Longines
Spirit Zulu Time L3.812.4.63.6
A polished Swiss GMT with an independently adjustable local hour hand.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Automatic GMT L844.4
- Price
- $2,750
← All collections01 02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Serious watches, still sensible
Watches Under $5000
Five thousand dollars buys a genuine luxury watch without drifting into speculative territory.
These are the watches to consider when you want something that will still feel special in a decade, not just next season.
Alpina
Seastrong AL-520BY4H6
A substantial Swiss automatic diver rated to 300 metres.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Automatic
- Price
- $800–$1,200
A lightweight titanium Swiss automatic with a 1970s TV-shaped case and a proper big date complication.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Mido Caliber 80 automatic
- Price
- $918–$936
Still the best smartwatch made, provided the rest of your life runs on an iPhone.
- Case
- 46mm
- Movement
- Digital
- Price
- $749-$899
Hamilton
Khaki Field Auto H70555533
Hamilton’s field-watch heritage translated into a versatile modern automatic.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Automatic
- Price
- $582–$795
Certina
DS Action C048.410.11.051.00
A precise Swiss quartz diver with serious 300m water resistance in a wearable 40mm case.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Quartz Precidrive
- Price
- $450–$650
Withings
ScanWatch Nova Brilliant Edition
The one smartwatch that still looks like a watch — a proper dive-style piece hiding a health lab.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Hybrid: analogue hands with a hidden digital display
- Price
- $369-$599
A dramatic sunburst dial that makes an accessible automatic feel genuinely special.
- Case
- 40.5mm
- Movement
- Automatic 4R35
- Price
- $360
Original Grain
Taylor Guitar Ebony Chronograph
A limited-edition chronograph built with ebony wood and guitar-inspired detailing.
- Case
- 44mm
- Movement
- Quartz chronograph
- Price
- $359
Citizen
Tsuyosa NJ0200-50M
A compact integrated-bracelet automatic with a bright blue dial and sapphire crystal.
- Case
- 37mm
- Movement
- Automatic 8210
- Price
- $310
Nixon
Sentry SS A356
A dark olive daily watch with a clean dial and substantial steel bracelet.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Quartz
- Price
- $300
A sensibly sized automatic dress watch with a domed crystal and restrained dial.
- Case
- 38.4mm
- Movement
- Automatic F6724
- Price
- $295
Garmin
Venu 3
The most complete health-tracking smartwatch you can wear all week without charging.
- Case
- 45mm
- Movement
- Digital
- Price
- $279-$449
Seiko
5 Sports SRPD65
A blacked-out Seiko sports watch with familiar proportions and a proven automatic movement.
- Case
- 42.5mm
- Movement
- Automatic 4R36
- Price
- $275
Seiko
5 Sports SRPG35
A well-proportioned automatic field watch with a warm dial and dependable everyday specification.
- Case
- 39.4mm
- Movement
- Automatic 4R36
- Price
- $200–$315
Emporio Armani
World Explorer GMT AR11590
A fashion-house GMT that tracks a second time zone and still looks like jewellery.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Quartz GMT dual time
- Price
- $239
A 1960s-style pilot chronograph with a genuine column-wheel movement, swan-neck regulator and sapphire crystal for the price of a fashion watch.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Seagull ST1901
- Price
- $230
Orient
Kamasu RA-AA0001B19A
One of the clearest value propositions in automatic dive watches.
- Case
- 41.8mm
- Movement
- Automatic F6922
- Price
- $215
Caravelle
Gold-Tone Dress 44B132
A slim gold-tone dress watch with a champagne dial — Bulova-owned quality at a mid-range price.
- Case
- 39mm
- Movement
- Quartz
- Price
- $215
Fitbit
Versa 4
The simplest way into daily health tracking, and the easiest to actually keep wearing.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Digital
- Price
- $189
Watchdives
WD1863 Chronograph
A compact meca-quartz chronograph with sapphire crystal and practical water resistance.
- Case
- 39mm
- Movement
- VK63 meca-quartz chronograph
- Price
- $150–$200
Garmin
vivoactive 5
Almost everything the Venu does, in a smaller case, for a lot less money.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Digital
- Price
- $169-$299
A real hand-wound mechanical chronograph with the historic Seagull ST19 calibre, for the price of a quartz watch.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Seagull ST19
- Price
- $153
A racing-inspired chronograph with balanced 40mm proportions and a steel bracelet.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Miyota 6S21 quartz chronograph
- Price
- $128–$165
A warm all-gold dress watch with 1960s-inspired minimalism and a slim, easy-wearing case.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Japanese quartz
- Price
- $118–$158
Ratio
FreeDiver RTF045
A high-spec orange-dial diver at an unusually accessible price.
- Case
- 42mm
- Movement
- Automatic NH35
- Price
- $125
Fossil
Carraway FS6011
A small rectangular gold-tone watch with a jewelry-like seven-link bracelet.
- Case
- 30mm
- Movement
- Quartz
- Price
- $80–$120
G-Shock
GA-2100-1A1
A slim, monochrome G-Shock with genuine toughness and an architectural case.
- Case
- 45.4mm
- Movement
- Quartz ana-digi
- Price
- $90–$99
A compact square watch whose moon-phase display delivers unusual character for the price.
- Case
- 34mm square
- Movement
- Quartz moon phase
- Price
- $95
Citizen
Quartz BI5010-59E
A clean, slim black-dial Citizen that dresses up or down without trying.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Quartz
- Price
- $69–$99
Timex
Briarwood TW2T67000
A traditional gold-tone dress watch with a textured dial and brown leather strap.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Quartz
- Price
- $55–$75
Casio
AQ-230GA-9D
Compact analog-digital functionality in a distinctly retro gold-tone case.
- Case
- 38.8mm
- Movement
- Quartz ana-digi
- Price
- $45–$55
A straightforward field watch with a green strap, black dial and Indiglo illumination.
- Case
- 40mm
- Movement
- Quartz
- Price
- $38–$51
Timex
Weekender TW2U91000
The uncomplicated fabric-strap watch that made casual field styling ubiquitous.
- Case
- 38mm
- Movement
- Quartz
- Price
- $35–$55
Casio
MTP-1302DD-5AVDF
A clean three-hand Casio with a warm red-brown sunray dial.
- Case
- 39mm
- Movement
- Quartz
- Price
- $35–$55
Casio
AE-1200WHD-1AV
The cult digital world timer: practical, inexpensive and instantly recognisable.
- Case
- 42.1mm
- Movement
- Quartz digital
- Price
- $35–$52
Keep browsing