I have a Fossil watch that I love hard. This is my second from that company. The only reason why I got a second watch was that I got sick of looking at the first. I'd had it for 6 years and still have it, I just don't wear it. They've proven to be the sturdiest watches I've ever owned and I am not nice to watches. The first went diving with me and was put through an industrial dish washer. Twice. Check out their website, I'm sure you'll find one to suit your taste.

There's so many different styles of watch that it's hard to make a recommendation. Have a look on Amazon where you can compare different styles within your price range.

My mother swore by Croton watches, which she said had the Rolex workings (I never bothered to look it up, so I don't know if it's true, but she did work in a jewelry store and had a good sense of these sorts of things). She also was a big fan of ShopNBC's watch prices, hence the link.

She bought me a couple Croton watches, all of which are pretty and sturdy, and I inherited a few more of hers. I like all of them; they're elegant without being overly precious.

I'm currently wearing one of her Lucien Piccard watches (probably on the lower end of the ones on that page), and I've been totally happy with it. Mainly, though, because it's got a big face -- to the point where people on the bus can easily use my watch to tell time -- which is nice.

In any event, some of those clearance prices are within your price range, so worth checking out.

I've always liked Fossil (I've had 3 or 4 before I just started using my cell phone to tell time), but hell, just go down to your local downtown department store (Macy's or Nordstrom or the like) and browse the watch counter. Get one because you like the way it looks and feels good on your wrist. Don't ask a bunch of strangers on the internet.

Personally, i'm a threat to all wristwatches crystals, but if i used one i'd end up going for a men's with a dark face so i could use it as a mirror (i had contacts then).
My favorite was a silver nurse's watch i hung on a figaro chain that was great, inexpensive and stylish when visible. The battery died and then it disappeared before i could replace it, one of the few things i would get again exactly the same way.

If i had to think of a wrist watch, well, i'd go hunt up some samples.

I also like Fossil. They have many many different styles/colors/finishes. Just go to a department store and have a look-see. Some malls even have standalone Fossil stores. I usually find something I like from Fossil in the $60-$90 range. (I go shopping with my dad at xmas and he always gets his wife a Fossil watch...I do not wear a watch. My opinion is based on the watches we look at every year + knowing what watches his wife actually uses.)

Speaking of Fossil, my brother made Fred Fossil. Like, acutally made him. Want proof? Look at the Ss -- they're upside-down.

He also made the chili pepper that hangs inside the Chili's waiting area.

I only mention this as trivia. It's certainly not boastful, since he and I aren't currently speaking.

Anyway, back to watch talk. Sorry for the derail.

My mother swore by Croton watches, which she said had the Rolex workings (I never bothered to look it up, so I don't know if it's true, but she did work in a jewelry store and had a good sense of these sorts of things).

Rolex uses its own movements (a lot of high-end brands will use movements made by companies like ETA). The Croton watches listed in occhiblu's link appear to be either Miyota movements (Japanese company owned by Citizen), Ronda movements (a Swiss company making mostly quartz movements), ETA movements or some unnamed quartz movement. The big difference being whether the movement is automatic (no battery, self-winding) or quartz (battery). Some of the more expensive watches in occhiblu's link have Miyota or ETA automatic movements--though not every Miyota movement is automatic.

About 90% or so of Rolex watches are automatic movements. This is also generally the case with other high-end watches.

Croton doesn't appear to be using Rolex movements (at least not in the watches shown in the link). But occhiblu's mom could have meant that Croton was using the same type of movement as Rolex, e.g. an automatic movement.

Anyway, all the sub-$300 Croton watches appear to be quartz movements. And generally, if $150 is your budget, you're not likely to have much luck finding automatic movements. Nothing wrong with quartz though--you'd need to be something of a watch-geek to appreciate automatic. Plus, quartz watches are generally more accurate.

If you want a Swiss movement that won't break your bank, you might think about an Invicta. I have their men's skeleton (front and back are see-through, you can see the workings), which cost me $80 on eBay, and I liked it a lot.

Also very cool are Citizen Eco-Drives. I need to resize the bracelet on mine for my thin, puling, wimpdorky geek wrists.

Some watch geeks seem very enamored with Seiko automatics (and Invictas), and a smaller subset of watch geeks think that there's great value to be had in watches from the former USSR (Poljot, and others). Ooh, and Tissot watches are stylish, and seemingly on the rise lately.

Or, alternately, you could buy a Swatch.

(I was going to buy a watch a while ago, but I wound up keeping my G-Shock. It's solar-powered, and you can wear it while operating a jackhammer. Not that I do.)