Wrist watch

[brewer12345]

Prof, if you want to go cheap, there are dozens of watches out there that will do it. If you want something waterproof, but not too ridiculous, most of the luxury watch makers make less expensive versions that are usually waterproof. Some are mechanical and some are battery-operated. I own a Breitling "Wings" watch (mechanical; pretty but temperamental sometimes) and a Rado (sleek and dressy, battery-op). Both are formal, attractive watches and they are waterproof. They are not even close to being as cheap as the Timex/Casio/Swatch crowd, but they aren't in the Rolex range.

Another possibility is a Sector watch. They are basically a Swiss equivalent of a Casio or Citizen, but many of them are more "classical" looking. Usually waterproof and cheaper than the like of Breitling, Rado, etc.

 

[HFWR]

A watch to solve the pool problem and the absent-mindedness:

HAL 9000 Timex Ironman Datalink

I've got hundreds of phone numbers in my watch; it reminds me of birthdays and anniversaries; it reminds me to take out the garbage on Friday; it times my workouts.

It hooks to the computer via USB. 

A no-brainer decision for me.

 

[Ginger]

Professor, if you accidentally go in the pool with a cheap Target/Wal Mart watch - no big deal - toss it out and get a new one! It costs less than a battery replacement. (Why are you wearing a watch in retirement anyway?) I see my DH not wearing his watch the past few weeks since his retirement.
People are glancing at their watches all day long - kind of sad we are in such a fast-paced mode all the time. I understand it though when you are working, but in retirement

 

[education]

Hi Ginger--

Old habits die hard. I'm not one for any jewelry. No pinky rings or college rings, bracelets, neck chains, stud earring, piercings, etc. Hell, I haven't worn a wedding ring because it drive me nuts. I have always worn a watch and has almost become a natural part of me. But if someone says cocktails at 5, I don't want to have to use a sundial or call time and temperature.

Professor

 

[SteveR]

There are lots of water resistant/proof watches out there that are not that expensive and look decent. Any major box store will carry them and you won't have to spend and arm and a leg on them. You don't need a full diver's watch so just find one that looks good to you and forget about it. 8)

 

[Nords]

Both are formal, attractive watches

Eeeewwwww....

 

[SLC Tortfeasor]

I find this whole discussion bewildering. I think it's actually hard to find a men's watch that isn't waterproof. I basically wore my old Seiko for about 6 solid years, never taking it off except to change the battery. A few months ago I got a Bulova that is a little fancier, but equally waterproof.

It shouldn't be hard to find a watch in just about any price range that will fit the bill.

 

[anonimitycity]

I look at watches this way... spend either 20 bucks or $2000. At the 20 buck level you have an extremely accurate (moreso than the $2000 mechanical) throwaway quartz timekeeper. At the $2000 level you're making an "investment" in a little machine for the wrist that you can impress your friends with. Its a generalization, but its about ego. Some people drive beaters, some drive Ferrari's.

 

[JPatrick]

OK, this is a no brainer Prof.
1. Buy the $15 Timex.  Both my kids were lifeguards and their Timex's worked great.  My current Timex Ironman spends lots of time in the H2O and keeps on tickin.
2. Use the extra cash (that you didn't spend on the Rolex) to hire a pool boy (or girl if you can) . You need to stay out of that water!  Pools are for sitting by and drinking Corona.
3. You're welcome.

 

[education]

Thanks JP. I'll drink that Corona from my Corona tree!!!!!!
It was a great idea all the way around.

Professor

 

[rec]

$15 Casio. I have worn Casio's for about 20 years love them.

 

[SC]

I've heard terrible things about Rolexes (needing service, not keeping time as well as the $15 quartz watches). Can't imagine spending that much on a watch.

At $89, this is the most expensive watch I've ever owned. LL Bean stands behind their products and when it started to lose about a minute a week, they replaced it for free.

SC = satisfied customer, in this case

 

[dusk_to_dawn]

You don't need a rolex, you need a timex (the Ironman is good). I got one of each. The rolex was a gift from an uncle that developed Alzheimer's and couldn't wear it anymore, and the timex I bought with my own hard earned money. I am one of the few people riding around in a $1,000 car wearing a $10,000 watch.

 

[brewer12345]

  I am one of the few people riding around in a $1,000 car wearing a $10,000 watch. 

Heheh, that's hysterical! Dad sells jewelry and on occasion we have been his "mule" delivering stuff from his buddy (Jesus, the one-eyed Spanish jeweler, I sh!t you not). A few years ago when we had the el cheapo '95 Escort wagon we were transporting roughly $50k of jewelry in a $1k car.

 

[LRS]

Since semi-retiring I have become so time-averse that I turn off the clock feature in my car when I'm driving. I do not want to hurry anywhere. Needless to say I kicked the wristwatch habit.

 

[Danny]

Invicta Divers watch good to 600 feet - should handle swim pool maintenance
Lists at $375 - Got mine at Amazon for $85.
Swiss with Japanese movement. For a couple hundred more you can get the Total Swiss experience - but I'm too frugal.
Automatic wind - so no batteries! Eligible for free shipping and no sales tax - what a country!

http://tinyurl.com/syltp

 

[dougdo]

Another reason to get a cheapo watch: generally waterproof watches will no longer be waterproof once you open them up and replace the battery. The seal just isn't the same afterwards. So get a $20 watch and throw it away when the battery finally dies (although they seem to last longer than it takes me to lose a watch...)

 

[haha]

Recent New Yorker cartoon has a bewildered looking guy talking to a jeweler over the store counter-"Since when have men's watches all looked like valves on a nuclear submarine?"

Ha

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Got me a Rolex in 1982. Worked so good I forgot about it other than putting it on in the morning every single day until 2001, then starting running fast. Had it serviced for $250 bucks and just last week it konked out on me. Swam in it, banged it up too often to recall, wore it at the beach and at formal fundraisers -- ran like a champ til then.

If I can repair it for under $300 bucks, will do. Otherwise, I am heading to the pawn shop.

NOT cost-effective, but there was something about wearing a precisely engineered, self-winding, mechanical, man made work of art that reminded me subconsciously that human beings were still capable of creating some pretty amazing things. I may be a computer geek, but otherwise am pretty old fashioned. BTW, mine is all stainless, no gold, no jewelry, just the Oyster Perpetual in its purest, most elegant form.

 

[Danny]

Got me a Rolex in 1982. Worked so good I forgot about it other than putting it on in the morning every single day until 2001, then starting running fast. Had it serviced for $250 bucks and just last week it konked out on me. Swam in it, banged it up too often to recall, wore it at the beach and at formal fundraisers -- ran like a champ til then.

If I can repair it for under $300 bucks, will do. Otherwise, I am heading to the pawn shop.

NOT cost-effective, but there was something about wearing a precisely engineered, self-winding, mechanical, man made work of art that reminded me subconsciously that human beings were still capable of creating some pretty amazing things. I may be a computer geek, but otherwise am pretty old fashioned. BTW, mine is all stainless, no gold, no jewelry, just the Oyster Perpetual in its purest, most elegant form.

We live in a disposable world and in many cases it really makes a lot of sense to just throw it away and get a new one...
Then there are other times when it makes sense to buy quality, when in the long run it 's "cheaper" to own quality that lasts rather than to keep replacing cheaply made with another cheaply made...and in the meantime you get to own something really cool and well made.

 

[Nords]

Recent New Yorker cartoon has a bewildered looking guy talking to a jeweler over the store counter-"Since when have men's watches all looked like valves on a nuclear submarine?"

Judging from the prices being discussed here, I think the nuclear valves are cheaper less expensive.

 

[brewer12345]

Judging from the prices being discussed here, I think the nuclear valves are cheaper less expensive.

Yeah, but unless the military budget has gotten way out of hand, they don't make nuclear valves out of gold, either.

 

[Danny]

Recent New Yorker cartoon has a bewildered looking guy talking to a jeweler over the store counter-"Since when have men's watches all looked like valves on a nuclear submarine?"

Ha

Periscope Down!
Dive! Dive!

 

[Nords]

Periscope Down! Dive! Dive! 

Get back to me after you've left that puppy in a bilge full of hydraulic fluid for a few days.

Bonus points if the bilge freezes.

Double bonus points if it's a sanitary tank instead of a bilge...

(Yes, TH, I have seen frozen sanitary tanks. Believe me, even I didn't want to have a need to know.)

 

[Danny]

Get back to me after you've left that puppy in a bilge full of hydraulic fluid for a few days.

Bonus points if the bilge freezes.

Double bonus points if it's a sanitary tank instead of a bilge...

(Yes, TH, I have seen frozen sanitary tanks. Believe me, even I didn't want to have a need to know.)

Oh yeah? Well Watch this!