The Luno I have here is the first Movado I’ve actually reviewed and worn hands-on. It’s funny how 100+ watches have come across my desk, and yet none from Movado. As one of the few Swiss watchmakers that is known and appreciated by “non watch people”, it’s about time I wore one and checked them out.
The Commander II is quite typical of an entry-level luxury watch from a Swatch-group manufacturer: it’s an automatic, made with upper-end materials, priced in the $600 range in the grey market ($1,000ish MSRP – like most of the Hamilton’s and Tissot’s of a similar caliber I’ve reviewed).
In any case, I was excited to get some hands-on time with the Mido Commander II (in gold, of course).
A common question we get on our Facebook and YouTube channels is “what are the best mechanical/automatic watches under $X”. The $X changes, but the sentiment in the question does not. It’s a good question, too, as there’s never been a broader selection of mechanically-powered watches than what’s available today.
In this list, I’ve called out my favorite automatic or mechanical watches priced under $1,500. A notable caveat: if the watch is an automatic, the movement must be able to be hand-wound like a non-automatic mechanical movement.
The Citizen Skyhawk Blue Angels is a full-on tool watch that seems to be able to do anything. It’s atomic-synced time is the standard that I set all my other watches to, and it feels tough enough to withstand a bomb blast. If your watch needs to do everything, the Skyhawk Blue Angels is a great choice. I’m a big fan.
A remake of the original Partitio from the 30’s, it has now found its way into their core line-up, but it often overlooked in favour of the well known Stowa Flieger Klassik. Which is unfortunate, because the Partitio represents an incredible value for money.
You can find the Visodate Heritage in a few flavors, though this model (T019.430.16.031.01) is easily the best looking. The steel on brown color scheme is understated and fits into any ensemble. It’s comfortable to wear, durable, and built to last. This is another great watch from Tissot.
I’ve never been a fan of dive watches, but the looks of this Tissot are bested only by the automatic movement’s immense power reserve and accuracy. With this Seastar on your wrist you’ll enjoy 300m of water resistance, a screw down crown to keep everything air tight, and the usual appointments you’ve come to expect from a Tissot of this calibre.
There’s a lot of competition in the $500 to $1,000 price bracket, and the Hamilton Jazzmaster is a bit of a heavyweight in the segment. As a daily wearer, the Jazzmaster Day/Date is a great watch- it’s good looks, reliable ETA movement, and sapphire/stainless steel combination make for a watch that will look and run great for years. I like it’s somewhat understated styling, its weight and balance, and the quality of its build. Recommended.
The unique Jazzmaster Open heart is designed to let the exposed movement do the talking. Lacking any complications, the Open Heart is an attractive and understated watch despite the open heart dial. It’s built well and uses an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement. Recommended.
I quite enjoy the Valiant Auto for being an overall elegant and affordable timepiece. Its $645 price tag buys you higher-grade ETA automatic movement, good quality of build, and a sapphire crystal. It’s comfortable to wear, compliments just about any outfit, and won’t break the bank. Recommended.
My experience with the Tissot Couturier Automatic has been wonderful. For nearly three years it has been a reliable and accurate automatic that has held up quite well aesthetically. I like the C01.211 chronograph movement- it’s given me no reason not to. As a result of the C01.211, you can get a mechanical chronograph from a Swiss manufacturer for under $1,000- and I like that, too.
There are just a few small quibbles that kept the T-Touch Classic from scoring perfect. It’s the quartz watch that can be dressed up or down easily, looks great with just about anything, and has great functionality built in. I refer to it as the Grown Up’s Timex because it packs a ton of great features (and backlighting) into an attractive and distinctly adult timepiece.
Great looks, excellent build quality, and a quality movement make this classic by Victorinox a good buy. Priced at $875, the Infantry Vintage Mechanical comes with a reliable ETA movement and plenty of value built in. Recommended for those willing to spend a bit more for something unique.
