#Best automatic watches under $1000 upgrade#
#Best automatic watches under $1000 full#

Even though the days of a $600 Alpinist at retail are long gone, the brand still has plenty of value-oriented firepower in their catalogue. It would not be a list of best affordable pieces without a Seiko.

#Best automatic watches under $1000 full#

You can check out the individual reviews of all of these pieces here, or head to the Time+Tide Shop to find the full PRX collection. My pick of the bunch would be the 35mm in PVD yellow gold, the 40mm with full lume dial and the 40mm Powermatic 80 in icy blue. What more can I say about any iteration of the Tissot PRX that hasn’t been said already? Whether you opt for quartz or Powermatic 80, 35mm or 40mm, bracelet, rubber or leather, they all deserve the time they’ve had in the limelight.

#Best automatic watches under $1000 upgrade#

It’s powered by a Miyota 8315, a welcome upgrade to the 82xx series of Miyota Movements, with an extra 18 hours of power reserve, now totalling 60 hours, and improved finishing. The blue hands stand out against the silvery art deco backdrop, protected by a highly domed hesalite crystal that ties the vintage vibes together. One half of a duo launched on Kickstarter back in 2017, the HMS002 evokes the sector dials and stepped bezels of the 1940s, with a contemporarily sized 38mm case. Baltic HMS002 – €360Ī fair jump up in price lands us on the Baltic HMS002. You will have to contend with hollow end-links and a pressed clasp, but considering that you can pick one of these up on sale for less than A$250, I find it difficult to complain about too much. Its a tad larger than your average diver at 41.5mm x 47mm, though the compact lug width keeps dimensions in check. The Mako always had the crown of the best entry-level diver in sight, and this latest iteration, complete with its long-awaited movement upgrade, may have just claimed it. Orient Mako II – A$325 Image courtesy of Two Broke Watch Snobsįrom a dressy Orient to one that’s not dressy at all – the Mako II is one of the best-value dive watches around.

One thing to note is that you’ll have to stock up on some new straps, as this Bambino has an unusual 17mm lug width, though its original strap is already decent. You’ve got the brand name, in-house movement with hacking, hand-winding, and 40 hours of power reserve, but above all, that pretty domed dial and compact dimensions of 36.4mm x 42mm.

It’s for good reason, however, as the Bambino is just about the best-value dress watch out there. If you spend any times on watch forums, the question “What should I get for my first watch?” and answer “ Orient Bambino” come up often enough that some boards probably issue instant bans. Orient Bambino 5S – starting from US$220 Orient Bambino 5S. For the best deals, AliExpress is your friend once again, though I’d advise doing your research to make sure you’re getting the piece that you want, and you may just discover the Seagull’s interesting backstory. It’s available in multiple sizes, too, though my recommendation is the original 38mm. The ST1901 calibre that powers it is a Chinese-made version of a Venus 175, courtesy of the Swiss selling their machinery and designs to China, and is the most affordable and widespread budget mechanical chronograph out there – with a column wheel, blue(d) screws and swan neck regulator option. The Seagull 1963 chrono has a storied history, originally developed for military use in the ’60s. Up next is another budget champion, though certainly a better-known one. You can check it out at the Steeldive website, or scour AliExpress for an even better deal. All of this for the same price as the tasting menu at Gimlet? Don’t mind if I do.

It’s available in green, black or blue, and you can even opt for a sterile black dial, should you not be a fan of the Steeldive logo. Seiko NH35 movement, lumed ceramic bezel insert, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, screw-down caseback and crown ensuring 200 metres of water resistance in a 43.8mm x 46.8mm steel case that’s proven to wear well on many wrists. We begin with an unlikely entrant on this list, though once you hear the specs of this thing, I’d be surprised if you don’t go out and get one. From dress to dive and field to chronograph, the list of 10 is also diverse – there should be something here for you no matter the type of watch you’re after. For those of you looking for inspiration, or simply dreading the search, we’ve collated our picks for the best mechanical watches for under A$1,000. I/trending 5685 The 10 best mechanical watches under $1,000 Borna Bošnjakįor many watch lovers, the pursuit of getting as much value for money as possible is one of the most exciting parts of the watch purchasing process – sometimes even more than clicking “order now”.