Not even sure if they still make them these days and I've not had a wind up for over 40 years! (It was a mickey mouse arm spinner if you're interested and no idea who made it :) )
Any reputable brands or models anyone could suggest? I'm not looking to spend millions but something good for anything up to $150~200 would be nice…
Thanks mskeggs, great info there so will have a look tonight :)
Star Jewels is good and very helpful from purchases I've made in the past - the kids are only into the g-shock watches though and don't think the mickey mouse spinning arms would cut the mustard… I might just get one though to "wind them up" at birthday time :)
At this price point Seiko 5 and Orient (long established Japanese mechanical watch maker) are both good choices, depending on what style you're after the below are worth a look (these are both automatics)
Orient Bambino (dress)
https://www.longislandwatch.com/mobile/product.aspx?ProductC…
Orient Mako (diver)
http://www.skywatches.com.sg/reviews/orient-mako-automatic-s…
Thanks mate, that Bambino looks lovely :)
Sorry just did some more reading on this - the movements in those Orients are automatic with no hand winding. The Orient Star line of watches have it but they're a lot pricier (and at that price I'd take the hugely popular Tissot Visodate which has a beautiful vintage look as well).
The Seiko 5 models, make sure to check the particular model since some are hand wind able (4R series) and some are automatic only.
Most mechanical watches are automatic these days. This means instead of winding them, there is a weight on a spindle inside that winds the watch from the movement of your wrist. These are less accurate than a $10 quartz, but you don't buy them for accuracy.
I am wearing a Seiko 5 model. These have a good reputation for quality, and are available at absurdly low prices for the workmanship, IMO.
Certainly, you could get any in the range under $200.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=seiko+snk809&safe=off&esp…
Citizen and another Japanese maker (is it Lorus?) also make low end automatic watches in the same price range.
And, of course, the Swiss watches go up to Sydney real estate level prices.
If I were looking at this price point, I would go with a Seiko diver watch. With the Pepsi style bezel:
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/seiko-pepsi-automatic
Time Paradise and Star Jewels are both reputable sellers who post to OzBargain.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/watch
If there is something specifically about the winding you need, there are a few high quality swiss wind-up watches, made because an automatic movement is quite thick, and a wind-up movement can be insanely thin. But I think they are out of your price range.
And there are a few 'new old stock' wind up Mickey Mouse watches on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40%7CR40%7CR40&_sacat=…