What’s considered affordable or luxury is different for everyone. It’s all relative. But there’s quantifiably a most affordable watch from any given brand, no matter how high-end, and where a company’s pricing starts isn’t just the most accessible way to get a prestigious name on your wrist — it also says a lot about the brand.
We’re not here to tell you the high quality, skill, trust and reputation that the world’s best watchmakers have built over time (in some cases, over centuries) comes cheap, but there are ways to get your foot in the door of their world. One is to look at their entry-level products.
We’ve combed through the catalog of ten of the top expensive luxury watch brands to find the absolute lowest-priced watch from each that can be classified as either a unisex or men’s watch (ladies watches, in general, have a lower starting point at most brands). These watches might not be your dream watch (Or maybe they are!), but they are the most affordable way to get brands like Rolex and Omega on your wrist.
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Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34
Most Affordable Rolex
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Omega De Ville Prestige
Most Affordable Omega
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Panerai Radiomire Officine
Most Affordable Panerai
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Monoface Quartz
Most Affordable JLC
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Cartier Ronde Must
Most Affordable Cartier
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IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 36
Most Affordable IWC
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Breitling Endurance Pro
Most Affordable Breitling
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Tudor 1926
Most Affordable Tudor
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TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz
Most Affordable TAG Heuer
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Grand Seiko Heritage Quartz SBGX263
Most Affordable Grand Seiko
Rolex
RolexMost Affordable Rolex
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34
Specs
| Case Size | 34mm |
| Movement | Rolex Cal. 2232 automatic |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
Available in multiple fun dial colors and five sizes, the Oyster Perpetual is, in many ways, the quintessential Rolex. A simple, time-only affair with stainless steel Oyster cases on the iconic Oyster bracelet, it has the basic features you should expect from the brand, including superlative chronometric accuracy, a robust build and 100m of water resistance.
At 34mm, this is about the most affordable, convincingly men’s watch you can get from Rolex — but smaller Oyster Perpetual ladies watches (28mm, 31mm) will cost a little less, and larger examples (36mm, 41mm) go for a bit more.
