Slimming Things Down Part II – Ultra-Thin Watchmaking, On A (Relative) Budget

Last week’s Buying Guide on some of the finest ultra-thin watches on the market today might have posed a bit of a challenge in hindsight, which we’re going to address in this week’s instalment. You see, when compiling these lists, we look for watches that fit a specific theme. A certain complication, case shapes or materials, dial colours and so on. Every now and then, we also look at prices and what an imaginary spending limit might get you. And therein lay the problem, as the least expensive watch started at 10k and a bit. Hence why we return to the topic, and offer you a selection of still very thin watches, yet priced below the 10k mark! And it again proves to be quite a versatile selection!

Nomos tangente neomatik doré

First up is Nomos’ poster boy, the Tangente, and we’ve gone for the Tangente Neomatik Doré. At 35mm in diameter and just 6.9mm in height, this will elegantly slip under any cuff. While there’s a full gold version available since recently, this one is a bit more affordable but no less stylish. The slender proportions, the simple yet legible dial and a touch of gold for the hands make it a refined choice all the way. What also helps is that finely finished in-house automatic movement, which can be seen from the back. Worn on a shell Cordovan leather strap, the Tangente Neomatik Doré retails for EUR 2,940, which makes it an attractive deal altogether.

For more information, please visit Nomos-Glashuette.com.

Quick Facts – 35mm x 6.9mm – polished steel case – sapphire crystals front & back – 50m water-resistant – galvanised, white silver-plated dial – black printed indexes – hour, minute & small seconds hands in gold – calibre DUW 3001, in-house – automatic winding – 21,600vph – 43h power reserve – hours, minutes, small seconds – 18mm Shell Cordovan brown strap – EUR 2,940

Maen Manhattan 37mm ultra-thin

The Maen Manhattan 37mm Ultra-Thin ticks a lot of boxes, not in the last place in terms of height, or lack thereof, in fact. The stylishly shaped integrated sports watch is just 37mm wide by 7.1mm thin, mainly thanks to the manually wound ETA Peseux 7001 movement inside, which can be seen through the back. The hammered “Tuscan” style dial is finished in a lush green tone, with applied markers and a recessed small seconds display at the bottom. It comes on an integrated stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp and is priced very sensibly, at EUR 1,079. And that sounds like a pretty sweet deal to us!

For more information, please visit MaenWatches.com.

Quick Facts – 37mm x 7.1mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal front & back – 100m water-resistant – hammered Tuscan-style dial, green – applied markers & hands with SLN – shaped recessed small seconds display – Peseux 7001, manually wound – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – integrated three-link stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp – EUR 1,079

Paulin Modul D Manual

Next up is the Paulin Modul D Manual, bringing some lightheartedness and frivolity to the wrist. This Glaswegian brand is now in the hands of anOrdain, and with the Modul D, it offers quite a fresh take on a manually wound dress watch. The 35mm helmet-shaped by 8.2mm thin case houses an ETA Peseux 7001 movement, and is fitted with a black dial with brightly coloured markers and hands. The mix of colours and shapes is surprisingly playful and fresh, and it wears great given its compact proportions. Available on a wide range of straps and bracelets, prices for the Paulin Modul D Manual start at EUR 925,95 excl. VAT, which is very fair.

For more information, please visit PaulinWatches.com.

Quick Facts – 35mm x 8.2mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – hesalite box-shaped crystal – see-through caseback – 50m water-resistant – black lacquered dial – printed numerals & markers with SLN – luminous hands in red, white & blue – recessed small seconds subdial – ETA Peseux 7001, manual winding – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – hours, minutes, small seconds – various strap & bracelet options – starting at EUR 925,95 excl. VAT

De Rijke & CO. Capri

Moving from round to square, or square-ish at least, the new De Rijke & Co. Capri is a rather handsome watch riddled with interesting and original details. For starters, there’s not a single screw or fastener in view. From the front, the sides, and the back, the case looks like a uniform construction. Measuring 28.5mm in width, 38mm in length and just 6.5mm in height, the wrap-around sapphire crystal certainly gives it an unexpected edge. Three versions are available, with a black onyx or black aventurine dial backed by a La Joux-Perret D100, or a Capri Blue dial with small seconds thanks to an LJP D101. Only 50 of each will be made, for a price of EUR 2,195 excl. VAT.

For more information, please visit DeRijkeandCo.com.

Quick Facts – 28.5mm x 38mm x 6.5mm – stainless steel case, brushed – shaped sapphire crystal – hidden screws – 30m water-resistant – black onyx, black aventurine or Capri Blue lacquered dial – small seconds subdial in Capri Blue dial only – openworked hour & minute hands – La Joux-Perret D100/D101 – manual winding – 21,600vph – 50h power reserve – calf leather strap – limited to 50 pieces per dial version – EUR 2,195 excl. VAT

Furlan Marri Disco Diamonds Onyx

We’ve said it before, and we’ll happily say it again: The Furlan Marri Disco Diamonds Onyx is a lovely watch all around. For this list, it also happens to be the most expensive, at CHF 3,500, but that’s still good value for money for what you get. And that’s a saucer-like case reminiscent of the 1930s, a black Onyx stone dial, lab-grown diamond hour markers, a Peseux 7001, and that brilliantly cool mesh steel bracelet. At 38mm in diameter and 8.95mm in height, it might not be ultra-thin, but it’s still slim enough to easily slip under a cuff. Not that you’d want to, as this watch deserves to be seen! It was limited to 100 pieces last year, but interest can be registered on the brand’s website, as production is said to run into the future.

For more information, please visit FurlanMarri.com.

Quick Facts – 38mm x 8.95mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – stepped bezel – tucked crown & lugs – sapphire crystal front & back – 50m water-resistant – black Onyx dial – applied lab-grown diamond hour markers – domed hands with SLN inserts – small seconds subdial – Peseux 7001, manually wound – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – woven-style mesh bracelet or black leather strap – limited to 100 pieces for 2025, future production volume to be determined – CHF 3,500