Finding The Top 10 Watches Under €2,000 — Seiko, Tissot, Oris, Doxa, And More
Here at the Fratello offices, we constantly talk about the smartest ways of spending your hard-earned money on watches. Our readers also often send us questions about the best watches within certain budgets. In this article, we’ll dive into a very popular price bracket. We have picked some of the best available watches under €2,000. It’s a price bracket with many wonderful offerings from both big brands and smaller independents alike. So today, let’s take a look at what the market has to offer.
When I started compiling this list, something quickly dawned on me. There is an absolute abundance of great offerings for the money. We truly are spoiled for choice when it comes to spending €2,000 on a watch. There are plenty of big brands that offer a wide variety of models that could be the perfect pick for you. Additionally, there many smaller independent brands that also offer some amazing timepieces. It’s great to see the many different options out there. It almost makes it impossible to not find a watch that you love. A second thing that stands out is that both big and small brands often use similar movements. As a result, the movement is not necessarily the deciding factor in many comparisons. Now, with so many options out there, I can only provide a shortlist of some of our favorites. That said, I hope these suggestions will help in finding the best watch for you for under €2,000.
Doxa Sub 300T/600T Whitepearl Watches
During the week of Watches And Wonders, we saw Doxa release new Whitepearl editions of many of its models. Even though white dials are standard in the watch industry, for Doxa, they are definitely not. The brand is mostly known for its colorful dials, so the new Whitepearl models feel very crisp and fresh. It’s weird how the mind works because for almost any other brand a white dial with black contrasting elements would seem like a standard option. The best of the five new Doxa Whitepearl offerings is the Sub 300 Carbon Whitepearl that Nacho loved seeing in Geneva last week. But at €3,890, it’s nearly double the budget.
The perfect option within the budget would be the iconic Sub 300T Whitepearl for €1,890 on a bracelet or €1,850 on a white rubber strap. I would go for the bracelet option and get the rubber strap as well. It makes the watch perfect for hot summer days in terms of both looks and comfort. The SUB 300T features the iconic 42.5mm case with its relatively small dial. Inside the case, Doxa uses the well-known automatic ETA 2824-2 movement for reliable timekeeping. It operates at 28,800vph and has a modest 38-hour power reserve. If you’re not a fan of the Sub 300T, however, the brand’s Sub 600T (pictured above) could also be a perfect option. Its angular case looks more modern, and on a rubber strap, it’s also a great option for under €1,500. With the Whitepearl models, Doxa has created a line of watches that look strangely familiar but bring something fresh to the table.
Oris Divers Sixty-Five
Oris actually has multiple options within the set budget. The Aquis, the Big Crown Pointer Date, and the Divers Sixty-Five are all three brilliant choices, depending on your preference. For this list, however, I have picked the brand’s vintage-inspired dive watch, the Divers Sixty-Five. The watch is available in different sizes, with 40mm and 42mm cases making up the bulk of the collection. We have recently seen multiple introductions of the 38mm version, with the full-bronze Cotton Candy models as stand-outs. The Divers Sixty-Five brings a lot of vintage charm but combines it with modern-day execution.
My pick would be a 40mm model, as they maintain that vintage charm better than the 42mm options. You can get one on a stainless steel bracelet for exactly €2,000. The Oris caliber 733, based on the Sellita SW200-1, is visible with its characteristic red rotor through the display case back. It operates at 28,800vph and has 38 hours of power reserve. If you’d like to add an extra bit of sparkle to the stainless steel watch, the option with the bronze bezel will set you back an extra €100. On a leather strap, however, it will stay within budget. Additionally, there are several different dial-color options, which could make choosing your favorite even harder. But there’s no doubt that this is a great option for a €2,000 budget.
Tissot PRX Chronograph
The Tissot PRX Chronograph is the most recent addition to the PRX lineup, and it is an absolute winner. I had the pleasure of wearing it for some time after receiving it in the Fratello office, and it’s a brilliant move by Tissot. The watch takes the aesthetic of the PRX line to the next level and proves how great the design really is. At €1,495, the watch is unbeatable in terms of style and presence. The distinctive design is slightly enlarged for the chronograph version, which measures 42mm rather than 40mm. Furthermore, the watch is quite a bit thicker than the 10.8mm three-hand PRX, coming in at 14.5mm in height. Lastly, the watch is also quite heavy at 184 grams. What you get in return, however, has so much character and still wears great despite its more daunting specs.
Inside the stainless steel case, Tissot uses the ETA caliber A05.H31, which is essentially a Valjoux 7753 movement. It operates at 28,800vph and provides 60 hours of power reserve. I like the Valjoux 7753 better than the original 7750 because of its more traditional layout. The only “issue” that some might have is the date window between 4 and 5 o’clock. While wearing it, though, it didn’t bother me for one second. Tissot offers two versions of this new PRX Chronograph. The first has a blue dial with white registers. While that one is certainly nice, the crown must go to the panda-dial version you see in the pictures. The silver dial with the black registers and the gold-colored details looks sporty and classy at the same time. Additionally, the quality and finishing are really impressive, making this one of the most exciting new releases in any price category.
Seiko Prospex SPB143
This list would not be complete without a Seiko watch. Though it seems like a lot longer ago now, Seiko introduced its range of 1965 Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretations in 2020. Ever since the Seiko Prospex SPB143 was released, it has become a favorite amongst watch fans. The design is based on Seiko’s iconic 62MAS from the ’60s but with plenty of updates to ensure sure it’s very much a watch of this day and age. The 40.5mm case is a perfect fit for various wrist sizes, and with a modest 44mm lug-to-lug, it does not wear big.
Inside the case, Seiko equips the SPB143 with its in-house automatic caliber 6R35. It’s a well-known movement that the brand uses for many of its watches, and it has proven to be reliable and tough. It operates at 21,600vph and has a 70-hour power reserve. Gerard mentioned in his review of the watch that it comes on a solid bracelet that was a step up from the ones Seiko offered in the past. But if time has taught us anything about the SPB143, it’s that the watch is an utter strap monster. People who own one like to switch things up, making this popular Seiko dive watch one of the great options under €2K. At €1,350, this is still a great watch despite the many releases we have seen since its introduction.
NOMOS Club Campus
On to something completely different. If you like a watch that is more classic in its overall approach but colorful and funky in its execution, the NOMOS Club Campus is a great option. The watch has become a crowd favorite for its great variety of dial colors, different size options, and versatility. The Club Campus 38 models feature a 38.5mm case, while the more compact Club Campus models come in at 36mm. The Club Campus immediately stands out in the NOMOS lineup, taking the brand’s famous Bauhaus style to a more playful level. The combination of design elements and colors makes it a great option to wear both casually and in more formal situations.
When I think of the Club Campus, I think of the round case, the “California” dial, and the gray and orange dial colors. In particular, the orange-dial model with its gray velour leather strap looks very stylish. Recently, the brand added the Club Campus in Deep Pink and Blue Purple, which brings two more great colors into the lineup. Inside the stainless steel case, NOMOS equips the watches with its in-house-built Alpha caliber. The manual-winding 3Hz movement offers 43 hours of power reserve and ticks away behind a closed case back. The price for the regular 36mm models is €1,100, and the Club Campus 38 models go for €1,200. All you have to do is pick your favorite color!
Serica 5303
When it comes to stylish retro-inspired dive watches, it’s hard to beat the Serica 5303. I had the pleasure of reviewing both versions last year, and the overall looks, the attention to detail, the finishing, and the value for money are incredible. On top of that, Serica founder Jérôme Burgert is one of the nicest people in the watch industry. The Serica 5303 is the second model that Burgert released, and it followed the popular 4512 field watch. With the 5303, Burgert put a lot of effort into the design, even down to the smallest details. In my opinion, the result was well worth the effort. The watch features a 39mm stainless steel case that is 12mm thick and 46.5mm from lug to lug.
Usually, a watch has one big eye-catcher, but with the 5303, several elements stand out. Firstly, the dial has a not-so-traditional layout with the hour markers placed further toward the center. Secondly, the amazing stainless steel twin-scale bezel has a ceramic insert indicating minutes and a stainless steel ring indicating hours. It’s an absolute beauty. Lastly, the mesh bracelet has a special end link and a very cool overall design. Inside the case, Serica uses the automatic Soprod Newton movement. This movement operates at 28,800vph and has a 44-hour power reserve. Additionally, the movement offers COSC standards of precision with an accuracy of ±4 seconds per day. At €1,290, this is truly the full package.
Unimatic Modello Uno U1S-MP
It is no secret that some of the Fratello team members and I are fans of Unimatic. The brand from Milan, Italy has been around for a few years, and in that time, its watches have shown the versatility of minimalist design. The constant evolution in Unimatic’s designs has gained the brand a massive following amongst both watch enthusiasts and the more fashion-minded crowd. But recently, the brand also decided to take a step up in terms of movements. Unimatic used to equip its watches with Seiko’s NH35A movement, which proved to be a tough, long-wearing caliber. In terms of accuracy, however, it left room for improvement. And with the release of the Hodinkee limited editions, the brand introduced Sellita movements into its watches.
It turned out not to be a one-time thing, as we have seen more models equipped with Sellita movements since then. Mike recently reviewed his Modello Due, which is part of the Swiss-powered S-Series with markerless black dials. They were followed by two Modello Uno models equipped with Sellita SW200-1 movements. Not only is it a step up in terms of accuracy and quality, but as a result of the new movement, the 40mm case has also become slimmer. It now measures 11.6mm thick, compared to the 13.6mm thickness of the previous version. Additionally, the stainless steel U1S-MP and black DLC-coated U1S-MPN come with a date window at 6 o’clock. It’s a useful improvement to the Unimatic design that does not sacrifice the symmetry of the dial. The U1S-MP comes in at €865 and the U1S-MPN at €965 before taxes. For a little over €1K when all is said and done, both watches are fantastic options.
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver
Most of you will be familiar with the Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver. This vintage re-issue came out in 2020, and Balazs loved how true it stayed to the original design. And I fully agree with Balazs that Nivada Grenchen did a great job with this watch. Since then, we have seen a great variety of new models from the brand. There’s the Depthmaster, which could also be a great pick within this budget, as well as the Chronomaster Big Eye and Paul Newman models with their Valjoux 23 movements that are a tad bit more expensive than €2K. But Nivada Grenchen also released a tropical-dial version of the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver that immediately stood out to me.
Usually, I am not a big fan of mimicking patina or the aging of a dial. In this case, however, I would like to make an exception. As the vintage-inspired chronograph is already a very retro-looking timepiece, this adds even more charm. That said, I can understand if people do not like it. The watch comes with a 38.3mm case that is 13.75mm thick. The red-brown dial looks amazing with the aged broad-arrow hands. Add the beads-of-rice bracelet, and this watch packs a ton of style. Inside the case, you will find the manual-winding Sellita SW510 M BH B. It operates at 28,800vph and offers 62 hours of power reserve. With a price of just over €1,850, this is one of the best-looking retro-styled watches out there. And if this dial is not for you, there are also the black and white-dial variants in different executions.
Hamilton Intra-Matic Chronograph H
People who know me a little bit could have seen this one coming. The Hamilton Intra-Matic H Chronograph is the first watch I think of within this price bracket. This rotor-less version of the Intra-Matic Chronograph brings a ton of style and adds another level of daily fun only a hand-wound movement can provide. The watch features a 40mm stainless steel case and either a panda or reverse-panda dial. Both look stunning and have an incredible amount of retro appeal. There is also the choice of a leather strap, which keeps the price just within the budget at €1,995. With the mesh bracelet, it will be just over €2,045. For the sake of argument, let’s stick with the leather-strap version.
My personal favorite is the panda version with its cream-white dial and black registers. The round case with its pump-style pushers and big crown has tons of character. The execution of the dial is brilliant down to the last detail. From the hour markers with their little lume pips at the end to the legible sub-dials and tachymeter scale, it’s all you could want from a retro-inspired chronograph. The Intra-Matic H eliminates the date window at 6 o’clock, which is a definite improvement over the automatic version. Add the manual winding H-51 caliber for an extra dose of charm, and this is a great pick for just under €2K.
Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch
The last watch on this list is the currently most-wanted watch in the world. The Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch is the most popular choice for €250. But it could just as well be the most popular choice for €2,000! It feels like everyone wants one, and people that have one love it. So, did you get yours yet? I can’t wait to wear my Mission to the Moon as soon as I can get my hands on it. And after that, I might even have to go for the Mission to Jupiter because the colors on that one look stunning. I could go on for a bit, but this is the perfect choice under €2K, and it leaves you plenty of money to go for one of the other watches on this list. But will it be as much fun as the MoonSwatch? I highly doubt it!
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it — a list of ten possible options for your perfect watch under €2,000. As you can see, there are plenty of watches within that price bracket from small indie brands and big brands alike. It makes choosing just one of them all the more difficult! But tell us, what are your favorite watches in this attractive price bracket? Feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments below!
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