1,000 Swiss Francs Max!

on November 26, 2024

2 minutes read

Fine watchmaking shouldn’t be reserved for the elite. Manufacturers are working to change this by offering more affordable models to a wider audience without compromising their philosophy. They all agree on one key point – their aim is to offer beautiful, precise, high-quality timepieces at a well-considered price point.

CHF 560, Seiko

An entry-level price for an “all-inclusive” watch. Mounted on a metal bracelet and powered by an automatic calibre visible through a sapphire caseback, it features an intricate dial. The guilloché pattern creates a captivating textured effect reminiscent of a lunar surface, enhanced by golden sword-type indexes and hands. Budding collectors, be warned: this affordable gem is issued in a limited series.

Presage Cocktail Time en acier, 40,5 mm de diamètre, mouvement automatique avec date par guichet, bracelet en acier. Série limitée à 9 000 exemplaires © Seiko — Presage Cocktail Time in steel, 40.5 mm diameter, automatic movement with date window, steel bracelet. Series limited to 9,000 pieces © Seiko

CHF 830, Beaubleu

The originality of this watch lies in its textured dial, which evokes a sheet of drawing paper. It provides the perfect canvas for the dance of the three central hands in the form of concentric circles: small for the hours, medium for the minutes and the largest in blue for the seconds. This unique stylistic effect is what makes all Beaubleu creations distinctive and instantly recognisable.

CCE Lys en acier PVD or rose, 39 mm de diamètre, mouvement automatique avec date par guichet, bracelet en cuir © Beaubleu — CCE Lys in rose gold PVD steel, 39 mm diameter, automatic movement with date window, leather strap © Beaubleu

CHF 870, Hamilton

The Khaki Field collection, a creative cornerstone of Hamilton, welcomes a new variation of the Murph with a fresh dial and strap. Originally created in 2014 for the film Interstellar, and available to buy since 2019, the Murph now showcases a pure white dial contrasting beautifully with a black leather strap. This interplay of light and dark evokes a sense of space and exploration befitting a watch from a science fiction film.

Khaki Field Murph en acier, 38 mm de diamètre, mouvement automatique, bracelet en cuir © Hamilton — Khaki Field Murph in steel, 38 mm diameter, automatic movement, leather strap © Hamilton

CHF 895, Frederique Constant

The design of this elegant watch harks back to the 1930s, when the industry broke free of the tyranny of round cases to embrace new geometries – square, rectangular and more. Swiss Made and powered by a high-precision quartz calibre offering over two years of battery life, this Art Deco-inspired vintage model is the ideal first fine watch for any aspiring collector.

Classics Carrée en acier, 36 x 25, 2 mm, mouvement à quartz avec petite seconde, bracelet en cuir © Frederique Constant — Classics Carrée in steel, 36 x 25.2 mm, quartz movement with small seconds, leather strap © Frederique Constant

CHF 920, Doxa

This is a true diver’s watch, water-resistant to 200 metres and equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel for essential dive time and decompression calculations. This invaluable instrument, ready for repeated maritime adventures on its rugged canvas strap, is driven by an automatic calibre – a rarity at such an affordable price point.

SUB 200 Sea Emerald en acier, 42 mm de diamètre, mouvement automatique avec date par guichet, bracelet en toile de type NATO © Doxa — SUB 200 Sea Emerald in steel, 42 mm diameter, automatic movement with date window, NATO-type canvas strap © Doxa

CHF 931, March LAB

A jewellery watch reminiscent of a precious cuff bracelet, the Milady embraces the full-gold aesthetic. The textural impact is enhanced through the omnipresence of gold, accented by two eye-catching motifs – the chevrons on the dial mirroring the “grains of rice” effect created by the multitude of small bracelet links.

Millady Mansart en acier PVD or jaune, 28 x 33 mm, mouvement à quartz, bracelet en acier PVD or jaune © March LAB — Milady Mansart in yellow gold PVD steel, 28 x 33 mm, quartz movement, yellow gold PVD steel bracelet © March LAB

CHF 965, Tissot

Since its creation in 1978, the PRX has constantly evolved to stand out as Tissot’s creative pillar. Among its latest versions is an all-black, high-tech interpretation with a forged carbon case housing an automatic calibre, mounted on an integral rubber strap. The forged carbon dial, perfectly matched to the case and enhanced with luminescent hands and indexes, is particularly attractive.

PRX Powermatic 80 en carbone forgé, 40 mm de diamètre, mouvement automatique avec date par guichet, bracelet en caoutchouc © Tissot — PRX Powermatic 80 in forged carbon, 40 mm diameter, automatic movement with date window, rubber strap © Tissot

CHF 990, Maurice Lacroix

An integrated steel bracelet, blue dial and intricate bezel place this Aikon firmly in the sport-chic watch category, a concept pioneered in the 1970s when Audemars Piguet unveiled the legendary Royal Oak in 1972. However, rather than a steel watch sold for the price of gold, Maurice Lacroix offers a fine and affordable timepiece.