The Most Affordable Watch from 10 Famously Expensive Brands

What’s considered affordable or luxury is different for everyone. It’s all relative. But there’s quantifiably a most affordable watch from any given brand, no matter how high-end, and where a company’s pricing starts isn’t just the most accessible way to get a prestigious name on your wrist — it also says a lot about the brand.

We’re not here to tell you the high quality, skill, trust and reputation that the world’s best watchmakers have built over time (in some cases, over centuries) comes cheap, but there are ways to get your foot in the door of their world. One is to look at their entry-level products.

We’ve combed through the catalog of ten of the top expensive luxury watch brands to find the absolute lowest-priced watch from each that can be classified as either a unisex or men’s watch (ladies watches, in general, have a lower starting point at most brands). These watches might not be your dream watch (Or maybe they are!), but they are the most affordable way to get brands like Rolex and Omega on your wrist.

Rolex

Rolex

Most Affordable Rolex

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34

Specs

Case Size	34mm
Movement	Rolex Cal. 2232 automatic
Water Resistance	100m

• $5,800 at Rolex

Available in multiple fun dial colors and five sizes, the Oyster Perpetual is, in many ways, the quintessential Rolex. A simple, time-only affair with stainless steel Oyster cases on the iconic Oyster bracelet, it has the basic features you should expect from the brand, including superlative chronometric accuracy, a robust build and 100m of water resistance.

At 34mm, this is about the most affordable, convincingly men’s watch you can get from Rolex — but smaller Oyster Perpetual ladies watches (28mm, 31mm) will cost a little less, and larger examples (36mm, 41mm) go for a bit more.

Omega

Omega

Most Affordable Omega

Omega De Ville Prestige

Specs

Case Size	39.5mm
Movement	Omega Cal. 2500 automatic (ETA base)
Water Resistance	30m

• $3,600 at Omega

When you think of Omega, the Speedmaster and Seamaster collections might come to mind, but the brand has other collections worthy of a look. Available in myriad different variations, the Deville Prestige Co-Axial gives you access to the famed co-axial escapement, designed by horological great George Daniels.

You can get ladies watches with smaller diameters and quartz movements for less money (starting around $3,000, at time of writing) from Omega, but the most interesting men’s and unisex options start with this nicely sized automatic dress watch.

Panerai

Panerai

Most Affordable Panerai

Panerai Radiomire Officine

Specs

Case Size	45mm
Movement	Panerai Cal. P.6000 calibre manual-wind
Water Resistance	100m

• $4,900 at Mayors

Featuring an in-house, manually wound P.6000 movement with a 3-day power reserve, this time-only (no date) watch features the old-school Panerai experience, distilled. You’ve got the oversized cushion-shaped case and luminous dial with large Arabic numerals, but without the brand’s signature “sandwich dial” (basically a two-layer dial sandwiching lume).

It’s got a hand-wound movement and water resistance to 100m, and being from the Radiomir line, its look is based on the first Panerai military watches from the 1930s. This is a great way to get into the famed watchmaker whose roots stem from an association with the Italian navy.

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Most Affordable JLC

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Monoface Quartz

Specs

Case Size	35.78mm x 21 mm
Movement	Jaeger-LeCoultre Cal. 657 quartz
Water Resistance	30m

• $7,000 at JLC

The least expensive Reverso in the Jaeger-LeCoultre catalog, this version of the iconic watch features a quartz movement in place of a mechanical one as well as a smaller size but is in every other respect a classic Reverso. With its reversible watch head and stainless steel case, the Reverso Classic Small is perfect for engraving and personalization.

The watch is aimed at women but we’d classify it as unisex since the rectangular shape wears a bit bigger than you’d think, though you can also opt for a larger 40.1mm x 24.4 mm version for an extra $200. Bump your budget to $7,900, and you can get the same small model with a manually wound mechanical movement.

Cartier

Cartier

Most Affordable Cartier

Cartier Ronde Must

Specs

Case Size	36mm
Movement	Cartier High-Autonomy Quartz
Water Resistance	30m

• $3,300 at Watches of Switzerland

The Ronde Must has a versatile size at 36mm and all the hallmarks of Cartier: an elegant white dial with Roman numerals, a thin handset and a crown set with a synthetic cabochon-shaped spinel. It screams classic Cartier. What’s more, the in-house “High-Autonomy” quartz movement from Cartier will run for 8 years before needing a battery replacement.

If you want an even more classic Cartier look, the quartz-powered Tank Must is only a couple hundred dollars more, and there are automatic versions of each for a step up in price, while at Cartier’s absolute entry point are smaller quartz ladies Must models in its Ronde and Tank collections.

IWC

IWC

Most Affordable IWC

IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36

Specs

Case Size	36mm
Movement	IWC Cal. 35111 (Sellita base)
Water Resistance	60m

• $4,350 at IWC

No brand is more associated with pilot’s watches than IWC, and its vast aptly named Pilot’s Watch line riffs on its history of high-flying timekeeping. The legible dial with white Arabic numerals and other classic cues that define both the IWC collection and pilot’s watches in general — it’s all there in the Automatic 36.

For not too much more money you can get more of a retro military feel and an in-house automatic movement with the 39mm Pilot’s Watch Spitfire ($4,900), but we’re still fans of the brand’s most affordable watch and its elegant vibes courtesy of a blue sunburst dial and 36mm diameter.

Breitling

Breitling

Most Affordable Breitling

Breitling Endurance Pro

Specs

Case Size	44mm
Movement	Breitling Cal. 82 quartz chronograph (ETA base)
Water Resistance	100m

• $3,400 at Watches of Switzerland

Available in multiple sporty colors, the Endurance Pro has some serious features, including the brand’s own Breitlight material, a type of plastic composite that’s said to be lighter and harder than titanium with the look of forged carbon.

This is an aggressively sized watch at 44mm, but its diameter is offset by its low weight of just 64.6 grams. The thermocompensated quartz chronograph movement inside also helps keep it light and reasonably thin — and it’s chock full of the brand’s bold, aggressive attitude that many people either love or hate. Personally, we love it.

Tudor

Tudor

Most Affordable Tudor

Tudor 1926

Specs

Case Size	36mm
Movement	Sellita SW200-1 automatic
Water Resistance	100m

• $1,925 at Watches of Switzerland

Drawing on the classic Tudor references from the past, the 1926 is a robust, time-only watch available in multiple sizes, dial colors and several strap and bracelet offerings. The watch relies on the venerable Sellita SW200 movement keeps the price reasonable, and 100m of water resistance means that this is a watch you can wear every day without worry.

There’s also a women’s version available for slightly less at $1,875, which is technically Tudor’s cheapest watch, but at just 28mm across, it’s a bit small for our tastes. But no matter how you slice it, being able to get your foot in the door with Rolex’s sister brand for under two grand feels like a misprint.

TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer

Most Affordable TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz

Specs

Case Size	41m
Movement	Swiss quartz
Water Resistance	200m

• $1,450 at Watches of Switzerland

Whether powered by an automatic or quartz movement, as the absolute entry-level men’s watch is, the Formula 1 collection is TAG Heuer’s most accessible line. It’s available in a number of iterations and is an entry point for those who want the TAG Heuer aesthetic but might not be ready to drop serious money on a mechanical chronograph like a Carrera or Monaco.

Numerous dial and strap/bracelet combinations give the user plenty of choices (though only the pictured version comes in at the stated price point), and you can even get the recently released (and very hyped) remake of TAG Heuer’s original Formula 1 watch — a collaboration with designer brand Kith — for just 50 bucks more.

Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko

Most Affordable Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko Heritage Quartz SBGX263

Specs

Case Size	37mm
Movement	Grand Seiko Cal. 9F62 quartz
Water Resistance	100m

• $2,200 at Watches of Switzerland

Don’t think that because these watches feature quartz movements, you’re getting any less of an impressive timepiece than what Grand Seiko is known for. With a perfectly proportioned 37mm stainless steel case and matching bracelet, 100m of water resistance, a Seiko 9F movement that’s fully decorated and accurate to within 10 seconds per year, the SBGX263 is an elegant everyday watch and the perfect introduction to the world of Grand Seiko.

And if you’re not a fan of the silver dial, there’s also a black-dial version (SBGX261) available for the same price. Grand Seiko has consistently been phasing out its cheaper watches as it moves upmarket (like many brands), so the SBGX series probably isn’t long for this world, sadly.

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