It’s Christmas season. And what that means is gift-giving. Are you out of ideas about what to get your loved ones? Well, for starters, if you want a gift that’s not a throwaway, and will carry a lot of weight, one of the best things to get them is a watch. Gifting a watch is a classic, and a no-brainer – plus, they’re easy to acquire so you won’t have to search high and low for it.
The best watches to gift this season are the ones in the mid-range category. These are the watches that have decent specs – movement, case material, and presentation. While most people think that luxury watches fetch astronomical prices, the truth of the matter is, there is a category in the industry that places luxury watches in the mid-tier ranking.
There are brands that specialize in the mid-range luxury watch category. These are the brands that produce top of the line watches, but recognizes the fact that not all of their customers want to get a $10,000 mechanical watch all the time. So without further ado, here are the best mid-ranged price luxury watches that you can buy:
Seiko Presage
Maybe one of the best brands when it comes to getting the most features without sacrificing your arm or leg, Seiko has been the top brand in Asia when it comes to automatic watches. While the company has been known for its Sports 5 watches, the Presage collection is a better buy. You get almost all the features without sacrificing looks.
While the Presage is a great-looking watch in all accords, it doesn’t hold a candle when it comes to the watches at Grand Seiko. But for the price? You’ll be more than happy with the Presage. The collection holds two lines: the basic and prestige. Get the classic black dial in silver clasp – it’s the safest bet all around.
Longines Conquest
A Longines? In a mid-range price watch list? Yes, you’re not reading wrong. While Longines has the heritage as a brand and a company that has been around for quite some time – you would imagine that Longines pricing is up there with Blancpain and Rolex. Well, you’re right. But also wrong. The Conquest is a testament that the brand knows how to deal with consumers that want a watch that’s quality without selling their kidneys for it.
In its most essential, the Conquest is a sports watch. It’s also the quintessential representation of Longines’ design aesthetic: muted, elegant, continuous. The entry-level Conquest is in quartz movement, and that in itself should be a dealbreaker, but hear us out: the watch’s presentation is so good you will likely pardon the rest of the package.
Tissot Seastar
Tissot has been a stalwart in the mid-range priced luxury watch category since its conception. There’s a bevy of options when you go the Tissot-route of gifting a watch. But on top of the collections is the Seastar. The Powermatic 80 under the collection has got enough bells and whistles to make the casual watch enthusiast salivate.
Swiss-made? Check. Movement? Swiss automatic. Price? Less than $1000. You also get quite an array of options, but the one in black dial with gold/rose gold trims on the case material is to die for. The best part? It has a power reserve of 80 hours.
Rado Hyperchrome Black Dial
When it comes to looks, the Hyperchrome Black Dial from Rado is up there with the greats. It’s a modern-looking watch in all aspects, but the feel of it in the wrist takes you back a century, where there is importance in how the case material translates to daily wear. Rado has been one of the top mid-range priced watch brands in the industry for a while now, and the company shows no signs of slowing down.
The Hyperchrome comes in a variety of lines: automatic chronograph, open heart, diamonds, etc. When you’re especially attracted to skeleton watches, the Open Heart variants will surely please. But the Automatic Chronograph in all black is so handsome a watch that it’s irresistible to pass on.
Takeaway
Always remember that when buying watches, it’s important to know the terms of warranty and aftersales service the company gives its customers. Most quartz watches have a battery capacity of 2-3 years, while mechanical watches, whether they’re automatic or manual-winding, will at least last you a lifetime when taken care of properly.
