The problem with being a watch enthusiast is that one is always thinking about the next watch, if you know what we mean. And we’ve lined up five affordable timepieces here that fit the bill. Wear your chosen one in good health.
Furlan Marri Flyback Chronographs
Auro Montanari is one of the world’s most renowned watch collectors, as well as an author of several books on watches. These include Patek Philippe Steel Watches and, more recently, Time to Race, which is about watches and racing. Switzerland-based Furlan Marri is among the pick of the independent brands that have emerged in the last four to five years. Their vintage-inspired Mechaquartz collection and affordably priced mechanical watches are quite popular. Earlier this year, the brand collaborated with watchmakers Dominique Renaud and Julien Tixier to launch a secular perpetual calendar. Now, along with Montanari and watch enthusiast magazine Revolution, they have just launched a series of three mechanical flyback chronographs. The watches feature taupe-, honey blue-, and salmon-coloured sandwich-style dials, and the design of the 38mm steel case follows the brand’s vintage-inspired codes such as olive-style pushers. The Sellita AMT5100 movement features a column wheel-controlled flyback and provides 63 hours of power reserve. The limited-edition watches are available via Furlan Marri’s website or through Revolution. Prices start at about $3,000.
Christopher Ward C1 Moonphase
A radiant and striking moon that is 25 percent bigger than on their previous moonphase. An aventurine dial – aventurine is a form of quartz – sprinkled with flakes of copper oxide to replicate a star-studded sky. A rock-solid movement. There’s a lot to like about the C1 Moonphase that broke cover in October this year. The British watchmaker uses two moons that rotate on an aventurine disc; the moons are made of a mixture of ceramic and Super-LumiNova. The moonphase is powered by JJ04, Christopher Ward’s own modular movement, that, if kept wound, can follow the waxing and waning of the moon for 128 years. The C1 Moonphase is available with either a steel or leather bracelet. Prices start at POUND 2000.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Chronograph
The 1970s Seiko ‘Panda’ is a bonafide vintage classic, and it serves as the inspiration for the Japanese manufacturer’s new pair of Speedtimers –a traditional panda and a reverse panda. Unlike the 1970s timepiece’s dual register layout, the new Speedtimers feature a tri-compax layout, but the inner tachymeter bezel, the orange-tipped seconds hand and the multi-link bracelet hark back to the original. The redesigned pump-style pushers are a lovely touch. Under the hood of the new 42mm Speedtimers is the Seiko Caliber 8R48, an automatic chronograph movement with a column wheel, which provides about 45 hours of power reserve. The watch is water-resistant up to 100 metres. EURO 2700 onwards
Tissot Heritage COSC 1938
Tissot is among those brands whose fortunes have been buffeted by the rise and rise of the Apple watch, but the Le Locle-based manufacturer is bouncing back. After launching the impressive and much liked PRX line in 2021, the brand has once again dipped into its back catalogues to come up with what looks like another winner: the Heritage COSC 1938. The elegant 39mm Heritage COSC 1938, which features a sandblasted dial, clean lines, and grained leather strap, is available in anthracite and salmon colourways. A COSC-certified 2824-2 movement ensures consistent accuracy.
Rs 76,000
Laco Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven
German brand Laco might be a lot less low profile than its Swiss competition, but its portfolio has some real gems. And we are not talking just about pilot watches. Laco also has a Navy-inspired line that recently got two new additions in the form of the Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven. Originally available in case sizes of 42.5mm, the recent issues have been downsized to 39mm. The Bremerhaven sports a deep black dial and Superluminova-coated numerals, indexes and hands, while the Cuxhaven’s thermally-blued hands stand out against a pristine white dial. Both models feature a railway minute track and small seconds, and are powered by the handwinding Sellita SW261 movement. The Cuxhaven is paired with a beige calfskin strap, while the Bremerhaven gets a black leather strap. EURO 1290
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