Buying guide · under €2,000
The best men’s watches under €2,000
Above €1,000 you are no longer paying for the spec sheet: sapphire, automatic and 100 m are a given. You pay for a story, a material or a slim case. This selection says what each watch brings over an €800 Tissot.
The short answer
Which watch to choose
The best choice
Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38: automatic, sapphire, 100 m, and a story.
For diving
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba 43 (300 m) or Mido Ocean Star Tribute (200 m).
The slimmest
Mido Baroncelli Heritage: 7.3 mm thick.
The lightest
Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto 38.
Ranking
The ranking at a glance
- Movement : Automatic H-10
- Diameter : 38 mm
- Thickness : 11.1 mm
- Movement : Automatic H-10
- Diameter : 38 mm
- Thickness : 11.5 mm
- Movement : Automatic H-10
- Diameter : 43 mm
- Thickness : 12.6 mm
- Movement : Automatic Calibre 80
- Diameter : 40.5 mm
- Thickness : 13.4 mm
- Movement : Automatic, calibre 1192 (based on ETA 2892A2)
- Diameter : 39 mm
- Thickness : 7.3 mm
- Movement : Automatic H-10
- Diameter : 38 mm
- Thickness : 11.4 mm
- Movement : Quartz
- Diameter : 41 mm
- Crystal : Sapphire
Selection
The 7 watches, one by one
- 01
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best choice
Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38
The watch from the film Interstellar, reissued in a 38 mm size. Under the black dial, an H-10 automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and 100 m of water resistance.
- Movement
- Automatic H-10
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Thickness
- 11.1 mm
- Crystal
- Anti-reflective sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wants an elegant field watch with a story to tell.
The real flaw
No date, and a reputation that owes a lot to the film.
- 02
Photos: Tempus Shop
The lightest
Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto 38
Hamilton’s field watch in a titanium case, noticeably lighter than steel. H-10 automatic movement, sapphire crystal, 100 m of water resistance.
- Movement
- Automatic H-10
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Thickness
- 11.5 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wants to forget the watch on their wrist.
The real flaw
Titanium marks more easily than steel.
- 03
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best diver
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto 43
A real diver, water resistant to 300 m, with a rotating bezel, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and the H-10 automatic movement, on a steel bracelet.
- Movement
- Automatic H-10
- Diameter
- 43 mm
- Thickness
- 12.6 mm
- Crystal
- Anti-reflective sapphire
- Water resistance
- 300 m
Who it is for
Anyone who dives, or who likes watches that get noticed.
The real flaw
A 43 mm case, 12.6 mm thick: you need the wrist for it.
- 04
Photos: Tempus Shop
The diver with a period design
Mido Ocean Star Tribute
A tribute to Mido’s divers of the 1960s, with a 40.5 mm case, a screw-down crown, 200 m of water resistance and the Calibre 80 automatic movement.
- Movement
- Automatic Calibre 80
- Diameter
- 40.5 mm
- Thickness
- 13.4 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 200 m
Who it is for
Anyone who likes the style of vintage divers with a current movement.
The real flaw
A thick case, at 13.4 mm.
- 05
Photos: Tempus Shop
The slimmest
Mido Baroncelli Heritage
An automatic dress watch just 7.3 mm thick, which is rare at this price. It owes its slimness to a movement derived from the ETA 2892, flatter than the usual calibres.
- Movement
- Automatic, calibre 1192 (based on ETA 2892A2)
- Diameter
- 39 mm
- Thickness
- 7.3 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire, double anti-reflective
- Water resistance
- 30 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wears a watch under a shirt cuff.
The real flaw
Water resistant to only 30 m: it fears more than rain.
- 06
Photos: Tempus Shop
The pilot’s watch
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 38
Inspired by the watches issued to British pilots in the 1970s, in a 38 mm size, with the H-10 automatic movement, a sapphire crystal and 100 m of water resistance.
- Movement
- Automatic H-10
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Thickness
- 11.4 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
Who it is for
Anyone looking for a watch with character in a contained size.
The real flaw
A pronounced military style that does not go with everything.
- 07
Photos: Tempus Shop
The way into Longines
Longines Conquest 41 Quartz
The Longines name, a 41 mm steel case, a sapphire crystal and 100 m of water resistance. It is one of the cheapest ways to wear the brand.
- Movement
- Quartz
- Diameter
- 41 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a Longines above all, and a maintenance-free watch.
The real flaw
A quartz movement, at a price where Hamilton and Mido are automatic.
Comparison
The 7 watches side by side
| Model | Movement | Diameter | Crystal | Water resistance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38 | Automatic H-10 | 38 mm | Anti-reflective sapphire | 100 m | €1,075 |
| Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto 38 | Automatic H-10 | 38 mm | Sapphire | 100 m | €1,065 |
| Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto 43 | Automatic H-10 | 43 mm | Anti-reflective sapphire | 300 m | €1,145 |
| Mido Ocean Star Tribute | Automatic Calibre 80 | 40.5 mm | Sapphire | 200 m | €1,140 |
| Mido Baroncelli Heritage | Automatic, calibre 1192 (based on ETA 2892A2) | 39 mm | Sapphire, double anti-reflective | 30 m | €1,170 |
| Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer 38 | Automatic H-10 | 38 mm | Sapphire | 100 m | €1,075 |
| Longines Conquest 41 Quartz | Quartz | 41 mm | Sapphire | 100 m | €1,450 |
Method
How to choose at this price
What you pay for above €1,000
Sapphire, automatic and 100 m of water resistance already exist at €800. Beyond that you pay for a material such as titanium, a slimmer case, better finishing, or the name on the dial.
Hamilton, Mido or Longines
All three belong to the same Swiss group. Hamilton and Mido offer the most for the price. Longines is positioned above them: for the same budget you mostly find quartz.
Thickness matters
A diver often exceeds 12 mm and slides poorly under a shirt. A 7 to 9 mm dress watch goes unnoticed.
Plan for servicing
A mechanical watch is serviced every five to ten years. It is a cost to plan for, one a quartz watch does not have.
Questions
The short answers
What is the best men’s watch under €2,000?
The Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38 is our first choice: an automatic with an 80-hour power reserve, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and 100 m of water resistance, in a 38 mm size.
Can you get a Longines under €2,000?
Yes. The quartz Longines Conquest 41 is around €1,450.
Which dive watch under €2,000?
The Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto 43, water resistant to 300 m, and the Mido Ocean Star Tribute, water resistant to 200 m.
Which slim dress watch under €2,000?
The Mido Baroncelli Heritage: an automatic just 7.3 mm thick.
Do you need to spend over €1,000 for a good watch?
No. A Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 at about €825 already has a Swiss automatic movement and a sapphire crystal. Above that, you are mainly buying a material, slimness or a brand.
Further reading