Original watches: 4 new low-priced products that shake up the watchmaking industry

A desire for style, a tight budget, yet a desire to stand out from the crowd? The new wave of original watches puts creativity on the wrist without breaking the bank, as shown by the recent selection published by GQ. The market is reinventing itself with smart design, modern materials and rational pricing.

New signatures that resonate with real life

Omega – Seamaster Diver 300M. 42 mm steel, blue ceramic bezel, retail price €4,200: a classic that remains relevant in everyday life. Its diving heritage is also reassuring and gives it extra soul in town.

Seiko – Prospex SPB143. 40 mm steel case, blue dial, priced at around €1,000: a tool-watch that retains its refinement. As a result, it appeals to both purists and newcomers in search of original watches.

Tissot – PRX Powermatic 80. 40 mm size, integrated steel, blue dial, displayed €595: the seventies look is back with a vengeance. What’s more, its generous power reserve makes it one of the easiest original watches to wear at the office.

“True luxury is the right idea at the right price.

Design, materials and value for money

Certina – DS Action Diver. 42 mm, steel, black dial, priced at €495: legible, water-resistant, reliable. On the other hand, its straightforward style appeals to those who want original, robust watches without paying the marketing premium.

Hamilton – Khaki Field Mechanical. 38 mm in steel, black dial, at €445: simple, effective military charm. In this way, manual winding reinforces the link with the object and anchors the watch in a pleasant ritual.

• Compare diameter to wrist circumference
• Check type of movement and autonomy
• Checking legibility in low light
• Check the quality of the bracelet and buckle
• Note warranty and service points

Mechanical tradition and technological impetus

Bulova – Precisionist Chronograph. 44 mm, steel, black dial, advertised at €329: a chrono with a fluid sweep that intrigues. Yet this visual detail alone is enough to classify it as an affordable original watch.

Timex – Q Reissue. 38 mm in steel, white dial, priced at €149: the vintage spirit lies in the two-tone bezel and bracelet grid. It’s also a clever gateway to original watches with character.

Lacoste – L.12.12. 40 mm case, steel, white dial, price €129: minimalist, clean, easy to match. In short, it speaks unpretentious fashion and shows that there are original watches that are very affordable.

Fossil – Gen 6. 44 mm steel, black dial, priced at €249: connectivity meets watchmaking looks. The result is a useful bridge between smartwatch and original watch codes.

Sport, health and connected uses

Garmin – Venu 2. 45 mm, aluminum, black dial, at €399: complete sports tracking, health sensors, solid autonomy. As a result, this is one of the original watches for those who want reliable data on a daily basis.

Apple – Watch SE. 40 mm, aluminum, white dial, price €279: notifications, security, well-being functions. However, its trump card remains its ecosystem, which is highly fluid for everyday use.

Ecosystems, budgets and new audiences

Samsung – Galaxy Watch 4. 44 mm, aluminum, black dial, around 299 €: Wear OS, precise health tracking, good finish. So, it ticks all the technical boxes and joins the family of original Android-oriented watches.

Withings – ScanWatch. 42 mm steel, black dial, offered €299: discreet hybrid, integrated ECG and SpO₂. What’s more, its analog reading remains soothing, placing it among the most sober original watches.

Lidl – Silvercrest Smartwatch. 44 mm plastic, black dial, display €29.99: low price, simple functions. This offer also shows that original watches are no longer the preserve of high-budget customers, according to the dynamics described by the trade press.

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