Working in the watch industry for well over a decade by now, I hardly get nervous about watch prices. Sure, sometimes it baffles the mind how much watches can cost, and from time to time it’s hard to justify even, but a price is basically just a number by now. That doesn’t mean I have a limitless budget to go watch shopping for myself, however. On the contrary, I spend my watch savings very consciously, and the same undoubtedly goes for the vast majority of collectors out there. And thus, it helps me to remind myself ourselves of this, and look at the attainable and certainly no less interesting end of the spectrum as well. And with that in mind, here’s our weekly Buying Guide selection of six pretty cool watches, all priced below EUR 2,500.
Quantum Barracuda BAR1208B – USD 299
If ever there was a watch befitting the term ‘bargain’, the Quantum Barracuda BAR1208B would be it. It really is impressive what USD 299 gets you: a 200m water-resistant dive watch with a good-looking dial, a ceramic bezel insert, a sapphire crystal and a reliable Miyota 8215 automatic. Size-wise, the Barracuda comes in at 41mm across and 13mm in height, so it’s not overly big. It’s fitted to a stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp, so there’s little to complain about in that area as well. It may look a touch generic, but considering the fact that it’s a proper tool watch by design, it’s an incredible value-for-money deal.
For more information, please visit QuantumWatches.com.
Quick Facts – 40mm x 13mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – unidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic insert – sapphire crystal – see-through caseback – 200m water-resistant – gradient black-to-teal dial – applied luminous markers & hands – framed date window – Miyota 8215, automatic – 21,600vph – 40h power reserve – stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp – USD 299
Earthen & Co Summit MKII – USD 899
If you’re looking for something stylish and resilient, the Earthen & Co Summit MKII might be your thing. Making its debut last year, the Summit was Earthen & Co’s answer to high-priced ceramic watches. At just USD 899, the Summit MKII continues along that same path, with a dark blue, grey or beige ceramic case. The dimensions are very pleasant, measuring 38mm in width and 10mm in height. For the dial, Earthen & Co has opted for blue, green or brown, depending on the colour of the case. It’s powered by a Miyota 9039 automatic and comes with two FKM rubber straps colour-coordinated to each specific variant. Pretty sweet!
For more information, please visit Earthen-Co.com.
Quick Facts – 38mm x 10mm – blue, green or beige ceramic case & bezel – brushed & polished – sapphire crystal – solid caseback – 100m water-resistant – screw-down crown with coloured ring – blue, brown or luminous green dial – printed numerals & hands with SLN – Miyota 9039, automatic – 28,800vph – 42h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds (hacking) – two textured FKM rubber straps with pin buckle – production limited by capacity – USD 899 (excl. VAT)
Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38 blue – EUR 995
The Murph has been quite an incredible success for Hamilton, the Watchmaker of Filmmakers, and has diversified in size and colour since it was first released in 2019. Although it strays from the concept of the original, the latest 38mm edition looks the part yet again and comes with a grained deep blue dial that darkens towards the outer edge. The beige numerals and cathedral hands add a retro touch, and power comes from Hamilton’s H10 automatic (which is essentially a Powermatic 80). On the leather strap you see here, it retails for EUR 995, which bumps to EUR 1,045 if you want it on the steel bracelet.
For more information, please visit HamiltonWatch.com.
Quick Facts – 38mm x 11.1mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal front & back – grained, gradient deep blue to black dial – beige numerals and hands, luminous – Calibre H10, automatic (Powermatic 80) – 21,600vph – 80h power reserve – Nivachron hairspring – black leather strap with pin buckle or stainless steel three-link bracelet – EUR 995 (strap) or EUR 1,045 (bracelet)
MAT Watches EGG Master II – EUR 1,225
I can’t stress enough that watches should also be about fun, and the MAT Watches Egg Master II certainly delivers on that front. Built as a proper dive watch, with 200m of water resistance, the Egg Master II’s bezel has a scale designed to track egg cooking times. Sounds a bit silly at first, but in reality, it’s quite practical! It comes in at 39.5mm in diameter and 12mm in height, uses a Soprod M100 automatic movement, and is supplied with a range of textile and rubber straps (the egg-yolk yellow Tropic-like strap is the one to go for!). The price is set at EUR 1,225 excl. VAT.
For more information, please visit MerAirTerre.com.
Quick Facts – 39.5mm x 12mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – unidirectional rotating bezel with egg cooking scale – sapphire crystal front & back – 200m water-resistant – eggshell white dial – luminous hour marker ring & hands – Soprod M100, automatic – 28,800vph – 42h power reserve – yellow & beige Tropic-style rubber straps – eggshell canvas strap – steel multi-link bracelet also available – EUR 1,225 excl. VAT
Sicura hexa 400 – EUR 1,450
Built like a proverbial tank, the Hexa 400 is the first watch by the recently revived Sicura brand, and it firmly ticks the retro-diver watch box. It is essentially a remake of a 1970s original, with a stout and purposeful design very reminiscent of the era. What sets the Hexa 400 apart is the dual rotating bezel, one on the outside and one on the inside (for a second time zone), manipulated through the secondary crown. The steel bracelet also features a practical sliding folding clasp. It comes in black, blue or orange, and relies on a Swiss-Made Sellita SW200 automatic. The hexa 400 retails for EUR 1,450.
For more information, please visit Sicura-Watches.com.
Quick Facts – 40mm x 14mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – unidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic insert – sapphire crystal, solid caseback – 400m water-resistant – black, blue or orange dial – two-tone inner timing bezel – luminous markers & hands – Sellita SW200 – 28,800vph – 38h power reserve – stainless steel bracelet with extendable folding clasp – EUR 1,450
O&HoraPictor Atelier Duet – USD 2,315
Last on the list is something a touch dressier. And despite the fact that a price of USD 2,135 is perhaps not as ‘affordable’ as you’d like, bear with me, as the O&Horapictor Atelier Duet has a lot going for itself. First and foremost, the genuine Grand Feu enamel dials, here pictured in bright yellow, but other colours are available too. It’s not often we see such dials at this price level. Secondly, multiple size options (36mm, 38mm & 40MM), all at a height of 10.2mm only. And lastly, a manually wound Sellita SW200 Power+ movement with 65 hours of running time. Pretty sweet overall, we’d say!
For more information, please visit Horapictor.com.
Quick Facts – 36mm, 38mm or 40mm x 10.2mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – sapphire crystal, solid caseback – 50m water-resistant – Grand Feu enamel dial in multiple variations – pen-shaped hands, blued seconds hand – Sellita SW200-2M b Power+, automatic – 28,800vph – 65h power reserve – multiple leather strap options – USD 2,135
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