Five Fun Watches For Serious Collectors

July 20, 2021

Despite its ever-anachronistic roots, watchmaking and collecting are often very serious affairs. From hunting the forums for tidbits of information like some modern-day time-obsessed Indiana Jones to the careful math (and clairvoyance) of auction results, its not surprising that watch collecting can often feel needlessly heavy. As with many of lifes passions, it can be valuable to zoom out, consider the stakes and, you know, take it easy. Sometimes its nice to take a break from the endless parade of asset-class wrist wear and just throw on something that makes you smile while also being interesting enough to stand in for other options you might have at your disposal. Here are five good-time watches that can hang out happily in any serious collectors collection.The stakes have never been lower. G-Shock AWM500GD-9A Full Metal Ill start with this watch as its the watch that inspired this story. I dont think I gave this model a second glance until I saw chic collector extraordinaire and Talking Watches alum John Goldberger wearing it on Instagram. If you follow Mr. Goldberger (and you should), it could be easy to miss the occasional G-Shock among this Italian parade of Cartier, Rolex, and Patek Philippe, but thats kind of my point. While there are a handful of extra-fun C and less serious C?watches on Mr. Goldbergers feed (including a modern Omega Ploprof), there is something so deeply cool about seeing this ana-digi gold-plated Casio sandwiched between a Cartier Crash and a Patek reference 3597/2. Despite being a deeply different sort of watch from any angle, this golden re-issue of Casios 80s ana-digi fits the vibe, and its just so much fun.Casio G-Shock AQM500GD-9A Full Metal, $550 via Hodinkee shop The Q Timex Hugely on-trend when it was first released in 2019, the 1970s-themed Q Timex Reissue offers fuss-free vintage vibes with none of the baggage that often comes with a truly vintage watch. Since the reissue release, Timex has expanded the range to include gold-tone, multiple dial colorways, and even a certain LE that we really like. The Q is an undeniably fun watch that is made all the more entertaining by its complete lack of stakes (quartz, 50 meters of water resistance, inexpensive price point), useful functionality thanks to its 12-hour bezel, and the option of that summer-perfect full-gold look.Its 38mm of fun, great for almost any taste, and it starts at $179. Treat yo self.?The Q Timex Reissue, from $179 via Timex.com Mr Jones A Perfectly Useless Afternoon Regardless of your collection, this pool-themed watch from Mr Jones is an easy-wearing ode to the summer that not only serves as a break from ones more serious watches but also as a reminder to stop and do nothing every now and then. Mr Jones is a fascinating brand thats created a wide array of thought-provoking and fun-loving designs, but this watch, which is literally called A Perfectly Useless Afternoon has a cartoonish flair that makes the most of color, light, and depth (look at that shadow!), while quite literally painting a picture of a lazy day at the pool. Designed by Kristof Devos, an author and illustrator of childrens books, this colorful quartz-powered watch is 37mm wide and uses the floating rubber duck to indicate minutes while the hours are indicated via the extended leg of the tiny person adrift in this wrist-borne pool. Speaking directly to the macro point of this story, its nothing short of a vacation for your wrist.?Mr Jones Watch A Perfectly Useless Afternoon, 175 via mrjoneswatches.com Just About Any Swatch We here at HODINKEE are big Swatch fans and part of that appeal comes from the brands ability to make enthusiast watches with a sense of levity and expression. Ive seen Swatches just about everywhere, from the halls of my childhood elementary school to the banks of Lake Como at one of the most elegant car shows in the entire world. If youre into watches, you should definitely consider a Swatch of some sort, be it a HODINKEE LE Sistem51, or something a bit more readily available, like the Skin Classic (a fav among more than one HODINKEE staffer) or one of the ever-cool MOMA editions, like this reference that is styled after Van Goghs Starry Starry Night. The options are endless, but Swatch has a very special place in many collectors hearts because their watches are inexpensive, easy to wear,?full of style, and connect to folks at every level of watch enthusiasm. Pick one that suits your style and be sure to show it a good time.Swatch Watches, from $55, via the Hodinkee Shop, and the wider collection via Swatch.com Vostok Amphibia Vostok Amphibia 420959. Image via vostokamphibia.com (same for lead image). Did you really think Id do an entire list of non-diver quartz watches? When you think cheap-as-chips and full of charm, few watches deliver as well as the Russian-made Vostok Amphibia divers. Available in a wide array of versions, this is a watch that was introduced to many a collector via Bill Murray as Steve Zissou in Wes Andersons The Life Aquatic. An ocean-based legend in its own right, the humble Amphibia can commonly be found on eBay for under $100, and for the money, you get a quirky dive watch that stands out among Seikos and certainly doesnt lack personality. If you want specifics, its hard to argue with the Scuba Dude versions (so-called for the drawing of a diver on the dial) or the red-black numberless bezel of the handsome 420959 versions. But, much like with Swatch, for best results, just follow your taste.Vostok Amphibia, from $80 via vostokamphibia.com? Shop this story The HODINKEE Shop is an Authorized Dealer for G-Shock, Swatch, and Timex. Mr Jones' A Perfectly Useless Afternoon is available at mrjoneswatches.com; the Vostok Amphibia is available at vostokamphibia.com.