I know there're a lot of watch aficionados here, so here's a challenge/request.

My birthday is coming up, parents have a budget of £100 to get me something. There's nothing I want really, so figure maybe a new watch. I'd add an extra £50 to that budget so I'm looking around £150 (maybe £200 at a push)

I have quite a few watches, I think it's because I have yet to find "the one" I am 100% happy with.

I like my gadgetry so they tend to have various dials and the likes, what I am looking for should ideally have:

Solar/kinetic power (IE, no need for battery replacement)
Alarm function
Not be absolutely huge, which seems to be the style at the moment.

Beyond that anything goes really. I would have added radio control to the above list, but I have a radio controlled watch already, so can use that to set the time every now and again if needed.

To get an idea of personal tastes, my current watch is:

- Radio controlled, solar power, my only gripes are that the hands aren't luminous and it's chunky

Past watches have been:

- This would have been ok, but setting alarms etc were a pain (so maybe a digi/analogue is the way to go) and I had a massive issue with Citizen when the glass broke and they did shoddy repairs, 4 times....It put me off their watches...

Had this back when I was diving, good watch, but the battery replacement costs ££ due to the watch needing to be pressure tested for diving etc...



So, any suggestions or personal likes are welcome.

Was waiting for that. Was kind of hoping people might have personal recommendations of specific watches, skywatches is great if you want casio or citizen, but what about lesser known brands etc? And it's hard to gauge size etc

I've got a thing for skeleton watches atm.

I don't see why it wouldn't be practical?

zpyder, kinetic over solar every day to be honest, I put the skywatches link up because you can just spend ages looking over the site, it's full of wacky stuff 

zpyder, kinetic over solar every day to be honest, I put the skywatches link up because you can just spend ages looking over the site, it's full of wacky stuff 

Really? My dads Omega is forever running out of power when he doesn't wear it enough. At least Solar you can leave it somewhere and it'll charge itself?!

zpyder, I didn't think of it like that as I just have 1 watch! Though I think you can get about 5 days without wearing from most kinetics and it will still tick on 

Yeah, I see the point when you mention working with one on and getting it greasy or whatnot. I do know they cost a wedge in servicing every few years, but I think this usually includes a cleanup and restoration if it needs doing, hence why you see so many older watches in such immaculate condition. So while that money sounds like a lot, its keeping your expensive investment intact and pristine (the same as you would a supercar, I'd imagine)