Looking for advice on watches!

In your price range, I really like the Nixon 42-20's. I would have gotten one for myself, but my budget was lower, so I got an Invicta 2770.

I also have a Citizen Calibre 8700, which I really like - that's in your price range, too.

I think automatics are really cool, but at that price point, I prefer the accuracy of a quartz... unless there is a really accurate automatic that I just didn't find when I was looking.