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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500
Slide Nr 1One of the best things about luxury watch collecting is that there really is something for everyone. Of course, it’s possible to spend truly outrageous sums on models from the industry’s biggest names, however the more affordable end of the spectrum is also bursting at the seams with beautifully styled, expertly engineered and robustly practical watches accessible to the majority and designed to last a lifetime. The USD 1,500 and under sector hits a real sweet spot for watch brands and enthusiasts alike, and it’s possible to find stunning pieces and unique designs at a price point that won’t make your eyes water. Here, we have highlighted 15 of our favourites.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 2TAG Heuer Formula 1 – Having debuted in 1985, TAG Heuer’s Formula 1 series has now expanded to more than 30 models, most of which are high-performance quartz chronographs. Our pick is one such watch, a 43mm model in fine-brushed steel, with a colour scheme sure to bring a nostalgic smile to all racing fans. That evocative blue and orange livery is inspired by the iconic Gulf Oil-sponsored F1 cars of the 1960s, here making up the watch’s dial and bezel, and continuing onto the hard-wearing NATO strap. Eye-catching and extremely accurate, it’s the perfect driver’s companion.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 3Oris Artelier Date – Swiss cult favourite Oris excels in everything from dive models to pilot’s watches and dress pieces – and the latter is where you will find the Artelier Date collection. A masterclass in understated style, the highly polished steel cases sweep into elegant lugs, and the dials – given minimalist baton indexes and needle-thin tapering hands – are finished in a stunning textured guilloché. Available in a number of sizes, colourways and bracelets, classic watches don’t come much better than this.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 5Gucci Grip 35mm – Inspired by 1970s skate culture, the Gucci Grip is a collection of highly contemporary quartz timepieces offered in four different sizes and an assortment of finishes. Each one has a rounded square case with three cutout windows, behind which white rotating discs display the hours, minutes and date. The eccentric styling is pure Gucci, and the brand’s Interlocking G logo is emblazoned extensively on the watch front and bracelet. Designed as a gender-neutral wear, the 35mm steel example is a real head-turner with a clean, streamlined aesthetic.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 6Steinhart Ocean 1 Vintage Chronograph White – If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, owners of genuine Paul Newman Rolex Daytonas will be extremely flattered by Steinhart’s homage. The retro-looking chronograph gets all the important details right, especially the ivory-hued Panda dial, with its red chapter ring and Art Deco numerals. The black aluminum tachymeter bezel is also period-correct, as are the oversized crown and push pieces. Unlike the original, though, the Ocean 1 is a modern 42mm and benefits from an automatic movement, a sapphire case back and a waterproof rating of 100m.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 8Bamford Mayfair Cosmic Rainbow – A former watch customiser, Bamford used to lend their customers a ‘service’ model while their own piece was being modified. Before long, clients became attached to these temporary wears, and so the brand decided to create collections themselves. The Mayfair range was the direct result, and the Cosmic Rainbow is perhaps its most dynamic example. A limited edition of 100, each sports a hand-painted dial courtesy of Chris Alexander, aka @thedialartist. Like looking through the porthole of a spaceship, the multicolour stars and planets, as well as the red, blue and pink hands, contrast beautifully against the watch’s all-black exterior.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 9Shinola Black Blizzard 48mm – Shinola is a luxury lifestyle brand from Detroit, producing everything from jewellery to bicycles, audio equipment and pet accessories. Somehow they have also found time to create a distinctive range of men’s and women’s watches, all with a wistful dose of bygone Americana. The Black Blizzard is a huge, imposing chronograph, inspired by the grit and perseverance of the 1930s Dust Bowl homesteaders. Its titanium casing leaves it lightweight and incredibly strong, and its high-contrast tri-compax dial is a joy to read. Powered by the Argonite 5050 quartz movement, it is as precise as it is striking.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 10Junghans Max Bill ref. 3500 – With an unmistakable Bauhaus aesthetic, the Max Bill collection from Junghans epitomises the school’s form-following-function styling codes. Named after the eponymous architect, painter, sculptor and product designer, the range adheres to Bill’s drive for clarity and precision, with the ref. 3500 given the ideal 38mm case size and dials which are the definition of logical minimalism. At only 10mm in height, the dress watch fits easily under a shirtsleeve, even with the vintage high-domed acrylic crystal. As sophisticated as anyone could reasonably expect, this is an austere beauty.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 11Seiko Prospex Automatic Diver’s 200M Titanium Black Ref. SPB191J1 – Seiko’s extensive range of dive watches have garnered a selection of unofficial nicknames over the years. Now, alongside the Turtle, Sumo, Tuna and Samurai, we can add this, the SPB191J1, affectionately dubbed the Shogun. Once restricted to the Japanese market, the 43mm model is available internationally nowadays, and its super-sharp lines and no-nonsense demeanor are proving a big hit. With its unidirectional bezel, 200m water resistance and highly legible, lume-swamped dial, the Shogun ticks all the dive watch boxes, while its titanium case means it’s a lightweight all-day wear.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 12Yema Speedgraf – Chronographs seemed to hit their design highpoint in the 1960s, and this reissue from Yema taps right into that 20th-century chic. The Speedgraf is an almost direct facsimile of the French brand’s first chrono, complete with plenty of faithfully reproduced details from the original. The black-and-white Panda dial, the dual scales surrounding the dial, the red-tipped chrono hand and squared-off main hands – all are historically accurate and lend a genuine vintage vibe. But power comes from a modern Seiko automatic calibre, and water resistance is upped to 100m. A fun, stylish throwback.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 13Longines DolceVita – The DolceVita range has been a huge success for Longines since its introduction in 1997; a collection of timeless, Art Deco-inspired ladies dress pieces available in a variety of forms. The latest addition is a chic blue model in a classic rectangular housing, topped with a dial which looks like a star-strewn night sky. Driven by a highly reliable quartz movement and sitting on a soft leather strap, this wonderfully elegant example of Longines’ artistry is the epitome of ‘the good life’.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 14Casio G-Shock GMWB5000TFG-9 Full Metal – G-Shock watches are generally considered the toughest money can buy, and are the first choice for many global military forces. But that doesn’t mean they have to be all function and no style. The GMWB5000TFG-9 is the latest in the classic square-cased series which stretches back nearly 40 years to the debut model from 1983. Except here, for the first time, Casio have rendered the entire thing in steel, with not a hint of plastic anywhere. That blinding gold colour is from an ion plating treatment, making this the most eye-catching G-Shock in history.
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The 15 Best Watches Under $1500.
Slide Nr 16Apple Watch Hermès – Now the world’s largest watchmaker, Apple is said to sell more units per year than the entire Swiss watch industry. Their collaboration with French luxury goods manufacturer Hermès began in 2015 and continued recently with the sixth generation of the tech giant’s timekeeper. The special edition comes in the signature orange Hermès box and is given an exclusive branded dial unavailable on any other Series 6 model. In addition, a bewildering array of different straps is on offer, and the watch itself is equipped with upgraded software and a new S6 processor, making it 20% faster.
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