3 Affordable Watches I Can’t Live Without

Today I’d like to give you a peek inside of my wardrobe. All of the watches you see today are watches I actually own and have experience with.

Why I Like Watches

First let me tell you why I like watches in the first place.

The number one reason I like watches is because time is very important to me. So having a tool to help me track that just makes sense.

The daily questions that roll through my mind include:

• How long have I been on my phone?
• How much time will I have left after this (insert social gathering here) to get other things done?
• Am I running late for anything?

I live by the belief that people should make the most of their time. And because this is a strong belief, I always wear a watch to help me stay on track.

For me it’s about functionality first, and then style.

Now let’s take a look at the below watches and see why each has their own special story.

My Business Casual Watch

Now that you see what it looks like, I’ll go ahead and address the elephant in the room concerning this watch.

While I do like the way this watch looks, I didn’t purchase it because of its resemblance to Rolex. (Not that there’s anything wrong with doing that).

But the reason I bought this watch is because I’m far enough along on my “style journey” to wear what I like regardless of what the masses may think.

What I enjoy about this timepiece is that it bridges the gap between casual and classy. While I don’t wear it with a suit, it does make every other outfit look better.

Sentimental Value

I purchased this watch at a Ross department store in December 2021 for about $50. What’s even better than the deal I got on it, is the reason behind the purchase.

A few days before that shopping trip I had just received a raise on my job. This marked the first performance-based raise I had ever received since beginning to work a “real job” back in 2012.

(Of course I felt like I had earned a performance-based raise well before then, but nevertheless this was a special accomplishment) !

Pro Tip: Buying functional items as a way to commemorate special events is a great idea! Every time I wear this watch I’m reminded of the growing success in my career.

My Retro Watch

I picked mine up from your friendly neighborhood Walmart for just under $20.

Then I went on eBay to find a leather band to go with it. With the swapping of the band, the watch became even more wearable on a everyday basis.

This watch always seems to get it’s fair share of compliments whenever I wear it. In fact it gets compliments more than some of my pricier watches!

Sentimental Value

This retro styled watch was one of my first purchases as I began getting into watches. 2 of my favorite things when it comes to clothes are watches and shoes.

Many in the watch community view this watch as a “right of passage” that every collector should have. So this watch meant a lot to me as it was my introduction into the community!

Isn’t it interesting how a budget-friendly timepiece can make such a statement?

My Work Watch

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I liked this watch when I first saw it (but I’ll try) .

At my previous job there would be times when I would work on special projects. For those in the Oil and Gas industry these special projects as commonly known as “turnarounds”.

Without going into too much detail, let’s just say I was working lots of hours. 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

One day at work I saw a employee with the above watch. I was mesmerized by how good it looked.

• The black and yellow contrast
• The ruggedness of the watch (perfect for my industry)
• The fact that it was solar powered
• It’s many ways of keeping time with additional modes and features.

I purchased this watch on Amazon years ago for $176. To date, that’s the most I’ve ever spent on a watch. It has stood the test of time, and I still wear it to work to this day.

Sentimental Value

The watch is special to me because I remember how hard I worked during that time. Wearing it is a constant reminder to push forward in my career.

Conclusion

If there’s one thing I hope you get out of this post it’s this: make purchases that really mean something to you.

Sometimes we buy things just because it’s on sale, or because it’s the “hot item” that everyone is currently wearing.

Spend your money in a way that makes you happy. At the end of the day you’ll find yourself with things you just can’t live without!

Posted By: Jeffrey Chark · In: Style Talk