If you give two people the same outfit to wear, what will make each one unique is how they wear it and the accessories they pair with it. There aren't many accessories for men; you can have glasses, a ring (or more), a necklace, a bracelet, and a watch. Most men don’t have the charisma to wear them all together, so for most men, 3 different accessories (4 if you wear glasses or sunglasses) is probably the most they can get away with without looking like they're trying too hard. But most men wear just 1 or 2, a watch and maybe a wedding ring. This account is about improving your personal style, so it’s time I start talking about accessories more often. I'll begin with the most common accessory, often the one that only other men will notice – a wristwatch.

Wristwatches were initially designed for women, while men used pocket watches until the early 20th century. The idea of the wristwatch goes back to the 16th century, with some believing Abraham-Louis Breguet created the first one in 1810 for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples. By the mid-19th century, watchmakers marketed wristwatches as bracelet-like accessories for women. 

Military use in the late 19th century brought wristwatches to men, as soldiers found pocket watches impractical during battles. This led companies like the Garstin Company and Mappin & Webb to create more practical designs for men. By the early 20th century, wristwatches were being specifically designed for practicality. Dimier Frères patented the wire-lug design in 1903, and in 1904 Louis Cartier created a watch for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, further popularized wristwatches, introducing the first certified chronometer wristwatch in 1910. During World War I, wristwatches became a must-have for soldiers and pilots, who relied on them for accurate timing and ease of use. Watches designed for trench warfare had luminous dials and unbreakable glass. By the end of the war, wristwatches became popular with men, replacing pocket watches by 1930.

Wristwatches were mostly used as tools until the late 1990s and early 2000s, when they were replaced by modern technologies such as smartphones and digital watches, and more recently by smartwatches over the last 10 years. A lot of traditional watchmaking brands became luxury brands and are now mostly worn as status symbols. On the other hand, there are many men who are enthusiasts of mechanical movements or prefer things 'the old way' and avoid digital products. If you're reading this, you're probably part of this small group of men interested in quality craftsmanship or mechanical devices.

When it comes to mechanical watches, there is a very wide price range to consider, from as low as 200€ to five or six-digit prices. Some men are only interested in vintage watches, while others completely avoid them. I believe that to buy a quality vintage watch, you need to educate yourself about the brands and models you're interested in, and this requires a lot of research. In other words, you'll need to spend a considerable amount of time learning what you're dealing with. I think most people don’t have enough knowledge and experience to truly deal with vintage or used watches, which is why, in this series, I will focus on brand-new watches only—those that are readily available, with no limited editions or waitlists, just watches that anyone can buy.

This is an entry-level guide to mechanical watches, my list of the best options under 500€.

Unimatic U2 CLASSIC – UC2

Case size: 38.5mm
Movement: Seiko NH35A
Power-reserve: 41h
Water resistant: 300m

Price: 450€
Get it here.

Baltic HMS 003

Case size: 36.5mm
Movement: Automatic Miyota 8315
Power-reserve: 60h
Water resistant: 50m

Price: 432€
Get it here.

Huckberry x Timex Titanium Automatic Field Watch

Case size: 41mm
Movement: Miyota 8215
Power-reserve: 44h
Water resistant: 200m

Price: $375
Get it here.

Timex Marlin® Sub-Dial Automatic 39mm

Case size: 39mm
Movement: Miyota 8217
Power-reserve: 40h
Water resistant: 50m

Price: 280€
Get it here.

Lorier Falcon Series III

Case size: 36mm
Movement: Miyota 90S5
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 100m

Price: $499
Get it here.

Lorier Neptune Series IV

Case size: 39mm
Movement: Miyota 90S5
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 200m

Price: $499
Get it here.

Momentum Watches Sea Auto 30 Black

Case size: 42mm
Movement: Miyota 9015
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 300m

Price: 495€
Get it here.

Seiko Prospex SRPE93

Case size: 45mm
Movement: Seiko 4R36
Power-reserve: 41h
Water resistant: 200m

Price: 440€
Get it here.

Seiko 5 Sports Field Watch SRPG35

Case size: 39mm
Movement: Seiko 4R36
Power-reserve: 41h
Water resistant: 100m

Price: 279€
Get it here.

Boldr VENTURE WAYFARER-KHAKI

Case size: 38mm
Movement: Miyota 8217
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 200m

Price: 329€
Get it here.

Boldr RANGER SHAMBA

Case size: 40mm
Movement: Seiko NH38A
Power-reserve: 41h
Water resistant: 200m

Price: 290,95€
Get it here.

Citizen Tsuyosa

Case size: 40mm
Movement: Miyota 8210 
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 50m

Price: 299€
Get it here.

Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver

Case size: 44mm
Movement: Miyota 8204 
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 200m

Price: 350€
Get it here.

Nezumi TERRAIN – Ref. TA1.102

Case size: 38mm
Movement: Miyota 9039
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 200m

Price: 504€
Get it here.

Dryden Heartlander Automatic Field Watch

Case size: 38mm
Movement: Miyota 9015
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 100m

Price: $500
Get it here.

Islander Mitchel "DAY-T" Automatic Field Watch

Case size: 39mm
Movement: Seiko NH36 Automatic 
Power-reserve: 41h
Water resistant: 100m

Price: $229
Get it here.

Islander Manhasset 36mm Automatic Watch

Case size: 36mm
Movement: Seiko NH36 Automatic 
Power-reserve: 41h
Water resistant: 100m

Price: $285
Get it here.

Orient RA-AC0Q01B10B Diver Automatic Watch 40mm

Case size: 40mm
Movement: Orient F6722
Power-reserve: 40h
Water resistant: 200m

Price: 430€
Get it here.

Vero THE SMOKEY '44

Case size: 38mm
Movement: Seiko NH38A
Power-reserve: 41h
Water resistant: 120m

Price: 474,95€
Get it here.

Sternglas Naos

Case size: 38mm
Movement: Miyota 8215
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 50m

Price: 369€
Get it here.

Smiths Everest PRS-25

Case size: 36mm
Movement: Miyota 9039
Power-reserve: 42h
Water resistant: 100m

Price: £345
Get it here.

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical

Case size: 38mm
Movement: Hamilton Caliber H-50
Power-reserve: 80h
Water resistant: 50m

Price: 625€ - with some patience and searching skills you should be able to find it at around 500€
Get it here.

This is my list of the best mechanical watches under 500€. Let me know if you have experience with any of these watches or if there are others I should add to the list.

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