Art deco style in perfection: Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date Moonphase

Sensual forms, exclusive abundance: In the early 20th century, the Art Deco style dominated art and architecture. A prime example of the stepped forms, aerodynamic curves and clear symmetry of the style is New York’s Chrysler Building. Girard Perregaux provides a second ideal with the Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date Moonphase (Ref. 25882-11-121-BB6B), whose rectangular case is most striking for its strong curvature.

Together with its sapphire crystal, the moderately sized retro wristwatch is curved in a way that ensures a perfect fit to the wearer’s wrist. A look at the dial reveals several highlights: In addition to the ornate typography of the Arabic numerals, we are particularly touched by the moon phase, which could not be more in keeping with the vintage romanticism of the luxury watch. Dauphine hands, small seconds and railroad minute track complete the noble look. The curved Art Deco classic is powered by the in-house automatic movement GP03300, the decoration of which is revealed through a glass back and, like all the details of the watch, testifies to absolute top class.

Elegant journey back in time to the 30s: MIDO Multifort Powerwind Limited Edition

In 1934, in the midst of the Art Deco heyday, MIDO launched its legendary Multifort collection, which remained the company’s absolute best-seller until 1950, combining four features that were revolutionary at the time: Water resistance, shock resistance, magnetic protection and an automatic winding mechanism. Today, the wristwatch is pure retro and returns to the spotlight with the MIDO Multifort Powerwind Limited Edition (Ref. M040.407.16.060.00): limited to 1,954 pieces, the beauty seduces its beholder with the midnight blue sunburst of its domed dial and displays maximum attention to detail despite its affordable price range. Applied indices and diamond-cut hands in rose gold color bring life to the retro wristwatch, whose automatic ETA 2836-2 movement has a coveted COSC certificate. At the same time, the 40-millimeter case impresses with a stylish mix of polished and brushed stainless steel. The only point of criticism: the white Day-Date complication, which is useful, but brings a break in the symmetry and midnight blue elegance of the wristwatch.

Homage to a diving icon: Oris Divers Sixty-Five

Vintage or retro? With the Oris Divers Sixty-Five, the independent manufacturer from Hölstein addresses both target groups and presents a spectacular variety of models. The 100-meter water-resistant timepiece is based on a legendary diver’s watch from 1965, with which Oris successfully entered the maritime segment. One of our clear favorites is the bicolor version in stainless steel and bronze (Ref. 01 733 7707 4355-07 8 20 17): It’s not just the rarity of the copper-tin alloy and its strong patina that set the watch apart from the crowd, but also the two-tone aesthetic, which brings a sympathetic touch of the eighties to the wrist. Paired with the blue of the dial and its clear curvature, the result is an expressive overall image with an impressive character. Technically, the retro wristwatch has no weaknesses: While the Sellita-based 733 automatic movement guarantees reliable propulsion, the relatively compact diameter of 40 millimeters is reminiscent of the slim dimensions that characterized distinguished men’s watches in the mid-20th century.

Purist elegance of the sixties: Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date

Socially, the sixties were a time of upheaval and went down in history as an upbeat, free-thinking decade. Horology was distinguished by timeless classics with beautiful lines during the heyday of the Beatles and miniskirts, as demonstrated by the Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date (Ref. 2-39-47-06-02-04). The aesthetic journey through time begins on the domed dial, where slightly curved hands and striking numerals, completely unconventional in the Sixties style, capture our gaze. The eye is captured by the panoramic date: inspired by the famous clock in Dresden’s Semper Opera House, it is a trademark of the luxury manufacturer and blends seamlessly into the overall picture. We also can’t get enough of the stainless steel case of the retro wristwatch and its seductive simplicity. An automatic manufacture movement with swan-neck fine adjustment and the finest finish provides propulsion. It doesn’t have to stay with the dark blue shown here: The Sixties dial is known for exotic colors like fiery orange (Ref. 2-39-47-09-02-04), which definitely deserve a closer look.

Return of the legendary cocktail watch: Hamilton American Classic Lady Hamilton Vintage Quartz

First manufactured by Tiffany & Co. at the beginning of the 20th century, the cocktail watch celebrated a glamorous breakthrough in high society and provided the lady of class with exactly what she wanted: an ornate, luxurious arm decoration that at first glance looks like a bracelet and incidentally has a small dial for reading the time from time to time. Noble ladies did not obviously look at her wrist back then.

Today, the glamorous cocktail watch celebrates its comeback with the Hamilton American Classic Lady Hamilton Vintage Quartz (Ref. H31271113). Eye-catcher number one is the chain bracelet, on which there is a tiny stainless steel case measuring 15×19 millimeters with royal decoration. The overall look of the wristwatch is retro and antique at the same time, making the Lady Hamilton a special jewel in today’s watch world. Women who want to elegantly stand out from the crowd in 2023 are in the right place. By the way, if you want a more exotic case at the next cocktail party, gold-plated, black and even purple alternatives are available.

Classic lines, state-of-the-art technology: Grand Seiko Heritage

Contrasting with the playful Lady Hamilton, the Grand Seiko Retro watches of the Heritage collection are well-balanced and simple in design, transporting the 60s style of the Japanese high-end brand into the 21st century and combining it with state-of-the-art technology. Known for its fabulous Zaratsu polish and unrivaled attention to detail, the Grand Seiko Heritage can be ordered with three drives: Quartz for starters, Automatic for traditionalists and the famous Spring Drive System for those who want to experience Grand Seiko Retro watches at their most mechanically impressive. Our insider tip in the large collection: the reference SBGA439. Against the night sky with a dark blue background, the diamond-cut hands and hour-markers come into their own perfectly. The 40-millimeter luxury wristwatch, which is water-resistant to 100 meters, is powered by the automatic caliber 9R65.

Der Beitrag 2023 is the wristwatch retro erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.

Affordable, but not cheap: The perfect entry point

The market below the 1000-euro mark supplies the willing with all imaginable forms of scrap and duplicates. But no true watch lover will throw his money out the window in such a silent manner. What we want is authenticity, history, value – in short: a companion for life. Many don’t know that all of these qualities are represented in the three-digit range, with a selection that takes one’s breath away. Tissot, Hamilton, Oris, even Tag Heuer and Longines make the horological hobby accessible to anyone who is enthusiastic. This can be beginners and students as well as experienced collectors looking for variety “just for fun”.

You can’t expect great manufacture movements for two five hundred dollars. Precious metals, grand complications and handmade watches just as little. What Swiss watches under 1000 euros do not lack, however, is originality, character and, in some cases, centuries of experience. In other words, the essence to make passionate watch fanatics happy.

Automatic without compromise: Oris Classic Date

If we had to draw the prototype for elegant Swiss watches, the result would have great similarities with the Oris Classic Date (Ref. 01 733 7719 4071-07 5 20 32): Detached from all fashion trends of modern times, the dresswatch of the traditional company from Hölstein compresses absolute harmony and a reliable automatic movement on a stately 42 millimeters in diameter. No detail of the stainless steel case or the sapphire crystal-covered dial upsets the aesthetic balance: Roman numerals, symmetry thanks to the 6 o’clock position of the date window and a typically grippy crown form the overall picture. The fine concentric segmentation of the dial also catches the eye of the connoisseur. This watch is not for braggers, but for connoisseurs. Similarly impressive to the visual balance of the Classic Date is its feel; no one who touches the men’s watch would place it below 1000 euros.

Masculine in the water: Longines HydroConquest Quartz 41mm

Other Swiss watches under 1000 euros build their character on corners, edges and a good dose of self-confidence. Like the Longines HydroConquest quartz 41mm model (Ref. L3.740.4.56.6): With a loud “I’m here” exclamation, the 41-millimeter diver clings to the wrist of its wearer and accompanies him up to 300 meters below the surface of the water. The legibility of the completely white markings on a black background (including plenty of luminous material) is legendary, as is the angular crown protection. The fact that the diver’s watch is available for triple-digit sums is thanks to its quartz movement, which is around 200 to 300 euros cheaper than the automatic caliber, depending on the model. If you’re looking for masculine power with outdoor qualities, the HydroConquest is the perfect choice.

Exotic with tradition: Rado Diastar The Original Automatic

From ordinary watch shapes we switch to a maverick that attracts all eyes: The Rado Diastar The Original as a quartz or even an automatic model. For triple-digit money, the owner gets a rich history and ingenious technology at the same time: in 1962, the first DiaStar revolutionized the watch world with its oval, scratch-resistant hard metal case and has passed the feature on to its successors today. Few Swiss watches under 1000 euros achieve such high scores as the DiaStar in terms of conspicuousness, while at the same time offering the technical fascination of an automatic movement. A wide variety of sizes and designs are available – from the gold-plated 27.2-millimeter version with its decorative charm to the sporty 35-millimeter model with skeletonized dial, there is boundless freedom. Only quartz movements are not available, but are not missed in the tradition-rich line.

For the sporty lady: Tag Heuer Formula 1 Lady Quartz 35mm

The Tag Heuer Formula 1 Lady Quartz 35mm (Ref. WBJ1318.BA0666), on the other hand, is perfectly suited to its electric drive and almost helps it to break the 1000-euro barrier. Water-resistant to 100 meters, the sporty ladies’ watch is particularly eye-catching due to the attention to detail in its workmanship: while the mix of polished and satin-finished surfaces brings incredible value to both the case and the solid strap, the mother-of-pearl dial combines gleaming silver indexes, rhodium-plated hands and a silver brand logo to create an exclusive overall look. Sapphire crystal? A matter of course for the 35-millimeter instrument inspired by Formula 1. The fixed bezel and hand-polished crown protector make important contributions to the unbreakable feel. A watch with format for power ladies and sportswomen. Men will definitely stay under the 1000-euro mark with the male equivalent.

Upcycling with style: Maurice Lacroix Aikon #tide

A wristwatch made from 17 plastic bottles? With its new Aikon #tide, Maurice Lacroix proves that sustainability in watchmaking does not have to mean doing without. On the contrary: together with #tide, a company specializing in upcycling, the Swiss premium brand has created a collection whose case, bezel and other details are made of a spectacular composite material. The latter is a symbiosis of ocean plastic and fiberglass that opens up entirely new worlds of color for the 40-millimeter Aikon models compared to metal watches. From bright yellow to cheerful pink timepieces, anything is possible.

Added to this is a high degree of versatility thanks to the “Easy Strap Exchange” system, which allows the strap to be swiftly replaced without the need for tools. You think a plastic watch can’t be stable? Far from it! Because the crown and case back are screwed down, the Maurice Lacroix Aikon #tide will dive up to 100 meters. And if something goes wrong, a five-year warranty is included in the total package.

Smartwatch for all occasions: Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar

When Swiss quality awareness meets 21st century digital technology, the result is the Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar. The bolide combines a whopping 35 patents in its 47.5-millimeter titanium-ceramic case and brings along most of the functions expected from a modern smartwatch, from smartphone connectivity to various time and weather functions to an activity tracker. The Tissot’s operating concept is unique because it combines mechanical elements like a physical hand with touch functions on an energy-saving memory-in-pixel display that has high readability even in strong sunlight. The instrument also does surprisingly well outdoors in other ways, as its 100-meter water resistance demonstrates. Swiss watches under 1000 Euros? Even in combination with iOS, Android and the like, a successful concept with a flourishing future.

Der Beitrag Swiss watches under 1000 euros erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.