The vast Saudi Arabian desert, with its endless golden dunes and distinctive architectural heritage, possesses a quiet strength that transcends mere geography. When Furlan Marri and CLE: The Gallery set out to collaborate on a limited edition chronograph, they understood that capturing this essence required more than surface-level aesthetics. The result is the Sahra Edition, a singular timepiece limited to just 750 pieces.
Posts filed under Budget Watches
Introducing: Furlan Marri Cornes de Vache Blue Sector. Vintage Soul Meets Swiss Made Accessibility.
There's something refreshing about a brand that understands why classic designs worked so well in the first place. Furlan Marri's latest Cornes de Vache collection is perhaps their most articulate statement yet. The collection debuted with two automatic references—White Sector, and Salmon Sector— and now the brand is adding the Blue Sector.
Insider: Alpina Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic. A Great Looking Panda That is Built Like a Tank.
The new Alpina Alpiner Extreme Chronograph Automatic is a watch that we’ve been wanting to review since its release at the end of 2023 and here we have it now. A sturdy, well-crafted chronograph built like a tank that can take on the daily abuse of tool watch-seeking aficionados. And above all, this watch won’t break the bank.
Insider: Blancpain X Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Antarctic Ocean. Hands-On Review and How to Switch the Strap.
As a big surprise, Blancpain and Swatch joined forces to release the Blancpain X Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms collection to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this iconic diving watch last month. While the collaboration between Omega and Swatch for the Moonswatch seemed to have a bigger impact than this new collaboration between Swatch and Blancpain —another one of the high-end brands part of the Swatch Group—, this non-limited collection composed of five different watches still had a huge impact, despite the fact that Blancpain holds a much lower brand awareness and you have to be a hardcore watch aficionado to even consider paying $400 USD for a Sistem51 Swatch.
Insider: Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator. An 888-piece Limited Edition that Looks Amazing in the Metal.
Founded in 1883, Alpina watches have long been revered in the world of horology for their exceptional craftsmanship and timeless design. With its rich history of creating timepieces for 140 years, this Swiss watch brand holds true to its promise of producing high-quality timepieces that are both stylish and reliable and priced just right. Renowned for its expertise in creating professional sports watches, catering to outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike, its collections are divided into air, land, and sea-themed watches.
Introducing: Ollech & Wajs Zürich Astrochron S. Faithful Reinterpretation of the 1967 Model.
The Ollech & Wajs Astrochron story began in Zürich nearly 60 years ago, amidst history’s most ambitious era of exploration. The race to go faster, further, and deeper had the world poised at the edge of several new frontiers, the most notable being outer space. The astral realm represented the ultimate in exploration and inspired the name of the famous Ollech & Wajs 1967 ‘triple-register’ chronograph.
Insider: Tissot PRX Automatic Chronograph. The Best Chronograph You Can Buy Under $2K USD.
Two years ago, Tissot released the PRX as a reissue of their iconic 1978 PRX 40 205 with a quartz movement and later they added an automatic time and date model. Last year, Tissot released the PRX Automatic Chronograph and the moment we saw it, we knew we’d have to get one. Our love for the PRX is unlimited. The level of finishing and Swiss craftsmanship rarely seen in this price range, only keeps getting better within the PRX collection.
From the Editor: The Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto is the Most Unexpected Watch of 2023. An Amazing Timepiece for the Price.
Without sounding like a snob, I never thought I would be featuring a Christopher Ward watch here at WCL, but the time has come. For me to talk about certain watches, these watches need to earn the right to be here, not because I think of WCL as the non plus ultra —nothing further beyond— but more than anything, because I truly believe in honest and unbiased watch content.
From the Editor: Finally Got an Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch. Here's What I Really Think About It.
t only took me five months and five days to finally be able to find a MoonSwatch at the Swatch Boutique at North Park Mall in Dallas, Texas. The Omega x Swatch Bioceramic MoonSwatch landed at the Swatch boutiques on March 26, 2022, a day before I headed to Switzerland for Watches & Wonders 2022. During my trip to Switzerland, I was able to peruse the MoonSwatch ‘Mission to Uranus’ —no pun intended—
Budget Watches: H992. A New Swiss Watch Brand is Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
A new budget brand has been born today in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Named H992, its name comes from the letter ‘H’ in horology, hour and humanity; and the number ‘992’ is the altitude of its birth place —La Chaux-de-Fonds— which is 992 meters above the sea level. Featuring a very contemporary design that seems like a hybrid between a Zenith Defy and a Hublot Integral, the new H992 is presented in a limited edition of only 992 pieces and priced at CHF 992 Swiss Francs —approximately $1,000 USD.
From the Editor: What's There Not to Love About Furlan Marri Watches
I discovered Furlan Marri last year and my first encounter in person with their watches was when I was casting my votes as one of the jurors at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2021. The Furlan Marri MR. Grey received the Horological Revelation Prize at the GPHG 2021 and that’s what really put the brand on the map. After six different watches they have released and as an owner of not one but two of their watches —Havana Salmon ref. 1031-A and the Mare Blu ref. 1051-A—, I can confidently say that there are many things to love about this young inexpensive brand.
From the Editor: Here's Why I've Bought Four Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Watches. The Best $650 USD One Can Spend.
When the quartz Tissot PRX was released, I was one of the first ones to want one. Even though here at WCL we rarely publish watches in that price range, we had to do a review of the watch. You can read the review here. As the watch lover that I am, the price tag on a watch means nothing to me. I love horology and will wear a Tissot as much as I would wear a Vacheron Constantin.
Insider: CIGA Design Blue Planet. The First Chinese Watch to Ever Win at the GPHG.
The CIGA Design Series U Blue Planet is the first Chinese Made watch to ever win at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève and to make it to the shortlist of the nominees. In November 2021, the CIGA Design Blue Planet was awarded the GPHG 2021 Challenge Prize —watches priced under CHF 3,500 Swiss Francs— while competing against other ‘budget-friendly’ or affordable timepieces that included the Doxa SUB 200 C-GRAPH Caribbean, Oris Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy, Massena Lab Uni-Racer, Anordain Model 1-Payne’s Grey Fumé and the Furlan Marri Mr. Grey.
Insider: Gorilla Outlaw Drift Limited Edition. Wandering Hours, Swiss Made, and Budget Friendly. Gimme!
Gorilla Watches was launched in 2017 by Octavio Garcia —former Chief Artistic Officer at Audemars Piguet for more than a decade— and his business partner Lukas Gopp —a former employee of brands like IWC, Sector, Ralph Lauren Watches and Audemars Piguet.The first time we reviewed one of their watches, it was also the first time that we had posted a review of a watch under $1,000 USD. You can check out the review of the Gorilla Fastback here.
Budget Watches: Seven Friday P1C/04 'Caipi'. As Refreshing as a Brazilian Caipirinha.
Discussing ‘Budget Watches’ is not something we do on a very regular basis but more so every now and then whenever we find an inexpensive watch that catches our attention and that we feel is worth talking about. Since today is Friday, why not talk about the latest addition to the Seven Friday lineup. The Seven Friday P1C/04 'Caipi' is as refreshing as a Brazilian caipirinha at the end of the summer months.
Budget Watches: Tissot PRX. Never Have Seen a Watch in this Price Range this Well Finished.
The moment we saw the new Tissot PRX, we knew we had to do a review of the watch. While we’ve only published a handful of budget watches here at WCL and we’ve never published any watch with such a price tag, for under $400 USD, —yes, it is not a typo— the reissue of the 1978 PRX 40 205 brings a level of finishing and Swiss craftsmanship that is rarely seen in this price range.
Budget Watches: Montres L&JR Chronograph S1503. A Watch that Screams Independent 'Haute Horlogerie' with a Surprising Price Tag.
When we first heard about the project that Philippe Cros, Jorg Hysek Jr. and Lionel Ladoire were working on, we knew something really special would be coming out of it. One of our favorite watches from Baselworld 2018 and a watch that knocked our socks off is the new L&JR Chronograph S1503 from the just launched Montres L&JR brand. This new Swiss watch brand brings a whole new approach to the watch industry gleamed from the expertise of its three founders.
Budget Watches: Seiko Presage Cocktail Time 'Starlight' SSA361 Limited Edition. At this Price Point, Years Ago a Dial Like this was Just Too Good to be True.
For our second installment ever of Budget Watches, we've decided to bring you a watch that we have been eyeing now for a few months. Introduced back in November 2017, the new Seiko Presage collection welcomed the addition of two new watches priced under $1,000 USD and inspired by cocktails created by Hisashi Kishi, the head bartender at Tokyo's 'Star Bar' located in the heart of the Ginza area.
Budget Watches: Gorilla Fastback Forged Carbon & Black Ceramic Watch. The Watch Launched by Octavio Garcia Former Head Designer for Audemars Piguet.
Today, we're starting a new section for those budget watches that we really like. Even though this is the first time we do a hands-on review of a watch at this price point, but we are absolutely thrilled to tell you everything about it. The new Gorilla Watches were recently officially launched by Octavio Garcia —former Chief Artistic Officer at Audemars Piguet for more than a decade— and his business partner Lukas Gopp —a former employee of brands like IWC, Sector, Ralph Lauren Watches and Audemars Piguet.
Pre-Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Frederique Constant and Alpina Swiss Horological Smartwatches. Finally Someone Had to Do It Right.
Finally, what everyone was expecting in the watch industry. The new Frederique Constant and Alpina Horological Smartwatches are 'wearable' smartwatches that you won't be ashamed of wearing and you will want to wear. There's no need to forfeit Swiss craftsmanship and a good decent looking timepiece, no more. Frederique Constant and Alpina are really setting the tune for what the future of Smartwatches should be like by launching two new timepieces that you really would care about wearing, instead of strapping the ridiculously looking Apple Watch. The two companies lead by Peter Stas are building the bridge between Silicon Valley and the Swiss Watch Industry by launching two Swiss Made timepieces powered by MotionX. These new watches are capable of bi-directional communication with iPhone and Android apps and are referred to as Horological Smartwatches.
