With all of the buzz about Tudor,
and its return to the U.S. market, I decided to add some fuel to the
fire in the discussion of “affordable luxury” watch brands. From my
blog, Watch-Insider.com, here is my list of the top 10 watch brands that, in my opinion, represent the most excellent value for the price.
The new watch models shown here, representing each brand, are my top 10 of 2013 so far in terms of price-to-value ratio. You’ll find that nothing on the list costs more than $5,000, with the Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue, at $4,425, as the most expensive. So, check out the list and let me know… do you agree that these watches are worth the cost?
(Please also note that I have chosen just one execution of each watch; most of the watches described here are, of course, available with different colored dials, bezels and types of bracelets. All the watches have steel cases. (You can find more detailed information about nearly all the watches shown here if you visit my blog.
Alpina Sailing Yacht Timer: The company has added an in-house regatta countdown module to an automatic Sellita SW 500. Excellent readability and top quality. The price: $4,129.
Baume & Mercier Clifton GMT: A fully functional GMT watch for traveling and/or displaying a second zone time; attractive and equipped with an ETA 2893-3 caliber. The price: $3,000. (Click here to read more about the Clifton collection.)
Frédérique Constant Slimline Manufacture Moonphase: A
stunningly good-looking automatic watch with a classical moon-phase
indication, equipped with the automatic in-house caliber FC-705. The
price: $3,500. More details here.
Hamilton Khaki Navy Sub Auto Chrono: A 300-meter
water-resistant sports chronograph equipped with an ETA 7753 caliber.
Top quality, and a lot of lovely design details to discover. The price:
$1,995 on a rubber strap.
Longines HydroConquest Chronograph: A 300-meter
water-resistant chronograph containing the Longines column-wheel
chronograph caliber L667. It is based on the Valjoux 7750 but this
specific version was developed by ETA for Longines and exclusively
reserved for Longines. The price is $2,325 on a bracelet (pictured) and
$1,450 on a rubber strap. To me, the best “value for money” chronograph
of the year.
Nomos Ahoi: The new Saxon divers watch from Glashütte is
water-resistant to 200 meters and powered by the automatic in-house
caliber Epsilon. The price: $3,940.
Oris Aquis Depth Gauge: A professional-grade and non-gimmicky divers’ watch with a cleverly designed depth gauge. (More details in our recent Watch to Watch article.) Certainly my favorite divers’ watch of 2013! The price: $3,500.
Swatch Sistem 51: The ultimate proof that you can
create an automatic Swiss-made watch for a minimal price. With its 51
components, the new movement is a watchmaking revolution in terms of
simplicity – completely built by robots in less then 20 minutes.
Together with the Oris, my “best of the best” for 2013. The U.S. price
is rumored to be somewhere around $150.
Tissot T-Complication Squelette: If you ever wanted to buy a
technical looking, skeletonized watch that offers you a horological
cinema for the eyes, consider this one, equipped with an ETA 6497 and
priced at only $1,950.
Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue: This design of this chronograph is stunningly cool and the quality is beyond reproach. It is equipped with an ETA 2892-A2 onto which Tudor adds a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module. The price: $4,425.
The new watch models shown here, representing each brand, are my top 10 of 2013 so far in terms of price-to-value ratio. You’ll find that nothing on the list costs more than $5,000, with the Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue, at $4,425, as the most expensive. So, check out the list and let me know… do you agree that these watches are worth the cost?
(Please also note that I have chosen just one execution of each watch; most of the watches described here are, of course, available with different colored dials, bezels and types of bracelets. All the watches have steel cases. (You can find more detailed information about nearly all the watches shown here if you visit my blog.
Alpina Sailing Yacht Timer: The company has added an in-house regatta countdown module to an automatic Sellita SW 500. Excellent readability and top quality. The price: $4,129.
Baume & Mercier Clifton GMT: A fully functional GMT watch for traveling and/or displaying a second zone time; attractive and equipped with an ETA 2893-3 caliber. The price: $3,000. (Click here to read more about the Clifton collection.)
Tudor Heritage Chrono Blue: This design of this chronograph is stunningly cool and the quality is beyond reproach. It is equipped with an ETA 2892-A2 onto which Tudor adds a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module. The price: $4,425.
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