Seiko Watch or Digital Watch?

[Wathen1955]

During Black Friday of last year, I updated my wife's old iPad to the latest one. Since Verizon had a special going on for updating her old iPad, they also gave me a free Galaxy FE Watch. What a piece of junk.

I have to charge it every morning. When I put it on the charger in the morning, it's already down to the low 30's of remaining battery life.

Do they even make a decent digital watch that can go for 3-4 days without a charge? I'm on android - no apple watches.

I'm also thinking about going back to analog with a Seiko. My budget is $300 or less.

[ratflinger]

I wouldn't have a digital watch that was tied to my phone. Of course I don't spend hours a day playing on my phone either. Neighbor has an iPhone & accompanying watch, it's always beeping that a message has come in, or Facebook, or Instagram. Geeze, what a pain in the ass

[vettemed]

analog for me, though I also have one combination analog/digital with atomic time.

No smart watches for me, thx.

[99 pewtercoupe]

I strongly prefer a regular watch. I don’t need the notifications, messages, etc coming in on my watch. I have several friends that wear Apple watches and frankly I find it a bit annoying when they stop in the middle of a conversation to check the message

For a regular watch (quartz or automatic), Seiko and Citizen both have quite solid offerings at the $300 price point

[jw38]

Seiko for sure. Why did you get an Android watch when your wife updated an Apple product?

[Yadkin]

I strongly prefer a regular watch. I don’t need the notifications, messages, etc coming in on my watch. I have several friends that wear Apple watches and frankly I find it a bit annoying when they stop in the middle of a conversation to check the message

For a regular watch (quartz or automatic), Seiko and Citizen both have quite solid offerings at the $300 price point

This. An auto-wind watch just works.

I don't wear a watch except during travel, so it will sit for weeks or months. When I need it, I set the time, wind it, and it's good to go.

[Force-1]

Fan of automatic watches here!

[Wathen1955]

Seiko for sure. Why did you get an Android watch when your wife updated an Apple product?It was part of the deal with Verizon. The sales guy said they had a bunch in stock they needed to unload, so it was part of the Black Friday deal.

After I got home, now I know why they were giving this watch away because it's a piece of junk. Just do a search for "Galaxy FE Watch poor battery life".

[Wathen1955]

Fan of automatic watches here!That Omega one looks good. Is that a good brand?

[Unsuspicious]

That Omega one looks good. Is that a good brand?

Great brand. About 20x your budget.

[ricks327]

I retired in 1997 and haven't worn a watch since. At 25 years of service we authorized to go our local jeweler and pick a watch. This what I picked and it certainly hasn't appreciated. :)

https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Classic-Bracelet-Analog-Quartz/dp/B0030ZIDVK/ref=sr_1_32?adgrpid=1334807679896308&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0tefDqOkSscAQGFG37pwKHJg0nqak0_RnM8QGjbfzZZaAUMG2YcNTs6n91pwVX0g0uDNNoB_ieUt5QQktHmcBYOr1FwkAwpc5yrngfGMRmes1t8sAcARZ4Aak1wtUkmc6-xKqv5dls37eiAIlFVd_Y3j7Fo1WeqR3xjzyq7-0p6d895KAZe6tJIs_7TzEFtRMfLbh_N4CkDBVxwbCYqFqW8U3ayHjlkYhQhIWQ3iQ_ysn3vgLPQc5IU6HlCH8o8CcqV408nHYB0yHyQG4HdbbxU6N8_YDRfZTE9l8CrGhQrx5iF3FmjwHL8qYMISBXsR4kE0hond044Qv7RETRxhfUT-eYzVBt5LWfdaBbpv4jZpc_AQb7a635746pTQFYjPE0b16OluzOcwiajlgKCkQ_fXQcdCPwfEFpRaHnAYANTjZupNIJfg7LJV82CTcYo3.GCG0cVhQ7U-gSn0sBea7OL8YlVlO29wAzzGJAhZCLiI&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83425550872484&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=104113&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-83425822129290%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=27661_10976032&keywords=mickey%2Bmouse%2Bwatch%2Bfor%2Bmen&qid=1738110657&sr=8-32&th=1

[99 pewtercoupe]

That Omega one looks good. Is that a good brand?

Omega is a very good brand but wayyyyy past your $300 budget mentioned
If you like the look of a chronograph, you will be pretty much looking at quartz watches for that amount of money. Once again, Seiko, Citizen or even Timex or Casio offer decent watches in that budget

[Yadkin]

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/media/catalog/product/cache/bc54b7224dad07746d99daf20f84bdcc/h/7/h70205140.png

I just got one of these. Simple automatic field watch.

[MadInNc]

Àlways works, never off on time, no charge needed. Over 10yrs on arm w no issues

Costly yes, issues no!

[Unsuspicious]

You can definitely find a Seiko 5 automatic, although for that price I went with a Citizen Promaster automatic (mine is a rarer Fugu variant but the crown location at 8 o clock is a noticeable comfort perk)
https://www.macys.com/shop/product/citizen-eco-drive-mens-automatic-promaster-dive-stainless-steel-bracelet-watch-45mm?ID=15734323

[Yadkin]

You can get a Timex auto for $189, retail.

[dvarapala]

Why not both? :shrug:

[dvarapala]

they also gave me a free Galaxy FE Watch. What a piece of junk.

I have to charge it every morning.

:shrug:

I have charging stands for my watch and my phone on my nightstand. I put the phone and the watch into their chargers when I go to bed, and when I wake up the next morning they are fully charged.

I wouldn't have a digital watch that was tied to my phone. Of course I don't spend hours a day playing on my phone either. Neighbor has an iPhone & accompanying watch, it's always beeping that a message has come in, or Facebook, or Instagram. Geeze, what a pain in the ass

First of all, you have full control over when and how you get notifications.

Second, it's a real benefit to be able to silently see your messages/notifications during, say, a business meeting without having to pull your phone out of your pocket (or have it blaring out a bunch of silly sounds in the middle of a meeting).

[Wathen1955]

Here is an interesting smart watch with a battery that lasts up to 3 weeks and it's within my budget.

https://www.amazon.com/Amazfit-Military-Privacy-Offline-Water-Resistant/dp/B0DCZ9PRCP?crid=3S7DVOCLB8KIE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6sen9h9wEImswJWpursLf_xsAvwDEKCV8W1tlUbcDzptmnM9KGjCONJm8uBLbiU2TDznm9jOiFi048wvGHPaaLoD8HcWBbuun997GhTO-0pQdf1MRTodGLVaOrUQLYAJvTZ9uOEmReM7WTc780abcIARzr2hKj0IZJ0ebXyePEKELTHMuqiTHmwH02-tqea_z3-l0JALyOYntR5yIAPUZve9OtoLSfuyEF2pz2RbU20.yO_cjNMJ3emuJ5o6kFLzKb14z6baEfok7Hogr4K-uV8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Amazfit+T-Rex+3&qid=1738117552&sprefix=amazfit+t-rex+3%2Caps%2C274&sr=8-3

[John Wiz]

I have a Tag and Breitling, but my daily is a Citizen. Their Eco-drive is great (no winding, no battery, just needs some light). They have some (like mine) that syncs with an atomic clock and never needs to set.

I had a Samsung smart watch, didn't care for it, prefer an analog watch.

[04 commemorative]

My daily watch is a 20 year old Citizen Eco-Drive....no trouble except for the clasp....I prefer an analog.

[The_Dude]

I have a fitbit that I charge once a week

[ratflinger]

First of all, you have full control over when and how you get notifications.

Second, it's a real benefit to be able to silently see your messages/notifications during, say, a business meeting without having to pull your phone out of your pocket (or have it blaring out a bunch of silly sounds in the middle of a meeting).




Meh, I still consider it a pointless endeavor. I'm retired so no meetings, but if the boss catches you always looking at your watch then ...

[MidLifeinMI]

Here is an interesting smart watch with a battery that lasts up to 3 weeks and it's within my budget.

https://www.amazon.com/Amazfit-Military-Privacy-Offline-Water-Resistant/dp/B0DCZ9PRCP?crid=3S7DVOCLB8KIE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6sen9h9wEImswJWpursLf_xsAvwDEKCV8W1tlUbcDzptmnM9KGjCONJm8uBLbiU2TDznm9jOiFi048wvGHPaaLoD8HcWBbuun997GhTO-0pQdf1MRTodGLVaOrUQLYAJvTZ9uOEmReM7WTc780abcIARzr2hKj0IZJ0ebXyePEKELTHMuqiTHmwH02-tqea_z3-l0JALyOYntR5yIAPUZve9OtoLSfuyEF2pz2RbU20.yO_cjNMJ3emuJ5o6kFLzKb14z6baEfok7Hogr4K-uV8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Amazfit+T-Rex+3&qid=1738117552&sprefix=amazfit+t-rex+3%2Caps%2C274&sr=8-3

I've had an Amazfit watch for about 2 years (GTR 3), and it's been pretty good. Exercise modes are pretty comprehensive, something like 150 different types you can track, from walking to rowing machine to playing sport video games. Phone integration is OK; because it has a mic & speaker you can take & make calls, but text messages are receive-only. It compares well with watches by Garmin, at a significantly lower price point.

I'd take the battery life with a grain of salt, though; the claimed 3 weeks is with most features (other than straight watch) turned off. To get close to that life, you won't have full-time display, heartrate monitoring, GPS, etc. The older one that I have was claimed to get "up to 2 weeks", but with most of the features enabled, I get about 4 days. Still better than dying after a full day.

[Wathen1955]

I've had an Amazfit watch for about 2 years (GTR 3), and it's been pretty good. Exercise modes are pretty comprehensive, something like 150 different types you can track, from walking to rowing machine to playing sport video games. Phone integration is OK; because it has a mic & speaker you can take & make calls, but text messages are receive-only. It compares well with watches by Garmin, at a significantly lower price point.

I'd take the battery life with a grain of salt, though; the claimed 3 weeks is with most features (other than straight watch) turned off. To get close to that life, you won't have full-time display, heartrate monitoring, GPS, etc. The older one that I have was claimed to get "up to 2 weeks", but with most of the features enabled, I get about 4 days. Still better than dying after a full day.

Thanks for the info. I don't have to have the display on all the time. If I can do a simple tap on the display to turn it on would work for me. The only exercise I do is walking. I'm also interested in the health monitoring.

[Frankie the Fink]

Citizen Eco Drive many designs and it will run unattended for a decade or more

[04 commemorative]

Citizen Eco Drive many designs and it will run unattended for a decade or more

Like I said , mine is running 20 years without a problem.:seasix:

[Unsuspicious]

I have a very old citizen ecodrive that is a submariner homage, had to replace the capacitor (aka technically not a battery but basically is) and that was just $15.
The newer Promaster line is a great line of watches, massive bang for the buck. I got a black/yellow one to match my corvette.

[99 pewtercoupe]

Citizen Eco Drive many designs and it will run unattended for a decade or more

The EcoDrive Citizens are a great bang for the buck. I have a Brycen chronograph model that has been a great watch for years. When fully charged (by light) it will run for six months or more

[jw38]

I own qujte a few very nice watches and I wantnthis Seiko.

121866

It's their Grand Seiko Titanium Sport watch, and it retails for about $5k, but can be found for $4.2 - 4.5k.

[Vince Clortho]

121868

[04 commemorative]

I own qujte a few very nice watches and I wantnthis Seiko.

121866

It's their Grand Seiko Titanium Sport watch, and it retails for about $5k, but can be found for $4.2 - 4.5k.

Yeah.....not going to happen here :lol:
But good luck if you get it :seasix:

[Frankie the Fink]

As I've gotten older with low vision the "look at me I'm complicated and my owner is smart" watches with 5 dials that do various things crammed onto the face are no longer appealing, I'm not a skin diver or pilot or timing race competitions.

So I have an ecodrive analog looking watch with white numbers on a black face with a neoprene band. Interesting how 'status symbols' begin to mean less and less as the decades pass...

[Millenium Vette]

I own qujte a few very nice watches and I wantnthis Seiko.

121866

It's their Grand Seiko Titanium Sport watch, and it retails for about $5k, but can be found for $4.2 - 4.5k.

Current retail is $7,300.

https://www.grand-seiko.com/us-en/collections/sbga463g

[Onebadcad]

This watch is an investment, will be worth $500K on JAN 21, 2029.

Only $1,199.00 today

https://gettrumpwatches.com/cdn/shop/files/Banner_11.jpg?v=1738141104%20}}

[Millenium Vette]

Citizen Eco Drive many designs and it will run unattended for a decade or more

The Citizen Eco Drive is reliable. I have a 10 year old diver that runs like new.

One watch I would recommend avoiding is the Solar Seikos. I have not had any problems with the ones I have but one of my AD's avoids carrying them because of past problems.

As I've gotten older with low vision the "look at me I'm complicated and my owner is smart" watches with 5 dials that do various things crammed onto the face are no longer appealing, I'm not a skin diver or pilot or timing race competitions.

So I have an ecodrive analog looking watch with white numbers on a black face with a neoprene band. Interesting how 'status symbols' begin to mean less and less as the decades pass...

Anyone who wears a watch as a status symbol is in for a big disappointment. Nobody notices or cares what watch you are wearing.

[99 pewtercoupe]

Current retail is $7,300.

https://www.grand-seiko.com/us-en/collections/sbga463g

$5k appears to be an asking price for used on Fleabay