At MONOCHROME, various aspects of watches are often discussed. Size, materials, colors, etc. are checked regularly by the team. And they should be, because we love giving you our best possible view of watches. One thing that always comes up in these discussions is price. Do we think a watch is appropriate or too expensive? Or maybe even, dare I say it, too cheap? Regardless of the outcome, there is no denying that some watches perform much better than others on the price-performance spectrum, and sometimes you even wonder how they do it. With that in mind, here are some of our suggestions for those who are shopping on a very tight budget but still want something stylish and fun to wear. And as a side note, we're fully aware that this isn't a definitive list, as we tend to look at watches that we've actually spent some time with. There may be others that fit our self-imposed criteria, but these offer tons of character at bargain prices.
Tissot Classic Dream Powermatic 80
The new Tissot Classic Dream Powermatic 80, fresh from Le Locle, could well be the best Swiss Made value proposition in years! There's nothing surprising about the design, it's just good, and it's now backed by Swatch Group's ubiquitous Powermatic 80 movement. With a diameter of 40mm and a polished steel, two-tone or folding coated case, you can't go wrong with this model. The collection consists of a total of seven references, including four dial colors and the choice between a leather strap or a steel bracelet. And best of all, prices range from impressively affordable CHF 395 To CHF 465which undeniably offers good value for money!
For more information, visit TissotWatches.com.
Quick facts – 40 mm diameter – Stainless steel case, polished (optional two-tone or gold PVD coating) – Sapphire crystal – Solid case back – 50 m water resistant – Black, blue, champagne or silver sunburst dials – Applied markers – Dauphine hands – Powermatic 80, automatic – 21,600 vibrations per hour – 80 Hour power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – leather strap or 5-link stainless steel bracelet bracelet – CHF 395 To CHF 465
Citizen Zenshin 60 Super Titan
Citizen is one of those brands that can offer tremendous value for money and the recently launched Zenshin 60 Super Titanium collection is a prime example of this. At less than 500 eurosor 499 euros To be precise, you get a full titanium watch with a strong identity and beautiful vertical brushed gradient dials in blue, copper or green. Add to this an in-house automatic movement that looks a bit industrial in its workmanship, but offers a constant power reserve of 60 hours, and we ask ourselves again: “How??” The simple answer is scalability in production, but the best answer in reality is: Because they know how and because they can!
For more information, visit CitizenWatch.eu or CitizenWatch-Global.com.
Quick facts – 40.5 mm x 11.25 mm – Super titanium case, Duratect treatment – 12-sided bezel – Sapphire crystal – See-through case back – 100 m water resistance – Brushed light or dark blue, copper and green gradient dials – Applied markers and hands with luminous inserts – Caliber 8322, in-house automatic – 21,600 vibrations per hour – 60 hour power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds – titanium bracelet with folding clasp – permanently available – 499 euros
Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Green Abyss
The Blancpain x Swatch Scuba “FF” has been with us for a few years now and although there are only a few new releases, the latest edition is probably one of the very best yet! The color of the bioceramic case called “Green Abyss” is no surprise. Details like the bezel, the green dial with humidity indicator and the shape of the hands exude real Fifty Fathoms vibes. Inside ticks Swatch's Sistem51 automatic movement with a Felimare Picta snail on the rotor. Worn on a striped, two-piece nylon strap, this model is a real eye-catcher 400 euros. And the price-performance ratio is undisputed!
For more information, visit Swatch.com.
Quick facts – 42.3mm x 14.4mm – Green bioceramic case and crown – Unidirectional rotating bezel with black insert – Bio-based crystal, clear crystal caseback – 100m water resistance – Green dial with humidity indicator – Luminous hands and markers – Sistem51, automatic – 21,600 vph – 90 hour power reserve – Slug on the rotor – striped two-piece textile bracelet with green pin buckle and loops made of bioceramic – 400 euros
Batavi Marina Chronograph
If you thought a little more complexity was out of the question when buying watches on a budget, think again! The Batavi Marina Chronograaf, which is not a typo but the Dutch spelling for “chronograph,” offers plenty of character for just one 649 euros. Sure, it may be the most expensive entry on the list, but it's simply a very good looking watch at a very affordable price. It's also nice and compact at 38mm wide and comes with a full stainless steel bracelet. The best option in our opinion is the black dial, but there are three others to choose from. The movement visible from the back is Seagulls ST1901, a manually wound column wheel chronograph.
For more information, visit Batavi-Watches.com.
Quick facts – 38mm x 13.5mm – Stainless steel case, brushed and polished – Domed glass, clear case back – 50m water resistance – White, black, cream or two-tone sandwich dials – Syringe hands with Super-LumiNova – Multicolor chronograph subdial and hands – Seagull ST1901, hand-wound – 21,600 vibrations per hour – 50 hour power reserve – Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph – Stainless steel bracelet with micro-adjustable folding clasp – 649 euros
75th anniversary of Orient Bambino
Another option that gives you a little more than just the time and possibly a date is the Orient Bambino Day/Night 75th Anniversary. In honor of the brand's 75th anniversary, this 5,500-piece limited edition features a classically designed day/night indicator and a day of the week indicator. The asymmetrical display is rather unusual yet fascinating and is housed in a 41.5mm x 14.2mm steel case. The automatic movement comes from our own production and the watch is equipped with a beige nubuck leather strap with a pin buckle. This honest and often gateway style watch can be yours 449.99 euroswhich is very fair considering the consideration.
For more information, visit Orient-Watch.com.
Quick facts – 41.5 mm x 14.2 mm – Stainless steel case, brushed and polished – Mineral crystal, signed clear case back – 30 m water resistance – Curved white dial – Applied rose gold Roman numerals – Blued hands – Day/night display with sun and moon – Day of the week subdial – Caliber F6B24 – 21,600 vibrations per hour – 40 hour power reserve – beige nubuck leather strap with pin buckle – limited to 5,500 pieces – 449.99 euros
Seiko 5 Sports Skx
Seiko's SKX series has always been a huge fan favorite and an entry-level watch for many. The overall appeal of the SKX screams value for money, and the latest generation update is certainly for the better! With four new references joining the collection at the beginning of the year, you can choose between black, blue, yellow and orange dials in the typical design. When it comes to performance, Seiko relies on the 4R36 automatic with a power reserve of 41 hours. Fits a black silicone strap or a steel strap and is available for a retail price 400 euros To 440 eurosyou can't go wrong with that. In short, it is a true icon of watchmaking!
For more information, visit SeikoWatches.com.
Quick facts – 42.5mm x 13.9mm – Polished stainless steel case – Unidirectional rotating bezel – Offset screw-down crown – Hardlex crystal, clear caseback, 100m water resistance – Blue (SRPL83), black (SRPL85), yellow (SRPL87) or orange dial (SRPL89) – Applied numerals and hands with LumiBrite – day and date display – caliber 4R36, in-house automatic – 21,600 vibrations per hour – 41 hour power reserve – black silicone strap or steel bracelet – 400 euros (silicone band) – 440 euros (steel bracelet)
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