Where Value Meets Virtue, With Six Cool Sub-1k Watches

Whether you’re new to the watchmaking game or have been collecting watches for years, finding a great deal is always a joy. But buying an affordable watch doesn’t mean you have to make concessions to style or practicality. On the contrary, even, as for years the affordable watch scene has been booming with exciting and honest but very stylish brands, both from household names and newcomers looking to find an edge. So with that in mind, and in order from low to high, we take a look at six very cool new watches priced below EUR 1.000.

Timex Mk1 Automatic – EUR 279

In terms of value for money, the Timex MK1 Automatic should be on everyone’s radar. For just EUR 279 or USD 299, you get a fully mechanical field watch with military Field-watch inspiration that does what it needs to do with ease. The 40mm steel case has a tall box-style acrylic crystal to enhance that retro-vintage appeal. The dial is in matte black, shows a double 12- and 24-hour scale with luminous markers and syringe-style hands. A porthole in the caseback, tinted blue, shows you a glimpse of the Miyota 8215 automatic that runs inside. It comes with a green Cordura strap with a leather backing and a steel pin buckle.

For more information, please visit Timex.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 13.6mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – pull-out crown – box-style acrylic crystal – solid caseback with blue-tinted porthole – 50m water-resistant – black dial – 12- & 24-hour scales with luminous markers – syringe-shaped hands, luminous – Miyota 8215, automatic – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – 20mm green Cordura fabric strap with leather lining – quick-release pushpin – steel pin buckle – EUR 279

Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop – EUR 385-400

There’s no way around it, the Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop caused the biggest storm since, well, the Moonswatch probably. Collaborating with a brand outside of the Swatch Group was as bold as it was unexpected, but the end result is pretty cool! The Royal Pop comes in eight fun, vivid colourways, can be worn as a pendant or pocket watch, or even converted into a desk clock. With a case in bioceramic that mimics the look of the legendary Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet and blends it with the convertability of the Swatch Pop, it’s a pretty unique thing on its own! Prices are EUR 385 or EUR 400, depending on whether you want a small seconds or not. Love it or hate it, it broke headlines again!

For more information, please visit Swatch.com or Audemars-Piguet.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm x 8.4mm (watch head) – 44.2mm x 53.2mm (with case holder) – bioceramic case with case holder – sapphire crystal front & back – 20m water-resistant – Royal Oak-inspired stamped tapisserie dial – double-signed – luminous markers & hands – Sistem 51 mechanical – manually wound – 21,600vph – 90h power reserve – anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring – calfskin leather lanyard – table-clock mount included – EUR 385 or EUR 400 (depending on indication)

Seiko 5 Sports Field – EUR 390-410

With the new 5 Sports Field series, Seiko is ready for adventure the world over, thanks to a stout and robust design, a practical bidirectional rotating compass bezel and the reliable 4R36 movement backing it all up. At 41mm in diameter, it’s pleasantly modern in size but not overly large. The bezel itself is either in bare steel or with a brown or black hard-coated finish. The dial comes in green, brown, white or black, and depending on the tone, you get either a stainless steel bracelet or a Nylon strap. Price-wise, it comes in at either EUR 390 for the HBD008 and HBD009 on the strap, or EUR 410 for the HBD006 and HBD007 on the steel bracelet.

For more information, please visit SeikoWatches.com.

Quick Facts – 41mm x 13.2mm – stainless steel case, brushed – bidirectional rotating compass bezel, optionally hard-coated in black or brown – Hardlex crystal with mineral glass caseback – 100m water-resistant – green, brown, black or white dial – double hour scale, luminous – luminous hands – Calibre 4R36, in-house – automatic – 21,600vph – 41h power reserve – hours, minutes, hacking seconds, date, day – 3-link steel bracelet or Nylon strap – EUR 390 (strap) or EUR 410 (bracelet)

Tissot Visodate – EUR 795-875

If you want something a bit more “red carpet” instead of “adventure-ready”, the recently revised Tissot Visodate is a perfect candidate. At 39mm in diameter and 10.45mm in height, this is a real crowd-pleaser. And not only by comfort, as it also looks the part! The case has a lovely vintage profile with faceted lugs and a box-type sapphire crystal. The domed dial, in black, silver or blue, looks lovely and balanced, and is paired with applied markers, luminous dots and Dauphine-style hands. You can see the Powermatic 80 through the caseback, and it retails for EUR 795 on a leather strap, or EUR 875 on a Beads-of-Rice steel bracelet.

For more information, please visit TissotWatches.com.

Quick Facts – 39mm x 10.45mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal – see-through caseback – 50m water-resistant – domed dial in black, silver or blue – applied markers & hands with SLN – bevelled & outlined date window – Powermatic 80, automatic – 21,600vph – 80h power reserve – anti-magnetic Nivachron hairspring – leather strap with pin buckle or steel Beads-of-Rice bracelet with folding clasp – EUR 795 (leather strap) or EUR 875 (steel bracelet)

Titan Zero Hour Professional Diver 500M –

With the Zero Hour Professional Diver 500M, Indian watchmaking company Titan launches a seriously impressive dive watch at a very sensible price. For a reasonable USD 840, you get a full black-coated grade 2 titanium case and bracelet, a rotating bezel with an aqua-locking system to prevent accidental adjustments and a sapphire bezel insert. On top of that, the gradient black dial looks nice and is highly legible thanks to oversized markers and hands finished with Super-LumiNova. The movement is made entirely in-house, runs at a rate of 28,800vph and delivers 41 hours of running time. Far from bad, we’d say!

For more information, please visit Titan.co.in.

Quick Facts – 44.2mm x 15.5mm – black-coated grade 2 titanium – unidirectional rotating bezel with sapphire insert & aqua-lock system – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – helium escape valve – 500m water-resistant – gradient black dial – oversized markers & hands with SLN – Titan Calibre 7AC0, in-house automatic – 28,800vph – 40h power reserve – black-coated grade 2 titanium bracelet with folding clasp – additional black FKM rubber strap – limited to 500 pieces – USD 840

Sero Watch Company Signature – EUR 999

The Signature by Dutch newcomers Sero Watch Company taps into the Calatrava-esque style of watchmaking that’s soaring in popularity right now. It comes in at a very modest 37.5mm in diameter and a slim 9.5mm in height (including the crystal!). The case itself is brushed and polished, with a sapphire crystal on both sides. But best of all, the silver, gold, ice blue or red dial is finished with machine-engraved Breguet numerals and blued hands, resulting in a very handsome mix of textures and contrast. Inside, a manually wound Sellita SW-210-1B Elaboré keeps you running for 45 hours. Currently under pre-order, the Signature costs EUR 999.

For more information, please visit SeroWatchCompany.com.

Quick Facts – 37.5mm x 9.5mm (with crystal) – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal front & back – 100m water-resistant – electroplated dial in silver, gold, ice blue or red – machine-engraved Breguet numerals & logo – blued hands – Sellita SW-210-1B, elaboré grade – manually wound – 28,800vph – 45h power reserve – handmade Ostrich or Epsom leather strap with pin buckle – available for pre-order now – EUR 999 (pre-order price)