It may matter more what models interest you, since Ediface, Seiko autos, and Eco-drives all vary quite a lot, even in your price range.

As to the brands themselves though, $250 doesn't buy much in a Seiko these days. Ediface are nice watches but the bracelets appear to be rather primitive, and the low-end Ediface models appear a little cheap. I'd be strongly inclined to go with a Citizen Eco-drive in this price range.

 

I got all three. they are all differnt type of watches. Editice is a great option and bang for the buck.

Eco Drive has the nice thing that they are solar..so you would never have to change the battery.

Which Seiko auto are you looing at? Seiko 5 is a good option for a first automatic. I would not recommend an automatic for a first watch. But that is just me. I would go with Eco Drive or Edifice. Some edifice are solar too.

I think Edifice has more modern and racing inspired pieces. More suitable for a 18 year old.

Question back to you... what do you want out of a watch ?

Seiko 5 Ice Monster by Wolfsatz, on Flickr

Edifice by Wolfsatz, on Flickr

Eco Drive BM by Wolfsatz, on Flickr

 

I got all three. they are all differnt type of watches. Editice is a great option and bang for the buck.

Eco Drive has the nice thing that they are being solar..so you would never have to change the battery.

Which Seiko auto are you looing at? Seiko 5 is a good option for a first automatic. I would not recommend an automatic for a first watch. But that is just me. I would go with Eco Drive or Edifice.

I think Edifice has more modern and racing inspired pieces. More suitable for a 18 year old.

Question back to you... what do you want out of a watch ?

1. I'm looking into Seiko 5 and edifice as of now.
2. I'm moving from a fitbit so I've got no idea about the real watches. I'm looking for something suitable for University as well as a bit formal occasions.

 

 

Casio edifice vs Seiko Automatic vs Citizen eco drive?
Turning 18 in three months and wanted to gift myself a watch for about 250 USD. Confused between aforementioned brands. Which one should I get?

Which Seiko auto are you looing at? Seiko 5 is a good option for a first automatic. I would not recommend an automatic for a first watch. But that is just me. I would go with Eco Drive or Edifice. Some edifice are solar too.

I would second that. Automatics' sweeping hands and battery-less movements are attractive, but they suffer from two main drawbacks compared to a quartz :

• They are vulnerable to shocks. In other words, if you intend to play tennis, basket-ball, or any sport with violent arm movements with your watch on, mechanicals watches are not a good choice. Hence the above advice Wolfsatz gave you I think.
• They aren't that accurate. They lose in a day what a quartz would in a month, which means you'll have to set the time much more frequently.

Mechanicals are nice watches, but not made to be used everywhere as a quartz GADA would. Consider them for a second buy, when extending your collection ; unless you are certain to take the watch off upon sporting or tinkering.

 

For under £150 You can get Edifice that are also solar like the Eco Drives.
Plus for around £250, you should be able to get a Citizen that are atomic or perpetual calendar as well as their solar Eco Drive. This would be my pick.

 

What kind of watch are you wanting specifically? Diver? Chrono? IMO the Seikos look the best, but for precision/accuracy and the least amount of maintenance an Eco Drive is probably your best bet. Edifice dials are just way too busy IMO, but then again so are the Citizen chronos.

 

Edifices aren't always chronos. They make simple 3 hand sports watches too. They're not especially busy and prices are vastly better than citizen.

 

I'd say you can't go wrong with any of the options you listed. Take your time and try them on first.

 

 

I was going to recommend the Seiko SNZG13....black dial, on a bracelet, could maybe get away with it in more dressy situation. But, alas, i have to concur with the Casio Snaggletooth recommended...only in black. I'd suggest that you buy it with bracelet and source out a nice leather strap. Would look great either way.

.

 

At your age you also want something that doesn’t need a lot of looking after - an Eco Drive has almost got your name on it as if you pick the right one it can be both casual and slightly dressy.

 

That's easy, an Orient Kamasu. Available in various colours, and unlike the rest, it has a sapphire crystal

 

Citizen.

 

id have to say, for a first "real" watch, id go Eco-Drive. Ive owned a ton of them and I love that they are so low maintenance and easy to own.

However, for your 250, you could also get a Scurfa Diver One D1-500. A wonderful Micro Brand, and a kick ass 500M diver!

 

Your question is rather broad. Just to illustrate, the below watches are all Citizen Ecodrives, yet are wildly different looking watches (similar story for seiko automatics and casio edifice). .

If your question is about the movements, then it really depends on your preference.

Ecodrives are solar powered quartz watches, meaning they operate on a battery that is recharged by a solar cell in the dial of the watch. They are accurate, and if not left in the dark for too long, will (theoretically) never require a battery replacement.

Casio Edifice could be both regular quartz or solar quartz watches, depending on the model. The solar ones will perform similar to the Citizen Ecodrives. The regular battery quartz ones will be similarly accurate, but do require a battery replacement every now and then.
Casio is known for the many different functions they offer on their watches - like alarms, timers, second time zones etc - which of course differs per model. If that's something you enjoy, then Casio is hard to beat.

Seiko Automatics are mechanical watches, meaning they are powered by a spring rather than a battery. The spring is wound by the movement of your arm, so you don't need to manually wind the watch or replace a battery ever, so long as you regularly wear the watch to keep the spring wound. Mechanical watches are interesting little machines, which fascinate a lot of people on this forum. However practically speaking they are pretty much obsolete technology, that is less accurate than modern quartz watches (10 seconds per day off wouldn't be unexpected, or up to 30 s/day for a seiko 5 even), less robust, and more expensive (in purchase and in long term maintenance).

If the mechanics of automatic movements interest/fascinate you, a seiko 5 automatic is a good place to start. However if you don't much care for that, it would be better to stick with a Citizen Ecodrive or a Casio Edifice.

 

A crap photo but you get the idea