The cheapest military-style watch you can buy?

Love the simplicity of Urban Outfitters' Classic Field Watch which comes on a nato strap (personally I think it'd look a whole lot better on plain grey though). But the best thing about it is the fact it costs only £28. Yes, I know it's not a Cyma or a Benrus or even a Timex. But at these prices who cares? You can do the gardening or paint the shed while wearing it, with a clear conscience.

Vintage Rolex GMT Master 6542

Saw this 1960s Rolex 6542 (the model without the crown guards) at a shopping centre in Malaysia while I was on holiday recently. It was being sold at the bargain price of just £6450 (converted from Malaysian currency). If I'd had the money I would have bought it on the spot. Anyway I went back a few days later and it had been sold.

Hamilton MIL-W-46374

Standard issue throughout the Vietnam era to American GI's, the Hamilton MIL-W-46374 is a classic military watch with an easy to read 24-hour dial and 17-jewel Swiss movement.

If the face looks familiar, it's probably because it's inspired popular miltary style watches like J.Crew's Timex, and Seiko's SNX425. If you want a proper military issued watch with a bit of history, you can still pick Hamilton MILs up in good condition on eBay for less than £150.

Stowa Partitio

I've been full of admiration for Jorg Schauer and what he's done with the Stowa brand since he bought the German watchmaker in 1996. A few years ago I purchased a Stowa Airman from his online store and was very impressed with the design, build quality and ETA movement of the classic Flieger timepiece. Stowa's latest model is the Partitio, a stripped down automatic wristwatch with simple numerals and hands, and an elegant 37mm case. For its size it seems to have a lot of presence, although I've yet to see the watch in any wrist shots.

The Partitio is advertised in Stowa's online shop, but you can only buy it from the Manufactum site at present. Follow this link to find out more.

The Tudor Date-Day. A Rolex President at a budget price.

This is one of my favourite watches, a vintage Tudor, with an automatic movement and day-date function. Which makes it the Tudor equivalent of the famously expensive Rolex President. I picked this up on eBay a few years ago at a bargain price, partly because the dial isn't in perfect condition, with a few small spots of discolouration. As a timekeeper it works perfectly, losing only one or two minutes each week. It's beautifully made too, the case is slim and elegant, and I particularly like the way the day and date flip over to change exactly at the stroke of midnight.

In praise of: CWC watches

CWC, or the Cabot Watch Company has long supplied the British Armed forces with a full range of timepieces. From the bog-standard G10 issued to British troops during the Falklands, to the RN Diver that replaced the standard issue Rolex Sub in the 1970s, and the manual Chronograph issued to RAF pilots. They're all beautifully designed military watches that don't cost an arm and a leg, being priced in the hundreds rather than thousands. I've got an automatic version of the RN diver, which is a good stand-in for a Rolex 5513 without the need to take out a huge loan. But what I'd really love next is one of the tough but elegant hand wound chronos. You can pick up a CWC watch at Silvermans, a military clothing store in the East End that also does a fantastic range of coats and flight jackets. Good used examples can also frequently be found on eBay.

How many watches should a man own?

Five, ten, twenty, or just one? For me, I guess the answer would be "as many as he can afford". Personally, I'm partial to divers' and military watches on 'Nato' straps. From L to R in the lower shot: Seiko SKX diver, Omega Seamaster 120, CWC Royal Navy diver, Seiko Diver 40mm, Stowa Airman, CWC automatic.