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Affordable Dress Watch Trifecta

September 18, 2018 

Every occasion, there is a particular kind of watch a person must wear in order to fit and look appropriate. Events like business gatherings, weddings, or galas call for someone to wear a formal attire and strap on an appropriate timepiece. This is where dress watches are called into play. 

We in Watch Daddy believe in enjoying the wonderful world of Horology in a practical and affordable pace. Dress watches, mechanical pieces to be exact, have a notion to be quite expensive. But it doesn't have to be that way.

 

Find out below what we feel are the top 3 dress watches that are under $500 that could impress your friends and snobs for that matter.

1. Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart

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Highlights:

  • ORIENT Cal. F6L24 Automatic, Hand-winding, Hacking Movement

  • 40 hours power reserve

  • 'Open Heart' with 'Sun and Moon' register on the dial

  • See-through caseback

Impact:

The Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart looks and feels much more expensive compared to its price. The open heart window and the sun and moon register on the well-detailed white dial has given the affordable formal timepiece a certain seriousness and has presented more features/complications over its competition.

 

Watch snobs and WIS will certainly have a double-look and see you are sporting a familiar Swiss timepiece from the likes of JLC or Patek Philippe.

See its full review here: Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart

Watch Daddy Picks

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Orient Sun and Moon Open Heart :

RA-AS0005S10A 

  • Orient 21 Jewels Self-Winding Automatic Movement (Cal 6FL24)

  • Stainless Steel Case, Genuine Leather Strap, Push Button Connect Type Buckle Clasp

  • Mineral Crystal, Open Heart Skeleton Display, Sun and Moon Indicator

  • Case Size: 42.5 mm Diameter, 14 mm Thickness

  • Water Resistant - 50 M, Transparent Screw Down Case Back

2. Seiko Ice Blue Cocktail Time "Sky Diving"

Seiko Ice Blue Cocktail New.jpg

Highlights:

  • Caliber 4R35 automatic movement with manual winding

  • 41 hours power reserve

  • Three-fold clasp with push button release

  • See-through case back

Impact:

The Ice Blue Cocktail Time dress watch from Seiko does not present too much complications and features upfront but it does make up on the build quality and fantastic light blue sun ray-patterned dial.

 

From all angles, this watch screams top-notch craftsmanship (from the signed crown and aesthetically appealing see-through case back. Seiko, as a brand, will definitely catch the attention of snobs and WIS as they have been known to produced fine quality watches across all categories and budget.

Watch Daddy Picks

Seiko Ice Blue Cocktail New.jpg

Seiko Presage Ice Blue Cocktail Time "Sky Diving" - SRPB43J1

  • Cal. 4R35 Movement, 23 Jewels, 21,600 vibrations per hour, Made in Japan

  • Magnetic resistance 4,800 A/m

  • Power reserve: approximately 41 hours

  • Second hand halt mechanism (Hacking)

  • Box-shaped Hardlex crystal

3. Tissot Mens Heritage Visodate Automatic 

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Highlights:

  • Swiss Made ETA 2836-2 automatic movement

  • 38 hours power reserve

  • Reissue model of Tissot's Visodate from the 1950's

  • See-through case back

Impact:

The Tissot Heritage Visodate automatic is the only 'Swiss Made' timepiece for our top 3 dress watches under $500 because it presents practical watch lovers excellent Swiss quality materials (ETA movement and 316L stainless steel case) and heritage.

 

It is at a really at a perfect price point that ticks a lot of boxes for potential buyers. Watch snobs and WIS will certainly appreciate the brand (Tissot is a long-standing Swiss watch maker) and overall aesthetics and functionality of an affordable Swiss timepiece. 

Watch Daddy Picks

Tissot Visodate New.png

Tissot Men's Heritage Visodate Automatic - T0194301603101

  • Swiss Automatic ETA 2836-2

  • 38 hours power reserve

  • Embossed brown cow leather (alligator look)

  • See-through case back

  • Water-resistant up to a pressure of 3 bar (30 m / 100 ft)

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