Following in the footsteps of the SKX007 and 009, the modern Prospex “Turtle” collection revives the cushion case shape from the iconic 6309 in production from 1976 to 1988, but updated with a larger case and modern hacking, hand-winding 4R26 caliber. In this affordable space, Seiko is perhaps best known for its capable dive watches, including the modern “Turtle” collection. Price: $495, Case Size: 45mm, Thickness: 13.3mm, Lug-to-Lug: 46.9mm, Water Resistance: 200m, Movement: Auto Seiko 4R36, Crystal: Mineral If you wanted one watch to do almost anything for under $300, there aren’t a lot of better places to look. And despite its dressier leanings, the SRPE53 still provides impressive luminescent material as well as 100 meters of water resistance, making it more of an everyday watch with more refined elements. Where certain members of the newer Seiko 5 Sports collection lean heavily into their SKX inspiration, the so-called “DressKX” SRPE53 differentiates itself more prominently, lacking a rotating bezel and offering a slightly smaller case. Price: $275, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 11.5mm, Lug-to-Lug: 44.6mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Movement: Auto Seiko 4R36, Crystal: Mineral Check out a few of our top picks from Seiko at ascending price points. Still, many Seiko models, which often offer their own enthusiast-bestowed nicknames, tend to fall under $1,000, with many watches from the Seiko 5 Sports collection starting much lower than that. And while Seiko for decades was a provider of inexpensive watches first and foremost, in the modern era it is one of the largest watch brands in the world, with a wide range of models at escalating price points with appropriately elevated levels of finishing and specification. I would even argue that for virtually the entire generation that rode the first wave of internet watch enthusiasm, the vast majority either started their collection with something like the SKX007 or a Presage Cocktail Time, or, at the very least, owned a Seiko early in their collecting journey. Decades of producing capable sports models including the 62MAS, 6105 “Willard”, and 6309 divers as well as chronographs like the 6139 created a legacy that remains at the forefront for the brand even in the modern era. Such is the passionate following the Japanese brand, founded in Tokyo in 1881, has garnered over the years. Scroll down to discover our choices for the best affordable watch brands in 2023.įrankly, starting a list like this with any brand other than Seiko would be a glaring oversight. In terms of structure, we’ll provide a brief overview of each brand including some history and popular modern models at different price points to consider to give you a basic understanding of what makes each one special and why you might go for one brand over another. With all of that out of the way, we will strive to compile a list of brands that appeal to the enthusiast in particular as opposed to the mass market, as your inclusion in our nerdy demographic is likely what brought you here in the first place. We already have a detailed list of microbrand watches to check out right here, so we’ll omit microbrands for the purposes of this list. Moving on, and to put some parameters around it, we’ll focus on brands with a wide selection of models that fall under the $1,000 price point, with special emphasis on brands with strong offerings below $500. Of course, value and the entire concept of attainability are also subjective, and we won’t pretend that living a life where being able to responsibly buy the functionally-unnecessary watches you want at any price point is anything other than a privilege. We’re looking for true value here, brands that make watches that distinguish themselves as being especially great for their respective price points. This is, of course, not to say we’re looking at the cheapest brands or watches, a list that would reveal a curb-worthy selection of direct-to-consumer brands we’ve all been advertised on YouTube. Here, we’ll provide a primer on some of the best brands in the overall watch industry from a more affordable context. But given the incredible breadth of the watch industry in terms of price, styles, and brands, it can be difficult to know where to start when looking to craft a more affordable collection. When new enthusiasts enter the wide world of watches, most will lean into more affordable options as a way to limit financial commitment in an as-yet unproven pursuit. 0% interest for up to 24 months available on select brands.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |