The WatchTested team continues its annual quest to highlight some of our favorite watches available on the market today.
We are currently diving into those watches which we believe are the best under 2,500 Euros. After skipping the selection of watches priced under 1,000 Euros, I am pleased to offer my two cents on this price point. It remains within what I consider my comfort zone (though less so than the selection of watches under €1,000). However, as it happens year after year, watches you considered a reliable list in a certain price category have either been discontinued or have risen in price. Nonetheless, it would be unfair to claim that we are not spoiled for choice in this price category.
In fact, there are so many great options here that I decided to narrow them down to a trio of "everything in the world". What are the three archetypes of watches that should be in every collection? I would say they are a dive watch, a chronograph, and a GADA/field watch. One might argue that in addition to the two more sporty options, dress watches would also fit. But these are not the type of watches I wear often enough to justify their presence in such a compact lineup. To be clear, this is not a perfect three-watch collection, but a collection that covers the three main components (diver, chronograph, field watch) according to my preferences.
Best Watches Under 2,500 Euros: Aquastar Model 60 Re-Edition
Let's start with the most challenging category in this price range - dive watches. The options for reliable dive watches priced up to 2,500 Euros are simply overwhelming. We recently acquired an excellent Doxa Sub 200T model, and I am also familiar with the magnificent Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53. But my choice today is the Aquastar Model 60, which takes us back to May 2023. These watches have been haunting me since their release. Several times I was on the verge of deciding to buy them. There is something stunning about a well-executed, authentic re-edition of a watch, and Aquastar has an outstanding track record of such watches. The Model 60 opens a portal to the early 60s when leather-clad divers were in vogue.
The case size of 37 × 47 × 11 mm accurately replicates the original proportions of these popular dive watches. The watch also features a glossy black dial with a luminescent coating. Unlike most dive watches that use a bezel made of anodized aluminum or ceramic, the Aquastar has a beautifully radial matte stainless steel bezel. I would prefer to wear these watches on a bracelet. However, most likely, it will spend most of its time on a Tropic-style rubber strap or even NATO. With a retail price of 1,478.70 Euros (and currently available for 1,292.70 Euros), you get a brilliant re-edition of a classic diver from a brand synonymous with that golden era of diving, watches, and dive watches.
Baltic Tricompax Panda
The second item in my three-watch project is a chronograph. In this category, there are already significantly fewer options in the price range up to 2,500 Euros (at least compared to dive watches). The Tissot PRX chronograph always looks tempting, but it's a bit bulkier than I'd like. After recently getting acquainted with the Baltic Tricompax Tour Auto 2024 model, which is thinner and more beautifully proportioned (with the added charm of a manual winding mechanism), I decided to settle on the non-limited Tricompax model. The model is available in "panda" and "reverse panda" color schemes, but I chose the former.
This classically styled chronograph has several features that I like. First, like the beloved Speedmaster, it uses the most convenient chronograph layout, in my opinion. I prefer to have a 12-hour register in addition to the 30-minute counter. The tasks I time take less than half an hour or significantly longer. It's either cooking pasta or pizza in the oven, flying to a press conference, or a road trip across Germany. Combined with the classic mid-century style, clean look without a date, drilled lugs, steel case, caseback, and elegant case profile, these watches deserve a place on my list. Priced at 1,990.45 Euros (including tax), the Baltic Tricompax also stays under the 2,500 Euro limit.
Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto 38mm ref. H70215130
My third and final choice on this list of the best watches under 2,500 Euros is the 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto. These are the most affordable watches of all those I chose, yet they have enough power potential. They also add a bit of contrast and color to my previous choices and serve as Field/GADA watches in this hypothetical three-watch collection. Although perhaps not as GADA as their stainless steel counterpart, which can be somewhat dressy on a leather strap, these black PVD-coated field watches still complete the trio nicely. I've had my eye on them for a long time and can't help but imagine how they could be paired with an orange Tropic-style rubber strap or even NATO for a bright and sporty look.
The lightweight titanium case and bracelet have a black PVD coating, which also allows you to see how they age over time. Imagine a well-worn version of these watches with glimpses of dark gray titanium peeking through in places where the coating has chipped. Honestly, I consider these watches a real "sleeper hit" in the Hamilton catalog. For some reason, they are not as commonly seen as, say, the Khaki Field Mechanical or Khaki Auto in stainless steel. The watches are equipped with the Powermatic 80 movement, 100m water resistance, and sapphire crystal. For 1,325 Euros, these Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto watches are an excellent choice for daily wear, capable of withstanding any challenges.
Final Thoughts on the Best Watches Under 2,500 Euros
As I mentioned in the introduction, there is an enormous selection of watches in the price range up to 2,500 Euros. This is by no means an exhaustive review. However, looking back, I am quite satisfied with my choices. This trio offers a lot and would make a solid collection for under 5,000 Euros (with a total combined price of 4,794 Euros). This is not the last time I present my lineup of the best watches under €2,500, so stay tuned for new selections.
Nevertheless, I would like to know your opinion. Do you agree with my choice? Could you create such a trio? And if not, what would you change? Let me know in the Telegram channel.