BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
One of the trends we’ve noticed over the past few years in watches is the ever-increasing cost of buying yourself a mechanical wristwatch. There are several factors for this, of course, but it seems like ‘corporate greed’ is the first one that springs to everyone’s minds – it does to mine from time to time. This article isn’t going to go into that argument chiefly because we would need the big manufacturers to disclose their materials and labour costs so we can get a good comparison to their retail prices. I guarantee you they won’t share that information.
While we can’t fight the ever-increasing price rises, and we can only guess at what they use to decide said prices, we’re going to focus our attention elsewhere, something more useful for consumers. So, here are our favourite new mechanical watches that cost less than $2,000, excluding local taxes and other fees. The prices may change in the future.
5 – Sinn 104 ST SA A – Circa $1,700
Around $1,700 will get you into the realm of Sinn’s mechanical watches, provided you’re alright with the leather strap option. Sinn’s watches are very highly regarded and, to be honest, more expensive than I was expecting them to be. Then I remembered the faithful 104 which everyone seems to love. It offers good looks inspired by watches of yesteryear, 200m of water resistance from its stainless steel case and a day-date function. It also allows you to see the Sellita movement inside which, at any price point but particularly at this end of the spectrum, is so important. At 41mm across, Sinn’s 104 will be easy for anyone to wear, so there’s no reason not to give it a go.
4 – Seiko Prospex SPB383 – $1,500
Seiko’s Prospex comes in many forms and remains relevant despite the ever-changing times. The one we’ve chosen goes beyond the regular diving watch realm by incorporating the GMT function into what is already a practical offering. The Prospex SPB383 has a 200m water-resistant stainless steel case and an automatic 6R54 calibre offering 72 hours of power reserve, meaning you can leave it all weekend, and it’ll be running when you get back to it. Of course, it’s a Seiko, so you can take it almost anywhere and have the greatest confidence that it’ll keep the time as reliably as ever. It’s not the most stylish of watches, but it’s a solid workhorse.
3 – Nomos Club Campus 38 ref 735 – $1,780
Nomos is one of the most interesting brands generally operating in the circa $5,000 watch market; their recently launched Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer garnered lots of attention during Watches & Wonders Geneva 2025 week despite debuting at a completely different show. I chose the Club Campus 38 as my pick of the bunch, and I went with the white dial version, but they offer so many colours anyone could easily work with. The 38.5mm case is discreet but offers character and 100m of water resistance. I particularly like that this is a manually wound watch; although you can’t see the movement within, it means you have to interact with it to keep it going, just like your grandfather would’ve probably done with his watch if he owned one.
2 – Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 – $1095
Christopher Ward makes some fantastic watches, but you knew that, right? You might be wondering why I went for the C60 Trident Pro 300 rather than one of their newer models; it’s partly because I haven’t tried one of those out yet (Christopher Ward, if you’re reading this, please, get in touch) and also because I think the C60 Trident Pro 300 represents all you could ask for from a mechanical watch. It’s got a robust 42mm case (a smaller option is available), which is very comfortable, and 300m of water resistance. If you firmly believe that watches like Rolex’s Submariner and Omega’s Seamaster, both diving watches, make the best daily pieces but can’t stretch to their prices, give the C60 Trident Pro 300 a chance.
Honourable mention: Swatch Sistem 51 ‘Confidence 51’ – $240
I think Swatch’s Sistem 51 is an unavoidable entry on our list given that it ticks the box of being a mechanical watch for way less than any of the other entries. It also helps that it builds on the successes of the Swatch Watches which in decades past fuelled the Swatch Group’s rise to power, thus re-invigorating historic names like Blancpain and Breguet. It doesn’t even matter which Sistem 51 you choose, they’re all mechanical and produced solely via automated processes and come in various designs in true Swatch fashion. I chose the one I liked the look of the most, and at this price, I can’t complain at all.
1 – Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 40mm ref T137.407.11.041.00 – $725
Tissot’s PRX watches have seen the brand catapulted to the front of the watch forums, at least the ones I’m in. People love these watches, and they love the mechanical nature of them along with their classy design (which now looks similar to the Rolex Land-Dweller) and the array of options to choose from. Seriously, these watches come in as many options as you could want. I went with a version in 40mm featuring the Powermatic 80 calibre, which appears in a few different Swatch Group brands and, as its name suggests, features a long 80-hour power reserve. There are more expensive and affordable versions of the PRX, but this fits the bill the best, in my opinion.
There are so many options at this end of the market, but these are our favourites right now. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
