A little history of watches and some advices for purchasing the perfect watch. Aquis Date Relief, 43.5mm stainless steel case, stainless steel bracelet. Responsibility and luxury watchmaking haven’t always been natural bedfellows, but there are companies looking to change that. At the vanguard is Oris with its eco-conscious watches. Some use recycled materials, or there’s this, the Aquis Date Relief. Based on the brand’s still very reasonably priced diver’s watch, it’ll accompany expedition swimmer Ernst Bromeis as he attempts to cover 800km across Siberia’s Lake Baikal this summer, to draw our attention to the plight of the world’s water. Whether he makes it or not, the watch will be expected to hold up — its 43.5mm stainless steel case is water-resistant to 300m. It gets its name from its bezel’s timer scale, produced in relief. All said, a good-looking watch for decent money with an important message behind it.
Let’s move on to the under 1000 USD category. While the circa $10 Casio F91W-1 probably also deserves a place on a list like this, we’ll begin with the awesome World Time just to avoid Casio-overload. But the Japanese brand is undeniably strong in this price point with tough, reliable, dirt-cheap watches. Oh, and some people find them to be quite stylish as well. This Casio World Time offers all these attributes and more (including world time, calendar, and alarms) with a dash of retro-futuristic nostalgia, and it’s surprisingly robust for such a great price. Using an automatic movement based on an old caliber originally from Seiko, the Orient 3 Star is a simple, utilitarian automatic akin to the Seiko 5. While there’s not much in the way of fit and finish, it does have a well-proportioned 37.5mm case, a stainless steel bracelet and a colorful dial. Its as simple of an automatic watch that you can get, but therein lies its charm.
Certina, founded in Grenchen, Switzerland in 1888, has always been a rather low-key brand. You may not know, but they were innovators in shock protection and water resistance, which is nearly weapons-grade on this watch. The rotating ceramic diving bezel on this 41mm beauty, usually a hallmark of much more expensive pieces, is scratch resistant and nearly indestructible, and the handsome strap features a deployment clasp. Shinola watches, assembled in Detroit, have sparked a renaissance in the Motor City and for American watch brands in general. One of their latest editions of their most popular design, the Runwell, is a subtle version of what can be a busy style. This is destined to become a classic design that will no doubt age well with it’s stainless steel case and durable leather strap. With a clean ivory-colored face and luminous hands, wearing this watch makes a statement that you value good design, but don’t need an overly expensive timepiece to speak for you.
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