Best Watches Under $2000 | Where Luxury and Value Meet

A $2000 timepiece is a price tag that I personally had to spend a long time working up towards. Not only was I a broke student for a long time for whom two grand felt like a year’s worth of wages, but there are also so many watch brands and directions to go in to choose from it was slightly daunting. However, it is now perhaps my favorite price range in which to play. I would say that the vast majority of my own personal humble collection is made up of watches that cost me this limit or less, and it is watches in this pricing ballpark that I get most excited about when brands release new models.

The $2000 price point gets you into entry level luxury territory. With a stack of cash this size you have access to complications like automatic chronographs, GMTs, varied material choices like titanium and enamel, and nearly any style of watch you could imagine.

The wide world of Swiss-Made watchmaking is opened up, and you can also make excursions into German or Japanese watches if you so choose. There is a ton of value and fun to be found in this segment if you know what to look for. This by no means a comprehensive list, but it is a great compilation of high quality brands and watches that highlights some of the more value-packed, unique, playful, or heritage laden options you can strap to your wrist for $2000 or less!

Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium

Case Size:	46mm x 52mm x 11.4mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	H-10 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	80 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 10 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1095

One of the more unique Hamilton Khaki Field options, this tooltastic watch is one of the few titanium options on this list. Hamilton takes the Khaki line in an even more tool watch direction, with an all brushed titanium case that comes in standard silver-titanium guise or in a stealthy PVD/DLC coated no-date option, which is my personal pick.

One of my only issues with the Khaki King has been addressed with an improved water resistance of 100m. Coupled with an unobtrusive 11.45mm thinness and strap happy 20mm lugs, this watch should be on your shortlist for a G.A.D.A. field watch.

Junghans Max Bill Automatic

Case Size:	38mm x 40mm x 10mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	J800.1 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	38 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1100 – $1450

A staple dress watch option under $2,000, the Max Bill is an understated beauty. A simple, three hand dress watch that can be dressed up or dressed down, which is made easy by friendly 20mm lug width. Thickness of just 10mm means this can slide under any cuff, but this watch is versatile enough that it looks just as at home with some jeans and a Tee shirt. This watch is a true icon for a reason, and definitely worthy of your consideration.

Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional Powermatic 80

Case Size:	46mm x 46mm x 16.3mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Powermatic 80.111 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	80 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 10 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1125

This is a beast of a dive watch and an absolute spec monster. It has 600m water resistance, a helium escape valve, ISO 6425 certification, a ceramic bezel, a 80 hours of power reserve, and a quick change strap system. I don’t think there is another dive watch on this list that approaches the specs of the Seastar 2000, and it’s one of the more affordable options here too!

The blue, waved dialed variant is easily my favorite, the gradient blue to black dial mimics the parts of the sea that we both know this watch will never see on our wrists. Not for the faint of heart at 46mm wide and a whopping 16.3mm thick, but with 600m of water resistance it is completely understandable.

Seiko Prospex 62MAS (SPB143)

Case Size:	40.5mm x 47.6mm x 13.2mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Seiko 6R35 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	70 hours
Accuracy:	+25 / -15 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1200

Arguably Seiko’s best reinterpretation of the legendary 62MAS dive watch, the SPB143 blends perfect sizing, a proven movement, and pricing that doesn’t make you want to choke yourself with an SKX. If you don’t like the standard crown at 4 o’clock that is common from other models by this iconic Japanese brand, then this is probably the Seiko that most appeals to you.

A surprisingly stout bracelet and relatively thin 13.1mm watch head lends itself to a balanced wrist presence. Quality control problems annoyingly still abound at Seiko, so if this SPB is a keeper in your collection I recommend getting one from a good AD to avoid a brush with the bezel misalignment plague. If you don’t mind a gently loved example these can be had all day well under the $1k mark.

Mido Ocean Star Tribute

Case Size:	40.5mm x 47mm x 13.5mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Mido Caliber 80 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	80 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1200

I love this skin diver styled watch from Mido. In its black dial reference with its retro style, orange highlights, blacked out date-day disc, subtle cream colored indices, and cool sharktooth bracelet this watch shines out from the crowd. As a neat extra bonus it comes with a sharp looking canvas strap in a dark grey color and matching orange highlights.

One of my favorite things about this watch, and Mido in general, is that these watches are classically styled without being derivative of another brand or too boring. Even with stiff competition from the numerous dive watches in this segment this Mido Ocean Star definitely deserves a look.

Mido Ocean Star GMT

Case Size:	44mm x 50mm x 13.3mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Mido Caliber 80 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	80 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1250 – $1470

Mido is an underrated brand that produces some cracking watches, and this Ocean Star GMT is one of my favorites. A big watch at 44mm and 13.3mm thick, this watch gives you access to the Swatch Group’s ‘Powermatic’ ETAs with an 80 hour power reserve and a ceramic bezel.

I love the case back of this watch, a beautifully engraved longitude and latitude pattern with the marque cities in each time zone running the circumference of the caseback. My personal pick is the two-tone rose gold variant, a nice change of pace from the myriad black and blue dive style GMTs that litter the market, although you can get the blue version on a canvas strap slightly cheaper at a touch over $1,200.

Seiko Presage Sharp Edged GMT

Case Size:	42.2mm x 49.2mm x 13.7mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Seiko 6R64 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	45 hours
Accuracy:	+25 / -15 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1500

If you’re looking for a GMT and tired of the dive style GMTs that make up the mainstay of GMTs on the market these days this may be your watch. The highlight of the Seiko Sharp Edge series is easily the beautifully textured honeycomb dial and indices that photos honestly don’t do justice.

The stainless steel bracelet is the typical Seiko affair in that it airs on the side of function over beauty, but with an enthusiast friendly 20mm lug width it’ll be easy to switch things up if that’s more your speed. My pick of the references is the SPB223 140th Limited Edition with a Snowflake-esque white dial and blue accents.

Tag Heuer Formula 1 Quartz 3-Hander

Case Size:	41mm x 46mm x 12mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Swiss-Made Ronda or ETA Quartz Movement
Battery Life:	5 Years
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1450 – $1650

Love them or hate them, there are few watch brands that are near household name status, and TAG Hauer is one of them. It is unique in this list that you are getting a timepiece that nearly everyone will recognize as a quality Swiss-Made watch. I wouldn’t dream of paying full retail for this one as you can commonly get these rather heavily discounted from even the most miserly of ADs.

This watch would make an insane gift for that person who hasn’t completely dived head over heels into this hobby. It is a watch with a movement that requires no explanation to the uninitiated, the security of a 200m WR rating, and a brand that the owner is bound to recognize and appreciate.

Rado DiaStar Orginal

Case Size:	38mm x 45mm x 12.1mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Rado Caliber 03.763.835 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	80 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1500 – $1900

Perhaps the most unique and fun watch on this entire list, the DiaStar Original is a fun, quirky piece that doesn’t take itself too seriously. With a cushion case shape that is 1 of 1 in the watch world, this watch has buckets of personality. The top of the case is all high polish, making this watch perhaps the flashiest watch on this list too.

The bracelet is just adequate at this price point to be honest with a generic but well executed style and non adjustable butterfly clasp, but I would wear this watch on a killer strap and call it a day as you are buying this watch for that gorgeous case!

Sinn 556

Case Size:	38mm x 45mm x 12.1mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Sellita SW200
Power Reserve:	45 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1590

The Sinn 556 is a true modern enthusiast classic. Unknown outside the world of the watch geeks, Sinn has built a reputation for building some of the best tool watches for the best values around, and the 556 is quintessential Sinn. Boasting an extremely legible dial, drilled lugs, an all brushed satin case, 200m water resistance, and a pop of red on the second hand of the all black version.

They do offer a variety of bright color options and even a mother of pearl dial, but the all black variant on their H-Link bracelet is the one I’d get. There is nothing flashy or glamorous about this watch, which is exactly what makes it so cool!

Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver

Case Size:	40mm x 44mm x 11mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	STP 1-11 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	38 hours
Accuracy:	+15 / -0 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1595 – $1795

Now this is a fun and playful watch. The Zodiac Sea Wolf Compressor is a dive watch that is bright, colorful, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Zodiac has a sweet white and blue variant, a striking blue and orange version, and a vibrant watermelon colorway which is my favorite.

This is a vintage style dive watch that Zodiac actually has claim to reissue, Zodiac was among the first brands to create the now familiar modern dive watch in 1953 along with Rolex and Blancpain. Zodiac now use STP movements, which are based on the ETA 2824 with some moderate improvements. They haven’t been around long enough to draw any firm conclusions on reliability and durability but they seem unlikely to give you any problems. With this Zodiac Sea Wolf you have a watch with real heritage in the perfect case size and some truly fun colors, this watch is a winner!

Sinn 104

Case Size:	41mm x 47mm x 11.5mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Sellita SW220 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	45 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1640 – $1990

Now this is a watch for which I have a soft spot. The Sinn 104 is an exceptional watch that could easily be a one watch collection. It’s a size that will work for nearly everyone at 41mm, 200m water resistance, bi-directional countdown bezel, beautiful sapphire caseback, a very crisply printed dial, and the rest of the watch is filled with great little details.

The lugs on the 104 for example are sharply faceted, with the top almost polished flat and then a sharp angular polished chamfered bezel running evenly along the length of the lugs into another almost flat high polish flank. As a result the case of this watch plays with the light like a fine gemstone. I loved the black dial and that was the one I purchased but if I got to choose again I’d go with the beautiful white dialed version on the fine link bracelet.

Nomos Glashütte Club Campus 38

Case Size:	38.5mm x 48.9mm x 8.5mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Alpha Caliber Manual Wind
Power Reserve:	43 hours
Accuracy:	+6 / -4 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1650 – $2010

This entry-level Nomos is meant for this list. A unique California dial design, stellar true in-house manual wind movement, and classy finish work make this watch perfect for the recent college grads it’s heavily marketed towards. I know there are not many Nomos ADs around, but this is a watch that you really need to experience in the flesh to understand. The fact that you can’t see the gorgeous movement is completely forgivable as Nomos offer a free engraving service.

Personalization is something that you rarely find in this segment so I recommend pursuing that option if you snag yourself a Campus Club. A small thing that I have always loved about Nomos, the unboxing experience is truly lovely as they come in this awesome smooth, dark wood box with the watch nestled flat inside. In a tight segment its details like this that may make the difference for you!

Christopher Ward C65 Chronograph

Case Size:	41mm x 47.1mm x 15mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Sellita SW510 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	38 hours
Accuracy:	+ /- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1665 – $1800

Christopher Ward is a brand that is on the rise and they have a ton of watches that could easily find their way onto this list, but my favorite of theirs that qualifies for this list is the C65 Chronograph. Christopher Ward are known for their finishing, and this C65 is no exception. The case is wonderfully sculpted with beautiful twisted lugs, and even though its 15mm thick Christopher Ward used their special voodoo magic to make it feel at least 3mm thinner.

This watch also brings 150m water resistance to the table via screw a screw down crown and screw down pushers. For all this watch’s technical prowess, it’s that ultra vibrant and colorful dial that is the jewel in the C65’s crowns. The tricolor minute subdial has traditional yachting watch colors that work well with the red text on the date wheel and the orange center chronograph. This is seriously a lot of watch for $1,665!

Tag Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Chronograph

Case Size:	43mm x 48mm x 12mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Swiss-Made Ronda or ETA Quartz Movement
Battery Life:	5 Years
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1700 – $1900

Some watches go in and out of style, and this icon from the 80s and 90s is back and very cool again! This big, bold, quartz Tag chrono comes in a gluttony of strap and dial design options, and most fall under the $2,000 limit of our discussion.

I really like the Gulf themed version on the blue strap with orange highlights, and although this specific reference is technically over that limit at $2,050 retail I seriously doubt you will ever need to pay full retail to add this to your watch box. This is definitely a pick for the less snobby of watch collectors, but it is a fun off the wall pick for someone looking for something different.

Seiko Presage Arita Porcelain Dial (SPB095)

Case Size:	40.5mm x 48.8mm x 12.4mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Seiko 6R35 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	70 hours
Accuracy:	+25 / -15 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1700

Dress watches are few and far between these days, and this Porcelain dialed Seiko is great option that should cover that base nicely. This is another wristwatch that really needs to be seen in the flesh to be appreciated.

The dial looks like a pond frozen in time, shimmering as the light dances along it with very subtle blue hints that pop at the right angles. These are hand glazed by a handful of craftsmen in Japan in a careful, multi-step heat treating process. The watch head itself is only 88g in weight which further adds to its refined on the wrist feel, especially when paired with the accompanying leather strap.

Longines HydroConquest

Case Size:	41mm x 50mm x 11.9mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Longines L888 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	72 hours
Accuracy:	+10 / -10 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1700

In quartz or automatic flavors, the Longines HydroConquest is a unique and modern dive watch design that contrasts nicely to the unrelenting onslaught of vintage reissue dive watches that everyone seems to be churning out these days. Good lume, good bezel action, good finishing on the stainless steel case; this watch is just a good watch from a terrific brand.

Maybe not the spec monster that many microbrands bring to the table at this price point, but in automatic guise it is an in-house, 70+ hours of power reserve, no frills dive watch from a brand that is older than literally half of the States in the USA. I actually may prefer the quartz option at $1,100 and 10mm thick, but either one is a winner.

Zodiac Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time

Case Size:	40mm x 47mm x 13mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Soprod C125 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	42 hours
Accuracy:	+4 / -4 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1795

The Zodiac Sea Wolf GMT world time, particularly in the red bezel color, is a watch I have tried on and have come so close to buying nearly every time I am at my local AD. love this watch. This watch is bright and playful, and the world time bezel is a unique twist on the GMT sports watch trope. The indices are highly polished and trapezoidal in shape, they really pop in the light.

The red bezel variant’s dial has a subtle, radial sunburst silver finish that compliments the inscriptions of various city names in the bezel beautifully. This watch has a bracelet that suits it well in my estimation, it has that light, comfortable vintage feeling that you don’t find in modern watches too often anymore.

Tissot PRX Automatic Chronograph

Case Size:	42mm x 41.5mm x 14.5mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Valjoux A05 H31 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	60 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 30 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1850

One of the true, stellar value prop watches featured in our discussion, the Tissot PRX Chronograph is a fantastic watch. The stainless steel case and integrated bracelet are the obvious highlights, each is fantastically well executed. The quick release interchangeable strap system is also a highlight for me, it allows us to experience the fun of an integrated bracelet watch without the typical limitations of strap colors and options. Both Tissot and Delugs Straps have a wide array of options to choose from should you tire of the beautiful bracelet, not that you’ll want to take it off.

The bracelet is a brushed tank tread style with polished inner link chamfers that gleam when you roll your wrist in the light. This watch is definitely not for the small wristed, it’s only 42mm wide but it is a 42mm watch that wears like a 44mm thanks to the wide, square lugs. It is also a phenomenally thick watch at 14.5mm deep. I highly recommend trying this one on in person before pulling the trigger to make sure you’re happy with the heft, but if you can pull it off you are getting an amazing Swiss automatic chronograph that looks and feels easily 5x the MSRP.

Doxa SUB 300T

Case Size:	42.5mm x 44.5mm x 11.5mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	ETA 2824 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	38 hours
Accuracy:	+6 / -4 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1859 – $1890

The Doxa Sub 300T is the perfect introduction into the world of Doxa and a series of dive watches as illustrious as nearly any other. The Sub 300T follows the traditional Doxa design ethos: steel bezel insert, an oversized minute hand, cushion case, and a solid beads of rice bracelet. This may sound odd, but I have found that when people pick up a Doxa and slide it on they are usually slightly disappointed and instantly smitten. The watch has just okay bezel action that sometimes isn’t aligned, the clasps on the bracelet and rubber straps are obnoxiously cheap feeling while commanding a king’s ransom, and the finishing is just adequate.

However, this watch is so much more than a sum of its parts. It comes together like the commissioned artwork of an eccentric architect; it’s charming, unique, iconic, and instantly forgivable for its quirks and odd bits. Doxa is the Alfa Romeo of the watch world, and I adore them for it. If you love dive watches Doxa is a brand that you really have to own at some point in your collecting journey, and the Sub 300T might be the one that gets you hooked!

Nomos Glashütte Tangente

Case Size:	35mm x 45mm x 6.2mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Alpha Caliber Manual Wind
Power Reserve:	43 hours
Accuracy:	+6 / -4 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1900

Traditional bauhaus German design, this is likely the type of Nomos you picture when you think of Nomos. The standout feature for me with this watch is not the minimalist design, but the thickness. This watch is only 6.2mm thick, easily the thinnest watch on this list and one of the thinner mechanical watches in general at this price point.

While the watch is 35mm in diameter, it wears more like a 36-37mm watch as the bezel-less face of the watch is nearly all crisp white dial. I won’t say this watch wears large as it absolutely does not, but don’t let the diminutive dimensions scare you off as it is a great watch for at least 85% of wrists. Again no display case back, the movements in these Nomos’s are really something special to behold so it is a minor shame.

Oris Big Crown ProPilot Big Date

Case Size:	41mm x 49mm x 12.3mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Oris Caliber 751 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	38 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1900

On the opposite side of the spectrum to the dressier Pointer Date, the Orise ProPilot Big Date is an ultra legible tool watch. The large, unframed date window preserves some symmetry with the other proportionally large printed Arabic indices. The all brushed case adds to its purpose built aesthetic.

The bezel is a brushed engine turned style that looks like it could seemingly mesh with the gear teeth pattern of the crown, an awesome little detail. I actually prefer the plain black dialed version, the blue while it looks terrific in the flesh dresses up the watch a bit and the black date disc with the sunburst blue dial sticks out a bit too much for my rather picky tastes.

Rado Golden Horse Automatic

Case Size:	37mm x 49mm x 10.8mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	ETA C07 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	80 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1900

Not a watch you will likely see on another wrist, the Rado Golden Horse is a fun watch in a perfect size. The green dial is easily the standout for me, with a subtle gradient, bursting effect finish that makes the watch pop off your wrist. A small detail I love is the applied date window frame, it lends balance to the dial and is a touch of quality and class that seems oddly uncommon in this segment, but its small details like this that a watch needs to attract your hard earned dollars.

Coupled with a beautifully finished bracelet and 50m water resistance, this watch could make a great one watch collection as it’s versatility lends itself well to a suit or graphic tee!

Monta Atlas GMT Opaline Dial

Case Size:	38.5mm x 47mm x 10.2mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Monta M-23 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	42 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 5 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price:	$1950

This may be one of my personal favorites on this list, the Monta Atlas GMT is a genuine gem of a watch. It is nearly the perfect size at 38.5mm wide and amazingly thin at 10.2mm thick while toting 150m of water resistance. The dial features fantastic applied hour markers that makes the light dance across the gently matte surface. Part of that thinness is achieved with a stepped GMT hand that has a slight bend upwards, which allows the GMT hand to pass over the tall indices while being on the same plane as the hour hand.

Everything on this watch is refined; chamfered outer and inner lugs, chamfered edges to the bracelet, and a beautiful circular brushed bezel. The stainless steel bracelet is actually the stand out feature of this watch. I do not say this lightly but Monta’s bracelet and glide-lock style quick adjust clasp is the best bracelet I have experienced at any price point that does not have the Crown logo on it – it is that good. Monta is a relatively small, boutique brand that does not have anywhere near the cache or recognition as other massive brands on this list, but if that is fine with you this watch will blow you away.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date

Case Size:	40mm x 48mm x 11.7mm
Crystal:	Sapphire Crystal
Movement:	Oris Caliber 754 (Automatic Movement)
Power Reserve:	38 hours
Accuracy:	+/- 12 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$1950

Oris used to be one of the go to options in this segment, but like many brands they have slowly started to migrate up market and have very little left under the $2,000 mark. However, this Big Crown Pointer date is not to be overlooked. While on the bracelet or with a limited edition dial these are pushing $2.5K, a Pointer Date on a humble strap in the black, blue, or red colorways just barely squeak in on this list with $50 to spare.

The signature cathedral hands are a bit marmite, but I personally love them. They add a touch of class and old school charm to a watch that has a decidedly modern wrist presence thanks to its crowd pleasing 40mm size. The printing and dial execution is top notch, and this watch has such a unique feel and look that it is instantly recognizable from across the room.