When you first get into watches it can feel like the luxury watches totally unattainable and the only alternative is to buy cheap homages and lookalikes.
This can put a lot of people off getting into watches, as they don’t want to have a watch that just looks like something else.
Luckily there are plenty of affordable brands that not only make original designs, but also have a deep, rich history in the watch making world.
I will go through the brands in no real order, they are all equally as good as each other and it’s down to you to decide which one you are more drawn to.
Seiko
Seiko are a Japanese powerhouse in the watch making world. They produce some incredible watches, both in style and finish. They also invented quartz movements in the late 60’s which totally changed how watches are made as well as being heavily involved in the innovation of digital watches during the 1980s.
The quality of the watch you can buy from this brand at the price they offer is pretty unrivaled. For around £100 you can get a stunning automatic watch from their Seiko 5 range.
They are a great affordable entry watch, but even the most seasoned collector will still quite happily wear a Seiko. They really are highly respected by all. They also produce a vast array of styles and designs that allows everyone to find something they will like.
Vostok
Vostok is a Russian brand that people either seem to love or hate. They are pretty quirky and a little different at times, but they are certainly unique and offer very affordable mechanical watches.
They started making watches back in the 1940s and where very quickly asked by the Russian government to start making watches for the military. However, they wanted them to not just copy the popular watches made in Switzerland. This resulted in some very unique design features being invented for their amphia dive watches. These are still made today, pretty much unchanged, along with their Komandirskie models.
Having a unique design function such as the crown being wobbly to help protect it is one thing, but the dials they offer are also very unique. You can get a staggering number of different designs and they are all very Russian, or should I say soviet. There are so many soviet military designs with pictures of tanks or submarines and everything else you would expect from the cold war.
A lot of people do not really like these designs, but if you have any interest in soviet history you will certainly be drawn towards Vostoks. These can be a little rough around the edges, but are built to work hard, which they certainly do. They are so robust that Vostok recommend that they only need serviced every 10 years, which is incredible compared to other watches, especially when you consider how cheap and unique they are.
(You can read more about – Why Are Vostok Watches Popular?)
Casio
When you ask a person who has no interest in watches to name a brand, they will probably say Rolex …or Casio.
Casio are often referred to as a God tier watch brand and there is a good reason why they are highly regarded. They are the absolute masters of original, affordable watches, especially quartz and more importantly digital watches.
Casio’s are extremely durable and robust as well as pretty cool looking. When you consider how cheap and indestructible they are it is no surprise that most people remember being given one as a child. You can pick one up for under £10.
Even if you spend a little more and get a G-shock, they are still incredibly priced. I think you will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t think highly of Casio’s.
(You can read more about why – Casio Watches Are Worth Collecting)
Mondaine
Mondaine are a Swiss watch company that actually has the licence to use the design from the clocks that are used across the Swiss railway network. The design is instantly recognisable. They are famous for the white dial with black baton hour markers, black hands and the beautiful red second hand.
You can see this dial on the clock at every Swiss railway station and it is also available on the watches from Mondaine. For me this design does not get enough appreciation. It is so simple, clear and just beautiful.
They offer their watches in both quartz and automatic and are reasonably priced. You can get an automatic for around £500, it is getting a little expensive, but for a Swiss made mechanical watch that is both beautiful and an integral part of Switzerland’s infrastructure, it is a bargain.
You will often find homage’s of this watch, but I feel having the original is still obtainable, especially compared to the other Swiss brands that are usually a great deal more expensive.
Citizen
Citizen is a Japanese watch company that makes very affordable and uniquely designed watches. They mainly focus on quartz movements, but have also been integral in the development of solar powered watches, with their “eco-drive” range.
However, they do still offer mechanical movements. These will command a higher price, but they are still achievable and well worth the extra money.
They are a great entry watch brand and really tick a lot of boxes for a new watch collector including the great price range.
Swatch
Swatch is another Swiss brand that came about with the invention of the quartz movement. They are literally Switzerland’s answer to the Japanese competition.
Although they are cheap quartz watches, they are very well made and are very reasonably priced.
They also offer a vast range of designs, some more quirky and crazy than others. They are loved by all watch collectors and given lots of respect, even if they are seen as the cheaper, less glamorous option of Swiss made watches they are still a lot of fun. If you add one to your collection you will not regret it.
Timex
Timex is an American watch company that has been around for nearly 170 years, which is a lot longer than Rolex, so they know what they are doing. Their long history along with their great quality and affordable prices makes them a brand that is very well respected by watch collectors.
Timex has a vast catalogue of affordable watches in a number of different styles and movements. No matter what you want, Timex will probably have a watch that suits your needs and will not break the bank.
They are a great watch company and you should really look to own one of their watches.
Conclusion
As you can see there are a huge number of original, affordable and reliable watch brands available to you that are respected by watch collectors of any level.
You may still want to have the homage watches, but you should certainly look at these brands and really consider adding them all to your collection. They have so much history and individuality to really bring some interesting talking pieces to your collection.
(You can read more about – Should You Collect Homage Watches?)
Ian is the main writer at Horology Dream and is a lover all things watch related.
He has been a watch collector for over a decade and brings his knowledge and experience to this site to help you on your own watch collecting journey.
You can connect with him on Social media and talk anything watches or read more about him on his Author Page.
