The best 5 watches to start with depends on the budget you have and what purpose you are buying the collection for.
If you are looking to start a watch collection, you may be overwhelmed by the plethora of options available in the market. It can be challenging to know where to begin and which watches are worth the investment. The best way to answer question is how much money do you have to spend on the 5 watches? Let’s say you have $1,000 to start the collection, then the watches you will be looking for will likely be entry level Swiss Brands and Japanese Brands. This can be Casio, Seiko, Citizen, Swatch and Tissot watches. If you have $10,000, you can then look at a combination of nice quality Japanese watches say Seiko up to looking at watches from Omega. I will go through a few watches that is worth look at for each price point, we will explore the best five watches to start a watch collection with.
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Best Types of Watch to Form Your Collection
The following are the type of watches to consider for your collection.
Dive Watches
Dive Watches – The universal useful watch, it typically is a part of the “one watch collection”, Dive Watches is a must in your collection. Its robust and is suitable for all occasions. Its best to get something at has at least 100m
Dress Watches
It something you can wear in a formal occasion. Can you wear this watch with your tuxedo? This is something typically think and simple. It will only just tell the time and has nice leather strap. If you’re someone who pops in and out of evening functions, definitely add a good classic dress watch to your collection.
Pilot’s Watches
Not everyone fly a plane, and you don’t have to be a pilot to own one of these. A pilot’s watch is something special and awesome to add to your collection. The main requirement of this watch is it must be legible while flying. This a traditionally a bigger watch, and in recent times it can be smaller.
GMT Watches
This is a timepiece with a 24-hour format hand that indicates a second time zone in addition to other hands. It is not just any multiple time zone watch with more than one 12 hour format dial. There are two main types of GMT watches – one with an independently adjustable hour hand, and that with an independently adjustable GMT hand. It is available for pilots and air crew to track Greenwich Mean Time in addition to the local time. If you’re someone who often travels to different time zones, this is a really nice piece to add to your collection.
Digital Watches
This is a watch that gives information by displaying numbers rather than by having a pointer. Casio is king of the digital watch. Weather it’s the $20 Casio F91 W or the more “expensive” G-SHOCK, it is the most affordable watch type and extremely functional. It’s easy to read, water resistant, practical and extremely affordable. It can tell the time and you can use it stop watch and alarm functions. The battery life for the Casio F91W-1 can last up to 7 years. Two recommendations are the classics: CASIO F91W-1 Unisex Black Digital Watch with Black Band or the Casio Men’s A158WA-1DF Stainless Steel Digital Watch
Field Watches
Field Watches – field watches are durable, accurate time pieces design for the military and the outdoors. It’s known as the “simplify dive watch”. The field watch is design to withstand the tough conditions. It typically features include large dial, stainless steel case, and glare-proof crystals. It needs to tell the time first and foremost and survive water, mud, scratches and basically the military. The field watch can start from $100 to $10,000.
How Do I Choose My Collection?
Step 1: What Type of Watches Should I Include in My Collection?
The why is the question you need to answer. What is the purpose for the collection. This often has to do with your lifestyle, personality and interest. Below is a diagram to explain the logic behind the best way to choose the type of watches in your collection?
Step 2: How Much Is My Budget?
Your budget is a key factor in your choice. Below is a diagram to help you choose the brands based on your budget for the 5 piece collection.
Collection for a Budget of Around $1,000
Longines Mens watches Conquest L3.760.4.96.6 Blue dial Stainless Steel 43mm
Price: $670
It is a finely crafted using the latest technology and high-quality materials, these timepieces are built to last. The Conquest is a refined and timeless style, with stainless steel straps, striking colored dials and a sapphire crystal glass lens. Fitted with self-winding calibres, each offers the ultimate precision. It can be worn with a casual dress or a suit. This beautiful timepiece is something that will be your main piece in your 5 piece collection arsenal.
Timex Men’s Weekender Chronograph 40 mm Watch
Price: $80
The Timex Men’s Weekender features leather double layer slip through strap , Indigo night light, 30m water resistance, date features and its chronograph measures to 1/20th second. It case size is 40mm.
Seiko SRPD51 5 Sports Men’s Watch Silver-Tone 42.5mm Stainless Steel
Price: $221
This classic Dive Watch features: 41 hour power reserve, LumiBrite hands and indices, screw down, see-through caseback, unidirectional rotating bezel, stop seconds hand function
CASIO F91W-1 Unisex Black Digital Watch with Black Band
Price: $18
This classic features LED light, Stopwatch, Daily Alarm, Auto-calendars, 12/24 Format, 7 year battery life and its Water Resistant (Do not submerge water)
Orient Men’s ‘2nd Gen. Bambino Ver. 2’
Price: $186
The Orient Bambino V2 is an automatic watch suitable for formal occasion. It is elegant and features a domed mineral crystal & dial. The 40.5mm Bambino wrist watch for men features modest Roman Numeral markers, thin hands for that classic wristwatch feeling.
Collection for a Budget of Around $10,000
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Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-Axial Chronograph
Price: $5,550
This beautiful time piece features automatic self-wind movement, Professional Co-Axial Master Chronometer 42mm Men’s Watch
Oris Aquis Date Green Dial 43.5mm Steel Men’s Watch
Price: $2,000
Designed for performance and style, the Oris Aquis Date is 43.5mm automatic self-winding master piece. It features a green dial with luminous indices and date window at 6 o’clock on a stainless steel case.
Tudor Heritage Black Bay Men’s Watch
Price: $4,000
Casio Sports Watch Men’s Stainless Steel Quartz with Strap Black
Price: $238
The G-Shock features is shock resistant. It key features includes: 200-meter water resistance, neobrite, double led light, world time, 31 time zones, second stopwatch, countdown timer, 5 daily alarms. The G-Shock is powered by the sun (solar powered).
Now, here’s my my 5 best picks:
Seiko SKX007
Photo by Thang Cao: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-an-expensive-seiko-analog-watch-5062899/
The Seiko SKX007 is a classic and versatile dive watch that is often touted as the ultimate beginner’s watch. It features a 42mm stainless steel case, a black dial with luminous markers, and a unidirectional bezel. The watch is powered by a reliable automatic movement that has a power reserve of 40 hours. The Seiko SKX007 is water-resistant up to 200 meters, making it perfect for diving and swimming.
One of the most significant advantages of the Seiko SKX007 is its affordability. It is one of the most affordable dive watches in the market, making it an excellent choice for beginners. The watch’s classic design and robust build. The Seiko is a tough and high quality make it a timepiece. Its durable and can take on a lot of wear and tear.
Omega Speedmaster Professional
Daniel Zimmermann from Bayern, Deutschland (Germany), CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Omega Speedmaster Professional is an iconic watch. It has been worn by astronauts, and featured in many movies. It is a manual-wind chronograph that features a 42mm stainless steel case and a black dial with three sub-dials. The watch is powered by the Omega caliber 1861 movement. It has a power reserve of 48 hours.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional’s main claim to fame is that it was the first watch worn on the moon. It is also known as the “Moonwatch” and is highly sought after by watch collectors. While it is not the most affordable watch on this list, it is an excellent investment that is sure to hold its value over time.
Rolex Submariner
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/analogue-chrome-dial-focus-364822/
The Rolex Submariner is a legendary dive watch that has been around since 1954. It is a status symbol and is one of the most recognizable watches in the world. The Submariner features a 40mm stainless steel case, a black dial with luminous markers, and a unidirectional bezel. The watch is powered by the Rolex caliber 3135 movement. It has a power reserve of 48 hours.
The Rolex Submariner is a watch that you can wear every day, no matter the occasion. It is water-resistant up to 300 meters and has a robust build quality that is sure to last for decades. While it is an expensive watch, it is a worthwhile investment that is sure to appreciate over time.
Casio G-Shock
Photo by Quang Viet Nguyen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-wearing-a-black-wristwatch-9848542/
The Casio G-Shock is tough and durable. It features a resin case, a digital display, and is water-resistant up to 200 meters. The watch is a quartz movement watch. The battery life can last around two years.
The Casio G-Shock is an affordable watch that is perfect for those who want a timepiece that can withstand rough conditions. It is popular among military personnel and outdoor enthusiasts due to its durability and functionality. The watch is also available in a range of colors and designs, making it a stylish accessory for everyday wear.
Timex Weekender
Photo by Grzegorz: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-wearing-black-wristwatch-5227939/
The Timex Weekender is a stylish and affordable watch that is perfect for casual wear. It features a 38mm brass case, a white dial with Arabic numerals, and is available in a range of strap options. The watch is powered by a quartz movement. The battery life can last around two years.
The Timex Weekender is an excellent watch for those who want a stylish timepiece that won’t break the bank. The Weekender is versatile. It can be worn with a range of outfits.
We have covered the best watches in my opinion for a 5 watch collection, the type of watches for different occasions, the best 5 collection for the $1,000 dollar price range and $10,000 price range. If you’re someone who is constantly out and about the outdoors, a few more durable pieces in your collection makes sense. If you’re the city type and attend a lot evening events, a few more classic looking dress watches is the probably more your thing. For the person who is constantly at the gym, a good smart watch or Casio G-Shock is more suitable. If you’re like James Bond, combining the Omega Seamaster with the Seiko 5 along with the Timex would be ideal.
I hope the diagrams and my research can help you find your 5 piece collection and decide which watches to buy. The decision-making part of the process is often the most difficult. This is why we need to have a clear “why” before we start making our decisions. This is not only for watch collectors but everything in life in general. Start with the purpose!