You'll be working with people who makes hundreds of thousands per year. A nice watch is well within their financial means, if they don't have one it's by their own volition.

As long as you don't wear a look-at-me watch, or rock up with a Lange or Patek, or obnoxiously advertise whatever you do finally decide on, I don't see how it would be an issue. Just like with a $200k Ivy League degree, it's all in how you carry it.

 

If you're considering those you're talking about a different universe of watch from everyone else in this thread haha this might be unacceptable at an investment bank for the opposite reason you intimate in the op

 

I like the Baume and Mercier Capeland S (3 dial with a leather band or single dial metal bracelet). I also like Stowa and Nomos for entry level watches. Appropriate is relative and subject to personal preference although I went through the same thought process as you and decided that $3-$5k was appropriate based on the fact that I think that price range is where you can find the most value with respect to quality in-house movements and brands.

 

For 3-5 you can do way better than Baume and Mercier if you just buy slightly used. Occasionally I see Submariners going for around or under 5. Of course you have to be comfortable buying used in a p2p transaction.

 

I am fascinated by watches, so I am a bit biased. If you want a high quality timepiece you might consider one of the below mentioned brands/watches.

Huge fan of Omega (Seamster/Aqua Terra/ Speedmaster). Other recommendations: IWC Portugieser/Mark/Portofino. Tag Heuer Carrera line. Longines. Classy Rolex watches like the Explorer 1 or maybe even a Sub No Date.

Do not take too shiny watches. You will be associated with a group you most likely do not want to belong to. ("Hey, I am a baller cause I can afford fancy watches")

Hint: Hublot is a no go!

If you want something below 1k I would consider classy Tissot Automatic watches. Solid quality for affordable prices

 

I would probably look at buying a pre-owned Rolex DateJust that can be had for between 2-4K

If you wany a brand new watch look at the hamilton jazzmaster viewmatic or auto chrono (725-1450) or the longines 1954 heritage chronograph (1825)

Check out these websites:

pduggan.com Europeanwatchco.com bernardwatches.com

 

TimeZone Sales Corner or Showcase, amongst others (therolexforum, watchuseek, etc)

I bought a very nice watch in one of those forums. Transactions are peer-to-peer with no intermediary, so you need to be comfortable with that. The community is pretty established, and there are dozens of re-sellers with dozens if not hundreds of previous transactions. Obviously get pictures of the piece, and also request references (people who have done business with that seller in the past) to vet the seller.

The big con is you can be scammed out of a lot of money. You could also receive the watch in worse condition than the seller led you to believe it was in. These problems can be avoided by dealing only with established and known enthusiasts/collectors/re-sellers who have lots of previous transactions to reference. The overwhelming pro of this arrangement is you an buy insanely nice watches that has maybe been worse ten times or less for 25-50% off sticker price.

 

I bought an IWC for around ~8K as an analyst. No one cared and now that I'm even further up the career chain I'm glad I still think my watch is perfect. I likely won't buy another for another 4-5 years. Just love the look and cost level of mine plenty.

Don't be worried about the cost. You buy it with your cash, everyone else can STFU.

"If you want to succeed in this life, you need to understand that duty comes before rights and that responsibility precedes opportunity."
 

One of these: http://www.iwc.com/en/collection/portugieser/IW3714/

Something to think about is if you go to a family owned or non-chain jewelry store and offer to pay in cash/check you can usually get a good deal. For example, when I bought mine, I offered to pay all in check and they gave me something like 12% off the sticker price. I then shipped it to another state where they had no locations (another perk of a small jeweler) which created no sales tax, saving another 9%.

"If you want to succeed in this life, you need to understand that duty comes before rights and that responsibility precedes opportunity."
 

I had a good experience with Alan Furman, if you want a new watch through a grey market dealer. You likely won't get a great deal on a Rolex because, from what I understand, Rolex has been cracking down the past couple years. But you can get good deals on other watch brands. You can use their price/quote to try and negotiate with a B&M, just don't say that the quote is from a grey market co.

To answer your original question, I'm partial to the Omega Seamaster 300m (non-007). If you're looking for a classic looking sub-$1,000, I'd go with a Hamilton or Frederique Constant.

 

Unless you can afford a Patek, don't buy anything else aside from a Rolex sports model. I say this because Rolex stainless steel sports models is the Toyota of watches - it depreciates just a little bit.

You can buy a used submariner for 7k today and sell it for give or take the same 2 years down the road. Omega / Tag / etc depreciates the same way as BMWs and Audis - instant hit.

 

Apple Watch obviously :)

More seriously, re-read what the previous poster wrote. What he wrote is a pretty accurate description of the way it comes off. I doubt anyone will notice if you don't wear a watch at all. If you do just get something that looks professional. Seiko, Bulova, and Tag-Heur all have some entry level watches that match a suit pretty well. My first professional watch was a black and gold Seiko that I still keep in my rotation.

 

Have any of you bought Breda watches? They're decent looking for ~$60, and JackThreads has them on sale for $25 now. They're not some top-notch formal watch, but they look solid for casual stuff, bars, and other times when an expensive watch isn't too appropriate.

Make Idaho a Semi-Target Again 2016 Not an alumnus of Idaho
 

Well look at comparable Invicta watches and you'll see that most of them are in that same price range, which leads me to believe that the retail price is full of sh 1t. Also, one of the reviews says the watch is a lot bigger than expected... if you have a cheap, flashy watch at your top BB, then you might come off as a douchebag. Unless you have $500 to drop on a watch, I don't think it's worth getting one at all.

 

Well look at comparable Invicta watches and you'll see that most of them are in that same price range, which leads me to believe that the retail price is full of sh 1t. Also, one of the reviews says the watch is a lot bigger than expected... if you have a cheap, flashy watch at your top BB, then you might come off as a douch3bag. Unless you have $500 to drop on a watch, I don't think it's worth getting one at all.

 

Invictas are occasionally sold on TV infomercials, and they often try to make models that are 'homages' to other more popular watches.

If you want a good watch that doesn't break the bank, besides the Citizen - I would suggest looking at the Seiko Spirit. It's a decent automatic for under $500. http://forums.watchuseek.com/f304/review-seiko-spirit-scvs015-automatic… and http://forums.watchuseek.com/f21/seiko-spirit-scvs003-initial-impressio…

 

There's nothing 'wrong' with that for a starter watch. I think my first major watch purchase was a fossil in high school and I still wear it sometimes (hiking, etc). If you like that one, go for it.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
happypantsmcgee:
There's nothing 'wrong' with that for a starter watch. I think my first major watch purchase was a fossil in high school and I still wear it sometimes (hiking, etc). If you like that one, go for it.

Hahaha...I can't believe you just admitted that you go hiking!!!! LOL.

J/K.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Citizen Eco Drive watches are great

I've got the nighthawk: http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BJ7000-52E-Eco-Drive-Nighthawk-Stainless/…

When I bought it about 3 years ago it was ~$340, I see it on amazon for $238

Its pretty rugged and just needs a little bit of light to stay charged. Its a larger face (43 mm) but I think it goes great with anything (work or casual)

Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis - when I was dead broke man I couldn't picture this
 

That watch is fine as long as it does not look really huge/flashy in person. Other brands to consider in that price range: Fossil, Bulova, Skagen - check out Macys for some.

Stick with classic styles. I have 2 watches in that price range (sub $100) that I alternate and nobody gives a crap. As long as you're not wearing anything outrageous, the watch you wear will not harm or help you on the job or in interviews.

 

So as a new analyst coming into a BB is it necessary to wear a watch to look like a professional? I like watches alot, i price them often but never buy because I don't care to wear them. I haven't worn a watch since my burger king rugrats watch when I was in 3rd grade.

You give me a gift? *BAM* Thank you note! You invite me somewhere? *POW* RSVP! You do me a favor? *WHAM* Favor returned! Do not test my politeness.
 

^ It's not necessary to wear a watch, people generally won't care. But if you do want to wear or buy one, there's a bunch of past posts on watches. I know, cause I responded to a number of them.

I think the most important thing for an analyst is just to have a staple of good dress shirts, a few suits that fit well, good trousers and nice shoes. Watch is secondary. And no, you won't need to buy an expensive one.

 
A Posse Ad Esse:
So I know the topic has been discussed quite a bit and I've searched as well as read all the long threads discussing it, but I guess because of my browsing history Amazon has started sending me emails with deals on watches. I know people tend to recommend the Citizen Eco-drive, but right now this watch is $70. http://www.Amazon.com/dp/B003UNX4Q6/ref=pe_33480_18101020_fe_txt_1/

Yes/No, and why? I'm a bit skeptical that a $500 watch would be down to 1/7 of its price, but I'm willing to throw money at it to see what the deal is.

You know this watch has a 47mm case diameter, right? Too big, in my opinion.

 

You can get an automatic Invicta Pro Diver for $90 or so... (modeled after Rolex Submariner)

It takes a lickin and keeps on tickin, wear it to the offfice every day.

My manager 1 day was convinced I was wearing a $20k Rolex.

 

Citizen Eco Drive Perpetual Calendar and Seiko Sportura are the two watches I am getting next. Then a big boy watch I'll save up for is Tag Hauer Aqua Racer or Omega Seamaster Pro

 

^ Cmoss. If you want to look at Seikos, consider the ones they make in Japan (there's a huge difference between the Seikos assembled in North America, and the ones they only make in Japan and generally sell only in Asia). Check here: http://www.seiyajapan.com/

I hear some vintage omegas are worth getting so that's something you can look into. It'd be a lot cheaper, but I think you really need to do some research to avoid getting a raw deal.

 

IWCs are great. They're pricey though for analysts.

I'd rather go without a watch or get something simple like this... timex... if I was back in my analyst days.

You have to be comfortable with yourself to wear a watch that costs less than a cab ride though, if your colleagues are status/watch obsessed. I personally don't see the point in paying $100s of dollars for a mediocre designer watch. For work, I'd either go cheap and tasteful (i.e. just something to tell the time), or expensive but timeless / with a proper "movement" or whatever it's called (i.e. IWC and such).

For outside of work wear whatever you want... even if its the gold-plated CASIO with a built-in calculator... Be yourself.

 

Honestly, I'd push the Citizen. I've been very happy with mine. For $250 you can get a solid Citizen with a steel bracelet, and not ever have to worry about a) it breaking (because it's not expensive) or b) running out of battery (cause it's friggin' solar powered).

"When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is." - Oscar Wilde "Seriously, psychology is for those with two x chromosomes." - RagnarDanneskjold
 

Looks like Skagen even makes solar watches. Just something to consider.

"When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is." - Oscar Wilde "Seriously, psychology is for those with two x chromosomes." - RagnarDanneskjold
 

I would not have a pleasant time talking to a 20 year old that just got everything handed to him/her in their life, including a nice luxurious watch. I, of course, would depend on how you carry yourself, but my initial thought on this would be in the negative.

 

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Dolore enim rerum hic repudiandae eligendi in in. Quam vitae omnis aliquid repellendus enim deleniti. Voluptate sint tenetur quae dolorem reprehenderit fugit placeat. Vero dolorem maiores itaque omnis asperiores natus consequatur.

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Debitis aut et sed. Iste blanditiis quia fuga esse eveniet. Impedit quasi suscipit deleniti alias. Nihil modi tenetur odio laborum assumenda laboriosam nulla debitis.

 

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