You’re young, you’re broke, then along comes a fat, juicy year-end bonus. What do you do with it? Should you save or should you splurge? If your choice is the latter, well, there is hardly anything more worthwhile to do than to invest your cash in an entry-level luxury watch. The top-tier may be out of reach for the moment, but if you play your cards right, your style game will be on point for years to come. Here are the best luxury watches that won’t break the bank (and you’ll get approval from the snobs as well):
Girls
Chanel Première Rock Red
Why look pretty in pink when you can be ravishing in red? Chanel’s Première Rock timepiece will help you do exactly just that, with a red leather band that runs through a sleek triple row steel bracelet. Add to the equation a white mother-of-pearl dial and a gorgeous steel cabochon crown, and your wrist will soon be the centre of attention wherever you go.
Chanel Première Rock Red, $6300, available via Chanel boutiques.
Ballon Bleu De Cartier Watch
Go classy or go home. If that’s your style mantra, then the Ballon Bleu De Cartier Watch will be right up your alley. With a steel case and a beautiful snow-white alligator-skin strap, this elegant timepiece is an expert at keeping things clean and simple, although there’s always the option to engrave the watch if you’d like to spice things up.
Ballon Bleu De Cartier Watch, $6900, available via Cartier boutiques.
Tiffany Metro 2-Hand 28mm
The whole world is going crazy over millennial pink, especially when it comes to sneakers, but the watch industry isn’t going to be left out anytime soon. Case in point: Tiffany’s 2-Hand 28mm wristwatch is the pinkest, most delicate timepiece you’ll ever lay your eyes upon. This sweet accessory comes in stainless steel, with a pink lacquered dial and four baguette-cut diamond indexes to boot.
Tiffany, Metro 2-Hand 28mm, US$3950, available via www.tiffany.com (shipping only within the U.S).
Hermès Heure H PM
Forget about garish colours or outrageous designs. Sometimes, all you need is something simple to make a statement, and what do you know: the Heure H PM fits into that category perfectly. This ultra slim steel watch comes with a white dial, a smooth iris calfskin leather strap, and quartz movement, making it a shoo-in to pair with any outfit, casual or otherwise.
Hermès Heure H PM, $2425, available via usa.hermes.com (shipping only within the U.S).
TAG Heuer Carrera
Ignore all those catchy marketing campaigns that “tell” you what the new black is. Black is forever the new black, and there’s nothing more badass to slip on your wrist than TAG Heuer’s black Carrera watch – a stunning titanium carbide, car racing-inspired timepiece that comes with rose gold plated hands and indexes, as well as a solid black leather strap with a classy quilted pattern.
TAG Heuer Carrera, $3200, available via authorised retail outlets.
Boys
IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII Top Gun Miramar
The beautiful thing about military watches is that they are evergreen (okay, no pun intended here). Their designs last forever, and they’re easy to match with outfits. Also, there are fewer brands better at churning out military designs than IWC Schaffhausen, and if you’re thinking of going all soldierly, the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII Top Gun Miramar is a safe and stylish bet.
IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII Top Gun Miramar, $8350, available via IWC Schaffhausen boutiques.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39
We all know Rolex as the big daddy of luxury watches, but contrary to popular belief, not every model from the Swiss watchmaker will land you in a financial crisis. For anyone who wants a Rolex without selling a kidney or two, there’s always the Oyster Perpetual 39 to go for – a sleek, shimmering stainless steel timepiece that comes with the company’s trademark Oyster bracelet and 3132 mechanical movement.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39, $7640, available via Rolex boutiques.
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 17 Automatic Chronograph 100M
If you’re looking for a powerhouse of a watch, the Calibre 17 Automatic Chronograph from TAG Heuer’s Carrera variety is here to save the day. Water resistance of 100 metres, a power reserve of approximately 42 hours, and rapid date correction are just some of this accessory’s eye-popping features, although a polished steel case and a suave blue leather strap doesn’t hurt either.
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 17 Automatic Chronograph 100M, $7650, available via authorised retail oulets.
Seiko Kinetic Perpetual 7D56 SNP145
A lot of people are skeptical of Seiko because it’s not a Swiss-made watch brand. These people cannot be more wrong. True to typical Japanese fashion, Seiko produces some of the highest quality watches in the world, with the company even considerate enough to make its products affordable to the general public, including the Kinetic Perpetual 7D56 SNP145, which Novak Djokovic himself advertises.
Seiko Kinetic Perpetual 7D56 SNP145, $1248.70, available via authorised retail outlets.
OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M
Steel and leather, it’s a classic combo that will never go wrong, and the two main components of OMEGA’s Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M. This elegant wristwatch is a tribute to OMEGA’s maritime heritage, with a wave-edge design featured on the watch’s back, and a gorgeous silvery dial that’s inspired by the wooden decks of luxury sailboats.
OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M, $7600, available via OMEGA boutiques.
NOMOS Glashütte Red Dot Salmon
Okay, so NOMOS Glashütte doesn’t quite carry the same weight as the other brands in this list, but one cannot deny the German watchmaker’s expertise. Beautiful, simple designs are the hallmarks of NOMOS’ timepieces, qualities that are inherently apparent in the NOMOS RED DOT – a fine limited edition mechanical watch that pays tribute to Singapore with a dial that shows the city state’s time no matter which country the wearer is in.
NOMOS Glashütte Red Dot Salmon, $8560, available via selected The Hour Glass and Watches of Switzerland boutiques.
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