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It’s On eBay

Junghans Manual Watch by Max Bill

This is my favorite watch, and it’s a steal at $250.  Mine is on a leather band, but this ribbon is quite lovely, too.

Buy It Now, $250

If you’re looking for a high-quality automatic watch at a very reasonable price, you could do much worse than the Seiko 5.  The movement is well-regarded by watch enthusiasts, and the styling is very simple and attractive.  A real watch at the price of quartz.  The divers aren’t bad, either.

Even bettter: there are a number of models on overstock.com at the moment, and Bing is offering significant Overstock cash back (30%, I’m told, though I’m in Canada and can’t check).  Go to bing, search for overstock, click on the sponsor link with the cash back offer, and then search Seiko 5.

It’s On eBay

Stowa Automatic Watch, Circa 1970s

I’m a big fan of a distinctive watch for more casual wear.  I often wear an Omega Dynamic, which has a similarly space-age aesthetic.

Bidding starts at $199, or Buy It Now for $225

Q and Answer: The Formality of a Rubber Watch Band

James asks: I’ve been concerned recently about the occasions on which it is appropriate to wear my current wristwatch. The watch is a handsome and somewhat expensive Swiss Army Chronometer in a very nice burgundy. Color matching is no issue, but the problem is the black rubber wristwatch band. The band seems a fairly inelegant piece. I’ve considered replacing the band, but I can’t find one that seems appropriate, so I’m fairly committed to the band I have. Does this choice mean that I cannot wear this wristwatch in semi-formal or formal occasions?

Your instincts are right on.  A watch with a rubber band is strictly for casual or sporting wear.  A metal band is generally for casual wear, and a leather band is suitable for any purpose.  When you think of the formality of a watch remember that watches are made for purposes.  A chronometer is made for sport, usually styled for sport, and generally should be worn for sport (or at least in a casual situation where you can pretend sport might break out at any time).  Certainly there are exceptions, but with a rubber band and a colored face, your watch isn’t one.  With watches, simple means formal.  A plain white face, without complications, and a black leather band is as formal as it gets.

If you like this watch, hang on to it, and wear it casually.  Enjoy it.  Consider investing in something more formal for more formal occasions.  You can probably buy a lovely, good-quality precious metal manual-wind watch from the middle of the 20th century - say a Longines or a Bulova - for a couple hundred dollars that will do you well for the rest of your life.  Buy something you can afford, that appeals to you, with a real movement (no quartz), and buy something made by a company that makes watches, not clothes or even (sorry) pocket knives.

Yeah, a mid-century Omega Seamaster is a nice watch.

Q and Answer: The Law School Gift

Claire writes: My little brother is graduating from law school next month and I’d like to get him something practical to commemorate the occasion and show him how proud I am of him, but I’m not sure what would be a good option.  I bought him a Jack Spade bag once for Christmas which he promptly returned (to my chagrin) and he has the handwriting of a 4th-grade serial killer, so the ol’ engraved Cross pen is probably out too. Do you have any classic suggestions other than good old cashola?  My budget is about $200.

For an occasion as important as this, and a relationship as close as brother and sister, you want a gift that is classic and will last.  For men, the usual suspects are pens, watches, bags or jewelry.

Watches are out - $200 can certainly buy a wearable watch, but not one so nice you’d want to have it for the rest of your life.  I think the low end for that sort of watch, even vintage, is three or four hundred dollars.

Bags are out, too.  For one thing, you already struck out once in this department, and for another thing, the kind of bag you’d want to give would likely cost more than $200.  You’d probably want to give him a briefcase, given the nature of the occasion, and something wonderful that would last him his career would cost more than your budget allows.  (When my wife graduated from law school, I got her a briefcase.  And other, more romantic stuff.)

You’ve removed pens from the list, as well.  You could find a wonderful pen for that amount of money, but if he isn’t going to use it, then it isn’t worth buying.

That leaves jewelry, which for men means cuff links.  Here, there are many wonderful options.  I’d suggest heading to the vintage fine jewelry section of eBay and looking at the cufflinks therein.  You’ll want something simple, that is clearly not a novelty piece.  I’d say you should go for solid gold or silver; that budget will accommodate precious metal.

Here’s a pro tip for you - Meguiar’s plastic cleaner and polish is a way to help you keep those watches clean.

If you’re like me, your arms are constantly flailing about willy-nilly, striking nearly every piece of concrete, dry wall and plaster they come near.  If your watch crystal is acrylic, this can lead to a lot of dings and scratches.

In the past, I’ve had my watch repair guy buff these out - often if you have a “luxury” watch, purchased new, the store you bought it from will do this for free.  My guy only charges me once in a while, and it’s usually three or four dollars.  It takes ten minutes or so, though, and I’ve recently moved 20 minutes or so from my guy, and when you get as many dings in your watch face as I do, getting in the car every time, driving 20 minutes and paying a few bucks starts to sound like a lousy solution.

Today, while I was walking my dog, I looked at my watch, and found myself annoyed with the scratches in its crystal.  But a moment later, I had a brainstorm.  Meguiar’s!

I drive an old convertible with its original top, and Meguiar’s Clear Plastic Cleaner (17), pictured above and Clear Plastic Polish (10) have been invaluable in keeping my plastic rear window from becoming completely opaque.  I figured if my window was acrylic, and my watch face was acrylic…

It worked, great.  Five minutes with a soft rag and the cleaner and polish, and my watch faces look brand new.  I imagine that if you happen to have a rotary tool (like a Dremel) with a soft cloth polishing head, you could do it in 20 seconds.

Consider yourself PRO TIPPED.

It’s On eBay

Vintage ca. 1939 Omega Wristwatch

Starts at $9.99, ending Wednesday

It’s On eBay

Junghans Max Bill Manual Watch

This watch was designed for Junghans by Max Bill, the legendary Swiss artist, designer, and teacher at the Bauhaus.  My daily watch is the automatic version of this one; there’s also a chronograph which is similarly beautiful.

Starts at $1, ends Tuesday

A beautiful communist-era Russian diving watch by Volstok on Hodinkee.