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.

Gold or gold-plated? You should know these terms

A gold watch can get its shine in two ways: Either it is a stainless steel case covered with a thin layer of gold, or the case is made of solid gold. While the first case is referred to as gold plating, the solid gold variant is what is usually referred to as a “real” gold watch.

The “real” is deliberately placed in quotation marks: If high-quality models are gold-plated, this layer is made of the original material and not some other substance.

However, gold plating usually has an extremely low thickness – the designation “10 micron” on the case back, for example, means that the gold layer is 0.01 mm thick. This makes it clear that gold plating means a much lower material input of the expensive metal.

If we turn to the “real” models, the unit “carat” for the fineness often appears. One carat (kt) has the same meaning as “one of 24 parts”. Consequently, 24 karat gold means that the material mixture consists of 100% of the precious metal, although due to the never perfect purity is said to be 99.99%. A “real” gold wristwatch can have different proportions of the metal, with 18 kt (750 gold), 14 kt (585 gold) and 8 kt (333 gold) being the most common sizes. So even in the “real” range, the differences are large, but this hardly explains price differences:

For example, the Tissot T-Gold collection already offers 18kt models in the low four-digit range, while much more expensive watches from other brands often feature 585 blends.

Whether yellow, rose or white gold: the variety is wide

Although a gold watch is usually associated with yellow gold, there are elegant alternatives to choose from in the form of rose and white gold. For a closer look at the varieties and their differences, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is an excellent example, as the legend among chronographs is available in every conceivable variation – the case, bezel and bracelet may or may not be in the royal material.

Those who want to make a statement are best advised to go for yellow or rose gold, while white gold creates a more restrained appearance. Hardly distinguishable from silver in layman’s terms, it is a special alloy that has been stripped of its golden color due to the admixture of other precious metals.

Interestingly, because of its more difficult processing, it is even more expensive than “normal” gold.

If you want your luxury watch golden, you face a difficult decision, because almost all manufacturers offer their classics in a corresponding version.

The Omega De Ville as a real gold watch proves to be particularly stylish, because the model cuts an excellent figure on fine occasions anyway. However, as with all other manufacturers, a huge price premium is due compared to the steel editions.

Vintage models, for example, the Omega Constellation, are therefore considered an insider’s tip among lovers of the noble metal, since well-preserved masterpieces are available at much lower prices than new watches.

The price markup on gold watches: Why is it so high?

Whether in the shop window or on the Internet: If you observe the luxury watches of different brands, you immediately notice the enormous price differences between steel and gold watches. For example, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona as a gold watch is about three times more expensive than the steel model.

In the case of the Omega De Ville, even five times that amount has to be factored in. With such differences, it is certain that they are not solely due to the higher material costs for gold.

Two other aspects are necessary to explain: on the one hand, the more difficult processing, and on the other hand, the intended exclusivity. Since gold is naturally much softer than steel, special techniques are required to process the material and manufacture the watch. Of almost greater importance is the exclusivity – part of the premium is paid simply to acquire something rare that few can otherwise afford.

The gold watch as an investment – better than “normal” timepieces?

For collectors and investors in particular, the question arises as to the development of the value of gold watches – could the high price premium over steel watches pay off in the future? Unfortunately, it is not possible to say for sure, because the market value of a model depends on a variety of other factors.

The decisive factor is demand: In the case of rare, sought-after models, the value increases regardless of the material, while genuine gold watches can lose value in the case of high quantities. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, for example, is one of the most sought-after timepieces of all, and its steel models have increased in value considerably in recent years. A gold Omega Constellation belongs more to the second category – it exists in high quantities and an increase in value in the near future seems unlikely.

It is therefore strongly discouraged to purchase any gold watches in the belief that they will appreciate in value anyway. In the worst case, you won’t even get back the material value. If you are interested in wristwatches as an investment, it is worth going deeper – those who gain experience and a feel for the market will tend to be more successful than a beginner. Regardless of the material.

Der Beitrag When is a gold watch a “real gold watch”? erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.