The 8 Best Automatic Watches Under $500
Vložit
- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- In this hands on guide, we’re taking a look at the best affordable automatic watches. These timepieces employ nothing but movement from the wrist of the wearer to coil the mainspring which then spools and unspools in rhythmic fashion much like the beating heart of its wearer. We’re also adding another important qualifier, and will just focus our attention on our favorite automatic watches under (or around) $500.
Purchase Links:
Timex M79 Automatic ($289) - fave.co/3JhLPCF
Citizen Tsuyosa ($360) - fave.co/4cVTyUl
Seiko SRPK17 (55th Anniversary Edition) ($415) - amzn.to/3UjdkBT
Laco Valencia 39mm ($440) - amzn.to/3U2rLch
Baltic HMS 002 ($390) - bit.ly/3W20qJL
Unimatic UC4 ($487) - bit.ly/4aXojX4
Lorier Falcon SIII ($499) - bit.ly/49znXoN
Nodus Sector Deep (Destro) ($599) - bit.ly/4aTnZc3
Video Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Timex M79 Automatic
03:40 Citizen Tsuyosa
05:40 Seiko SRPK17 (55th Anniversary Edition)
08:08 Laco Valencia 39mm
11:03 Baltic HMS 002
13:37 Unimatic UC4
16:30 Lorier Falcon SIII
19:14 Nodus Sector Deep (Destro)
22:22 Conclusion
Affiliate Disclosure:
Clicking on these links to purchase products may earn HICONSUMPTION a small percentage of the purchase price as a referral fee.
Follow HICONSUMPTION:
hiconsumption.com/
/ hiconsumption
/ hiconsumption
/ hiconsumption
#watches #watchcollection #automaticwatch - Jak na to + styl
That Baltic is a pure ART
Some incredible watch designs here!
Great list! Would like to add the Orient Mako 40 to the list. Really good one piece
This was vastly useful. Thank you.
Great video!
The Lorier and the Baltic are just strait class! 2 of my favorite microbrands. The quality in your videos are just 🤌🏼🤌🏼
Regarding water resistance for the Tsuyosa, it doesn't really bother me personally. I find that watch enthusiasts over exaggerate the importance of water resistance. If you aren't diving, then 50m of water resistance is enough for 99.99999% of all situations you'll ever encounter, and if you are diving, you're not getting this watch. Also side note, idk what it is with watch reviewers calling it the "Toyosa", it's Tsu (as is Tsunami) yosa. If you can't make the Ts- sound just call it the Suyosa, would be way more accurate, don't get hung up on the T
Exactly. I was going to make the same comment. When is the last time you, or anyone you know, were more than 50m underwater? I don't even wear my watches in the shower 😂
That’s not really how it works, those are static tests, where if you jump into water like when you’re swimming the watch will feel incredibly high pressure when you hit the water. Pressure is merely force / area, and you experience high amounts of force when you jump into water.
@@agonizin ok so don’t go diving into a pool with your dress watch lol. If you want to go into water get a diver and never have to worry. Idk I get wanting to wear a watch, but trying to wear a dressier watch in a pool will always be silly to me, might as well swim with a suit and tie too at that point.
Not a bad list, could’ve skipped the Seiko for an Orient Mako II, but fun to see the more affordable Laco and Unimatic models.
I agree with everyone - really great choices here... Not a fan of the Laco but otherwise quality picks of some beautiful unique designs.
Laco makes really handsome watches. I like clicky bezel's video on the laco watches
Excellent overview! Loved the Seiko SRPK17 with the vintage 60's-era diver look. Also, nice details on the stainless caseback/flat bracelet and 40-hr power reserve. 👍-Alex@Vanquest
WHEN EDITING TURN DOWN THE HIGHS! YOUR VIDEOS ARE QUALITY BUT YOUR S'S ARE EAR PIERCING
Dude I’m here to enjoy the video and maybe find a nice watch to buy. Hiconsumption does great at what they set out to do. I’m pretty sure 99% of viewers don’t mind the Audio. Get back to producing p diddys music bro😂
@@GhostGuyMan it appears at least 24 people agree with me. Thanks for your input tho 🤫
@@GhostGuyManso someone makes a legitimate criticism and your response is “I’m just here to mindlessly consume content. Go away. (Lame insult)”. I mean sounds about par for the course for a HiConsumption viewer. If you thought this was a “good” video on watches in any way other than the photography, then you were sadly mistaken.
Killer collection and great pieces. Feel like only change I would make is moving your navitimer to a different day to not have two chronos back to back, but do like your reasoning on both. Also, I think you would benefit from a nice simple dress watch or calatrava for those rare special occasions, espcially with those two remaining slots 😊
Great list! To add to it - I feel weird saying this, but I’d honestly add some of the AliExpress watches to my own top 8 list under 500. Their quality is getting insane for the price, let alone the seagull 1963 which is the cheapest mechanical chronograph and has a more beautiful movement than anything under 1k
While I’m a fan of the ST1901 movement, the finish quality on it is pretty terrible. After a month or so, the novelty of looking at it mostly wears off and once you’re exposed to a well finished movement, it just looks like crap lol.
@@Mr1121628 lol yeah movement finishing isn't really the reason I personally like the aliexpress watches. The fact that they have a mechanical chronograph in watches under 220 USD is whats dope to me. This specific point you have is one of the reasons I'm trying to teach myself about how to hand finish parts at home. Have a dream of completely refinishing an ST1901 to put in a seagull or sugess case
They break easily too lmao
Citizen Tsuyosa, I love it!
A decent spread of brands and styles while avoiding the SM / Orient knock offs! I have that HMS3 salmon on a BOR bracelet on my list somewhere. The rest here are decidedly not for me.
For my taste, 600 opens a lot of doors.. traska, zelos, halios.. so id have preferred your top 8 NH35, i mean automatic, watch list at that price. Haha cheers
You have the best taste in your collection Ive seen since 2008! ❤ Although you d wear the watches too tight. IMO. I think you should should be able to put a finger or 2 in the inside the bracelet. So watch floats alittle around your wrist to minimize breakage. Nice presentation. Peace.
If we are using Rolex model names to describe the citizens bracelet, that design is more like a president than a jubilee.
Nezumi aviera was below 500 euros for a while, i did have a price hike recently idk if it still holds below 500$
Nice to see that Keanu likes reasonable priced watches.
"supply watches to the germany military during WW2" man I wonder what those guys were up to?
You're absolutely right.
The same question as almost all other German brands during WW2 period.
What lovely Maybach were producing?
😂😂😂😂😅
Helping the correct side of the war
Honestly who cares
I agree: people forget that these German watch manufacturers were helping the Nazis. It is always omitted when people talk about these brands.
Timex is on the verge of being my go to under $300.oo watch, their quality seems to have gotten better within a certain range. Some of the movements they use could be quieter.
What’s your wrist size? That Laco looks so good btw
Thanks! Wrist size is just under 8”
I did strongly consider buying every single one of these watches at some points. Good choices, fully agree with em
I’ve been in the market for a watch and can’t do over 1k but I couldn’t find the Baltic online. Only in straps
Automatics are cheaper than manual winders?
I don't think that's true.
Nodus ftw, imo btw😄
I like tool watches.
Prices for watches are all over the board irrespective of movement. Theres 50$ autos and 50$ manuals and 50$ quartz. At every price point, everything exists.
Genuinely surprised this list didn't include a Seiko 5 Sport like everyone else's list but I'm impressed with the addition of much more unique choices.
The third watch reviewed is literally a Seiko 5 Sports watch.
@@chuckt808 sorry what I meant was the Seiko 5 Sport divers that have gotten popular over the last couple years. Like the SRPD59 or SRPD55
How many unique choices are there? 😂
@@thelegendoftheonot a real diver.
null skx or prx?
Four venerable brands and four new ones, and for all thèse brands, an interesting watch. A great selection, thanks!
"if you want to watch exactly like this at this price point this is the best one." -elite journalism
Did…did you lower the pitch on your voice? It sounds artificially deep lol
This may be an odd one, but if Timex introduced a “proper” iconic logo I think they would elevate their brand. It’s not a deal breaker, but it would nudge me to pull the trigger on several models.
Unfortunately the movement selection and quality are the biggest issue on timex. Terrible case finishing, terrible bracelet, overpriced, poorly specced, there’s really not much good I can say about Timex other than a few interesting designs.
Совершенно разные часы. Что их объеденяет? Только цена?
Vostok missing 😢
"...screams in the most elegant way possible" 😂
A Seiko turtle 🐢 is missing in this imo
You think the Timex is luxury because you can hand wind it? Other than some extremely basic seiko's almost all automatics can be hand wound nowadays.
Yeah this channel knows nothing about watches, yet confidently makes a video about them. 😂
You can already see the scratches on the Baltic at 13:13.. if only they went with a sapphire crystal instead of hesalite.
Great choices to try out your first automatic watch!
After the honey moon period you will realise that "servicing" these automatics means taking the old movement out and putting a brand new one in.
Might as well go with quartz since you only swap the battery out in those.
But if the watch bug gets you then you will probably end up doing a bit of the service work yourself.
Either way, you learn from your past experiences so trying out something new is worth the risk.
Concerning the Laco, name a more iconic German and Japanese collaboration, ill wait...
Oh yeah 😳
You can get the M79 at Costco for 149 dollars right now.
Don’t need a watch, I know what time it is!
Precious ❤❤❤
The three row bracelet on the Tsuyosa is called a presidential bracelet, not a jubilee. A jubilee is five row.
No one seems to get the correct pronunciation of Tsuyosa. Weird, it is not that hard. Besides that, 5 out of 8 watches have Citizen movement, which says a lot. Seiko is falling behind.
I would get a Shinola, that’s a great watch
Eh Shinola is kind of a crap company. They got in trouble for claiming their watches were USA made which they definitely weren’t, and they’re effectively a fashion brand. Don’t buy watches from a fashion brand.
@@Mr1121628 I’ve been to the shop, are u sure ur not thinking of a different company?
Did i hear it correctly or not?
Automatic is cheaper than hand wound mechanical movements? In what world ?
Nonetheless , great video tho
Under 500$ I can buy swiss mechanical watches such as Tissot, Certina, Hamilton, Glycine, also I can buy Orient Star under 500$ 😂
Cool make a video.
Problem if we are wearing cheap watches, most of sales staff ( cars, property , boats ) don't respect you.
The seiko 5 is attractive but un buyable. With no sapphire crystal, it is way overpriced.
I don't know, all these watches are very unique, maybe except Citizen, I don't like them, at all. Oh, after some thought, they are love or hate type of list ( at least for me).
They're either unique or they're not 🙄
Under 300$ you can buy a SAN MARTIN
"automatics are the bridge between manually wound watches and quartz watches"...
Ummm...what? 🤔🤨 Not even close.
I've never looked at it that way. I can't say I've heard anyone else say that either.
Yeah this video is a complete joke to any watch people.
When there are amazing value watches from Chinese scene, this list seems boring
Yep made by a fashion channel not a watch enthusiast.
This video is chocked full of mistakes. Things actual watch reviewers would KNOW to criticize or clarify. So many instances of lack of good information or recommendation. Also, HiConsumption is a terrible name for a channel lol. Overconsumption is a bad thing. Besides, if you really do “consume” a lot of watches, then why all the easy mistakes and screw ups? This is clearly a surface level video for those who know nothing about watches.
Get one from a credible Chinese brand under $300 instead.
Like San Martin. It blows 80% of these watches out of the water for half the price. But no mention because these are fashion people, not watch people.
@@Mr1121628 Half the price as long as they make copycats.
Their "originals" are still good value, but no more half the price, even if they are off-the-shelf pieces with an original dial.
Using original case, hands and dial, and with 300m WR, like for the Unimatic here. How much you think you'll spare with San Martin? Fifty bucks?