Good watches don't have to be expensive. Here are our top picks under $1000 that prove you don't need empty your wallet just to have a good time. If you're on the market for a more affordable timepieces, check our list of best watches under $1000 below.
1. Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38mm Nato
First on our list is the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical which stays true to the classic military heritage of Hamilton watches. With its rugged and classic build, you can rely on this piece to complete your look without breaking the bank.
Its 38mm matte stainless steel case and combat-ready aesthetics will make you look put-together while keeping it casual and sporty. Powered by Hamilton's manual wind H-50 movement with an 80-hour reserve, you can develop a close relationship with your watch without worrying about constantly having to wind it.
2. G-SHOCK GM2100G-1A9
An affordable Royal Oak-esque black and gold statement piece is what the G-Shock GM2100 is all about. Popularly known as a "CasiOak," this watch provides quite a lot of functionality along with looks.
An accurate stopwatch function, lighting, and 200m water resistance all housed in a lightweight PVD gold-coated polymer case, attached to your wrist by a comfy rubber strap—it delivers lot of value. With its premium gold and black colour scheme, you might even be able to pass this off as a bold dress watch on top of that.
3. Tissot PRX - Green
When it comes to value for money, it's not always about packing as many features as you can into a low price. Sometimes it's about how well-designed a simple watch can be. The Tissot PRX with a deep emerald green dial is an elegant and minimalistic budget beauty that you can easily run daily.
Polished hands, a sunburst dial, 12 baton indices, a simple date window, and no "quartz" text in sight, this 40mm-cased masterpiece is something to stare at. The beautifully brushed case also transitions seamlessly to the integrated bracelet.
4. Baltic HMS 002 Gold PVD
If our black and gold G-Shock was a bit too packed with features, then the Baltic HMS 002 is a more dressy option for those who want class and simplicity.
We love its vintage nautical identity from its ship wheel dial design with a quartered center, nautical-font numerals, and leaf-shaped hands all in a 38mm gold case. Powered by the popular Miyota 8315, the watch offers a power reserve of up to 60 hours, making this an accurate and reliable and elegant piece for a great price.
5. CASIO AE1200WHB-1B
When it comes to budget options, you can never go wrong with Casio. At a super low price, the Casio AE1200 offers so much. This black and olive model can have 5 alarms, 31 time zones, 100m water resistance, light, and a 10-year battery.
At a case size of 45mm, this is one of Casio's more regular-sized models, but comes in a nato strap with leather ends making it quite different from Casio's usual rubber straps.
6. BOLDR Safari GMT Maasai Mara
Named after the Maasai Mara plains in Kenya, this BOLDR Safari is a more traditional GMT design with a story. BOLDR, a small Singaporean and Malaysian watch brand that centers its identity on adventure, class, and vintage inspiration was inspired by the southwestern plains of Kenya.
In a striking two-toned creamy white and rich blue, this watch piques curiosity. The thick hands and mixed Roman and Arabic numerals are a wild choice but the font used makes it work so seamlessly. It is powered by a Seiko NH34 GMT movement cased in a 40mm housing with a fine sandblasted finish like its Y-linked bracelet.
7. G-SHOCK GMS5600-PG1D
A simpler G-Shock for daily use. The G-Shock GM-S5600 is a smaller 43.8mm version of the popular 5600 line. In a resin black band and rose gold case, it's a welcome beater watch that you can easily depend on to be accurate and legible.
It doesn't need a mechanical movement to be taken seriously, it's a workhorse that can survive adverse conditions. This G-Shock is simple enough to wear to any occasion without it sticking out like a sore thumb.
Our best watches under $1,000 are looking sharp and waiting for you. Swing by our Watch Discovery Studio on Collins Street, Melbourne, and meet the Hamilton lineup in person. Trust us, choosing is way more fun when you try them out.
