can be found here](. [Orient Kamasu – $225]( [Orient Kamasu watch]( One of Orient’s better looking watches. A toothy diver that looks great on its stock bracelet, and would do terrific on a NATO for the summer months. 200m water resistance. Sapphire crystal. In house Japanese movement hacks and hand winds. Sizing is a welcome by many medium diameter at 41.8mm Do note that some have reported crown issues. As in, with use, when adjusting the time they can pull the thing straight off. So that could be a very big, and quite unfortunate, situation. [Dan Henry 1937 Dress Chronograph – $270]( [Dan Henry 1937 Dress Chronograph]( Dan Henry is a brand that takes the good looks of watches from the past, then re-packages those styles in affordable timepieces for today. And they nailed this 1937 chrono. Art Deco inspired looks. 38mm case size. Tachymeter around the outer edge of the dial might just make you feel like you’re zooming around [in a yellow Duesenberg](. Quick change leather straps. Seiko VK61 mecha-quartz movement, so you get the snappy feel of a mechanical movement at the pushers, with the reliability an and affordability of a quartz chronograph. Available in a few different color combos, but the silver shown above with the sub dials at 12 and 6 really is something. [Timex M79 Automatic – $279]( [Timex M79 Automatic]( Released while riding high off [the success of their Q Reissue](, Timex took that design, slightly enlarged the case to 40mm, threw a blue and black “Batman” style color scheme on it, and chose to power the entire thing by a Japanese automatic movement instead of quartz. [Full review here](. [Orient Mako USA II Automatic – $315]( [Orient Mako USA II Automatic]( Hacks, hand winds, has a sapphire crystal, a 120 click bezel, solid end links, and the best of both the Mako and Ray worlds when it comes to the looks on the dial. 41.5mm case size is wearable by most. [Full review can be found here](. [Shinola 42mm Bedrock Watch – $329.97]( ($700) [Shinola 42mm Bedrock Watch]( Some watch snobs like to turn their noses up at Shinola because of their lack of history, relatively high cost for quartz, etc. But they are assembled here in the USA (from imported parts), and they’ve carved out a nice little niche for themselves. On a nice sized discount via Nordstrom Rack. Hard not to like that contrast small seconds dial. 42mm case size. [Hamilton Khaki Field 42mm Automatic – $368](//www.jomashop.com/hamilton-khaki-field-mens-watch-h70555533.html?utm_medium=cpa&utm_campaign=4025845&utm_source=CJ&cjevent=b3d686cc6e9911e980e100d80a1c0e0e) [Hamilton Khaki Field 42mm Automatic](//www.jomashop.com/hamilton-khaki-field-mens-watch-h70555533.html?utm_medium=cpa&utm_campaign=4025845&utm_source=CJ&cjevent=b3d686cc6e9911e980e100d80a1c0e0e) If the recipient prefers to dress casually most of the time, then this is a watch he could wear almost every day. Rugged. Dependable. Brown leaning tan strap pops next to that black dial. Terrific feel to the construction and finish. [Also available in a 38mm size](. Getting harder and harder to find. Links above go to gray market sellers. If you want to play it safe and buy direct from Hamilton, [it’ll run you $575](. [Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm – $400ish]( ($495) [Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm]( More Hamilton field watches! Another one for the outdoorsy/leans casual/rugged fellas. A classic field watch like this certainly does say “take me outside… please.” 38mm in diameter. Manual wind mechanical movement. 80 hour, yes 80 hour power reserve when fully wound. Full review [here](. Often goes on sale at Macys. Not always on sale, but does go on sale. [Bulova Devil Diver Automatic – $400ish]( [Bulova Devil Diver Automatic]( A big, barely restrained, helicopter landing pad of a diver. A few different color schemes to pick from. In terms of unique, 1970s-style looks & heritage, it’s impressive. It is not just [another sub-homage](. It’s very much its own watch (whatever that means). [Review here if you’d like to take a look](. [Nodus Retrospect III – $475 (Coming Soon)]( [Nodus Retrospect III]( Oh man. Nodus took their popular Retrospect dive watch, made a few tweaks, and the third installment should be landing in the not too distant future. More than a couple color options, but the subtle gray dial really is something. As is the bigger crown. Available in a bunch of colors, and with either ceramic or stainless bezel inserts. 42mm diameter. Seiko automatic movement. Double-dome sapphire crystal. Assembled here in the states. Full review in the works. Standby for that. [Timex Made in the USA “American Documents” Collection – $495]( [Timex Made in the USA “American Documents” Collection]( What’s this post about? This post is about grads. And DADS. And some Dads are VERY pro made in the USA. And Timex does make [a hell of a case for the American Documents project](. For a flag wavin’ Daddy-o who likes simple style and wears a watch every day, he might really appreciate one of these. Made here in the USA with a Swiss movement, but everything else (case, glass, leather band, etc) has all been sourced from here in the States. It’s sure to [get that gold calculator watch off his wrist](. [Lorier Neptune III Automatic – $499]( [Lorier Neptune III Automatic]( Miyota 90S5 automatic movement. 200m water resistance. Big ol’ crown, balanced out by a timeless 39mm case. [Head here for a review of the previous Neptune II model](. The Neptune is a masterclass in design. Man does it look good. [Lorier Gemini Mechanical Chronograph Watch – $499]( [Lorier Gemini Mechanical Chronograph Watch]( Another pick from Lorier, this time a chronograph. Amazing panda looks at an affordable price. Hand-winding mechanical chronograph movement. 12-hour rotating bezel instead of a tachymeter, which is MUCH more useful to most. [Full review here](. [Tissot 39mm Ballade Powermatic 80 COSC Chronometer – $499.97]( ($925) [Tissot 39mm Ballade Powermatic 80 COSC Chronometer]( COSC certified. A true chronometer. So it’s an automatic, and it’s super accurate. Getting that certification at this price point is awfully hard to do. If you’re looking to get a little spendy (relative to the rest of this list) but want to maximize bang for the buck, then this is the watch. On sale via Nordstrom Rack, so you should be getting a factory warranty. [Bulova Surfboard Chronograph – $450ish]( ($695) [Bulova Surfboard Chronograph]( Super fun. Tonneau shaped case, “surfboard” shape on the dial encompasses the two sub seconds dials, tropic style rubber strap, and enough water resistance to be good [around (and under) the surf]( (just don’t use the chrono pushers! that breaks the seals). Full review here. [Seiko Presage “Style 60’s” SRPG line – $525]( [Seiko Presage "Style 60's" SRPG ]( Brand new from Seiko, and an affordable alternative to the new Heritage (can new + heritage be a thing?) [Omega Seamaster 300]( line. Plenty of 60s dive-style. 50m water resistance. Seiko [4R35]( automatic movement. Rotating bezel with an aluminum insert. Box-shaped Hardlex crystal. 40.8mm diameter hits that sweet spot for many. And holy smokes look at it. Available this month at select retailers. Not quite sure on pricing, but [Hodinkee says it’s $525](. [Hamilton Railroad Swiss Automatic 42mm Watch – $639.97]( ($1295) [Hamilton Railroad Swiss Automatic 42mm Watch]( Still kicking around at Nordstrom Rack. Big fan of the just-different-enough seconds hand that’s been offset at 8 o’clock. 42mm case diameter. Onion-style crown and date window at 3 o’clock. Razor sharp hands. Extremely versatile. An heirloom to pass on. One of those watches that’s gonna look just as impressive in 30 years as it does now. [Marathon 36mm MSAR Automatic – $734.98]( ($1,050) [Marathon 36mm MSAR Automatic]( Hanging out in the Huckberry sale section. Still a lot of money. But if you (or he) want a sporty, tough, do anything and go anywhere watch without the bulk that usually comes with divers and other tool style watches, then this 36mm option is about as good as it gets. Swiss made. 300m water resistance. Sapphire crystal. [Hamilton Jazzmaster Auto – $895]( [Hamilton Jazzmaster watch]( One of Hamilton’s latest designs. A simple dress watch that can also look great dressed down a bit. It’s certainly one of those “Daily” dress watches that your Pops or Granddad could/would have worn with everything from a suit and tie to chinos and a polo. 40mm case diameter. 20mm lugs. Sapphire crystal. Swiss automatic movement with an 80 hour power reserve. [Hamilton Murph Automatic – $995]( [Hamilton Murph Automatic]( For those who appreciate science (and/or science fiction). For fans of the movie Interstellar. It’s “a faithful recreation of the watch that appeared in the movie on the wrist of main character Murph. With the word ‘Eureka’ printed in Morse code in lacquer on the seconds hand.” Terrific. 42mm with 22mm lugs, and wears every bit of that size. [Full review here](. [Hamilton American Classic Intra-Matic Automatic – $995]( [Hamilton American Classic Intra-Matic Automatic]( This thing is a tuxedo for your wrist. Only oddly enough, it’s a tux that looks just as good dressed down as it does dressed up. One of their new, refreshed and retro leaning designs. 80 hour power reserve. Sapphire Crystal. 20mm lugs and black leather band, but it could look great on a dark brown band if a black band isn’t your thing. Love that stylized “H” logo and italicized branding. Off white dial that can look white in some lights, but not stark either. Bravo to Hamilton on this one. [Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 600 – $1015]( [Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 600]( Christopher Ward’s flagship Trident diver checks all the right boxes, at a proper price (when compared to the big name luxury brands). Swiss-made Sellita SW2000-1 movement, ceramic bezel, 600m water resistance, C1 Super-LumiNova which is brighter than you might think. Designed in the UK and built in Switzerland, down the street from Omega. Smart, sharp British styling with Swiss mechanics. An excellent pairing. And now the necessary reminder about the importance of knowing the seller when shopping for a wristwatch. Research them. Do your due diligence. Many of the links above point towards “grey market” dealers. Why? Because the savings are immense. Yet, there can be big time risks buying from a non-certified dealer. Buying direct from the brand, or, a certified dealer, means you get the manufacturer’s warranty. That’s good. What’s not good is the high price, compared to some grey market sellers. The bad news with those grey markets? [You don’t get a factory warranty](. So any potential issues and you might be on the hook for a big, big bill. So do your research. ff/Dappered?a=PXNUATeoVZo:EFwgwOgT5Zg:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=PXNUATeoVZo:EFwgwOgT5Zg:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=PXNUATeoVZo:EFwgwOgT5Zg:gIN9vFwOqvQ [Tuesday Men’s Sales Tripod – Half off summery watches, Cotton Linen Chore Blazers, & More](r/Dappered/~3/Z0ieIyz6ERg/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 01 Jun 2021 09:20 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head [here]( to learn more. The Thursday Handfuls are great, but what if Monday (or Tuesday) rolls around and there are a few sales that can’t wait until the weekend? You’ll find three of the best, with a few picks from each, to start the week below. [Macy’s: One day 50% off select watches sale]( [Watches]( - [Bulova Men’s Chronograph Archive Surfboard Blue Silicone Strap Watch – $347.50]( ($695) - [Bulova Men’s Chronograph Archive Surfboard Black Silicone Strap Watch – $347.50]( ($695) - [Bulova Men’s Automatic Archive Devil Diver Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch – $397.50]( ($795) - [Bulova Men’s Automatic Military Green Leather Strap Watch – $225]( ($450) - [Bulova Men’s Automatic Military Black Leather Strap Watch – $225]( ($450) Not a ton of selection, but the perfect for summer [Bulova “surfboard”]( is included. [Full review here if you’d like it](. And since it’s Macy’s, these watches will come with factory warranties. No gray market/no warranty risk here. Meanwhile, a heads up: tomorrow we’ll run our annual Dads and Grads watches post. 34 picks this year, from dirt cheap to kinda spendy for the deserving Dad or Grad. [J. Crew: 25% off select full price]( / [additional 50% off Final sale items w/ WEEKEND]( [J. Crew menswear]( - [Wallace & Barnes Slim-fit chore blazer in cotton-linen – $112.50]( ($150) - [Kenton driving moccasins in suede – $111]( ($148) - [Slim Irish linen shirt – $67.12]( ($89.50) - [Dock short in stretch chino – $44.62]( ($59.50) - [Bungalow sunglasses – $52.12]( ($69.50) Extended one more day, and J. Crew was sneaky with this one. They included [their extraordinary cotton/linen chore blazers]( but sorta buried them on their site. Those usually don’t get many promos or codes. So if you want a do-anything (even warm weather outerwear) casual blazer, now’s not a bad time to get one of those (he says to himself). [Gustin: They’re running an “in stock and ready to ship” event.]() [Gustin goods]() - [USA Heather T-Shirt 3 pack (oxblood, navy, cypress) – $34]( ($42) - [Horween Dublin Small Utility Pouch – $58]( ($73) - [Horween Briefcase in CXL #8 – $249]( - [Slub Pocket Tee 3-pack (ocean, oatmeal, red) – $43]( ($54) No waiting with Gustin??? AND they’ve got [a CXL #8 briefcase in stock](? Rad. All made in the USA here, because that’s what GUSTIN does. [BONUS Allen Edmonds: Extra 30% off Select Sale Styles]( [Allen Edmonds Shoes]( - [Cornwallis Dress Oxford – $139.97]( ($395) - [Williamsburg Chukka Boot – $139.97]( ($445) - [Kenilworth Plain-Toe Blucher – $139.97]( ($395) - [Park Avenue Cap-Toe Oxford – $139.97]( ($395) - [Canal Court Suede Sneaker – $97.97]( ($225) - [Catalina Soft Penny Loafer – $139.97]( ($295) Last day for this. Got buried among the rest of the strong long-weekend sales hustle. And $140 for Cornwallis, Kenilworths, and those Williamsburg Chukkas (all made in the USA) is certainly worth another mention. Don’t see that very often. Sizes got scattered because, well, you just don’t see that very often. Also worth a mention… - [Banana Republic](: 40% off + extra 10% off w/ BREXTRA10 (or an extra 20% off for cardmembers w/ BRCARD20). - [Huckberry](: They’ve got [a Father’s Day Shop]( up and running. - [Todd Snyder]( Their new [Jack Purcell collaboration]( has launched. - [Nordstrom]( Half-Yearly sale is still running. [Picks here if you’d like them](. ff/Dappered?a=Z0ieIyz6ERg:2ucRvmq_hn4:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=Z0ieIyz6ERg:2ucRvmq_hn4:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=Z0ieIyz6ERg:2ucRvmq_hn4:gIN9vFwOqvQ You are subscribed to email updates from [Dappered Style Mail](). To stop receiving these emails, you may [unsubscribe now](. Email delivery powered by Google Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States