The watch on your wrist says a lot about you. It demonstrates your taste and your style, and maybe even your hobbies. While it’s nice to own a legacy-type watch brand (think Rolex, Omega, and Audemars Piguet), there are a host of really impressive, relatively inexpensive Swiss watches on the market that modern and new collectors should investigate. Here we round up our five favorite impressive and affordable Swiss brands to consider as you gear up to buy your first watch!
Oris Big Crown
Oris offers diving watches, auto-inspired watches, and a host of specialty watches. However, its pilot and aviation-inspired timepieces are stealing hearts around the world, thanks to their vintage-inspired dials and easy readability. The Oris Big Crown is a particular favorite as it comes in a variety of dial colors, including forest green, khaki green, blue, and silver. The watches feature the oversized crown that harkens back to the Oris pilot watches first made in 1938. The watches house automatic movements and feature a right red pointer date hand. Even better: they are offered in stainless steel or in the more coveted bronze cases. They retail new for just about $2,000, but this is such a classic watch, that you should be able to find a great second-hand model.
Tag Heuer Formula 1
If you love racecars and automotive sports, you may turn to the coveted and affordable TAG Heuer Formula 1 collection. This collection was first released by the brand when Heuer was purchased by TAG (Techniques d’Avant Garde) in 1986. The watch was a simple quartz timepiece with a synthetic case in bright colors. Over the years, the collection has evolved, and is now offered with more racing appeal than ever. Versions include three-hands with date indication and chronographs with tachymeter bezels for measuring speed. Made in stainless steel, titanium and titanium carbide, the Formula 1 watches are powered by either quartz movements or automatic movements. The racecar-inspired dials and straps round out the urban chic look of the watches. New, these watches carry a price tag of between $1,150 to $3,000 depending on the model but you can find a nice selection of vintage Formula 1 pieces for even less and still look totally contemporary.
Tudor Black Bay
The little brother of Rolex, Tudor has its own long and storied past. The brand was founded by Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf, in 1926, and was designed to offer the same quality craftsmanship as Rolex but at a more affordable price. The most coveted collection is the Black Bay, which is inspired 20th century Tudor watch. Crafted in steel and offered with either a bracelet, an aged leather strap, or a fabric strap, the Black Bay watches are all black or feature blue or burgundy color accents for the bezel and strap. The versions offered include a GMT, a 200-meter water-resistant dive watch; a chronograph; and a simple three-hands with date. Each Tudor Black Bay is a COSC-certified chronometer and offers incredible luminosity for hands and markers. New they retail for $3,000 to $5,000, on average. Still considered the cool kid sibling of Rolex, you just can’t go wrong with any watch in this collection.
Hamilton Khaki Field
The Hamilton Khaki Field collection is ideal for the well-prepared outdoorsman. The series offers top quality Swiss movements for prices that range from $395 to $1,600 for new models and you can do even better price-wise with a second-hand version. The Khaki Field watches are inspired by outdoor adventure and by the military watches of the 1940s, so they are rugged and durable. Most are crafted in stainless steel and offer 24-hour military indications as well as the traditional 12 numerals on the dial. Some versions also indicate date, or day/date. With military-colored dials ranging from tan to green, blue and black, the Khaki Field watches are powered by either quartz or automatic movements and are offered with fabric straps, leather straps and bracelets for comfort in any climate. The military and vintage-inspired look of these watches will have everyone wondering if it was handed down to you from a loved one.
Raymond Weil Maestro
For those who like a less sporty and more classic look in a timepiece, Raymond Weil watches may be the way to go. Sleek and sophisticated without breaking the bank, these Swiss-made watches feature beautiful dials and elegant finishes. Of particular note is the Maestro collection. This line was first unveiled in 2010 and it continues to grab attention because the mechanical watches offer useful functions, including date indication, calendars, chronographs, and more. This is the perfect pairing if you love music and want to show off your stylish side. Most Maestro watches retail for less than $2,000, but, if you’re lucky, you’ll find a better deal in the pre-owned or vintage market.