Feature: The BEST entry-level watches from last year
Last year was a good one for entry-level watches, with some of the industry’s big fish—and a few minnows—launching some interesting yet affordable pieces. From well-known watchmakers such as Tudor and Seiko to indie brands like Farer, this raft of releases was welcomed by those of us on a budget. With that said, let’s take a look at our pick of the best of them below.
Hamilton Khaki Field Murph Auto
This military-inspired Hamilton with its throwback cathedral-style hour hand is a faithful recreation of the model worn by Jessica Chastain’s character Murph in the 2014 film Interstellar. The 42mm version of this watch was actually launched in 2019 but the collective opinion of the world’s devoted Hamiltonistas was that this was too big for comfort. Hamilton listened to their fans and this 38mm version was dutifully conjured up in 2022. For £820 you get a reliable, handsome automatic watch with a whopping 80-hour power reserve.
Tissot SeaStar 2000 Professional Powermatic 80
Tissot’s SeaStar 2000 is an ISO 6425-certified diver’s watch, meaning you can pretty much wear it no matter how deep you go. As well as a certified tool watch it’s a handsome piece with a sporty aesthetic via the rubber strap and dive bezel. The gradient dial boasts a cool engraved wave-effect pattern on it, too, in a nod to its nautical roots. Coming in at just under £1,000 (on the rubber strap) this is a good option for those after a hardy dive watch that’s great for everyday wear.
Tudor Ranger
Tudor’s answer to Rolex’s Explorer, the Ranger is the brand’s own purpose-built timepiece ready for adventure and it was welcomed with open arms last year. Boasting an easy-to-read dial with Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, this is a handsome timepiece with a vintage-inspired aesthetic. The cheapest version, featuring either a fabric or hybrid rubber and leather strap, costs £2,370, making it a great alternative to the classic Rolex Explorer.
Seiko 5 GMT Re-Interpretation SSK001K1
First released in the 1990s, the SKX Seiko 5 Sports watches were a modernised version of the 1960s originals that still possessed its reliability and durability. The release of the Seiko 5 SSK GMT SKX Re-Interpretation last year was well-received. Powered by Seiko’s new 4R34 GMT movement and with an improved build quality, this is a great iteration in the SKX bloodline. For just £420 it’s an exciting watch for those who have been waiting for a good-looking, wallet-friendly Seiko GMT.
Omega Moonswatch
One of the most hyped-up releases of 2022, the Moonswatch flew off the shelves and gave Omega fans the chance to get their hands on a version of the iconic Moonwatch for a fraction of the price. The Omega x Swatch collaboration comes in a range of colour combinations named after planets such as Mars—the red model, of course. Costing just £228 and now far easier to get hold of than they were last year, this is an absolute steal, especially for an Omega-branded watch.
Doxa Army
At Doxa, orange is almost always the new black, thanks to the brand’s unshakeable association with orange-dialled dive watches. But if you like your watches in earthier tones there’s always this 1970s-reissue Army model. Doxa has created something genuinely intriguing here, combining a steel case with a bronze bezel that features a green ceramic insert. The khaki dial is a paragon of legibility thanks to chunky indices and hands inlaid with Super-LumiNova, while the water-resistance is a Submariner-equalling 300 metres. At £2,150 it’s considerably good value.
Farer Mansfield
This cushion-cased Mansfield watch from British micro-brand Farer has already sold out but we’re very much hoping they do another production run. We love the dial colour—they’re calling it avocado green but pistachio, apple or mint seems equally apt—while the design is a touch Laurent Ferrier with a dash of a Vacheron Constantin Harmony thrown in. This runs on a hand-wound Sellita movement, displayed through the exhibition caseback, enabling you to admire the bridge that’s nicely micro-engraved with the Farer arrow logo. It sells for £895.
Timex Marlin
A few years ago, if you wanted a non-quartz Timex you would have had to scour the bowels of eBay for a vintage model. Thankfully, Timex, despite years of churning out only battery-powered watches, re-joined the mechanical club a few years ago and you can now count on them to have a handful of funky-looking automatic watches in their line-up. A great example is this Marlin with a midnight-blue sunburst dial and boxed quarter numerals in a highly distinctive font. A reliable Japanese Miyota movement powers this piece, which retails for a highly satisfying £225.
Bulova “Parking Meter” Chronograph
Do you want to stand out in an identikit world of Submariner and Speedmaster rip-offs? Do you own several pairs of flares and count Dazed & Confused among your favourite movies? If the answer to both is “yes”, then you’ll love this Bulova “Parking Meter” chronograph, originally released in 1973. Named after the dial design, which resembles a classic New York parking meter, it’s set within a hefty bullhead-style case and comes in that classic blue-orange colour scheme that brings to mind Tudor’s vintage “Monte Carlo” chronograph. The quartz movement keeps the price down to £449.
Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon
Despite the familiar-looking case shape, this is no sport-luxe watch from a hallowed old brand. This tough timepiece comes in a case made from the kind of high-tech carbon composite used to protect space shuttles against furnace-like re-entry temperatures. It’s also been subjected to 130 extreme endurance tests and comes with a handy paracord strap. Unravel it and use it as a makeshift fishing line when you’re lost in the Alaskan wilderness—or as a spare shoelace. Quartz-powered, it’s water resistant to 200 metres and costs £849. Not exactly cheap, but it could save your life.
