Fratello Talks: Affordable Watches That Punch Above Their Weight
In this week’s episode of Fratello Talks, we’re taking a look at three affordable watches that punch above their weight. Nacho, Thomas, and Morgan have set their sights on sub-€500 offerings. This is a space in which the likes of Seiko, Hamilton, and even Tissot once reigned supreme. Today, it’s the battleground for many microbrands, but there are still hundreds of options available. In this episode, we’ll take a look at three. Each of the guys has selected one of his favorite watches available at that price point to highlight today. But before we have a look at these fantastic affordable watches, let’s see what the guys have on their wrists.
Wrist check
Up first is Morgan, who is wearing a rather different blue diver from the last time he was on the podcast. As his Omega Seamaster is currently off for some TLC, it’s the Tudor Pelagos that makes its way back on his wrist. You may have noticed that it’s not the OEM strap that he’s using to fasten it to his wrist. Today, he has opted for an Erika’s Originals MN strap in gray with a light gray stripe. It’s a classy and comfortable choice for this fan-favorite titanium diver.
Thomas has opted for a watch from the same brand family. He’s wearing his Rolex Explorer II 16570. Though he bought the watch a couple of years ago, it took some time to become one of his favorites. Sometimes, these slow-burn relationships are better than those that come from love at first sight. Regardless, in recent times, we’ve hardly seen anything else on his wrist. Albeit delayed, it seems that the honeymoon is an enduring one.
Spoiler alert! On Nacho’s wrist is his Citizen Promaster Aqualand JP2000-08E. This recent reissue captures all the charm of Citizien’s cult classic ana-digi diver from the mid-’80s. It’s an oddball watch but one with a ton of street cred, especially among scuba divers. If you ever find yourself in a far-flung destination and see a dive shop with sun-faded signs, step inside. You’ll likely find a hardened dive master there, and don’t be shocked if a well-worn iteration of this watch is making its home on his or her wrist. At €375, it also happens to be his pick for today’s episode.
Affordable watches that punch above their weight
As mentioned at the start, there are countless contenders for affordable watches that offer a lot for a reasonable price. Even at the sub-€500 price point, the selection is overwhelming. However, the guys had to pick just one each. Thomas had little hesitation in selecting the Neptune dive watch from Lorier. If you want to know why this was his choice, you’ll have to tune in to the episode.
Morgan’s pick comes from his time in the French military. It was the humble G-Shock GM-W5610-1ER that accompanied him through his weeks of training, keeping accurate time and taking as much abuse as he could throw its way. For well under €200, this watch is a must in any active watch enthusiast’s collection. Its reputation precedes it, and for the price, it’s hard to get a more resilient and accurate watch.
Finally, Nacho’s pick, as mentioned above, is the Citizen Promaster Aqualand JP2000-08E. It’s the second quartz watch in today’s lineup. If you want to know why this was his pick, you’ll have to listen to the episode.
This will certainly not be the last time that we touch upon this topic, even exploring favorites at different price points. In the meantime, what’s your favorite watch below €500? Let us know in the comments section below, and tune in next week for another episode of Fratello Talks!
