Style The 5 Best Watches Under $500 For Fall 2009

What time is it? It’s time for you to grow up and get a clean, quality watch. Wearing jewelry might not be your thing but when you’re dressing up, having a timepiece isn’t optional, it’s a completely necessary accessory. Glancing at your cell phone to check the time while rockin’ a suit just isn’t a good look. Now, we know what you’re thinking: good watches may be a necessity, but they’re also expensive. That’s where we come in. We wouldn’t want you to blow a whole (or a couple) paychecks on a watch, so we looked around and found five of the best watches available this fall priced under $500. You’re welcome.

Style Buy It Now: ToyWatch Plasteramic

Do you know what time it is? No? Then that means it’s time for you to grow up and get a watch. C’mon son, you know you always walking around talking ’bout how you’re a “grown-ass man” but you still use your Sidekick as a clock. No can do. Today’s Buy It Now from ToyWatch will keep you punctual without beating your pockets like they were fighting Raekwon’s goonies (word to Joe Budden).

Like mixing in fedoras and paperboys with your fitteds, you should always have an analog or two to alternate with your G-Shocks. We’re really feeling the gray model above but if you’re a Skittles kid there are brighter colors available. See below for your choices and Buy It Now info so you can stop being late like Lil’ Wayne’s girlfriends…ahat!

Style The 10 Best Watches Under $300

Wearing jewelry may depend on the type of person, but rocking a good watch is a must for everyone. With the economy in the crapper, and you spending all your paper trying to cover your bar tab, it could be tough to find a dope watch that won’t break your bank account. Lucky for you, we sifted through tons of timepieces to come up with 10 solid options that all clock in under $300. Read below to see choices from brands like Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors to Nooka and Nixon. Throw ‘em in the sky…

Style Buy It Now: Nixon Time Teller P Watch

Two beers and a shot at the Thompson Hotel. A cheeseburger made with Kobe beef. Five tickets to see Next Day Air. *Holds envelope to head like Johnny Carson. Ah, yes: “What are stupid ways to blow $55?”

On the flip side is today’s Buy It Now, the Time Teller P watch from Nixon. For five Hamiltons and a Lincoln, you get a watch with three-hand Japanese quartz and a triple-gasket crown band. There are 13 different colorways for this puppy, so you can even cop a few and switch up as necessary. Money well spent. For Buy It Now info and detail pics, see below…

Style Buy It Now: Casio Camo G-Shock

This new G-Shock by Casio is just like Kobe Bryant’s right elbow: camouflage. (Not nearly as bitch-made, though.) Today’s Buy It Now is a stainless-steel watch that has 29 time zones, a pre-programmed auto-calendar, water resistance (to 200 meters) and “tough solar” power. We’re not sure if you could use it to measure the speed of Kobe’s heart palpitations when Ron-Ron almost Q.B.’ed him last night, but it does have a stopwatch and a bunch of other useful features. For Buy It Now info, detail pics and a full list of technical specs, see below…

Style Buy It Now: G-Shock GLX-5600-1CR Watch

The G-Shock really is the Rolex of digital watches'consistently stylish, always reliable and highly collectible. The rub, of course, is that a G-Shock costs a mere fraction of a Rollie, meaning that it’s far easier to build a solid G-Shock collection…or make an impulse G-Shock buy. So what are you waiting for?

The GLX-5600-1CR is your standard G-Shock, and by standard, we mean “awesome”: flexible band, stainless steel back, 200-meter water resistance, stopwatch, backlight, 29 time zones, shock resistance…you know the drill. For detail pics, Buy It Now info and more G-Shock goodies, see below…

Style Buy It Now: Issey Miyake TO Automatic Stainless

Seems like watches usually go one of two ways: classic but a little grandfatherly, like a good ol’ Rollie; or modern but a little youthful, like a Nooka or G-Shock. That’s why we appreciate the Issey Miyake TO Automatic Stainless'if Iron Man wore a watch, he’d probably be rocking this number.

Issey Miyake’s TO series, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, features timepieces that are intentionally minimalist but also fresh and unique. In short: It’s the best of both worlds.

Today’s Buy It Now has 23-jewel movement, a 50-hour power reserve and a 10-bar water resistance. See the back of this beauty and Buy It Now info below…

Style Brand Profile: Tsovet Watches

We already gave you the definitive guide on how to floss your wrist, but we are fully aware that not everyone has the cream to drop a couple Gs on a Bell & Ross timepiece. That’s why we were stoked to discover Tsovet, a new watch line that debuted at Capsule last week.

Using classic, simple lines inspired by genius architect Frank Lloyd Wright and a price range that doesn’t go over $450, these watches will help you step up without hurting your pockets. Started by Vestal founder David Bonaventura, the line has maritime roots with some models that mimic a compass. The first batch of drops are slated to hit Cali-based retail space Harlow Boutique, where they’re described as “time instruments.” Yeah, they’re that serious. Check some models from their lookbook below.

Style Tip Of The Week: Watch Buying Advice

1. BUY OVERSEAS
They’re duty-free and available in models that you won’t find here.

2. EXPAND YOUR BRAND SCOPE
Study up on Zenith, Ulysse Nardin, and other enthusiast brands.

3. KNOW YOUR CLASPS
From butterflies to buckles, they are an integral part.

4. VERIFY YOUR ONLINE PURCHASE
Check watchfinder.com, then email the manufacturer to validate dealer.

Related: Brand Profile: New Watches From Baselworld

Style Ernst Benz’s ChronoDiver Watch Goes Deep

Longtime readers of Complex know that we’ve always encouraged investing in a well-made watch. Sure, it hurts to see a few G’s disintegrate, but unlike the stacks of Nikes and Wii games laying around your house, a classic timepiece will stay with you forever…even if you have to hide it in your ass (word to Chris Walken).

Shopping for a watch can be intimidating, but when in doubt, go chrono(meter) and go Swiss. The Great Circle ChronoDiver from Ernst Benz fits both qualifications. Based on one of Benz’s original diving watch prototypes from the '80s, it’s water-resistant up to 200 meters and engineered for deep-sea diving (heh heh). For us landlocked people, it’s just an awesome watch.