What's the most "luxury watch" you can get for ~$500?

[Coolex]

I'm looking for a gift and want to go with a brand that is something above ordinary.

[watchmavan]

There's nothing above ordinary at $500 if you're moving out from fashion watch to mechanical. Assuming that's what you want. But Seiko will be your best bet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by watchmavan

There's nothing above ordinary at $500 if you're moving out from fashion watch to mechanical. Assuming that's what you want. But Seiko will be your best bet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Agreed. Buy a seiko or take a peak at Hamilton. You might be able to find something in that range.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[denmanproject]

Seiko Cocktail time

[scarlet knight]

Seiko, Hamilton, Tissot, Frédérique Constant, Orient.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by scarlet knight

Seiko, Hamilton, Tissot, Frédérique Constant, Orient.

oh absolutely. longines may fit in that list too.

now let's not forget pre-owned as our OP can really find something nice. some super nice pre-owned Tags can be found well within his $500 budget.

[henrylee]

Used Tag Heuer

[watchmavan]

Forgot... Hamilton as suggested after.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[PJ S]

If brand new only, you may want to look at Steinhart or Christopher Ward. If pre-owned is acceptable, and quartz is fine too, then have a look at Ebel and sister brand Concord.

[1William]

Hamilton or Seiko would fit the bill. Check out the watches and then get on Amazon or one of the many sellers who discount a lot of these watches a significant amount.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by PJ S

If brand new only, you may want to look at Steinhart or Christopher Ward. If pre-owned is acceptable, and quartz is fine too, then have a look at Ebel and sister brand Concord.

yep more good stuff. for sure one could buy a lot of watch for a budget of $500. i would add maurice lacroix and raymond weil to the growing list as well

[Mirus Watches]

I think it depends on what type of watch you're looking for. Have you considered Steinhart? Swiss Made, great movements and specs. I own an Ocean Blue Premium and love it!

Also, I hear Glycine is great too. I'd love to try one of their Combat Subs in bronze!

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

[rushca01]

My vote would be for a Hamilton, they make some nice looking watches.

[tudorbaja27]

Tissot. Hamilton. Grey market - some good value.

[asiparks]

gently pre owned Presage for ~ $400

[FTX I]

Many options here for you. I think the Longines Conquest quartz would be a nice gift.

https://www.prestigetime.com/mens-wa...nder-2000.html

[Talbel]

My vote would be Hamilton, Tissot or Frederique Constant depending what style you’re looking for.

[Cryten]

$500 luxury watch? They don't exist.

A $500 Swiss automatic with an air of luxury? That's certainly possible, but you'll need to go grey to stick to budget. Try someone like Jomashop (among others) and apply filters to your search, you'll find somethimg you like.

[kunlun]

Cocktail time for the win

[Fabrice M]

$500 range is considered entry level quality watch (depending on brands) category. Seiko is your best bet, Hamilton is another brand I would consider. I just got a "KHAKI FIELD MURPH AUTO"special edition and I am really impressed with the quality and feel.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by Fabrice M

$500 range is considered entry level quality watch (depending on brands) category. Seiko is your best bet, Hamilton is another brand I would consider. I just got a "KHAKI FIELD MURPH AUTO"special edition and I am really impressed with the quality and feel.

i dunno guys. i'm sure no one intends to be snobbish but let's be real. we have some here saying $500 luxury watches don't exist and now they are merely "entry level"? who sets the definition of "luxury watch", "entry leve quality" and who established this measuring criteria? $500 is a lot of money and it can indeed buy what most would consider a fancy luxury watch. certainly not entry level. those would be $10 casios. around $100 would buy a new seiko automatic. $200 would get some new tissots. $500 and one has some great choices by good names. even more so if pre-owned.

[Cryten]

Originally Posted by janice&fred

i dunno guys. i'm sure no one intends to be snobbish but let's be real. we have some here saying $500 luxury watches don't exist and now they are merely "entry level"? who sets the definition of "luxury watch", "entry leve quality" and who established this measuring criteria? $500 is a lot of money and it can indeed buy what most would consider a fancy luxury watch. certainly not entry level. those would be $10 casios. around $100 would buy a new seiko automatic. $200 would get some new tissots. $500 and one has some great choices by good names. even more so if pre-owned.

Lets be honest here, $500 won't even service a luxury watch. Its a lot of money for some, but in the watch world Rolex at full retail is entry level.

You can get an entry level swiss mechanical for $500 if you do some leg work, but luxury it isn't. Mass produced to a budget, yes. Luxury, no.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by Cryten

Lets be honest here, $500 won't even service a luxury watch. Its a lot of money for some, but in the watch world Rolex at full retail is entry level.

You can get an entry level swiss mechanical for $500 if you do some leg work, but luxury it isn't. Mass produced to a budget, yes. Luxury, no.

What's a Breilting, a Tudor or an Omega then? (disregarding different models etc.)

[77T]

Most people buying a gift are not shopping pre-owned.

The OP wants to buy a gift.


The closest Hamilton is this Khaki King Auto Day-Date. $545










Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Cryten

entry level swiss mechanical for $500 if you do some leg work, but luxury it isn't. Mass produced to a budget, yes. Luxury, no.

Most people I know think a watch over $100 is luxury. It can be subjective for sure.

[GB-man]

I think the Apple Watch is the most luxury watch for 500 in terms of brand awareness etc.

I’d buy a Hamilton khaki though.

[SPMN]

I have a lot of issues with Hodinkee, but they have a great column called “The Value Proposition” where they do write ups and take beautiful photos of watches that provide great value.

https://www.hodinkee.com/browse/the-value-proposition

That Tissot on the first page looks nice. Generally, I’d say Tissot, Hamilton, or Seiko. I have a Seiko Sarb033 as my “dress” watch and I love it. Great on a black alligator strap or the bracelet. I wear it whenever I don’t feel like wearing a larger sport watch.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Joeguy]

Originally Posted by 77T

Most people buying a gift are not shopping pre-owned.

The OP wants to buy a gift.


The closest Hamilton is this Khaki King Auto Day-Date. $545










Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

That is a beautiful watch. I would also take a hard look at Seiko.

Is this the recipient’s first “nice” watch? What aesthetic would they like most? Other details may be helpful.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AEC]

I agree with other respondents here about Hamilton and Seiko watches. For Seiko, there are some cool options offered by a dynamite seller called Seiya. Use this link, browse to the selection of Seiko watches, and set the filter for "Automatic" watches (assuming this is preferred). You can sort by price, find your sweet spot, and see lots of styles ranging from sporty to dressy and lots in between.

The watches ship from Japan, and this seller has a rock-solid reputation for value and service.

https://www.seiyajapan.com

[beefeater21]

If they're not a watch aficionado, then I'd go quartz. My grandfather once turned his nose at a beautiful Breitling that was a gift from my uncle when he saw it wasn't quartz. Quartz was "state of the art" for him. Also, others have noted people bringing expensive automatic watches back to retailers saying the watch stopped when they hadn't worn it for a few days!

I might take a look at a quartz Longines or similar.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk