Watches don't have to cost a fortune, which is why we've found the best watches under £1000.
Watch collecting can be an expensive hobby, just check out the watch picks in T3's best watch guide and ludicrous best watches to invest in right now guide. There are prices in there that would make an oil baron's eyes water. It doesn't have to be like that – we've collected some excellent affordable watches for anyone's budget – from the best watches under £500 to the top timepieces under £1000.
You'd be surprised what you can get for under £1000, for example, with several stainless steel Swiss watches with automatic movements available at this price, plus loads of options from smaller firms like Brew and Christopher Ward. Keep reading to find our top picks for the best watches under £1000.
If you're after more budget timepieces, check out our favourite watches under £300.
Best watches under £1000 ranking
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Christopher Ward has taken the Trident range to a whole new level, with striking, bold designs which really set this British brand apart from its more conventional Swiss rivals. The best example of this is the C60 Sapphire, which features a see-through dial made from sapphire crystal. The updated design is significantly sleeker and more legible than previous versions, and also feels better on the wrist, with a slimmer profile than, and clean sides which play with the light. It's a very attractive piece.
Resistant to water, drastic temperature changes, shocks and eight tons of pressure. The Victorinox I.N.O.X. is a force to reckoned with. Our favourite model features a genuine American paracord strap, which is hand-woven and also allegedly serves as a versatile survival tool.
Hamilton is a historic name when it comes to watchmaking, first established in 1892 in America. Perhaps its most iconic design is this Khaki field watch. Its 38mm stainless steel case houses an automatic calibre H-10 movement, with an 80-hour power reserve, and a date complication.
Automatic dive watches with a design similar to those by Tudor, Omega and Rolex usually command a high price - but not so with the Tissot Seastar 1000, which can be had for around £600.
For that, you get a 43mm stainless steel case with a matching strap and unidirectional rotating bezel. The Swiss-made watch has an automatic self-winding mechanical movement with a date complication at six o’clock. With its classic dive watch design, this is a must-have timepiece for any collection.
We think the Certina DS Action GMT Automatic, with its separate 24-hour indicator, lightweight, and high durability, is the ideal companion for your travels. The case of the DS Action GMT measures 43mm and is made from black PVD-coated stainless steel. It houses an automatic Powermatic 80 calibre with a long power reserve of 80 hours.
The Seiko 5 Sports is an iconic watch that has delivered consistently high levels of reliability, durability, performance and value for over 50 years. Now, with the creation of a new, more modern design, this much loved timepiece is re-born with all of the same values as the original. We think this makes the new Seiko 5 an ideal 'holiday watch', a piece you can wear on your travels without the fear of scratching, denting, or swimming with it, whist still looking impossibly cool.
It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but we're big fans of the retro design and gold colour ways of the Metric from Brew Watches, based in the US. Although it looks chunky, the Metric's case measures a relatively compact 36mm across (and is 41.5mm tall).
The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal and water resistance is rated at 50 metres. Inside you'll find a hybrid meca-quartz chronograph movement, with the two sub dials controlled with a pair of push buttons either side of the crown. If the gold is a bit much for you, Brew Watches also makes the Metric in black.
Mondaine is famous for producing clocks used by the Swiss railway network. The second hand of those clocks stops at the 12 o'clock position every minute, then pauses two seconds before starting again, to ensure every single clock across the whole network is in sync.
And that's exactly how this watch by Mondaine works. Although not connected to any form of network, the watch mimics the movement of those clocks by sweeping through each minute in 58 seconds, then pausing for two before the minute hand jumps forward and the second hand starts its next trip around the dial.
It's a delightful little quirk, along with how the hands are illuminated from beneath and how the time is adjusted using a tool pressed against a tiny button instead of a crown. It's a bit of a faff, but we like how clean (and railway clock-like) the look is without a crown.
Another sub-£1,000 option from British watchmaker Christopher Ward, and this time it's a 39mm stainless steel dress watch with a beautiful blue dial and the company's new consort bracelet. It's a seriously good-looking timepiece, complete with 150 metres of water resistance, a sapphire exhibition case back for admiring the automatic movement, and a date window at the six o'clock position.
The company's stunning 'lightcatcher' case does exactly that, but without looking chintzy, and the orange highlight of this model beautifully complement the dark blue dial. It's a wonderful watch that looks like it's worth four or even five figures, not three.
Another high-quality stainless steel watch that looks far more expensive than it is, the PRX Powermatic by Tissot is one of our favourites. The name means its automatic movement has an impressive 80 hours of power reserve, while the dial is available in a range of colours, each with an interesting textured pattern that reacts to the light as you move.
There's a date window at the three o'clock position and we like how the 70s-style case features an exhibition back for viewing the self-winding movement within. The 40mm case is water resistant to 10 bar of pressure, which is a depth of 100 metres, so it can be taking swimming and snorkelling without cause for concern.
Best affordable watch brands
Wondering what are the best brands to invest your £1000 in? Check out this selection below:
Where to buy watches under £1000
These are the best places to buy watches under £1000:
What to look for when buying the best watches under £1000
If you need a little help deciding what watch to buy, here are a few things to consider:
- Ask yourself what you want a watch for. If it's to wear on the weekends then you might want a sporty tool watch, like a diver or chronograph, or, if it's to wear at formal work events, then you'll want a classy dress watch.
- Fashion brands like Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, and Michael Kors can make attractive watches, but if you're serious about watchmaking, there are higher-quality pieces out there which offer better value for money…
- … on the other hand, if you're not too bothered about traditional watch brands, and are more interested in how a watch looks, then buy that Daniel Wellington watch and wear it proudly.
- If you're planning to wear a watch swimming or around water, you'll need a watch with around 10ATM (100 metres) of water resistance. 3ATM is splash resistant, but probably wouldn't survive a quick shower. If you plan on diving, then you'll want a watch with 20ATM+ water resistance.
- If your current budget is £1,000, but the watch you really want is £1,500, then keep saving, don't just buy a watch for £1,000 because that's all you can afford now.
- Think about what size watch looks good on your wrist.
- Choose between a watch with an automatic movement, hand-wound movement, or quartz movement using information in the section below…
Automatic vs Hand-wound vs Quartz
If you're buying your first watch, you may not know whether you want one with an automatic movement, hand-wound movement, or quartz movement. Here's a quick description of the different types of movement below:
Automatic: powered by the movement of your body
Hand-wound: requires regular winding of the watch crown
Quartz: battery-powered
When it comes to buying a watch, you've got to ask what movement is best for your needs.
Quartz movements are generally reliable and accurate. They don't need to be worn or wound regularly, meaning you can put your watch down, then pick it up again a month later and it'll still show the right time (as long as the battery hasn't died). If you're not too bothered about the craftsmanship of watchmaking, then this could be for you, especially as they're generally more affordable than mechanical watches (with some exceptions).
If you do prefer the art of mechanical watchmaking, and want to feel more of a connection with your watch, then you'll want either an automatic or hand-wound piece.
Automatic watches are powered by the movement of your arm, which means if you wear your watch regularly then it won't need to be wound. However, if you don't wear it for a few days, it will stop and you'll need to set the time when you next go to wear it. These are generally preferred over hand-wound watches, which need regular winding to keep going.
Hound-wound watches are usually smaller than automatic watches and less expensive.