Sorry, I misunderstood the task.
It's not about being given €7,500 to spend on three watches… I've reluctantly placed an embargo on buying, which is not easy for an addict like me, hence the burst of happiness. But I still enjoy the challenge of selecting the best watches under €2,500, which is no easy feat.
I'll try not to imagine this as a personal budget for three great new watches, but the choice will still be personal. Of course, I've donned my journalist's hat, so you should find objective favorites here. At least, that's my goal.
Best Watches Under €2,500 - Bulletproof Sinn U50
Fashion surrounds us everywhere, and we follow it whether we want to or not, even subconsciously. I'm as guilty as anyone, and something new and interesting often makes me forget about good watches. In this case, it's the impressive Sinn U50, which can’t be called a novelty. About three years ago, I had these watches on loan from Sinn in Frankfurt, and I was struck by their crystal-clear, sharp dial and functional design. It's a very German design, and it's not a cliché without essence. After years of owning BMW cars, I appreciate pure functional perfection. This applies to the delightfully solid tactile feel of the Sinn bezel and the understated yet massive technical specifications of the U50.
These watches came to mind again as I grow increasingly tired of retro. The U50 model is modern in every sense and has stunning restraint. After all, Sinn proudly emphasizes its focus on tools, not just watches. In the U50 model, this is evident in all the details of the soft, abrasive, and tegimented case. Yes, this mysterious term from Sinn denotes a very scratch-resistant steel tempering. Of course, to stay within budget, I would have to purchase the version with only a Tegimented steel bezel, but I also like the SDR with a black bezel.
In this case, it's about €2,250 on a leather strap, but I would unofficially stretch to €2,550 for the SDR with a bright red silicone strap to match those plastic hands and markers. In any of the seven versions, the Sinn U50 doesn't feel like a 41mm watch, and the 11.5mm thickness is astonishingly small for a diver with a 500m water resistance rating.
Vision of the Future - SpaceOne Jumping Hour
The SpaceOne Jumping Hour watch in forged carbon at a truly competitive price of €1,900 (ex-VAT) tells me a lot. It looks no less than a 50-60 times more expensive Urwerk, MB&F, or De Bethune, so it's a big win for the brand. Moreover, it's insanely polarizing and refuses to conform to the entrenched retro trend. But is it? That's where SpaceOne plays its cards with this curved beast. The soft spaceship shape looks futuristic and at the same time reminds me of old cartoons about the future and 60s softcover books.
The jumping hour complication isn't new, but combined with the very cool-shaped forged carbon, it all looks harmonious. And yes, these watches might just land on planet Proxima Centauri b. Forged carbon costs much less than before, so at a price of under 2,000 euros, this carbon deal is big enough to be sold out from SpaceOne's homepage. In fact, since I wrote this article, most other versions have sold out too. Fortunately, three units of the Destro Brushed Titanium variant are still available at the same price. But if you're willing to spend €490 over budget, the new SpaceOne Tellurium is even more appealing.
Best Watches Under €2,500 - Tissot PRX Automatic Chronograph in Green
After reading a colleague's story about the latest PRX models with a green dial, I was simply amazed, especially by this model costing €2,045. But after feeling that the 40mm PRX Powermatic 80 was too large for my wrist, why do I so enjoy wearing this even larger 42mm chronograph?
Firstly, the simple yet exclusive Tissot PRX bracelet is very comfortable. I'd prefer the end links not to be fixed or to have a more wrist-friendly angle, but many of you have bigger wrists than mine. Besides, it's all about the dial of the best green color in Tissot's history, and I'm just captivated.
It's almost like a dark olive green dial that has turned tropical, that desirable flaw we all dream of. It resembles the faded dial of a 70s Royal Oak, and for me, this tone is just right. Of course, it's a rhyme with that very AP icon, but with a bolder presence, and Tissot nailed it. The 15.4mm thickness and relative length of 46.5mm (excluding fixed end links) are striking. But I'll soon try them, and if in real life this green is as good, they'll make it onto my wish list. The movement is the automatic ETA A05.H31, a modern Valjoux 7753 with a 60-hour power reserve. These PRX Automatic Chronographs are just very good sports watches, and no, I don't even mind the date window at 4:30. Such is my thirst for green.
And what do you say, my dear Friend? Do you think these are three worthy contenders for the best watches under €2,500? Feel free to let me know in the Telegram channel about your other suggestions or thoughts on these watches.