Retro is one of the most popular styles that watchmakers turn to when they want to create an unusual model, which is logical since we have access to an endless stream of history. However, in most cases, such watches are quite expensive due to their craftsmanship and novelty. Today we will look at some retro watches priced under $500, so you won't have to shell out a lot to own them!
Seiko Recraft SNKM97
The Seiko Recraft watches with an emerald green dial and gold accents present a perfect picture of vintage style. The dial features a sunburst effect, which, thanks to the beautiful contrast of green and gold colors, stands out well in the light. Unfortunately, the dial is not luminescent, so the watch is best suited for daytime wear or in well-lit environments. The watch hands are in the form of gold skeleton hands, making them somewhat hard to see in low light, while the bright orange seconds hand makes its rounds. At the “3 o'clock” position is a date and day window (in red), and at the edges, minutes are marked in Arabic numerals increasing by 5. With a length of 43.5 mm, this case is large and may cause discomfort if you have a small wrist, but these watches were designed to stand out and encourage a bit of showmanship. The large case and stainless steel bracelet make these watches heavy, but you can always swap the chain for a lovely leather strap, and it won't be worse.
The case is square, and the round hardlex glass protects the dial, giving the watch a pleasant appearance. There is an open case back where you can see the automatic caliber 7S26 movement, which is significant value for this price. Considering all of the above, Seiko watches at this price are always a good addition to your collection, and the only real concern for people will likely be the size.
Seiko Presage SARY075
The dial of the Seiko Presage is simply a marvel. The light blue color with a sunburst effect makes these watches among the best on this list. Everything on the dial looks precisely cut, from the dauphine hands to the spear-shaped indices. The light blue color, silver polished indices, and hands give the watch a serious luxury retro shine. The chapter ring has black indices, including sub-second markings. At the “3 o'clock” position is a large but not too large date window displaying only the number. The screw-down crown is standard size with a matte finish and a large Seiko 'S'. The case is made of cool polished stainless steel with a 40 mm diameter. The polished finish and hardlex glass give the watch a reflective appearance.
Inside this well-dressed piece is the reliable, though not top-of-the-line, 4R35 movement with manual winding. It operates at a frequency of 21,600 BPH, has 23 jewels, and a 41-hour power reserve. The strap is made of calf leather but has a faux leather look, which I believe was done intentionally - I think a more natural look would be more appropriate. The blue needle stitching on the strap is a nice touch, although I think it could be a bit lighter to match the dial. The double-folding clasp with a push-button lock I liked, but I would still recommend replacing the strap with black genuine leather. Seiko Presage is a great dress watch, and due to its size, it can also be used as a daily companion, but on the go, you're likely to get small nicks and scratches.
Citizen CA0649-06X
When I first glanced at this piece, the soundtrack to the movie “The A-Team” started playing in my head, and the vision of Mad Dog Murdock taking names appeared. If this isn't retro, then what is? The case measures a staggering 49 mm, including the crown, which is already made for the select few. These shamelessly rugged watches have a perforated brown leather strap with white stitching on the sides, resembling a rope rather than regular thin sewing. The bezel is made of stainless steel with a black abrasive finish and contains a tachymeter. The chronograph buttons are polished and resemble old-school stopwatch buttons with their collars. The crown is bulky and, as expected, lacks fine finishing. The crown is not screw-down, but the watch withstands pressure up to 10 bar without issues.
The dial is white, and all indices are black. The Arabic numerals are somewhat unconventional, as minute numerals were chosen instead of hourly ones. The chronograph times up to 60 minutes, so I assume that's why. There are 3 sub-dials, with the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock ones related to the tachymeter and chronograph, and the 9 o'clock one indicating 12- or 24-hour format. The hands are black with large lume in the middle, and the bright orange seconds hand is for the chronograph only. The color choice for the date window was a bit odd, and it's sometimes hard to see. I am a big fan of the light-powered Eco-Drive functionality used in many Citizen watches, and aside from the potential size issue, you'll find these Citizen retro watches of excellent quality.
Spinnaker Hull SP-5059-02
The Spinnaker Hull watch is truly a vintage model. It borrows some of its style from classic Panerai watches and adds a few unique finishing elements of its own. The best way to describe how this watch feels on the wrist is that it looks rugged, earthy. The fume-colored dial starts a bit lighter at the center and becomes darker as it moves away. The dial is textured in a way that gives it a rough, earthy appearance. The indices have notches, giving the dial a three-dimensional look. The sword-shaped hands are polished silver with significant lume in the center. The seconds hand is a creative lollipop hand that matches the round indices.
The matte bezel stands out quite boldly against the rest of the case, and the crystal even more so. The polished middle of the case is square-shaped and gives the watch a multi-layered effect, which is enhanced by the case back, representing yet another separate layer. There is an exhibition case back with a crystal mostly covered by the Spinnaker design. The automatic Seiko NH35 movement with hacking, on 24 jewels, can be expected to gain 20-40 seconds per day. The genuine leather strap looks like it was preserved since the 70s just to be used now, and the stitching near the lugs looks old-fashioned. The buckle clasp is matte with the Spinnaker name engraved. At 42 mm in size and 12 mm thick, the watch is not too large, and the short lugs make it suitable for most wrists.
Tissot Heritage Visodate
The Tissot Heritage watch is at the top of our list in terms of price, but it is no less valuable. The dial is pearly white, and the other parts of the watch are made of polished silver. The silver stick indices and sharp dauphine-style hands are also made of silver. The dial does not have complex decorative elements and represents classic dress watches. The dial is protected by a sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating to always provide a good view. At the “3 o'clock” position is a date and day window. The case is made of stainless steel and polished to a shine. The exhibition case back reveals a stunning view of the Swiss ETA Caliber 2836-2 movement that carefully supports the running of this model. At 40 mm in size and 11.6 mm thick, the case is comfortable for both daily wear and evening attire. The case features a simple flat crown with the Tissot logo. The watch has a rather modest water resistance of 30 m and should not spend too much time underwater. The strap is made of alligator-embossed leather with a folding clasp, which, in my opinion, looks rather gaudy for this model, but it seems to still be popular among dress watches.
The hands and hour markers have a not very noticeable luminescent coating, which is great, as it would look out of place on the refined surface of these watches. At a price under $500, access to a luxurious classic Tissot watch with a reliable Swiss movement is truly a bargain.