While we seldom need an “official” reason to buy a new watch, the holiday gift-giving season is about as good an excuse as we could hope for. In fact, the only concern left to the average holiday watch shopper is what to choose from the thousands of available options. Let us put your mind at ease with this simple gift guide featuring a selection of watches ranging from $42 to over $5800. These is not a definite list of awesome watches (too many to list these days) it is just a guide to get you, or a generous loved-one, looking in the right direction. Happy hunting:
Up to $200 – Deals can still be had with this list of excellent quartz and automatic sport watches.
- Casio DW5600E – Simple, cheap, digital ($42, Amazon)
- Timex Military Classic – Military style, PDV case and indiglo lighting ($65, Amazon)
- Citizen BM8180 Eco-Drive – Affordable, legible, Eco-Drive ($87, Amazon)
- Citizen AU1040 Dress Watch – Eco-Drive, versatile and classic styling ($132, Amazon)
- Phosphor World Time – E-Ink display, unique design, world time ($150, Phosphor)
- Seiko SKX779 or SKX781 – “The Monster” – a gateway drug to dive watches ($190, Amazon)
- Seiko SKX007 – 70’s Seiko styling, automatic, great bracelet options ($198, Amazon)
Up to $500 – Looking for an upgrade? These watches feature better movements, additionally innovative designs and excellent value.
- Citizen BL5250 Chronograph – Chrono, alarm, titanium case and Eco-Drive movement ($240, Amazon)
- Victorinox Original – Understated style, 40 mm nylon case, nato strap ($300, Amazon)
- Christopher Ward C5 Malvern Auto – Classic automatic dress watch with date ($365)
- Hamilton Khaki King II – Swiss day/date automatic with vintage military styling ($390, Amazon)
- Citizen Promaster PMX56-2811 – Single piece titanium case, 11 mm thick, Eco-Drive ($415, Higuchi)
Up to $1000 – This is likely the “best bang for your buck” range. We have selected only a few of the many excellent watches available at this price point.
- Seiko SBDC001 Sumo – Upgraded movement, excellent lume, good bracelet ($650, Seiya)
- Benarus Remora – Sapphire bezel, slim 14 mm profile, excellent build quality ($650, Benarus)
- Hamilton Jazzmaster Slim – Slim and practical everyday dress watch ($650, Amazon)
- Halios Laguna – Excellent design, 500m WR, internal bi-directional bezel, excellent lume ($670, Halios)
- OCEAN7 LM-5 – Classic diver style, excellent movement and lumed sapphire bezel ($799, OCEAN7)
- Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT – Swiss GMT movement and excellent dial detail, ($825, CW)
- Marathon GSAR w/bracelet – As tough as they come, the perfect “tool” diver ($870, Broadarrow)
Up to $2500 – A more serious watch for a more considerable price tag. Spending well over $1000 can get you a well known brand, specialized design or even an in-house movement.
- Dievas Focal – Simple and legible design featuring a hardened steel case ($1280, Gnomon Watches)
- Tag Heuer Aquaracer WAN2110 – Great bezel, beautiful design, Swiss automatic ($1575, Amazon)
- Sinn U1 w/bracelet – Hardened submarine steel case, unique design, 1000m WR ($2040, Watchbuys)
- Nomos Tangente Datum – In-house movement, 6.75 mm thick, never out of style ($2360, Watchbuys)
Over $2500 – If you’re seriously considering spending over $2500 on your next watch we recommend a lot of research and to visit an authorized dealer to see the watch in person and on your wrist. The luxury market has a lot to offer the well-heeled buyer including options like the Bremont Supermarine s500 ($5500), the UTS 1000m V2 “Pacific Horizon” ($3800), the Longines Column-Wheel Chrono ($2850), or the newly refreshed Omega Planet Ocean range ($5800 and up).
Choosing your next watch is almost as much fun as owning that same watch. The options presented above are just a snapshot of an entire world of watches made up of options for every budget and designs for every wrist. None of the links above were sponsored by the vendors and Watch Report recommends due diligence in choosing a trusted online vendor and cannot guarantee the performance of any of the above outlets. If you believe there is a specifically excellent model we neglected to mention, please post it in the comments or tweet it @WatchReport.
Dan Paulson
Great list, but I really think there needs to be a Damasko watch on there somewhere. Damasko is, imo, one of the most underrated watch brands in the world. Both ETA and manufacture movements (now), with ridiculous technological innovations for the money (their in-house cases are amazing) , especially compared to the closest competitor, Sinn. I’m particularly fond of the DC67.
James Stacey
Thanks for the note. Here is a link to the watch http://www.damaskousa.com/damasko-dc67.asp as mentioned. Looks good indeed, high contrast black on white dial, cold hardened 42 mm steel and a reliable ETA 7750 chrono movement. Priced at $2650.00.
Dtayway
The UTS blue dial is only $2500 on sale, great watch.
Aliaksandr Vielikiy
Why Appella not?
James Stacey
Sorry, your post is the first I’ve ever head of the Appella brand. I’ve never seen one in person or (to the best of my memory) in an online forum. Maybe we can review one in the future.
Bettyann Stacey
Great list, very thorough! Thanks!
Anonymous
Oris brand good.
James Stacey
We have an Oris Titan 1000m in for review. The review with video should be live on the site mid-Decemeber.
Anonymous
https://www.facebook.com/ORIS.WATCH
Anonymous
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trocaderotime.com%2Fproduct_detail.html%3Fidbrand%3D13%26idcollections%3D119%26idsub_collections%3D64%26idproducts%3D2009&h=nAQHsil__AQGOFSF5nCjWl4PJJ7qhLCrpOZeh0n0Qx6HeAA
James Stacey
Thanks for the links. For what it is worth, I am well aware of Oris. As mentioned above, I have an Oris 1000m Titan and the review will be live in the next couple weeks. Here is a link to a photo I took of my Oris – http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstacey/6170976086/in/photostream/lightbox/
Anonymous
good.
henry
Great list! CItizen Promaster and Halios Laguna caught my eye.
James Stacey
I still have my Halios Laguna (was bought for the review), great watch and I think they are planning to have more in stock for December.
RichardX
Armida A1 would be good addition to list.
Michael Whalen
Like the inclusion of Nomos. Any plans on reviewing? Not a lot of info on them, but I think it could be one of better buys out there for a dress watch…
Jon
There may be a lot of us out there who want great looking watches, but have no interest in automatics, only quartz. It seems that most of the really interesting watch designs are only found on automatics. How about a list of watches for those of us that want the look of a Longines Column-Wheel Chrono in a $250 quartz instead of a $2,500 automatic.