Citizen rules solar.

 

My Casio Oceanus is exactly this watch for me. I have the S100-1AJF that several folks on here have. It's not a GMT, but it IS a world-timer of a sort (showing one time zone at a time, but letting you select time zones easily with the crown). You might find it in your price range... but I think it's likely over $500 once all taxes, tariffs, and duties are paid.

It's great... I'd recommend the Oceanus watches.

The biggest negative to some of them is that the middle part of the end-link on the bracelet is actually part of the case, so you can't swap it for other straps.

 

Was going to say S100, but he already did! Could easily be an only watch imo

 

I might be looking for a quartz three hander with radio or GPS time sync. This will be my first ever watch to have this feature. I've read a bit about it this today and there certainly seems to be tradeoffs with both radio/GPS sync. (I'm also aware that some have Bluetooth sync which seems both cool and odd at the the same time, especially Casio's version which right on the screen say that the watch might not show the same time as your phone, without any explanation as to why this is the case.) I live in New England USA if that matter for radio reception.

It should be 40mm or smaller, smaller is definately better and as thin and light as possible. I'd like date/day butday seems hard to find.

It should have a clean dial. I prefer numerals but it really looks like indices rule in this arena.

I care little about water resistance or lume. I do want to be able to wash my hand and splash it while kayaking, and if I need to know the time at night I'll look at my phone.

GMT would be cool but I doubt that such a watch exists.

Under $500 is good but I can boost it more if needed. I know this leaves out a lot, if not all the Astron/Oceanus models. On the other hand that white JDM Oceanus T200 sure looks sharp and can be had for under $400 unless tariffs get involved.

Basically I'm looking for a watch that I can always just pick up and go and never ever have to set. Ok, I can deal with manual DST changes, I probably prefer to anyway since Congress can always change the day it changes on, and I might be driving through Navajo Nation in Arizona and I doubt any watch gets that correct.

What's out there?

White JDM Oceanus for attention...

View attachment 19301145​

Citizen GPS watches are likely to be over budget, but there are loads of Eco Drive RC watches available for under $500, many under $200.

Most of what Citizen sells here are going to be either humongous chronographs stuffed full of every feature they can imagine, or cheap looking mall grade stuff.

I recommend checking out the Exceed range, which are mostly dressy or dressyish JDM watches. Much nicer than the usual stuff we get.

 

I recommend checking out the Exceed range, which are mostly dressy or dressyish JDM watches. Much nicer than the usual stuff we get.

Oh those look nice. I do hear what you say about how garish many of them are. Thanks for the breath of fresh air.

 

Really enjoyed this one. On ebay you can pick it up for a good price usually. That's the non-GPS model.

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/seiko-astron-sbxy033-review.5630444/?post_id=58903935#post-58903935

Also for similar money (used) you can score Oceanus S5000 models.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Citizen has nice GPS 3 hand models.
Casio Oceanus is sure bargain.

Both not a bad choice.

Other option is Junghans Mega Solar.

 

Other option is Junghans Mega Solar.

OH! I didn't know that they were radio. Interesting...

 

I've found it's hit or miss to get the radio signal from Ft. Collins here in MA, so when looking for a similar grab and go, never need to worry about setting it option, I went with a smaller Astron GPS solar - the Ti SBXD007. The 3X22 movement seems to be able to find GPS reception even when indoors, so it's rare that I need to manually sync it (which is done with a single button press).

While the SBXD007 is getting harder and harder to find, and out of your price range, Seiko also released a couple of other models around the same time utilizing the 3X22 - the SBXD005/SSJ005, and SBXD003/SSJ003. These can occasionally be had used for a bit over your range.

 

I've found it's hit or miss to get the radio signal from Ft. Collins here in MA, so when looking for a similar grab and go, never need to worry about setting it option, I went with a smaller Astron GPS solar

Good to hear about local radio conditions, so yeah, GPS is probably the way to go. I do like the Astron watches but they seemed pricey.

 

It's not a GMT, but it IS a world-timer of a sort (showing one time zone at a time, but letting you select time zones easily with the crown).

Oh, that's interesting. I wonder if the 200 does that. I'll download the manual and see.

The biggest negative to some of them is that the middle part of the end-link on the bracelet is actually part of the case, so you can't swap it for other straps.

Yeah, I saw that on a review, not cool...

 

I wonder if the 200 does that. I'll download the manual and see.

No need... if it doesn't have the cities listed around the chapter ring, then it doesn't have the world timer function.

 

Oceanus T150

 

The Astron line has some three-handed GPS references that are pretty clean. If you want radio, they have those too, but I’d swing over to the Selection line for ones more in your budget. I’m a fan of this SBTM323 and recommend it a lot. (There’s also the SBTM341 in titanium.)

Solar, radio-controlled, perpetual calendar. You set it from UTC offset rather than city, so you’ll have to change the time zone for DST on/off. This might be preferable in case they ever change the rules for those.

39.5mm x 46.1mm lug-to-lug, thin at 9.5mm, 20mm lugs. Time zone change feature, lumed hands and indices (not super great there), differentially-finished hands (half polished, half matte), sapphire with anti-reflective coating, and super-fine grooving on the indices. Bracelet looks nice and is comfortable, but there are some cost savings there with a pressed clasp and folded end links. The titanium versions improve the bracelet, but it comes with male (protruding) end links, and except for the black case one, the titanium ones have textured dials instead of smooth.

Overall it’s a great option at $400 or less and I’d highly recommend it.

Here are some photos.

Comparison of its crystal with a Traska Commuter:

 

I don’t know what camera you’re using but your wrist shots are always amazing! I’m so jealous 🤣

I have the same watch and I highly recommend the SBTM323 as well. This is my grab and go along with my solar atomic g-shock. Together that pretty much covers any occasion that comes my way whrever I go.

View attachment 19301492

 

Gonna say that the Oceanus is the way to go

Excellent watches

 

I’ll jump in with the SBTM341

 

I might be looking for a quartz three hander with radio or GPS time sync. This will be my first ever watch to have this feature. I've read a bit about it this today and there certainly seems to be tradeoffs with both radio/GPS sync. (I'm also aware that some have Bluetooth sync which seems both cool and odd at the the same time, especially Casio's version which right on the screen say that the watch might not show the same time as your phone, without any explanation as to why this is the case.) I live in New England USA if that matter for radio reception.

It should be 40mm or smaller, smaller is definately better and as thin and light as possible. I'd like date/day butday seems hard to find.

It should have a clean dial. I prefer numerals but it really looks like indices rule in this arena.

I care little about water resistance or lume. I do want to be able to wash my hand and splash it while kayaking, and if I need to know the time at night I'll look at my phone.

GMT would be cool but I doubt that such a watch exists.

Under $500 is good but I can boost it more if needed. I know this leaves out a lot, if not all the Astron/Oceanus models. On the other hand that white JDM Oceanus T200 sure looks sharp and can be had for under $400 unless tariffs get involved.

Basically I'm looking for a watch that I can always just pick up and go and never ever have to set. Ok, I can deal with manual DST changes, I probably prefer to anyway since Congress can always change the day it changes on, and I might be driving through Navajo Nation in Arizona and I doubt any watch gets that correct.

What's out there?

White JDM Oceanus for attention...

View attachment 19301145​

I have one and it’s incredibly well finished and beautiful.m far beyond Citizen.

 

I might be looking for a quartz three hander with radio or GPS time sync. This will be my first ever watch to have this feature. I've read a bit about it this today and there certainly seems to be tradeoffs with both radio/GPS sync. (I'm also aware that some have Bluetooth sync which seems both cool and odd at the the same time, especially Casio's version which right on the screen say that the watch might not show the same time as your phone, without any explanation as to why this is the case.) I live in New England USA if that matter for radio reception.

It should be 40mm or smaller, smaller is definately better and as thin and light as possible. I'd like date/day butday seems hard to find.

It should have a clean dial. I prefer numerals but it really looks like indices rule in this arena.

I care little about water resistance or lume. I do want to be able to wash my hand and splash it while kayaking, and if I need to know the time at night I'll look at my phone.

GMT would be cool but I doubt that such a watch exists.

Under $500 is good but I can boost it more if needed. I know this leaves out a lot, if not all the Astron/Oceanus models. On the other hand that white JDM Oceanus T200 sure looks sharp and can be had for under $400 unless tariffs get involved.

Basically I'm looking for a watch that I can always just pick up and go and never ever have to set. Ok, I can deal with manual DST changes, I probably prefer to anyway since Congress can always change the day it changes on, and I might be driving through Navajo Nation in Arizona and I doubt any watch gets that correct.

What's out there?

White JDM Oceanus for attention...

View attachment 19301145​

I have the

My Casio Oceanus is exactly this watch for me. I have the S100-1AJF that several folks on here have. It's not a GMT, but it IS a world-timer of a sort (showing one time zone at a time, but letting you select time zones easily with the crown). You might find it in your price range... but I think it's likely over $500 once all taxes, tariffs, and duties are paid.

It's great... I'd recommend the Oceanus watches.

View attachment 19301232


The biggest negative to some of them is that the middle part of the end-link on the bracelet is actually part of the case, so you can't swap it for other straps.

i have this watch and it’s incredibly well crafted and beautiful, far beyond Citizen.
I have an Omega Aqua Terra and my Oceanus is the one I prefer.

 

You still can hunt down this model in unused /refurbished condition.
No affiliation with the seller, except buying too much from them.

 

I'm also aware that some have Bluetooth sync which seems both cool and odd at the the same time ... I live in New England USA if that matter for radio reception.

The Multiband6 transmitter in the U.S. is radio WWVB out of Ft. Collins, Colorado. Longwave on 60 kHz, which is way below the AM radio band. Not sure how good reception is going to be in New England. The watch will try to sync at night when D-layer absorption in the ionosphere is lowest. Forcing a daytime sync with WWVB might not work.

Bluetooth will sync 4 times/day with the CASIO WATCHES app on your phone. The app goes to time servers on the internet for sync, if your phone's internal clock is syncing less frequently than the CASIO WATCHES app, then your phone might be drifting more than the watch. Which is why they say Bluetooth sync can lead to the watch and phone internal clock showing different times. The phone internal clock usually just syncs with the local cell tower's time once and a while.

GPS sync needs to see the satellite, so if your watch is indoors a lot without a view of the sky, that might not work for you. I think some G-Shock and most Astron watches have GPS sync, usually a bit more money than Multiband6 or Bluetooth.

I have an Oceanus S400 with Bluetooth sync, it is the watch by which I set my other watches.