Which watch?

My long time watch (Nixon manual) is due for replacement. I'm looking to replace it, but not sure what to get. I will wear it all the time, and it will be my only watch, so it needs to be able to get dirty and also look decent if I'm dressed up once a year. I need a second hand for work and I need to be able to see it in complete darkness. I don't scuba dive, but I do spend a lot of time on the water. Im also an analog guy. I figure I'd turn to grm to see what the smartest group of people I associate with would recommend. I don't want to spend more than $200. If it looks cool, that's a plus.

HA! That's the watch I just replaced. I got a Nixon Platform to replace it. I figured if my first Nixon lasted me 5 years, I owed them a second purchase. (Especially because the Seiko I bought only lasted a number of months...)

It look like it may be too big for my girly wrist.

It's not even the biggest watch they make! It is kinda big, but I have pretty thick wrists.

I have a Seiko Kinetic. Looks good (black) no batteries to worry about, keeps accurate time, analog, no bells or whistles. Just keeps time. Solid as a rock, cost me 200.00 at BJs.

What time is it? I just check my iPhone. Still wear my Movado on rare occasions though. I don't care for big, bulky watches.

I haven't worn a watch in over ten years, but I used to love Swatches. So funky and non-pretentious in an endless variety of styles and designs.

Lesley, I'm with you. My "good" watch is a Swatch Blackout, just like the one I had in high school. If I need something to batter around and use while kayaking or mountain biking, I pull out the Ironman I've owned for at least 20 years.

I've managed to either lose or destroy mine (by unfortunately spraying Deep Woods Off and dissolving the lenses) ... but my fave was also a Blackout... and a really cool transparent blue one that showed all the inner cogs.

I just picked up a Fossil off Craigslist for $10 for a silver tone sport watch. I prefer a Seiko but I couldn't beat the price.

Invicta coin edge diver - $88

Yeah, I do have a cell phone, but as a firefighter I need a watch with a second hand for taking people's pulse. The swatch blackout doesn't have a light or glow feature as far as I can tell. I like the invicta, how well does the glow in the dark work?

I have no personal experience with them but this brand really hypes up its luminescence, http://www.luminox.com/.
Not a cheap choice but looks like it can handle water and abuse.

mw wrote: Yeah, I do have a cell phone, but as a firefighter I need a watch with a second hand for taking people's pulse.

I think there's an app for that.... LOL

Yeah, for a firefighter the Swatch Blackout is a pretty poor choice. It's got a second hand, but instant legibility isn't the primary feature. Easier to read than you might think though.

Still, they're reasonably tough and (used to be) inexpensive. So there might be a Swatch that suits. Otherwise, I'd be looking for something indestructible with high legibility if pulse-taking is part of the brief.

I stopped wearing watches when I started working on the shop floor. I haven't worn one for years. They are safety hazards at work, so I just stopped..

mw wrote: Yeah, I do have a cell phone, but as a firefighter I need a watch with a second hand for taking people's pulse. The swatch blackout doesn't have a light or glow feature as far as I can tell. I like the invicta, how well does the glow in the dark work?

I have the scalloped-edge version that Invicta made after Rolex complained about the coin edge, but the face and movement are the same. The luminesce of the hands and markers is quite good for several hours after sun/light exposure. It's not terribly light but I like the automatic movement and it looks good on the wrist. I have small wrists and it is not too big. My only real beef is the crown tends to dig into the top of my wrist/hand, but if I took a half link out of the bracelet that probably would solve that issue.

I know you said analog but I'll throw in my .02 for the digital Casio Triple Sensor. Digital compass, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, 100M water resistant, stop watch, 5 alarms and countdown timer. I'm on my second, last I bought was $150 on sale. They're not shiny/ dress up but work for me... plus the way cool factor.

I am a fan of Timex watches myself and own more than a few. My dad is an analog guy himself and I got this for him last Christmas and haven't heard any complaints: http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T5K200-Ironman-Endure-30-Lap/dp/B001BXTZ92/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=watches&qid=1301291207&sr=1-9

This is my daily workhorse watch and hasn't let me down so far: http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T41301-Crown-Resin-Watch/dp/B00080L33A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=watches&qid=1301291350&sr=1-1

This Casio dive watch always seems to get good praise at a couple of the watch forums I cruise around on: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-AMW320D-9EV-Ana-Digi-Alarm-Chronograph/dp/B000GB1R5K/ref=sr_1_3?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1301291480&sr=1-3

I have seen that Casio on Ebay go for as low as $30 sometimes. I just pulled the trigger on a Luminox myself to see what all the fuss is about. Details to follow..

You can get a pretty nice Citizen Eco-Drive for ~$200.

Reliable, rugged, decent lume, good looking...

Eg: http://www.creationwatches.com/products/citizen-titanium-219/citizen-eco-drive-chronograph-titanium-at0660-13e-at0660-men-s-watch-2340.html?zenid=08d1750f10d7d01375c3be3079fb3d73

For something a little "classier", you might find a used Hamilton Khaki for $200ish on ebay. My daily wearer at the moment is a '60s-vintage Hamilton automatic, and even that is totally fine for everyday out-and-about abuse, (though I wouldn't wear it in the water.)

mw wrote: Yeah, I do have a cell phone, but as a firefighter I need a watch with a second hand for taking people's pulse. The swatch blackout doesn't have a light or glow feature as far as I can tell. I like the invicta, how well does the glow in the dark work?

Wear an Invicta Pro Diver myself. Glow works pretty well after exposed to light. If you expecting to work after sitting in the dark you are SOL. There is a second hand, but also has a built in stopwatch second hand that works very well. But it does take 2 hands to start it, dunno if that will work for taking a pulse. Shop around and they are less than $100

Anyone know where you can find the Swatch Irony Chrono Black at a discount?? They're freaking expensive from the company!

$119 at Amazon.

Just for fun, I started looking around the watch section of Amazon after finding that. They all look the same to me after about a page or so!

The only watch I've owned and not quickly destroyed is a Tag. They are a bit over the price limit. But you know, you don't have to replace them...ever. An unscratchable face is a wonderful thing.

huge-O-chavez wrote: I stopped wearing watches when I started working on the shop floor. I haven't worn one for years. They are safety hazards at work, so I just stopped..

Same thing for me, I also don;t wear my wedding ring to work or in the garage ever.

For dress occasions I have a vintage submariner.