One of the biggest misconceptions about watch collecting is that the only watches worth buying cost thousands, or increasingly, tens of thousands of dollars.
Yes there are some very very nice, very very expensive watches, but a budding collector on a budget shouldn’t be deterred. With an increasing number of brands offering fantastic timepieces in the three-figure range, you certainly don’t need to remortgage your property to keep the joy of collecting alive.
From sturdy divers to high-precision quartz designs, these are all the best watches under $1,000 which are definitely worth considering.
RELATED: 12 Great Watch Buys Under $10,000
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- The Best Watches Under $1,000
- Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz
- Shinola Runwell (41mm)
- Tissot PRX (35mm)
- Furlan Marri Castagna Ref. 1009-A
- Swatch ‘Clearly New’
- Baltic MR01
- Seiko “King Turtle” SRPE03 Diver
- LIP Mach 2000 Chronograph
- Casio G-Shock “CasiOak” GAB2100-1A1
- Ikepod Duopod Staying Alive 005
- Timex Q Reissue
- Bulova 96B251 Special Edition Lunar Pilot
- Citizen Promaster Marine
- Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver
- Yema Rallygraf Meca-Quartz
The Best Watches Under $1,000
Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 33mm; 38mm
- Case Thickness: 7.5mm; 8.3mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: NATO/leather
- Dial Colour: Various
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: Battery
- Power Reserve: 2-5 years
Hamilton make some of the best entry-level Swiss-made watches and return this year with an even more affordable take on its signature Khaki Field collection. Made possible by the introduction of quartz movements (relax: the appeal of these watches was never about what’s inside the caseback) the Khaki Field Quartz is available in both 33mm and 38mm sizes — each in three dial colours.
Imbued with a strong “reject modernity” type vibe, these watches clearly take a lot of inspiration from the Hamilton G.S: standard-issue for a range of personnel working in the British government during the 1960s.
The elongated lugs and openness of the dial make the 33mm model eminently wearable — even on bigger wrists — and, in an irreverent twist, Hamilton has chose to complement its return to archival accuracy with a stylised ‘Khaki’ signature at 6 o’clock on the dial. Again, this flourish is taken from Hamilton’s Khaki Fields of the 1980s.
Time travel is seldom this fun. Or affordable.
Shinola Runwell (41mm)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 41mm
- Case Thickness: 10.1mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather
- Dial Colour: Dark green
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: Argonite 1069
- Power Reserve: 3 years battery life
Today, America isn’t quite the watchmaking mecca it once was in the late 19th century; but Detroit-based Shinola was established in 2011 as an ode to that legacy.
The Runwell 41mm is one of the brand’s bestsellers, with bold Arabic numerals that are easy to read against its dark green dial and a small seconds sub-dial featured at 6 o’clock, offering an easy-to-wear timepiece for the daily grind.
Tissot PRX (35mm)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 40mm
- Case Thickness: 10.4mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Gold
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: ETA F06.115 Swiss quartz
- Power Reserve: 3 year battery life
The Tissot PRX collection has been incredibly popular these las few years — and with good reason. They look great, have legitimate links to the golden era of creative watch design in the 1970s and are available in a range of different colours and complications.
This gold example is a BH-approved favourite of ours, as a watch that raises a little attention in all the right ways; cementing Tissot’s position as one of the finer affordable luxury watch brands on the market today.
Furlan Marri Castagna Ref. 1009-A
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 38mm
- Case Thickness: 11.3mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather
- Dial Colour: Grey
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: Seiko VK64 (mechaquartz with mechanical module)
- Power Reserve: 3 years battery life
If you’re hunting for the best watches under $1000, this is unquestionably one of them. A young watch brand we’ve covered at length here at Boss Hunting, Furlan Marri is responsible for some of the best affordable vintage-inspired designs out there today — such as the ‘mechaquartz’ model we’ve chosen to include here.
The automatic time-only watches are certainly worth your time and attention, but the entry-level priced Castagna Ref. 1009-A is similarly great. A charming sector-inspired chronograph if ever we’ve seen one.
Swatch ‘Clearly New’
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 41mm
- Case Thickness: 9.85mm
- Case Material: Plastic
- Bezel Material: Plastic
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Plastic
- Dial Colour: Transparent
- Water Resistance: 30m
- Movement: Swiss quartz
- Power Reserve: 3 year battery life
Swatch is a great brand to kickstart any watch collecting journey, with hundreds of different models at any given time to choose from.
While the Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch has been getting a lot of time in the sun lately (specifically its latest offering), a long-running favourite within the brand is this transparent model. Incredibly characterful, affordable, and fun to wear; think of this as the ultimate accessory for accenting any monochrome look.
Baltic MR01
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 36mm
- Case Thickness: 9.9mm
- Case Material: 316L Steel
- Bezel Material: 316L Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather strap
- Dial Colour: Salmon
- Water Resistance: 30m
- Movement: Automatic Hangzhou CAL5000a Micro-rotor
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
As far as classically styled dress watches go, the Baltic MR01 is a truly outstanding effort once you factor in how affordable it is.
Featuring a detailed dial execution with polished Breguet-style numerals; an off-centre small seconds sub-dial; a perfectly proportioned case; and visually impressive movement, there’s so much to love even before you get to the sub-$1,000 pricepoint.
Seiko “King Turtle” SRPE03 Diver
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Thickness: 13.4mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Ceramic
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: 4R36
- Power Reserve: 41 hours
This list wouldn’t be without a classic Seiko diver, and the Seiko “King Turtle” SRPE03 is one of the best automatic watches under $1000 out there (as well as one of our favourite Seikos period).
With a hard-wearing ceramic bezel, bulletproof 45mm steel case, and a solid calibre capable of delivering 41 hours of power, this is a desk diver that’s properly hard to fault.
LIP Mach 2000 Chronograph
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 40mm
- Case Thickness: Unspecified
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Rubber
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: Quartz ronda 5021-D chronograph movement
- Power Reserve: 3 years battery life
Another quirky design is this LIP Mach 2000 Chronograph — a reissue by the same French-founded watchmaker behind the cult classic LIP ‘Dark Master’.
With the crown and chronograph pushers executed in primary colours (that pop against the blacked-out case and strap) it’s a real IYKYK option in the world of diehard watch collecting.
Casio G-Shock “CasiOak” GAB2100-1A1
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 45.4mm
- Case Thickness: 11.9mm
- Case Material: Carbon
- Bezel Material: Resin
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Resin
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: Tough Solar quartz movement
- Power Reserve: Indefinite as battery can be recharged with exposure to sunlight
If you need a watch to survive with you during the apocalypse, you’d probably pick the Casio G-Shock GAB2100-1A1. Equipped with more functions than you can wave a stick it (e.g. Bluetooth connectivity for alarm setting and accuracy maintenance; world time for 38 cities; a stopwatch; and analog/digi time displays) there isn’t much this G-Shock can’t do.
Combine all that with a lightweight and bulletproof carbon/resin case; 200m of water resistance; and a dial with solar cell charging capability, and you’ve got the makings of the only watch you’ll need in this lifetime.
Ikepod Duopod Staying Alive 005
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 42mm (feels like 39mm on the wrist thanks to the case shape)
- Case Thickness: 15.9mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Silicone
- Dial Colour: Silver
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: Miyota Japanese movement
- Power Reserve: 3 years battery life
Ikepod is a brand that continues to enjoy a cult following, after being originally founded in the mid-90s by Aussie-born industrial designer Marc Newson and Oliver Ike (before Newson went on to design the original Apple Watch).
Today, it remains a design-focused brand employing forms that stay true to the original “pod” DNA, with the Duopod Staying Alive 005 an entry-point into Ikepod. The brushed silver dial complements this Duopod’s steel case, and the integrated silicone strap is extremely comfortable.
Timex Q Reissue
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 38mm
- Case Thickness: 11.5 mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Steel
- Dial Colour: Dark blue
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: Quartz
- Power Reserve: 3 years battery life
If you’re looking for the classic Pepsi-esque colour combo, without the Rolex price-tag, then this Timex Q Reissue is just the ticket.
A watch that looks great at any time of the day (from your very first coffee to 5 o’clock drinks), fans attest to its ergonomic design; and the practical addition of a day-date aperture.
Bulova 96B251 Special Edition Lunar Pilot
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Thickness: 14mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Textile
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Movement: High Performance Quartz
- Power Reserve: 3 years battery life
While Omega’s Calibre 321 Speedmaster Moonwatch gets all the credit for travelling to outer space, there are actually a few watches that successfully undertook that same voyage, including this classic Bulova worn by Apollo 15’s mission commander in 1971.
With undeniable wrist presence and an ergonomic case design, it’s a piece of history you can wear for a fraction of the price of an Omega.
Citizen Promaster Marine
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 46mm
- Case Thickness: 14.6mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Rubber
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: E168 Eco-Drive
- Power Reserve: Indefinite as battery can be recharged with exposure to sunlight
Nicknamed the “Orca” for its deep-diving ability and signature black and white dial design, this beast of a watch from Citizen is a real ‘hate it or love it’ situation.
With a comfy rubber strap and solar charging Eco-Drive movement, it’s a fantastic watch for a reasonable price.
Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 40mm
- Case Thickness: 14.8mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Rubber
- Dial Colour: Black
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Movement: Automatic Seiko Caliber NH35
- Power Reserve: 41 hours
Dan Henry is a name that — in our view — deserves greater global recognition. Offering watches at a price almost anybody can afford, the 1970 Automatic Diver is a prime exemplar of why they’ve carved out such a loyal fanbase.
With its distinctive 70s super-compressor style case, dual crowns, and internal bezel; it’s a fantastic watch that the owner of Dan Henry and his family perform personal quality inspections over.
That, plus the water-resistant automatic movement, and you’ll struggle to find a better affordable (not to mention legit) diver — making it one of our very best watches under $1000.
Yema Rallygraf Meca-Quartz
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Case Diameter: 39mm
- Case Thickness: 11mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Bezel Material: Steel
- Bracelet/Strap Material: Leather or steel mesh
- Dial Colour: White and black
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Movement: Seiko VK64 Mechanical-Quartz
- Power Reserve: 3 years battery life
Taking direct inspiration from a variety of iconic racing chronographs that originated in the mid-20th century, the Yema Rallygraf Meca-Quartz is pretty much tailormade to be worn behind the wheel or paddock-side.
With a versatile 39mm case size; workhorse movement; and plenty of details to sink your teeth into, this is a classic chronograph that works well either on leather or one of Yema’s mesh steel bracelets.
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