A common misconception about luxury watches is that they’ll burn a hole in your pockets. However, we beg to differ.
Here, we have culled a list of the most affordable watches from the top 10 luxury watch powerhouses that are guaranteed to glam up your wrist without costing an arm and a leg.
While some of these designs might sport a bigger dial (aka more masculine), the styles that we have shortlisted are classic and unisex. In other words, you might just find one that will make you fall in love, over and over again.
Known for crafting remarkable timepieces for sports (particularly automobile racing) since 1860, this quartz movement watch from the Swiss-based watch label is the least expensive out of our picks.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Quartz — which is finished with a white mother of pearl dial with rhodium plated indexes, as well as a polished steel strap and body case — is an understated accessory that exudes sophistication.
Price: S$2,150
Photo: TAG Heuer
Honoring the silhouette of the original Tank, the Cartier Tank Solo has a similar oblong design to its predecessor that’s timeless yet contemporary.
Making its first appearance in 2004, this timepiece sports a small dial, quartz movement, Roman numerals and a black leather strap (for the uninitiated, they’re interchangeable) that’s versatile enough to bring you from day to night.
Price: S$3,400
Photo: Cartier
Founded by Léon Breitling in 1884, this Swiss timepiece powerhouse is well-known for its chronometers that were specially designed for aviators.
Featuring a steel casing, a leather strap and a mother of pearl dial, this Galactic 32 Sleek Edition from Breitling runs on a trademarked SuperQuartz™ movement (which is a thermocompensated quartz electronic that’s 10 times more precise than your standard quartz) — definitely a must-have for those who’re interested in both watches and sports.
Price: S$4,720
Photo: Breitling
Founded in 1848 by renowned watchmaker Louis Brandt, Omega started its operation as La Generale Watch Co. before rebranding to Omega SA in 1982. The maison’s De Ville Prestige range is one of their most iconic and popular collections that offers watches fashioned in timeless silhouettes. One example is this De Ville Prestige Co-Axial with a 36.8mm casing.
Featuring Roman numerals at its 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock positions, steel casing and bracelet, as well as being waterproof up to 30 metres underwater, this elegant timepiece is definitely worth every penny.
Price: S$4,900
Photo: Omega
Founded in 1980 by Italian watchmaker Carlo Crocco, the Fusion range is Hublot’s inaugural collection that was introduced just under a few months after its establishment.
Classy and sophisticated, key features on this particular watch include a self-winding movement, 42 hours worth of power reserve, as well as a satin-finished and polished titanium case, bezel and strap.
Price: US$4,200 (S$5,696.88)
Photo: Hublot
Fun fact: Did you know that IWC Schaffhausen was founded by an American named Florentine Ariosto Jones before becoming a subsidiary label under Swiss Richemont Group in 2000?
This watch label has been priding themselves on high quality titanium watches (best for aviation) since 1868, and their entry level timepieces do not fail us nonetheless.
Despite sporting a stainless steel case (instead of titanium), a silver-plated dial and a black alligator leather strap, this Portofino Automatic made it into our cut because of its sleek and sophisticated design. This self-winding movement watch is definitely one that you should consider to be your first investment watch.
Price: S$6,450
Photo: IWC Schaffhausen
Despite being in the world of watches since 1860, we dare say that Panerai truly blossomed when it released vintage-styled divers’ watches in 1993. Since then, the brand was popularised by two of their watch models, and one of the notable collections would be their Luminor range.
What we love about this Luminor Base Logo 44mm timepiece is how it encapsulates the qualities of a diving watch — its glow-in-the-dark hands and dots is one of its key features that allows its wearers to tell the time when underwater. Seems like the perfect next watch we’d love to invest in.
Price: S$6,750
Photo: Panerai
We don’t need much introduction to this iconic timepiece: This Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 is simply an upgraded version of the original copy, which is the first-ever waterproof watch that was launched in 1926.
Featuring technicalities like a self-winding mechanical movement (calibre 3132), an oystersteel model case, as well as being waterproof up to 100 metres underwater, what we believe distinguishes this watch is its timeless design.
Price: S$7,640
Photo: Rolex
Known for designing, creating and introducing the first minute-repeating movement for watches in 1892, Audemars Piguet is a Swiss watch label that’s known for the timepieces in their Royal Oak collection.
Priced at a hefty sum of over S$16,000 (which is considered as one of their least expensive entry-level watch), what we love about this Royal Oak Quartz timepiece is its “Grande Tapisserie” patterned bezel — it’s eclectic and contemporary, yet timeless and sophisticated at the same time. If you’re looking for something that’s different from the rest, this is the accessory to go for.
Price: S$16,200
Photo: Audemars Piguet
The most expensive entry-level watch in our list would be from the Swiss luxury watch label, Patek Philippe. Founded in 1839 by Antoni Patek, Franciszek Czapek and Adrien Philippe, the watches from the Aquanaut range was only introduced in 1997 when the Stern family took reign over the company in 1932.
Inspired by its Nautilus collection, the Aquanaut 5167/1A features a black embossed dial, elegant steel bracelet, as well as running on a self-winding movement (calibre 324). Definitely a remarkable accessory that’s worth the splurge.
Price: S$28,900
Photo: Patek Philippe