New Watch Needed

I really like watches but the kind of work I do really beats them up.
I'm currently looking for a new watch and I'm not sure how much the people here spend on watches, but
I can spend up to $400. Now if it is something really nice I can go more but not in the rolex price range, not that I'm all that impressed by a rolex.
I just go back from a cruise and they had a bunch of Citizen watches on sale. I didn't think they were good watches but when I looked up the prices on them, they were quite costly - for me anyways. Are they good watches?
The important things for me re watches Looks and time keeping ability. I've never had a watch in the past 10 years that didn't keep good time though. I was also considering getting a watch with the following features: solar powered watch ( if I get a digital readout ) and Atomic Time. I also like the watches that are clear so you can see the workings on the inside.

The downside for me re solar is that the watch is usually trashed by the time the battery dies. The band ALWAYS rots before the battery dies. If I replace the band, then about a year or two later the battery goes out. And by that time the watch is looking really banged up.


I've also noted here the debates on Acrylic vs Mineral vs Sapphire. Is there really a big difference between Mineral and Sapphire dial covers? I've also read that some of the ppl here have buffed out scratches in acrylic covers - any advice on what buffing compounds and wheels to use? Any luck buffing Mineral or Sapphire covers?


Do most readers here wear (I believe the term I saw was) "beaters" when they work or play hard and then wear their nice watches on special occasions?

I'd appreciate any comments or info that you can give me.
Thanks
Demhi Moss

The big players in the solar and atomic time segment are Citizen and Casio.

Casio makes a lot of g-shocks that tick the boxes and some other more dressy models.

Citizens are good value for the $$. You can usually get 40% off retail if you look around on the internet. In the US you get a 5 year warranty...basically unheard of for a watch. In other countries you get a one year warranty but a sapphire crystal. They have lots of styles to meet your needs, all of the Eco-Drives are solar powered, and some models do have atomic time. As long as you keep light to it enough to charge, the 'battery' in your Citizen should last at least 10 years. I have one that is 13 years old.

I would suggest a nice Citizen Eco-drive for everyday and a G-shock for destructive work and rough play.

More later on crystals as I have time......