We just did a whole bunch of work for you. You’ll thank us in a second. Let us explain:
You know that person in your life who’s new to watches? Maybe they’re not even voluntarily new to watches — they’re just new because you never shut your damn mouth about them? Constantly waxing poetic about in-house movements, dial finishing and case contours, you have turned this human into a bonafide horological dilettante, soon-to-be full-on watch nerd. In other words: you owe this person a watch.
Well here’s a watch for you: It’s 40mm, automatic, less than $300, handsome, and it’s from a classic American brand. It’s got a fully graduated, aluminum bezel insert. And the case back has been left blank so you can engrave it. It comes on a leather strap — an American-made leather strap — and it’s perfect for men and women? Do we even have to keep going?
Fine, we’ll keep going: It’s got a super cool black dial with a sharp mix of Arabic numerals and baton indices, as well as matching, lume-filled baton hands and a bright red seconds hand. The HODINKEE logo is present on the dial, but in black fill, making for a kind of secret handshake between “watch folk.” The push-pull crown is signed with the old Waterbury Clock Company logo — the predecessor to modern Timex — and gives the watch 100m of water resistance. And that strap? It’s made by S.B. Foot Tanning Co. in Red Wing, Minnesota.
So do your watch-loving friend or family member a favor and get them into the hobby the right way — with an affordable mechanical watch that’s been thoughtfully designed.