A: If we start dying the day we are born, then would it not behoove us to appreciate our fleeting existence instead of passing from one distraction to the next? A mobile phone is a stunning achievement in technology, but it does little to further the human experience. They are effective devices for communicating, but they’re also a gateway to addicting, wasteful distractions. But wearing a wristwatch is a constant, visible reminder that your life is not unlimited. Each flick of the second hand is a tangible signal of your eventual demise. We are all dying men, and our perishing only accelerates when we fall oblivious to the inexorable period at the end of our sentence. A wristwatch is a stylish reminder that we are always running out of paper and ink.
So, dead man, here’s 2016’s best looking watches under $200. Maybe one will catch your eye… before it and its eyeball neighbor closes forever.
Orient Ray II Automatic – $189.02
Already on Amazon for under two bills. Automatic movement that hacks and hand winds. 200 m water resistance. 120 click bezel helps keep track of elapsed time. Classic dive-watch looks. Recently re-designed, and that movement is an improvement over the old option.
Rodina NOMOS Homage – $119.99
Made by the largest manufacturer of mechanical movements in the world (that’d be China’s Sea-Gull). It is an unabashed, some would say totally shameless, “homage” to the much, MUCH more expensive Nomos Tangente. Same Bahaus looks, at a much more accessible price. Rotor isn’t as silent as most automatics, but it does have a sapphire crystal, and overall, the thing delivers. Full review here. UPDATE: Got some bad news from a reader named Harrison. He ordered this thing, and upon arrival all he got was… wait for it… an empty box. Sea-Gull has so far denied refunding him or sending him another watch. I had something similar happen to me once (a box showed up, empty, with no watch in it.) but the company made good, quickly, by sending another watch. It wasn’t Sea-Gull though. Just beware. If something goes sideways, you might have a terrible time trying to get the company to rectify the problem.
Timex x Red Wing 42mm Chrono, 40mm, or 38mm – $138 – $158
Easily one of the most successful watch releases of 2016. Timex took a couple designs from their retro-inspired Waterbury design, and paired it up with straps made from Red Wing boot leather. The end result flew off the shelves, and for a while there, was tough to find. Now back in stock via Todd Snyder (the exclusive US distributor), or, via END clothing, for less, as long as you’re willing to take the over-seas shipping risk. Image above is via the Timex Instagram.visualizzare più imitazioni orologi e rolex svizzera
