10 of the best luxury men's watches that won't break the bank in 2021
How much should a man’s watch cost? It’s a perennial question that flared up again recently when internet contrarians decided Joe Biden’s $7,000 (£5,000) Rolex Datejust was an inappropriately expensive timepiece to wear to his own inauguration.
The world of luxury watches is one I don’t inhabit – although I wouldn’t say no to a Rolex (a dream that’s wearing thinner by the day as Rolex prices skyrocket due to Covid-based production issues).
I’ve got by my entire life with wristwatches that didn’t break the bank and kept time perfectly well. I appreciate the craftsmanship in precision watchmaking, but losing only one second every millennium or being waterproof to 1,000ft never justified the investment, given I’m not Jacques Cousteau.
The reality is that there are reliable and budget-friendly wristwatches out there today that look a million dollars. On the sportier side, AVI-8’s Hawker Hurricane Help For Heroes Limited Edition has all the classic pilot’s watch features. Citizen’s Promaster Aqualand and Bulova’s Archive Surfboard are handsome retro-styled diver’s watches.
Spinnaker’s Dumas and Tayroc’s Hampton shouldn’t be overlooked either, the Dumas featuring a 1960s style Milanese chain-mesh bracelet.
Tissot T-Sport Chrono XL is a military-inspired watch with a khaki face and brown leather. Grenson’s Pilot is similarly minimalist. For a formal, midcentury Mad Men vibe, go for Timex’s Marmont, Boss’s Skymaster and Larsson & Jennings’ Meridian, which features an on-trend midnight blue watch face.
Wrist assessment
T-Sport Chrono XL £300 by Tissot (bucherer.com)
Meridian 38mm silver/navy/leather £199 by Larsson & Jennings
Hawker Hurricane Help For Heroes Limited Edition £225 by AVI-8
Archive Surfboard £449 by Bulova
ProMaster Aqualand £479 by Citizen
Hampton (white/silver) £160 by TAYROC
Dumas £315 by Spinnaker
Marmont £155 by Timex
The Pilot, 46mm (tan) £295 by Grenson
Skymaster £216 by BOSS (watchshop.com).
