Best-Selling Men's Watches for 2016

The Best-Selling Men's Watches for 2016

Welcome to our watch review site! You've made the right choice to visit. I have done my homework and extensively researched this year's watch selection. The watches I review here start at under $100 and then include some luxury pieces, but all are unbeatable values. Let me give you some ideas and suggestions on current styles and trends. If you find what you're after, go for it! It could be for yourself, a special someone, for graduation, a birthday, holiday, or for no special reason at all!

Following the table summary of models included here, you'll find my more detailed reviews. If you see a watch here that you like and want more information, 

Best Men's Watches of 2016

Manufacturer	Model	Price	Features
Casio	Pro Trek PRW2500	$250	Designed for challenging environments. Includes altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer.
Samsung	Galaxy Gear Smartwatch	$330	Smartphone features including phone, text, and email; 1.63-inch screen.
TAG Heuer	Formula 1 Professional Watch	$750 and up	Scratch-resistant sapphire-coated dial window. Water resistant to 660 feet.
Omega	Seamaster "James Bond" Blue Dial Watch	$5,300	Designed for skindiving. Water resistant to 1,000 feet.
Invicta	Russian Diver	$65	Canteen style screw-top crown and chain.

What Kind of Watch Suits Me?

Since I review watches maybe you're asking, what do I wear on my wrist?

I have a TAG and a Citizen, but as a newbie collector I want them all! I think having variety and different materials when it comes to wearing a timepiece is essential for today's world.

When buying a men's watch, there are many things to consider. Honestly, most men should probably own at least three watches. But the truth is, most men prefer one watch and will wear it regardless of what they're doing.

I am a professional that works in a corporate office building. I own a watch that is thin and blends into my outfit for the day. When I take my wife out to dinner, I put on a flashier watch that says something about my personality. On the weekend, I wear a throw-around kind of watch. One that doesn't matter if I bang it against the lawnmower or take it into a pool.

When purchasing a watch, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my price point?

Not to say you can't get a quality watch without breaking the bank, but it's important to realize that for anything with some substance of quality, you're going to have to spend at least a few hundred dollars. Don't be fooled by "nice looking" watches that are extremely cheap. They are junk and will not last. You can get a decent quality watch for well under $500. Watches sell for every price imaginable. You just have to decide where you stand.

• What materials do I prefer?

Do you like a leather band? How about a metal bracelet? Is gold your style, or stainless steel? Are you looking for a jeweled inner working 12-diamond face, or will a simple white dial do the job?

Leather bands are great. They can be formal or informal. Jewels are going to be flashy and should be contained to watches that you want to show off and flaunt yourself. White and blacks simple faces are conservative, while gold is traditional.

• Is this an investment piece?

For most of us, the answer is no. Some watches however, do go up in value. For example, it's common that a well-cared-for Rolex Daytona will hold its own and increase in value over time. On the other hand, if you're watch isn't collectible or rare, simply take care of it and know that it can last a lifetime. Perhaps it will be something you hand down to a family member or use the rest of your life.

• Am I looking for a universal watch, or several depending on the situation?

I talked about my personal situation above, but you must ask yourself this question. If you're looking for a single watch, I would recommend something conservative, yet fun. Perhaps a TAG Heuer. They are incredibly well-built, timelessly styled, and are in the middle-of-the-road when it comes to price. I would choose a dial color that suits you and stick with stainless steel links. If that's not your style, but you still want a single watch, I would go for a nice brown leather banded watch. Anything else is so situationally specific that it's hard to wear it in any setting.

• What is my personal style?

Are you flashy? Conservative? Outdoorsy? Cube dweller? Whatever your style, pick a watch that compliments it. Watches should be practical. A nightclub owner wearing a calculator watch simply will not do. You get my drift. Whatever your style, always comparison shop when choosing a watch. Personally, I'm a big Amazon shopper. There is almost any watch conceivable there, most backed by full warranties and easily returnable. What I like most is that there is no tax and shipping is generally is free or inexpensive.

Casio Pathfinder.

Casio Pathfinder

Introducing the new Pro Trek PRW2500, a high-performance tool developed under the supervision of meteorologists to take on challenging environments. Like all triple sensor Pro Trek models, the PRW2500 features easy-one-touch operation of its altimeter/barometer, compass, and thermometer. A reconfigured duplex LCD provides optimal layout for information at-a-glance when you're on the go. In addition to numerical and trend graph data, unique arrow icons help to indicate characteristic barometric pressure patterns. Water resistance to 200 meters improves performance while river trekking and rafting where one would encounter strong water pressure. The addition of tide and moon graph/data provides convenient information for sea kayaking and fishing. Titanium band digital watch with black face.

Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch.

Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch

Introducing a brand-new way to stay connected. Samsung Galaxy Gear extends the smartphone experience to your wrist and keeps you updated with glance notifications, so you can keep up with calls, texts, and emails. With a brilliant 1.63-inch Super AMOLED screen, this sleek, wearable device features a full-metal body design and a comfortable strap. Connect to your Galaxy smartphone via low-power Bluetooth and Galaxy Gear allows for discreet notifications, hands-free calling, music control, S Voice access and an array of exceptional features.

I have read all the reviews and thought what the heck. I bought this watch and was very pleased with my purchase. There are a lot of negative reviews that say "I wish it could do this or I wish it can do that." I wish it could take out the trash for me too, but I guess I will just have to settle for the most advanced watch ever!

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Professional.

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Professional

Ideal for casual attire, this TAG Heuer Men's Formula 1 Professional timepiece is a great choice for athletes thanks to the sporty titanium uni-directional bezel printed with large, silver-tone Arabic numerals in increments of five. Its impressive scratch-resistant sapphire-coated dial window reveals a black dial with silver-tone hour indicators, small minute indexes, and luminescent silver-tone hands. This watch also offers a triple-link stainless steel bracelet, date window at 3 o'clock, precise Swiss quartz movement, and water resistance to 200 meters (660 feet), which means it will stand up to the rigors of recreational scuba diving.

This is the most popular TAG on the market today. It's priced exceptionally well and is one of the longest running collections in the TAG family. You are sure to be a hit with this stylish, high quality piece from our friends at TAG.

will love it.

Omega Seamaster "James Bond" Blue Dial.

Omega Seamaster "James Bond" Blue Dial

The Omega Men's Seamaster Blue Dial Watch makes its statement with a sporty deep blue dial with luminous hands and hour markers and a calendar window that sits at the 3 o'clock. This timepiece also features quartz precision movement with rhodium-plated finish for greater precision, stability, and durability of the movement, a stainless steel case and bezel, and a stainless steel band. The blue bezel is offset with white markers and Arabic numerals. The watch also features a domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal coated on the inside with anti-reflective treatment, and a calendar window at the 3 o'clock. Designed for skin diving and other water sports, the Seamaster is water resistant to 1,000 feet.

The Omega Seamaster is famous as the watch of choice for James Bond. Current ambassadors include Pierce Brosnan, Nicole Kidman, tennis player Anna Kournikova, and swimmers Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe.

Invicta Russian Diver Collection.

Invicta Russian Diver Collection

The Russian Diver Watch by Invicta is a powerful black and silver timepiece done in a canteen style, with a screw-cap crown and chain. The luminous hands and indexes make it easy to read the time, and the adjustable buckle on the comfy band make for a good fit. Featuring large Arabic numbers and a convenient date display just under 12 o'clock, the grand 52 millimeter stainless steel case frames the black dial with the notable Russian Diver logo in place of 12 o'clock. Water resistant to 330 feet, this eye-catcher will have people noticing, especially when paired with jeans and a T-shirt.

This watch is for the man who wants a little flash. Promoted by Anold Schwarzenegger, this watch is something special and sure to stand out in the crowd.

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Review of the KS Tourbillon Automatic Mechanical Date White Dial Men's Sport Wrist Watch KS04

Description

I purchased this timepiece from AMPM24; a subsidiary of SOWATCHES. It cost me fifty-nine dollars which works out to about fifty in US funds. The watch was eligible for free shipping and arrived less than a week later.

Most Chinese watches are shipped tag-less and wrapped in a layer of bubble wrap. The KS004 was packed in a proper watch box lined with foam. Included were the watch, a buffing cloth, tag, international maintenance guarantee card and an instruction manual.

This is an automatic watch and it doesn’t take much to get it ticking. The timepiece is big and bold; easily the largest watch in my collection. Even on my inordinately skinny wrist, it looks good.

The KS04 watch is identified as a Tourbillon which infers its balance wheel and escapement are contained within a rotating cage. This type of gravity defying mechanism is fitted into a selection of expensive watches in order to improve accuracy. What Kronen & Sohne actually did was cut a hole in the dial, exposing the balance wheel. Since this wheel and its associated hair spring are bouncing back and forth at a rate of eight times a second, it is fun to watch.

The date is displayed near the top of the dial. The month sub-dial is to the right and the day of the week sub-dial is to the left. Pushbuttons located above and below the crown control the date and month. A depressed button on the left edge of the case is used to adjust the day of the week. All of these buttons feel solid and should operate properly for years.

Tom Adelstein authored an interesting article concerning KS watches. He notes that Liaoning Watch Factory in Andong, China manufactures movements for Kronen & Sohne. I removed the back of the watch but could not confirm the manufacturer of the movement. Kronen & Sohne is engraved on the rotor which indicates this mechanism was produced for this specific watch company.

The band is thick, well constructed and marked genuine leather. After five weeks of constant use some of the shiny brown coating has rubbed off the loops but, otherwise, the strap has survived well. It is composed of either leather or high quality polyurethane. This is not a band you will need to replace right away.

Closeup of functions

The Manufacturer

According to their website, Kronen & and Sohne is a German company established in 1992. They are run by NCN Group, a company that specializes in marketing. Other brands controlled by NCN consist of SHARK, HOTARU, AGENT.X, and TAYLOR COLE. NCN Group operates under the umbrella of SOWATCHES and appears to be based in the orient.

Kronen & Sohne do not actually operate a watch factory. They purchase the required components from a variety of Chinese manufacturers. These parts, in turn, are assembled into watches and packaged by other companies.

Specifications

Brand: Kronen & Sohne

Condition: New with box and tags

Part number: KS004—AMUS

Model year: 2013

Place or origin: Guangdong, China (This information is unverified)

Gender: Male

Display: Analog

Movement: Caliber KM02T06 Automatic

Style: Sport

Features: Open heart dial displaying balance assembly

Functions: Time, date, day of week, and month

Band material: Leather

Band width: 24mm

Dial color: White

Dial window material type: Hardex

Case material: Stainless steel

Case diameter: 4.86cm (including crown)

Case thickness: 1.3cm (approx)

Weight: 83gm (Includes weight of band)

Water resistance: 3 ATM (Not suitable for swimming, diving, shower etc.)

Visual Appeal

The KS04 is the best looking timepiece in my collection. The crystal is flat which reduces glare and composed of a scratch resistant material. A glass cover on the back of the watch allows a view of the watch’s rotor. The dial appears to be engraved although the affect is muted. The date can be clearly seen through the upper window and, below, a circular cutout provides a view of the balance assembly. Against the white background, the sub-dial markings denoting the day of week and month of year can be easily distinguished. The overall affect is big and bold without being overly ostentatious.

Accuracy

During the first few weeks of testing the date function would often skip days. After the first month, however, the problem resolved itself. My automatic Seiko did not require a ‘work in’ period but it appears this watch does. All other functions worked perfectly over the test period and continue to do so.

I inserted the KS04 into my watch winder for three weeks to determine its accuracy. After twenty one days the watch had gained nine minutes. This works out to twenty-six seconds per day. I'd thought that was fairly good for an automatic watch in this price range but, in fact, a modern non-certified watch should not gain or lose more than ten seconds per day. Eventually I will have to dive in and adjust the regulator.

Durability

The watch survived unscratched and unharmed over five weeks of constant use. Unlike the Winner Skeleton watch which I have also reviewed, the hands responded firmly when turning the crown to adjust the time. All pushbuttons felt tight and performed well. My overall impression is of quality and sturdiness.

Automatic/mechanical watches require routine maintenance—cleaning and lubrication—every three to five years. If not properly maintained, accuracy will suffer and, eventually, the timepiece will die. It is easy to justify the cost of maintaining the $40,000 Rolex your loving wife gave you for Christmas. It is only common sense. In the case of the Kronen & Sohne watch, however, this work will probably be neglected. It is not that the maintenance costs associated with the KS04 are higher than that of the Rolex—it probably will be less—but why would you have a watch cleaned when it would be cheaper to replace the timepiece?

In my judgment, if unmaintained, this watch should run well for the first three years. Over the next three, as dust accumulates and lubricating oils dry, accuracy will suffer and the watch will need to be wound from time to time. The KS04 might cease to operate during this period or it could—as my neglected Seiko diver’s watch has—struggle on for many more years than expected.

Front view

Overall Impression

The KS04 is not perfect. It required a ‘work in’ period before the date function operated properly, and the hands—despite a thin coating of luminous paint—cannot be seen in the dark.

This watch, however, looks great and is of better quality than expected for a timepiece in this price range. If you are looking for an inexpensive automatic watch suitable for daily use, this offering from Kronen & Sohne is worthy of strong consideration. Highly recommended.

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Review of the Jaragar JR13 Men's Automatic Watch with Calendar and Moon Phase

The Purchase

This watch is available at many internet stores, the least expensive vendor being based at DHgate. Since I’d been looking for a chance to try out this Chinese competitor to Amazon, I ordered the watch from them.

The DHgate vendor I chose was ikwatches. The purchase price of $38.65 US ($47.00 CDN) included free shipping. My transaction proceeded smoothly and six weeks later the watch arrived at the post office. It was adequately packaged; wrapped in bubble wrap and shoved inside a thin cardboard box.

Watch Band

The strap—marked genuine leather—is thick, black, and looks great. After three weeks of daily use the band began to split where the buckle tongue enters one of the adjustment holes. I suspect this strap is actually composed of medium quality polyurethane.

The Manufacturer

I failed to locate the official Jaragar website. It is only conjecture but I suspect Jaragar is a brand owned by a large Asian based company that contracts out the manufacture and assembly of these watches to a variety of Chinese factories.

If you purchase a Jaragar watch which requires warranty service, it will normally be provided by the vendor. He, in turn, will contact Jaragar for recompense.

Specifications

Brand name: Jaragar

Condition: New without tags

Model/Part number: J13, WJ064, JJS004

Place or origin: China

Gender: Male

Display: Analog

Style: Luxury

Movement: Automatic

Features: Full calendar, moon phase, and twenty-four hour clock

Band material: Probably polyurethane

Dial color: Black (also available in white)

Dial shape: Round

Dial Window material: Hardex

Case material: Stainless steel

Case diameter: 44mm including crown

Case thickness: 15mm

Weight: 66g (2.33 oz) including replacement leather strap

Water resistance: 3 ATM (Not suitable for swimming, diving, shower etc.)

Visual Appeal

This is a handsome timepiece, complete with gleaming case, shiny metal pushbuttons and attractively designed subdials.

I chose the black-dialed model because it exudes an aurora of luxury. You might prefer the white dial which better showcases the moon phase function.

A window at the bottom of the watch allows a view of the movement’s inner workings.

Reliability and Accuracy

Two numbered and rotating rings, viewed through small windows in the dial, indicate the date. One is numbered zero through nine; the other, zero through three. Throughout the first three weeks of testing the date would often jump ahead an extra day. Eventually the problem worked itself out. Then, during the week the Jaragar was inserted into my watch winder, it skipped ahead another day. Also the second ring became stuck when changing from day nineteen to day twenty. The fix was easy. I simply pressed the pushbutton associated with this function and clicked it until I reached the proper date.

During the test phase in my Diplomat watch winder which I have also reviewed, the Jaragar gained two minutes. This works out to seventeen seconds per day. A modern mechanical non-COSC certified watch should to accurate to within ten seconds per day. Having said this, considering the price, the timepiece is reasonably accurate.

Durability

My watch exhibited difficulties associated with the date mechanism. The situation might improve, as the watch becomes worn in—or it might worsen. The pushbuttons controlling the various functions of this timepiece worked adequately but their action proved not as firm as those of the Kronen & Sohne KS04 which I have also reviewed. Time can easily be adjusted by turning the crown and all subdials function well.

Automatic/mechanical watches require routine maintenance—cleaning and lubrication—every three to five years. If not properly maintained accuracy will suffer and eventually the timepiece will die. It is easy to justify the cost of maintaining the $40,000 Rolex you mortgaged your house for last year. It is only common sense. In the case of the Jaragar, however, this work will probably be neglected. It is not that the maintenance costs would be higher than that of the Rolex—it probably will be less—but why would you have a watch cleaned when it could be replaced at a lower cost?

In my judgment this watch should run well for the first two years although problems with the date mechanism might surface. You will also need to replace the strap. Over the next three, as dust accumulates and lubricating oils dry, accuracy will suffer and the watch will need to be wound from time to time. The Jaragar might cease to operate during this period or it could—as my neglected Seiko diver’s watch has—struggle mightily to survive.

Overall Impression

I like this watch. It looks great on my wrist and could easily be mistaken for a timepiece worth far more than what I paid. The Jaragar is reasonably accurate, easy to read, and packed with cool functions.

These functions come at a price. While this is a timepiece of sufficient quality for everyday use, I do predict difficulties associated with the date mechanism. If it continually skips days the pushbutton assembly that controls this function will eventually wear out. Of course, perfection cannot be expected in a thirty-eight dollar watch. Recommended with reservations.

I have inserted an Amazon Advert below for this watch. The accompanying photo is not that of the product. I can only assume that the seller believes a sexy pair of shoes will sell anything... even a watch.

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The Winner Men's Luxury Semi-Mechanical Skeleton Watch 387588 Review

Description

I purchased this timepiece through a vendor called ‘Light in the box’. It cost less than a package of cigarettes and, provided I was willing to wait, shipped for free. I was willing to wait.

The watch arrived the next month, adequately wrapped in bubble-wrap and shoved inside a plastic envelope.

Light in the Box’s description is poor. They portray this watch as semi-mechanical, quartz and automatic. There is no place to insert a battery so, obviously, this timepiece is not quartz. I examined the movement to determine what sort of mechanism was used to power the watch.

The mainspring of an automatic watch is wound by taking advantage of the user’s arm movements. This motion swings a weight—the technical term is rotor—back and forth. The rotor is firmly attached to a staff which is connected to a ratcheted winding mechanism. The purpose of this mechanism is to tighten the mainspring. If you own a good automatic watch and wear it every day, the timepiece will never need to be hand wound.

Normally you can hear the rotor swing when you shake an automatic watch. In this case I couldn’t. Neither could I observe the weight when I glanced through the transparent cover. This a not an automatic watch.

Decent inexpensive automatic watches are available. Check out my review of theKronen & and Sohne KS04 or the Jaragar JR13 for further information.

The Manufacturer

Winner is a China based company. While they manufacture a variety of inexpensive timepieces, Winner tends to specialize in Skeleton watches. I searched without success for their website. This infers any warranty problems would need to be handled by the vendor who sold the watch.

Specifications

Brand: Winner

Condition: New without tags

Part number: 387588

Gender: Men’s

Display: Analog

Movement: Mechanical hand wind

Style: Skeleton

Features: Hollow engraving

Band material: Polyurethane

Case material: Steel

Case diameter: 4.4 cm

Case thickness: 1.1 cm

Weight: 55 gm (including band)

Water resistance: Not specified but probably minimal

Visual Appeal

The case is well designed; two toned and covered on each side with a transparent acrylic face. The movement can be examined from either the front or the back, ensuring an excellent view of the inner workings of the watch. The hands are coated with luminous paint which provides illumination throughout short periods of darkness. The dial is nicely engraved and the numbers used to indicate the time are composed of Roman numerals.

Accuracy

I wore this watch for a day to check for comfort and to assure myself that the time could be quickly and easily ascertained despite the busy background. Then I stored in on a shelf for two weeks, winding it twice daily. At the end of this period I set it to my computer clock and tested the unit for three days. At the end of its test cycle I found that the watch had lost one minute. This is a reasonable result considering the cost of this timepiece. You keep this thing wound and it will look after you.

Durability

I did not disassemble this watch but the movement does appear to be jeweled. Although I could easily adjust the time I noticed an inordinate amount of play in the crown whilst doing so. The strap is composed of Polyurethane which looks like leather but lacks durability. This watch is intended as a gift so I did not subject it to shock and water resistance tests.

Overall Impression

This Winner mechanical watch has a lot going for it. The price is right; the timepiece keeps good time and is visually appealing. It is comfortable on the wrist. The large crown ensures the watch can be easily wound and, because of the ‘see through’ design, this timepiece will attract attention.

The hands and dial of this watch are both colored gold. While visually appealing, it is difficulty to determine the time at a glance.

This watch has worked well throughout the short period I have owned it. Having said this, I do not expect it to anywhere near as durable as my much more expensive Seiko. This Winner should not be your serious everyday timepiece. It’s a cool watch though; one that will be fun to show off during the weekends. Recommended for casual use.

Update

I've owned this watch for at year. The band shows wear and, if I'd been wearing this timepiece consistently, would have required replacement by now. Accuracy is unchanged, the watch looks good and it is still a pleasure to wear.

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