Budget Luxury Watch Shopping: What are the options for €1.500 or €2.500?

Getting Started - Do's and Don'ts

For many, watches are nothing more than a hobby that got out of hand. But often that hobby started small. In most cases it didn't start with Rolex Submariners or AP Royal Oaks, but with the cheaper watches. Think of Seiko, Tissot, Oris or Omega. With these brands there is often something nice to start with for every price. Luxury Swiss watches often come with a price tag of €1000 or more, but then there is already a lot of choice. We will go through a number of options and price-ranges with you. 

Before we get started on the actual watches, make sure you buy the seller. It’s a well-known thing in the luxury watch market, where you can get your hands on numerous watches from different kind of people. From certified sellers or even private sellers, you should always make sure to check the references on the sellers.

A budget of €1.500: what can you get for that?

A luxury watch is an investment in both style and functionality. It's a timeless accessory that can be worn every day, making it a statement piece that reflects your personality and style. When it comes to selecting a luxury watch, there are many factors to consider, including style, brand, materials, and, of course, price.

If you have a budget of €1.500 for a luxury watch, you'll be pleased to know that there are plenty of options to choose from. While you may not be able to afford some of the more expensive models from the most prestigious brands, there are still plenty of high-quality watches available that will fit within your budget.

Vintage Omega

Alright, let’s get started on those watches. The best money can buy, when looking for a luxury watch for under €1.500, might be a vintage Omega. These vintage pieces sell from roughly €1.000 up to €1.500, depending on the materials used. You can get your hands on a silver, stainless-steel watch, or a gold-plated piece. You can search for an automatic movement or a manual wound movement, in different sizes. From 33mm up to 37mm, these vintage Omega watches are the perfect option to wear as a sporty but dressy watch. 

Modern Seiko Presage

When you’re more into modern watches, you might opt for a beautiful ceramic Rado watch, starting at just over €1.200. You can also get your hands on a clean designed NOMOS, an elegant three-hand piece for roughly €1.300. Another brand that you should really consider, is Oris. These watches are perfect when it comes to price and quality, with numerous options available, even a professional diver’s watch. We love them as well: Seiko. The Presage is a perfect option for an every day watch, for just under €1.500. 

Pre-Owned Cartier

The French brand Cartier is known for their elegant and luxury watches, with clean dials (with those beautiful Roman numerals) in different sizes. Cartier is probably the best dressy watch for both men and women, starting at just over €1.000 for a vintage, pre-owned Cartier Tank or Must de Cartier 21, up to €1.500 for a nice gold-plated piece. Just our humble opinion, but everyone should have a Cartier in their watch collection at some point.

A budget of €2.500: Swiss Luxury widely available

When you’re lucky enough to spend up to €2.500 on a luxury watch, there are many options to consider. Depending on your taste, you can get your hands on a vintage or pre-loved watch, or a brand-new watch straight from the factory. Both ladies’ watches and men’s watches can be found for around €2.500. 

You might have saved up a little, or you just got your bonus or well, we all known that money in your bank account really doesn’t do anything when it comes to interest. You might as well just get your hands on a nice wristwatch, that you can show to your friends and family. Really enjoy your investment, instead of looking to a bank account. We often got questions what’s the best money can buy for around €2.500. We even might have found the next best thing you should consider. 

Vintage Tudor

When browsing through the luxury watch market, there are numerous options for this budget. You can get your hands on a beautiful vintage piece like a Cartier, Omega, Breitling or Tudor, but you can also go for a brand-new watch like a Longines, Staudt, Meistersinger and Oris. If Tudor is your choice, the options are small, but will definitely not dissapoint. A  Pre-Owned Black-Bay or Prince would most lileky get you there. As it is known as Rolex's little brother, because of using the oystercase from rolex, quality will be priority. 

Meistersinger

What’s the best deal you can get? Depending on your wishes, wrist-size and style, you can choose for a clean Staudt, which is an elegant piece on a leather band. You can also opt for a tougher Breitling Endurance Pro in different colors, with a unique design and features, being one of the more outdoor/adventure watches. The Meistersinger watches can be found for under €2.500 on Wristler, with just one single hand on their dials, making it impossible for you to get to your meetings in time. Just what you need, right? 

Omega Speedmaster

For a more vintage or pre-owned style, you need to check out whether you can opt for a vintage Omega or Cartier. These pieces tend to sell for €1.000 up to €2.500, in solid gold, stainless-steel or gold-plated. You can opt for different complications like a date function, day-date function or a small seconds sub-dial on a vintage piece. Even pre-owned Omega watches can be found, like the Speedmaster Reduced or a Speedmaster Racing from the early 2000s for this budget. 

Whatever you want to wear, make sure to buy what suits you best. Feeling comfortable and proud is more important than making money on an investment like a wristwatch. Just browse, check out the references from the company or seller and make sure you get your hands on anything you might like. Happy shopping!