6 great Swiss mechanical watches under $1500 (from brands you’ve heard of)
Editor’s note: There’s real weight behind the phrase “Swiss Made”, which is, in many ways, synonymous with quality. Oftentimes it’s also synonymous with expensive. But that doesn’t need to be the case, as these six watches, all of which were released in 2018, come in under $1500. Bonus, they all come from well-known, respected brands. A Swiss watch is a near-universally recognised symbol for quality, precision and tradition. And while that’s all well and good, there’s another thing that fine Swiss watches tend to be synonymous with — and that’s high sticker prices. And broadly speaking, that perception is true — I constantly find myself uttering phrases like “this $60,000 watch offers tremendous value”, and Justin recently went into a little bit of detail as to why that’s the case. But, let’s be real here, that sort of watch is for the very few. But you know what? Just because the median price of a Swiss mechanical watch is the equivalent of a decent car, that doesn’t mean there aren’t outliers. So, we’ve rounded up six quality mechanical offerings, mostly from large, established brands with storied histories, all offering watches at under $1500. So if you’re looking for your first…
The post 6 great Swiss mechanical watches under $1500 (from brands you’ve heard of) appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Man, Tissot has a great back catalogue. That’s a fact that’s easy to forget sometimes, especially as the Swatch Group brand is a big player in a more modern, sporty space. But they’ve certainly got some great heritage pieces (like the OG Visodate) in their lineup, and this on point ’70s wonder, the Tissot Heritage 1973 Chronograph, inspired by a chronograph from (you guessed it) 1973. I mean, just look at those orange details, that rally strap, the wide-bezelled cushion case. This is ’70s funk on point. Love it. Head over to Gear Patrol for the specs. 
One of the big hero releases from Baselworld 2019 was the brand new TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph. Firstly (and perhaps most importantly), it’s a good-looking watch — it looks very much at home on the wrist of Mr Patrick Dempsey, for example. It’s a neat, stylish three-hander that TAG Heuer are billing as a modern adventurer’s watch, leaning on the Autavia’s golden age of motorsports heritage. The dials are on trend — the smoky blue looks good in contrast to the glossy ceramic bezel and the earthy brown leather strap. But it’s more than just a pretty face — there are real user-friendly features here, too. That big crown is one, but the real winner is the Isograph technology, TAG Heuer’s proprietary carbon process that offers improved accuracy and reliability. All offered at a price point that is very competitive. TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph Australian pricing TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph, steel on leather, $4700
Editor’s note: IWC’s Big Pilot is one of the most significant watches of the last 20 years. Its deceptively simple design belied the huge impact this 46mm monster had on the watch scene. But can it go dressy? Well, the IWC Big Pilot Edition “Le Petit Prince” makes a solid argument for the yay camp. When IWC released the original Big Pilot in 2002 it captured imaginations, marking a defining moment in the early noughties trend for ‘big’ watches. It was a brute, with its hulking 46mm case and utilitarian aesthetics. And if the original ref. 5002 Big Pilot had been as pared back as its WWII inspiration, would it have captured the hearts and minds of the watch-loving public quite as much as it did? Probably not. The IWC Big Pilot was, without doubt, a luxury pilot’s watch. It’s a post-modern statement piece that’s the horological equivalent of the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. This year, IWC revamped its entire Pilot’s collection, and today we’re taking a closer look at one of them: “Le Petit Prince” edition of the Big Pilot. IWC makes Little Prince versions of their Pilot’s watches across the board, and the defining features are a charming engraving of the…
Editor’s note: This piece, originally written by Andy Green waaaaaay back in 2017, is one of our most enduring and popular stories. It’s easy to see why. My favourite method is one in, one out. But it’s all solid advice … The reality is that watches are luxury goods, so the ‘need’ to buy them rarely occurs. That means for most, they naturally fall very low (some say too low) on life’s list of priorities, and most definitely do not outrank things like kids, mortgages and school fees. And unless your partner shares your passion, I’d gamble and say they don’t think that your wrist darlings are as important as you think they are. So, the perennially thorny question is: “How do I buy this watch with my partner’s blessing?” Forget “Rolex or Omega?” or “Who’s in the holy trinity this week?” This is the biggest dilemma for watch lovers. And one that becomes especially important when you’ve got a burning desire to pull the trigger on a new piece. And what kind of friends would we be if we didn’t provide some friendly advice? The worst kind, that’s what. Word to the wise before reading on: you know your…
Editor’s note: I’m on a bit of a travel watch trip at the moment. And, to my mind, they fall into two distinct camps: high-flyers and adventurers. Montblanc’s 1858 Geosphere, which is a few years old now, definitely falls into the latter category. Now, it’s up to you where on the roughing-it-to-luxury spectrum that adventure falls. But you know what, this watch works in both contexts … While the automatic, chronograph and Minerva versions of the 1858 collection bear a strong resemblance to the existing 1858 watches, the Geosphere is something else entirely. It’s also a watch that speaks most directly to the “spirit of mountain exploration” that underpins the line. Like all the watches Montblanc have released at SIHH 2018, the 1858 Geosphere is rugged, sporty and quite retro. But on top of this, the 1858 Geosphere has maps on the dial, and a compass on the bezel. But before we get to the details, let’s look at the bigger picture. Montblanc 1858 Geosphere steel with black dial (ident 117837) The 1858 Geosphere offers what Montblanc say is a “new worldtime complication”, which adds some geographic representation and day/night indicator to a dual time watch. The local time is on…