If you want a luxury watch that doesn't cross the $3,000 mark, we have some fantastic options for you. Check below for our best watches under $3,000.
1. Serica 1174 Parade Brass
If you love watches that think outside the box, Serica’s Parade is calling out your name—and it’s out first offering under $3,000.
Instantly recognisable, the Parade’s elliptical “stadium” case crafted from stainless steel grabs attention in the best way possible. The dial dazzles with a brass tone, a sunburst finish, and a rare 48 S-curve guilloché pattern. Finished off with minimalist hour markers, this is truly a watch made to be paraded.
The Parade also brings some serious specs to the table, with a Swiss automatic M100 movement and a 100-metre water resistance rating—a rare bonus for a dressy watch like this.
2. Mido Ocean Star 600 Chronometer
Prep for your next diving expedition with the 43.5mm Ocean Star 600 Chronometer, a robust, Swiss-made, value-for-money watch. It's the latest iteration of a highly capable diver from 1959.
The watch is water resistant up to 600m. It features a deep black dial and matching black PVD case and bracelet, as well and a starfish-engraved opaque caseback enclosing the COSC-certified chronometer movement Caliber 80 Si, which brings an autonomy of 80 hours.
The dial has semi-skeletonised hands and a date aperture at 3 o'clock. Super-LumiNova accents on the bezel and dial ensure optimal visibility even under low lighting. It's priced a little over $3,000, but if you love dive watches, this one is certainly worth it.
3. DOXA SUB 200T Aquamarine
If you don't need to go down as deep as our Mido model from above can take you, then perhaps you'd like to take a look at a dive watch that's a bit tamer, yet still nothing short of fearless—the DOXA SUB 200T.
This 39mm authentic diver inspired DOXA's '60s design aesthetics is a steal. It's powered by an accurate, Sellita SW200-1 movement with a power reserve of 38 hours.
The time-and-date dial looks striking thanks to its distinctive bezel and bold colours. We have displayed our favourite here—a tropical blue "Aquamarine" version.
4. Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Auto
If you want a timepiece with serious star power, the Ventura Elvis80 offers a direct link to the King of rock & roll’s iconic taste.
When it debuted in 1957, the Ventura captured imaginations with its space-age triangular case design – and its successors still turn heads today. The Elvis80’s black dial punctuated by uneven hour markers and a date window at 3 o’clock remains bold and unconventional. Sword hands offer precise readability complemented by an orange seconds hand that matches the detailed 15-minute scale positioned on the right.
Driving the Elvis80 is Hamilton’s H-10 automatic movement, engineered for precision and strength with an 80-hour power reserve. The movement is proudly displayed through the exhibition case back.
5. Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Ceramic Compression Diver Automatic Rubber Strap Watch
While the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Ceramic does have some '70s influences, it's firmly contemporary thanks to its bold and often bright visual makeup.
This 40mm skin diver comes with a water resistance of 200m and relies on the STP 1-11 movement for a power reserve of 44 hours. The dial has a sunray finish and Super-LumiNova markers and hands. Our pick pairs a light green dial with a matching rubber strap.
A date window is not part of the deal with this model, but don't be disappointed. You can still find a Super Sea Wolf that has a date window. We promise!
6. Baltic Tricompax Reverse Panda
Bring on the nostalgia with the Tricompax Panda, a comfortable, visually appealing, affordable reversed panda-style chronograph. It runs on the reliable Sellita SW510-M, a hand-wound chronograph movement.
The 39.5mm case holds a dial with a cream base, three black azurage sub-dials, dauphine hands, and applied hour markers. The lume coating on the accents ensures perfect legibility even in the dark.
The version featured here ship with a stainless steel bracelet which delivers both durability and comfort.
7. Studio Underd0g Salm0n
Finally, here's a watch that features a price tag a bit more over the $3,000 mark, given its striking good looks and dash of fun attached to it, we couldn't help but include it. Inspired by the shimmering skin of salmon, the Salm0n echoes the vibe we have come to expect from the quirky Studio Underd0g brand. A textured grey fumé finish forms most of the two-layered dial.
The salmon colour of the lower dial shows up in the peripheral tachymeter scale and the sunray-finished 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. The latter is balanced by an azurage-patterned seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock.
Powering this playful piece is a Swiss movement (Sellita Mono-pusher SW510 M), which is a first for this brand. It carries a power reserve of 63 hours and is visible through the exhibition caseback.
Our top watches under $3,000 probably have you wishing you can see them in real life. You're invited to our Watch Discovery Studio located on Collins Street, Melbourne to see these watches in their full glory!
