True ‘skeletonization’ also includes the trimming away of any non-essential metal on the bridge, plate, wheel train or any other mechanical part of the watch, leaving only a minimalist ‘bare’ skeleton of the movement required for functionality.
True ‘skeletonization’ also includes the trimming away of any non-essential metal on the bridge, plate, wheel train or any other mechanical part of the watch, leaving only a minimalist ‘bare’ skeleton of the movement required for functionality.
For a skeleton watch, yes.
For a mechanical watch, also yes.
Unfortunately, prices have gone through the roof in the past few years.
Now I don’t think there are any nice quality watches left in that price range.
You can still get a Vostok Amphibia for that kind of money, which is entirely hand-crafted, definitely interesting mechanically, and will last decades. But buying from Russia at the moment (on a Russian website), waiting a month for delivery, and getting the Vostok experience isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Also, I don’t think it’s even possible to get them shipped to the US.
Even a nice Quartz watch like a solar-powered Citizen Eco-Drive will be slightly out of your budget.
If you still do want a mechanical watch, look for Seiko, Citizen and Orient. Those are the best budget offerings.
Chinese Red Star watches also fit the budget, but they’re also not for everyone.
I second Citizen Eco-Drive
I have a ton of watches and I wear my Citizen Eco-Drive Primo Stingray 620 pretty much everyday.
Definitely would suggest a solar or motion powered watch. Batteries are a pain.
Thirded, automatics are only if you plan on making it your daily driver though cause their power reserves rarely are 48+hours. Solar faces are nice, but honestly, batteries will last almost half a decade and cost $10 to replace at most jewelers.
But if you want the best of both worlds, with a sweeping second hand and you don’t have to wind it or wear it everyday? Lol for one with a TMI VH31 movement.