A small history of watches and some advices for purchasing the perfect watch. 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition, 42mm bronze case, dark green woven fabric Nato strap. If you’re jaded with watch cases in brushed steel, white/rose/red gold, titanium, ceramic, carbon fibre et al, take a look at this adventurous offering from Montblanc in bronze. Inspired by the spirit of early 20th century mountaineering, the 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition is dedicated to the Seven Summits climbing challenge to conquer Earth’s highest peaks; and only 1,858 of this model will be manufactured. Beneath its rose gold hands, the outdoors-friendly khaki dial displays the date, a second time zone and two rotating globes representing the Northern and Southern Hemisphere’s 24-hour time zones with day and night depicted in contrasting colours. The rugged khaki woven Nato strap further enhances its explorer credentials — how far you venture with it is your call.

Let’s move on to the under 1000 USD category. When Swatch launched the Sistem51 — an autonomously assembled automatic movement boasting a 90-hour power reserve — it was a revelation, but its plastic case limited its appeal. Now you can get the same movement cased up in stainless steel, making it a more versatile option for everyday wear. No list of dirt-cheap watches is complete without the Seiko 5. Originally launched in 1963, the 5 has cultivated a feverish following amongst watch fans for its utilitarian mechanical movement and the value it provides. The Seiko 5 comes in many iterations, and the “Sea Urchin” dive watch is one of our favorites. In addition to using Seiko’s workhorse 7S36 automatic movement, it comes adorned with a unidirectional countdown bezel and steel bracelet.

This handsome, traditional timepiece pays homage to Tissot’s iconic 1943 collection. The Heritage boasts a topstitched leather strap with a stainless steel buckle closure to keep it steady and stylish on your wrist. The clean-brushed dial and vintage hands on the face also complement the watch’s vintage appeal. The Swiss-quartz movement ensures time accuracy to within a few seconds a year, and at 42mm, it’s understatedly elegant, calling for quiet attention rather than loudly seeking it. While being huge fans of the Jazzmaster series, we’ve also discovered another inexpensive Hamilton model that’s worthy of occupying space in your watch case. The Khaki Aviation Pilot combines some vintage design elements and Swiss ingenuity, while the brown croco-embossed leather accessorizes well with any pair of brown dress shoes, fitting snugly on the wrist.

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