12 Best Swiss Made Watches Under $1,000
It’s hard enough to find a quality watch under $1,000. So finding a Swiss made, automatic watch under $1,000 must be impossible! Well, not quite. There are actually quite a few high quality Swiss made (and yes automatic) watches, all under $1,000. In this buying guide, I take a look at 12 of my favorite affordable Swiss made timepieces.
Wren Diver One Snow
Price: $965 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 41mm; Thickness:13.3mm; Lug-to-Lug: 47mm; Water Resistance: 200m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
I’ll start this list off with one of our own watches. After the popularity of our previous watch, the Diver One Aqua, Wren are back at it with our newest release, the Diver One Snow. As you might know. Wren is the house watch brand for Wrist Enthusiast. And with the brand, we aim to provide our readers high quality, Swiss made watches at extremely affordable prices. The Diver One Snow features a gradient dial that changes from white in the center to dark blue around the periphery. This is matched with a blue sapphire bezel that has lume sticks and indexes. The watch runs features a Swiss automatic Sellita SW200 movement, a workhorse movement relied on by many brands in the industry. But, if you want to get your Diver One Snow, you’ll have to act soon. Only 100 pieces will be produced and they are selling fast!
Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38
Price: $895 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 38mm; Thickness:11.1mm; Lug-to-Lug: 44.7mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
As a big fan of the movie Interstellar, I have loved the Hamilton Khaki Field Murph since it first appeared in the film in 2014. But at 42mm, it was just too large for me to justify buying. So when the brand released the Field Murph in 38mm, I immediately jumped on bored. An accurate representation of the watch from the movie, it just has much better proportions (at least for my 6.75 inch wrist). And while it is a watch that originated from a movie, it is great take on a classic field watch, from its vintage hands and indexes. Finally, it is Swiss made and under $900 USD, so there really is not much not to like. It retails for $895 USD.
Formex Field Automatic 40
Price: $840-995 USD; Material: Titanium; Diameter: 40mm; Thickness:10.6mm; Lug-to-Lug: 46.6mm; Water Resistance: 150m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
Formex has made a name for itself in recent years, providing high quality Swiss made watches, at reasonable prices. And they have done this while completely bucking the trend of producing “vintage-inspired” timepieces. Formex watches are modern and forward-thinking, something I really like about the brand. While the Hamilton Khaki Field Murph I just featured is full of retro-inspiration, the Formex Field Automatic is not. The grade 2 titanium case is sandblasted and the sandwich dial comes in some fun colors, including Ultra Violet and Mahogany Red. The Petrol Blue, however, is my favorite. I have just never seen a color like it! The Formex Field Automatic starts at $840 USD.
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80
Price: $725 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 40mm; Thickness:10.93mm; Lug-to-Lug: 39.5mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 has received a lot of hype recently. And it makes sense. We are currently in a period in the watch industry where it seems like every brand is coming out with their own version of the stainless steel integrated bracelet sport watch. And while many of these integrated bracelet watches are prohibitively expensive (particularly, of the Swiss made variety), the PRX Powermatic 80 is both Swiss made AND affordable. If you love the look of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222, but don’t want to spend $30,000-plus, the PRX Powermatic 80 is a great option. It retails for $725 USD.
Certina DS Super PH1000M STC
Price: $940 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 43.5mm; Thickness:14.15mm; Lug-to-Lug: 51mm; Water Resistance: 1,000m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
Looking for a Swiss made, automatic diver with a handsome 1970s aesthetic and a whopping 1,000 meters of water resistance? Well, then check out the Certina DS Super PH1000M STC. The watch features a large, 43.5mm tonneau shaped case with an aqua blue dial and matching bezel. The orange accents on the indices adds a little bit of vintage feel to a watch that is actually a pretty heavy duty dive watch. While this watch won’t be one to slip under your cuff, if you are in the market a fun a quirky diver, pick up the Certina DS Super PH1000M STC. It retails for $940 USD.
MIDO Ocean Star Tribute
Price: $990 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 40.5mm; Thickness:13.4mm; Lug-to-Lug: 47mm; Water Resistance: 200m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
Coming in at just a hair under $1,000 is the MIDO Ocean Star Tribute. Another diver, the Ocean Star Tribute has a day, date, 80 hours of power reserve and 200 meters of water resistance. The olive color dial and bezel are really nice, and it comes on a matching olive fabric strap. Plus, the orange seconds hand gives what is otherwise a very restrained watch, a little bit of funkiness. The MIDO Ocean Star Tribute retails for $990 USD.
Maen Manhattan 37
Price: $800 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 37mm; Thickness:9.3mm; Lug-to-Lug: 47mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
Whether you like the Patek Philippe Cubitus or not, the recent launch has caused collectors to take a second look at square and rectangular shaped watches. And one watch that has received a lot of attention is the Maen Manhattan 37. The Maen Manhattan was released well before the Cubitus but there are a lot of similarities. From the case shape to the ears on the sides of the case and the dial pattern (though the striping is vertical on the Manhattan and horizontal on the Cubitus). If you are looking for a Cubitus alternative that is Swiss made and doesn’t break the bank, this is the watch. The Maen Manhattan 37 retails for around $800 USD.
Christopher Ward The Twelve 40
Price: $995 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 40mm; Thickness:9.95mm; Lug-to-Lug: 44.5mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
A personal favorite of mine in both the under $1,000 price and integrated bracelet categories is the Christopher Ward Twelve. Well, in reality, if you want the watch on a bracelet, it’s going to cost you over $1,000. But, if you are okay with buying it on a rubber strap, you can get the Twelve for under $1,000. And like all Christopher Ward watches, the quality is top notch, well above its price-point. You can pick up the Christopher Ward The Twelve 40 for $995 USD.
Marathon 36mm MSAR AUTO
Price: $935 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 36mm; Thickness:13mm; Lug-to-Lug: 43.5mm; Water Resistance: 300m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
If you’re looking for a real purpose-built, rugged and attractive diver that isn’t too large on the wrist, I would suggest the Marathon 36mm MSAR AUTO. While this watch is 13mm thick, it is only 36mm in diameter and 43.5mm lug-to-lug. These proportions make it wearable by just about everyone. The watch also has 300 meters of water resistance as well as a dial that has stick, numeral and an inner track that goes from 13-24. It feels like a very interesting mix of a military watch and a diver, and I really like it. It is currently on sale for $935 USD.
Nivada Grenchen F77 Black No Date
Price: $860 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 37mm; Thickness:12.6mm; Lug-to-Lug: 45mm; Water Resistance: 100m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
When I first saw the Nivada Grenchen F77 I noticed that the case was almost identical to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. And after I did some research, it made a lot more sense. Gerald Genta’s masterpiece, the Royal Oak, was released in 1972. And just 5 years later, Nivada Grenchen released the F77, which bore striking resemblance to the Royal Oak. While the bracelet is different from that of the Royal Oak, the case and bezel is pretty much identical. It is octagonal and has screws in the same locations. But hey, it is well made, and a lot less expensive than a Royal Oak. So, if you have been waiting years for your AP allocation, or just want something more affordable, you can pick up the F77 starting at $860 USD.
Squale 1545 Steel
Price: $805 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 40mm; Thickness:12mm; Lug-to-Lug: 48mm; Water Resistance: 300m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
The Squale 1545 Steel is another formidable Swiss made diver to consider at under $1,000. It is well proportioned at 40mm by 48mm lug-to-lug, and has 300 meters of water resistance. But beyond that, it is just good looking. It has a steel bezel, something you rarely see on dive watches. And the black dial features orange accents at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Overall, it’s just a good looking watch with robust specs and a great price. It retails for $805 USD.
Zodiac Olympos
Price: $995 USD; Material: Stainless Steel; Diameter: 40mm; Thickness:10mm; Lug-to-Lug: 42mm; Water Resistance: 50m; Movement: Automatic; Crystal: Sapphire.
Looking for something a little bit funky? Look no further than the Zodiac Olympos. This watch comes in a couple of different variations, but the field watch is probably my favorite. It features a unique case shape that is asymmetrical from top to bottom (and has the crown at 2 o’clock). The textured dial and Arabic numerals remind me of the much pricier Patek Philippe Calatrava 5226G-001 in white gold. So if you want the look, but not the price-tag, the Zodiac Olympos retails for $995 USD.
For more, check out the 50 Best Watches Under $1,000 and the 110 Best Men’s Watches.