Watch collecting can be an expensive hobby, and just check out the picks in T3's best watch guide and ludicrous best watches to invest in right now guide if you don't believe me. There are prices in there that would make an oil baron's eyes water.
However, not many people are aware that it doesn't have to be like that. You'd be surprised what you can get for under £1000, even if you're after that premium look with the not so premium price tag. With loads of options from smaller firms like Brew and Christopher Ward, there are some excellent affordable watches out there, and I'm here to show you the best.
If you're after more budget timepieces, check out our favourite watches under £300.
Best watches under £1000 ranking
Available in stainless steel or lightweight titanium, The Twelve from Christopher Ward fits perfectly into the sport/dress category, and is intended to complement just about any outfit on any occasion. It's available in six dial colours and two types of movement, and its bezel is a 12-sided dodecagon (just in case you're wondering where the name comes from).
Okay, there is a slight variation when it comes to price. The stainless steel watch is priced at £1,050 on a bracelet or £850 on a rubber strap, for both the 36mm and 40mm case size options.
The titanium model is £1,595 on a matching bracelet or £1,225 with a rubber strap. We admit this means most versions of The Twelve breach out £1,000 budget, but at £850 with a rubber strap or £1,050 on stainless steel we think it represents fantastic value – as is so often the case from Christopher Ward.
The Christopher Ward C63 Sealander, pictured at the top of this article, is also priced below four figures and starts at £840.
Resistant to water, drastic temperature changes, shocks and eight tons of pressure, the Victorinox I.N.O.X. is a force to reckoned with. Whether you're in the office or on top of a mountain, it looks as good as it performs, meaning it's perfect to be worn anywhere, anytime. Talk about versatility, right?
Our favourite model features a genuine American paracord strap, which is hand-woven and also allegedly serves as a versatile survival tool.
With military-inspired features, this Hamilton Khaki Field Auto Watch is reliable, functional and resilient. It's presented on a black leather strap with white stitching, and features a 38mm stainless steel case with a polished bezel. Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the black dial that's enhanced by Arabic numeral hour markers and a date window at 3 o'clock.
Hamilton is a historic name when it comes to watchmaking, and this Khaki field watch is probably its most iconic design. It's undoubtedly a classic, and we absolutely love it.
Automatic dive watches with a design similar to those by Tudor, Omega and Rolex usually command a high price, but that's not the case here. The Tissot Seastar 1000 can be had for around £600, believe it or not.
For that, you get a 43mm stainless steel case with a matching strap and unidirectional rotating bezel. The Swiss-made watch has an automatic self-winding mechanical movement with a date complication at six o’clock. With its classic dive watch design, this is a must-have timepiece for any collection.
We think the Certina DS Action GMT Automatic, with its separate 24-hour indicator, lightweight, and high durability, is the ideal companion for your travels.
The case of the DS Action GMT measures 43mm and is made from black PVD-coated stainless steel, and it houses an automatic Powermatic 80 calibre with a long power reserve of 80 hours.
Longines is an historic name among Swiss watchmakers, which makes it all the more impressive that the Conquest is priced below £1,000.
In fact, the 41mm version is just £850 from Longines itself, and the larger 43mm case version is only £50 more. Both have a stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal for protecting the dial and 300 metres of water resistance.
Quartz-powered, the Conquest has a guarded, screw-down crown and a date window at the three o'clock position. The watch comes with a matching blue leather strap in the picture above, but other options include dial colours of black and silver.
This vintage-style tool watch comes from a French company called Baltic. As well as the brown dial and bronze case shown above, the Hermétique Tourer is also available with dial colours of blue, green and beige (with matching straps) and cases made from stainless steel.
The watch has a relatively compact case diameter of 37 mm, and a thickness of just 10.8 mm. Time is kept using a Japanese mechanical Miyota 9039 automatic movement with 42 hours of power reserve, and water resistance is 150 metres.
A double-domed sapphire crystal protects the dial and there's a screw-down stainless steel case back on the rear.
The Metric by US watchmaker Brew is a compact, 1970s-style timepiece with a quartz chronograph movement and a sapphire crystal. But what we especially like about this model is how the normal stainless steel case and bracelet have been replaced with strong, lightweight titanium.
Titanium watches normally command a much higher price tag, but in Brew's case it has managed to produce a version of the Metric that only costs slightly more than the standard model.
With a case width of just 36 mm, the Metric has the sort of vintage proportions that make it work on wrists of almost any size. A nice link back to the company's name is how one of the sub-dials is designed to help you time the 25-35 seconds needed to brew the perfect espresso shot.
Best affordable watch brands
Wondering what are the best brands to invest your £1000 in? Check out this selection below:
Where to buy watches under £1000
These are the best places to buy watches under £1000:
What to look for when buying the best watches under £1000
If you need a little help deciding what watch to buy, here are a few things to consider:
- Ask yourself what you want a watch for. If it's to wear on the weekends then you might want a sporty tool watch, like a diver or chronograph, or, if it's to wear at formal work events, then you'll want a classy dress watch.
- Fashion brands like Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, and Michael Kors can make attractive watches, but if you're serious about watchmaking, there are higher-quality pieces out there which offer better value for money…
- … on the other hand, if you're not too bothered about traditional watch brands, and are more interested in how a watch looks, then buy that Daniel Wellington watch and wear it proudly.
- If you're planning to wear a watch swimming or around water, you'll need a watch with around 10ATM (100 metres) of water resistance. 3ATM is splash resistant, but probably wouldn't survive a quick shower. If you plan on diving, then you'll want a watch with 20ATM+ water resistance.
- If your current budget is £1,000, but the watch you really want is £1,500, then keep saving, don't just buy a watch for £1,000 because that's all you can afford now.
- Think about what size watch looks good on your wrist.
- Choose between a watch with an automatic movement, hand-wound movement, or quartz movement using information in the section below…
Automatic vs Hand-wound vs Quartz
If you're buying your first watch, you may not know whether you want one with an automatic movement, hand-wound movement, or quartz movement. Here's a quick description of the different types of movement below:
Automatic: powered by the movement of your body
Hand-wound: requires regular winding of the watch crown
Quartz: battery-powered
When it comes to buying a watch, you've got to ask what movement is best for your needs.
Quartz movements are generally reliable and accurate. They don't need to be worn or wound regularly, meaning you can put your watch down, then pick it up again a month later and it'll still show the right time (as long as the battery hasn't died). If you're not too bothered about the craftsmanship of watchmaking, then this could be for you, especially as they're generally more affordable than mechanical watches (with some exceptions).
If you do prefer the art of mechanical watchmaking, and want to feel more of a connection with your watch, then you'll want either an automatic or hand-wound piece.
Automatic watches are powered by the movement of your arm, which means if you wear your watch regularly then it won't need to be wound. However, if you don't wear it for a few days, it will stop and you'll need to set the time when you next go to wear it. These are generally preferred over hand-wound watches, which need regular winding to keep going.
Hound-wound watches are usually smaller than automatic watches and less expensive.
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