As we ring in a new year, it also means another excuse to buy a new watch – after all, the watchmaking budget should have been reset at the start of a new calendar year, right?
For a brilliant start: Six excellent watches with a great price-performance ratio for the start of 2024
While many would have liked to start the year with a bang, we think it might be wiser to warm up with a relatively modest purchase. The kind that’s good enough to scratch the proverbial itch without using up all the ammo available.
With that in mind, it could also be a good opportunity to explore something beyond the usual suspects. Over the last two years, many brands have stepped up their game and it will be great to support these brands in their efforts. We should reward and recognize good work, and there is no better way to do that, by putting our money where our mouth is.
So in this week’s article, we’ll be looking at some impressive watches – mostly ones that are under the radar – under the retail price of S$10,000. What did we choose? Let’s find out.
Bulova Oceanographer 96B350 Men’s Archive Series
We start with a watch that will start 2024 with a bang. Specify the blow Bulova oceanographer 96B350.
The 41mm watch is a design homage to the brand’s renowned Oceanographer, made in the 1970s. There are many classic features to this piece, from the design of the case to the bold and bright orange dial. An interesting element are the indices with cylindrical sapphire applied and are treated with SuperLuminova to glow brightly in the dark. The overall aesthetic is certainly unusual.
With a retail price of US$750 (approximately S$1,005), the Bulova – equipped with the Miyota 821D-21B movement – is certainly worth considering for someone looking for a reliable and sturdy weekend watch. We love the bright orange color of the watch and think it’s definitely a great casual piece for the weekend.
Tissot PRX automatic chronograph
The Tissot PRX automatic chronograph is perhaps one of the best releases of recent years, and it’s not hard to see why.
Featuring a beautiful retro-style case and integrated bracelet, the PRX Automatic Chronograph now features the chronograph complication – as its namesake suggests. We love the design of the 42mm watch with its retro vibes and clean design. If there is any concern, it will probably be the case profile. A smaller 40mm case with a thinner profile would have made the PRX Automatic Chronograph a near-perfect watch for those with a smaller wrist.
The price of this Tissot is S$2,550, which is quite a good value for a watch of this caliber. If you want to start the year strong, the PRX Automatic Chronograph should be worth serious consideration – assuming you haven’t already bought the watch.
Meaning U1
When it comes to diving watches, the Meaning U1 is, in our opinion, one of the most affordable and robust tool watches money can buy. With a case made from steel that was also used to build submarines and reinforced by TEGIMENT technology, the watch is said to be six times stronger than a typical stainless steel watch. It is also waterproof to a depth of 1000 m and also has anti-magnetic properties.
The 44 mm watch is powered by Sellita’s SW200 automatic movement – with a date display and a decent power reserve of around 40 hours. It’s a solid workhorse that definitely gets the job done.
The U1 is available in several variants, such as: camouflage or the Desert edition. The last known retail price of the U1 is US$2,160 (approximately S$2,933) and it is available with both rubber and metal straps. This is certainly a solid piece to add to your collection, especially if you plan on using it for diving or other extreme sports. Talk about German engineering at its best.
Atelier Wen Perception
In the seemingly crowded field of sports watches with integrated straps, there is one micro-brand that stands out for its impeccable offering. That’s that Perception, by Atelier Wen.
The highlight of Perception undoubtedly lies in its excellence guilloched choose. We were particularly impressed by the latter, especially since it was made in collaboration with a master craftsman who requires around eight man-hours of work to produce a single example guilloched choose. The other aspects of the watch are also quite well made and it definitely punches above its weight when compared to some of the more expensive counterparts.
Priced at US$2,588 (approximately S$3,470), the Perception definitely offers a lot – despite being a micro-brand. Given the strong response, we believe that many collectors and enthusiasts also share the same opinion. Our only hope is that Atelier Wen doesn’t rest on its laurels and continues the good work from here.
Louis Erard Excellence Email Grand Feu II
Louis Erard is a brand that has caused a stir in recent years. The revival is mainly due to strong collaboration and affordable products – such as the Incredible Excellence Email Grand Feu II.
Until a few years ago big fire Enamel dials were largely reserved for the higher echelons of watchmaking. This makes the Louis Erard an even more compelling timepiece with its relatively affordable price and great execution. We also like how the brand has incorporated some twists into the watch, with red and blue accents as well as the use of Lance-style hands.
Powered by the ever-reliable Sellita SW261, the 39mm automatic watch has a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. The watch is limited to an edition of 99 pieces and retails for CHF3,900 (approximately S$6,022).
NOMOS Zurich World Time
The NOMOS Zurich World Time is often at the top of our list with its minimalist approach and great functionality – all in one compelling package.
NOMOS is a Glashütte-based watch manufacturer known for its Bauhaus-inspired watches with excellent in-house movements at a reasonable price. A good example is Zurich Weltzeit. The seemingly simple piece actually has an ingenious complication – the World Timer. The complication allows the owner to set their own home time while also keeping track of the time in the other time zones around the world. This is convenient for collectors who travel frequently.
The 39.9 mm watch is equipped with the in-house caliber 5201. It is an automatic movement with the NOMOS Swing System and a power reserve of up to 40 hours. The workmanship is neat, with the striking three-quarter plate, the Glashütte ribbing and the sunburst decoration. The retail price is S$7,900 and we believe this is a brilliant watch for a modern gentleman.
Final thoughts
Today’s selection certainly covers a lot of ground, in our humble opinion. We have different types of watches in different price ranges – but with the common denominator of offering a relatively excellent price-performance ratio.
There are many gems in the watch world and today’s selection is just the tip of the iceberg. We hope collectors continue to look beyond the usual suspects and delve into some of the more underrated pieces. There is no better time than today to start.
We hope you enjoyed this article. That being said, and more importantly, we also wish that this had inspired something in you to go out and buy yourself a watch today – from brands that certainly deserve more attention than what they’re currently getting.
