this post was submitted on 03 Apr 2024
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Mechanical: You're looking for a Seiko. Bulletproof, affordable mechanical watches. They need service every 5 years or so and you will need to adjust the time regularly as mechanical watches are basically shitty at their jobs. I have a Seiko Monster and it rules. Also check out the Cocktail Time line, really cool but maybe 500+. The Seiko Alpinist is also awesome.
Quartz: If you are interested in keeping precise time, then you want a quartz movement. Cheaper, keep better time, but you will need to feed them batteries occasionally, which is annoying every decade or so. Lots of brands make decent quartz movements. Watch snobs talk shit, but they've been brainwashed by the Swiss marketing.
Maybe the best option: solar-powered, radio-adjusted movements. Casio makes a number of good options (g-shocks and others) and Citizen's Eco-Drive is also well-regarded.
Any option you choose will eventually need service over a lifetime, but mechanical watches have by far the highest maintenance costs for obvious reasons.
Casio is my default for cheap and durable. I have a HDD-600 still running on its original battery for at least 15 years (it outlived the original strap which had rubber rot). And when I do change the battery it will be 4 screws and a gasket.
Solar-powered as far as I understand is a gimmick since the solar cell won't necessarily even work well after 10-15 years. Not worth avoiding such a small amount of maintenance.
Yeah, I forgot to mention that the longevity of the solar models is indeterminate due to new technologies. I imagine they will get better and better, though, as solar tech is constantly improving.