One of the most popular posts on this blog was the original best men's mechanical hand wind watches post. So, I figure I might as well go ahead and write another one, I mean it is a couple of years old now, and there are some new products out there that I would like to talk about.
Also, in the original post, it was broken up into 3 parts. I am not going to do that this time, I am going to put it all into one big ass post. I am not in a hurry to get my posts published anymore, so I can take a week or two to get this one done.
Also, in the original post, it was broken up into 3 parts. I am not going to do that this time, I am going to put it all into one big ass post. I am not in a hurry to get my posts published anymore, so I can take a week or two to get this one done.
The Best Men's Mechanical Hand Wound Watches for 2017
The Best Men's Mechanical Hand Wind Watch for under 50 dollars
HMT
Pilot
Model:
Case: 35 mm, Stainless steel
Band: 18mm Leather
Movement: HMT 0231 Mechanical
Functions: HH, MM, SS
Battery: N/A
Water resistance:
If you have read The Best Men's Watches under blog in the past, you will be aware of the fact that I am a big fan of HMT watches. In particular, I am a big fan of the Pilot. I can't even remember how many times I have pushed this watch now. At least 5 times. I love this watch, and I own two of these watches. They are refurbished and I got them off Ebay, and I love them. They are the perfect knock around watches in my book. I think everyone should own at least one.
If you look on my original best men's watches under 50 dollars, or on the first part of the best men's hand wound watches, you can find all the specs and more details about the HMT pilot. I suggest you take a look. I have to figure that at some point, these things will start to become worth more than the 10 dollars you can buy them for right now!
If you look on my original best men's watches under 50 dollars, or on the first part of the best men's hand wound watches, you can find all the specs and more details about the HMT pilot. I suggest you take a look. I have to figure that at some point, these things will start to become worth more than the 10 dollars you can buy them for right now!
The Best Men's Mechanical Hand Wind Watch for under 100 dollars
Parnis
47mm Black Dial
Model: H2113
Case: 47 mm, Stainless steel
Band: 24mm Leather
Movement: Sea-Gull 6497
Functions: HH, MM, SS
Battery: N/A
Water resistance: 30M
I will start by saying I love Vostok Komandirskie. In the original best men's mechanical watches, this spot was filled by a Komandirskie, and generally speaking you can find a few different Russian watches that will fall into this same slot, if you look around. But I am going out of the box a little bit. I own a watch with a Sea-Gull movement watch, it has always worked well for me. I cannot complain at all, and the Parnis watches have generally been found to be really well built watches, even though they are Chinese. In general, I would not steer you toward a Chinese watch, but the Parnis watches are pretty cool and there are a lot of people out there who have had great luck with them. Just don't expect any customer service if anything goes wrong with it.
This watch is BIG, it has a 47mm stainless steel case, it has a smooth bezel, and a rather pronounced crown. It has a domed lens with a black dial face, and Arabic numerals at all the hour markers, except the 9 o'clock, which is where the sub dial is for the seconds hand. The band is wide, at 24mm and made of leather, and it has a buckle style clasp. For 100 dollars I think this is a winner, as long as you don't get yourself a dud.
I will start by saying I love Vostok Komandirskie. In the original best men's mechanical watches, this spot was filled by a Komandirskie, and generally speaking you can find a few different Russian watches that will fall into this same slot, if you look around. But I am going out of the box a little bit. I own a watch with a Sea-Gull movement watch, it has always worked well for me. I cannot complain at all, and the Parnis watches have generally been found to be really well built watches, even though they are Chinese. In general, I would not steer you toward a Chinese watch, but the Parnis watches are pretty cool and there are a lot of people out there who have had great luck with them. Just don't expect any customer service if anything goes wrong with it.
This watch is BIG, it has a 47mm stainless steel case, it has a smooth bezel, and a rather pronounced crown. It has a domed lens with a black dial face, and Arabic numerals at all the hour markers, except the 9 o'clock, which is where the sub dial is for the seconds hand. The band is wide, at 24mm and made of leather, and it has a buckle style clasp. For 100 dollars I think this is a winner, as long as you don't get yourself a dud.
The Best Men's Mechanical Hand Wind Watch for under 500 dollars
Hamilton
Khaki Field Officer Handwinding
Model: H69419363
Case: 38mm Stainless Steel
Band: 20mm Canvas
Movement: Sea-Gull 6497
Functions: HH, MM, SS, Date
Battery: N/A
Water resistance: 50M/165ft
Hamilton is not new to this blog. I am a fan of Hamilton watches. They were originally an American company and have a very long American history. But, in 1974 they were sold to Swatch. So, now they are a Swiss company, but they still do have an American look to their products.
The field watches have made my lists several times now. I love the field watches. I love the hand wound version most of all. This watch is really what I would expect from a field watch. It is not overly huge. It has a 38mm stainless steel case. I is unassuming, the bezel is smooth and the crown is located at the 3 o'clock position. The dial of the watch is black and the Arabic numerals are white and coated with a luminous material. Along with the hands, and tick marks.
The band of the watch is a canvas strap, with a buckle style clasp. The clasp is also stainless steel.
All-in-all this is a nice little watch. It is well built, and even sports a sapphire lens. It should be durable, and nice looking for many many years.
Hamilton is not new to this blog. I am a fan of Hamilton watches. They were originally an American company and have a very long American history. But, in 1974 they were sold to Swatch. So, now they are a Swiss company, but they still do have an American look to their products.
The field watches have made my lists several times now. I love the field watches. I love the hand wound version most of all. This watch is really what I would expect from a field watch. It is not overly huge. It has a 38mm stainless steel case. I is unassuming, the bezel is smooth and the crown is located at the 3 o'clock position. The dial of the watch is black and the Arabic numerals are white and coated with a luminous material. Along with the hands, and tick marks.
The band of the watch is a canvas strap, with a buckle style clasp. The clasp is also stainless steel.
All-in-all this is a nice little watch. It is well built, and even sports a sapphire lens. It should be durable, and nice looking for many many years.
The Best Men's Mechanical Hand Wind Watch for under 1000 dollars
Laco
Memmingen
Model: 861746
Case: 42 mm, Stainless steel
Band: 20mm Leather
Movement: Laco 04 Hand Winding
Functions: HH, MM, SS
Battery: N/A
Water resistance: 50M
I have talked about Laco watches before on this blog. I might have even covered this particular watch, but I am having a hard time tracking it down if I ever did. Doesn't matter much though, because we are gonna talk about this one today.
The Laco Memmingen is a nice looking watch, if you are into Laco that is, because it is not going to dazzle you with bling or wow. But mostly if your into that kinda jazz, you are probably on the wrong blog right now. I do not like it, I like this Laco though.
German made and looking like it, the Laco Memmingen is 42mm in diameter, and it is 13mm thick. It is a fairly big chunk of stainless steel. It has a over sized crown located at the 3 o'clock position and a flat, thin bezel, which gives you a lot of watch face.
The watch face itself is black with white Arabic numerals. There is a triangle at the 12 o'clock position with two small dots on each side. It is all coated in a illumination. The band is 20mm and made of leather. It has over sized rivets, and a stainless steel buckle style clasp. It all gives the watch a rugged, and solid look to it.
The Laco 04 movement is actually a modified ETA 2804. I do not have the specifics on how it is modified though.
All-in-all, I think this is a really nice looking watch. And a really well built watch. Definitely something worth looking at, at the 1000 dollar price point.
I have talked about Laco watches before on this blog. I might have even covered this particular watch, but I am having a hard time tracking it down if I ever did. Doesn't matter much though, because we are gonna talk about this one today.
The Laco Memmingen is a nice looking watch, if you are into Laco that is, because it is not going to dazzle you with bling or wow. But mostly if your into that kinda jazz, you are probably on the wrong blog right now. I do not like it, I like this Laco though.
German made and looking like it, the Laco Memmingen is 42mm in diameter, and it is 13mm thick. It is a fairly big chunk of stainless steel. It has a over sized crown located at the 3 o'clock position and a flat, thin bezel, which gives you a lot of watch face.
The watch face itself is black with white Arabic numerals. There is a triangle at the 12 o'clock position with two small dots on each side. It is all coated in a illumination. The band is 20mm and made of leather. It has over sized rivets, and a stainless steel buckle style clasp. It all gives the watch a rugged, and solid look to it.
The Laco 04 movement is actually a modified ETA 2804. I do not have the specifics on how it is modified though.
All-in-all, I think this is a really nice looking watch. And a really well built watch. Definitely something worth looking at, at the 1000 dollar price point.
The Best Men's Mechanical Hand Wind Watch for under 2000 dollars
Weiss
Limited Edition American Issue Blue Dial
with Cal 1003
with Cal 1003
Model:
Case: 42 mm, Stainless steel
Band: 20mm Leather
Movement: Weiss Cal 1003
Functions: HH, MM, SS
Battery: N/A
Water resistance: 110M/330ft
Bam!
I love Weiss watches. They are one of my favorite watchmakers. And they are all American. They even make their own movements. The 1003 movement is a mechanical movement. It runs at 21,600 bph, it has a 46 hour power reserve, and it has a hacking sub second dial. It is really nice. And this one is only being made as a limited edition. 200 watches will be released.
I have covered Weiss before. They are a California based watchmaker that has been making watches for about 4 years now. Cameron Weiss is the owner/watchmaker, and he has found a wonderful little place. The Weiss field watches are some of my favorite watches, and I would love one for Christmas this year.... Hint, hint.
The American issue limited edition blue dial is a 42mm stainless steel field watch. It has a crown located at the 3 o'clock position. It has a thin bezel with large lugs, giving it a substantial look to it. It has a blue face with large Arabic numerals indicating the hours, and smaller Arabic numerals indicating the minutes, in five minute intervals. It has a sub dial for the seconds located at the 9 o'clock position, and the hands and numbers are coated with a luminant. The band is a 20mm leather band with a buckle style clasp.
I love this watch. I love this watch for the 1995 price tag as well. I think this is one hell of a watch.
Bam!
I love Weiss watches. They are one of my favorite watchmakers. And they are all American. They even make their own movements. The 1003 movement is a mechanical movement. It runs at 21,600 bph, it has a 46 hour power reserve, and it has a hacking sub second dial. It is really nice. And this one is only being made as a limited edition. 200 watches will be released.
I have covered Weiss before. They are a California based watchmaker that has been making watches for about 4 years now. Cameron Weiss is the owner/watchmaker, and he has found a wonderful little place. The Weiss field watches are some of my favorite watches, and I would love one for Christmas this year.... Hint, hint.
The American issue limited edition blue dial is a 42mm stainless steel field watch. It has a crown located at the 3 o'clock position. It has a thin bezel with large lugs, giving it a substantial look to it. It has a blue face with large Arabic numerals indicating the hours, and smaller Arabic numerals indicating the minutes, in five minute intervals. It has a sub dial for the seconds located at the 9 o'clock position, and the hands and numbers are coated with a luminant. The band is a 20mm leather band with a buckle style clasp.
I love this watch. I love this watch for the 1995 price tag as well. I think this is one hell of a watch.
The Best Men's Mechanical Hand Wind Watch for under 5000 dollars
RGM Watch Co.
Model 222 (921 movement)
Model: 222
Case: 41 mm, Stainless steel
Band: Leather
Movement: Hamilton 921 Movement
Functions: HH, MM, SS
Battery: N/A
Water resistance: 50M/165ft
RGM watches is another American watch maker that I really really like. And I am so happy I was able to include one of their watches on this list. The Model 222 is not the only product they have. In fact, they have quite a few watches, and they are all something unique. The Model 222 had a bit of a Mid Mod look to it, and that may be why I am drawn to it, but I think it is an impressive looking watch.
The Model 222 has a 41mm stainless steel case, with a smooth bezel and the crown located at the 3 o'clock position. The dial face is silver, with large tick marks marking the hours and small marks indicating all the minutes. There is a sub dial for the seconds located at the 9 o'clock position, and the hands of the watch are blued steel. The band is leather with a buckle style clasp.
I really like this watch, and I really like this company. I think RGM is a wonderful American watch maker. I would love the opportunity to own one of these one of these days.
RGM watches is another American watch maker that I really really like. And I am so happy I was able to include one of their watches on this list. The Model 222 is not the only product they have. In fact, they have quite a few watches, and they are all something unique. The Model 222 had a bit of a Mid Mod look to it, and that may be why I am drawn to it, but I think it is an impressive looking watch.
The Model 222 has a 41mm stainless steel case, with a smooth bezel and the crown located at the 3 o'clock position. The dial face is silver, with large tick marks marking the hours and small marks indicating all the minutes. There is a sub dial for the seconds located at the 9 o'clock position, and the hands of the watch are blued steel. The band is leather with a buckle style clasp.
I really like this watch, and I really like this company. I think RGM is a wonderful American watch maker. I would love the opportunity to own one of these one of these days.
Wrap Up
I know that sometimes I go to higher in my price points, but I do not think I need to go much higher than 5000 dollars. These are all really good watches, and I think you would be happy with pretty much any of them. I am a fan of the HMT for a cheap knock around watch, and I love the RGM and Weiss because of what they are doing as a company. Hamilton is a proven and wonderful brand name. The Parnis might be a bit of crap shoot but a lot of people have had really good luck with them.
I hope you like this list of the best men's mechanical watches, I am a pretty big fan of it!
