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For watch enthusiasts, starting a collection can seem daunting and complicated, especially when it comes to automatic watches. Which model to choose? How to buy a quality timepiece without spending too much? These questions come up often.
To help you in your watchmaking quest, the Swiss Made Watch Magazine has gathered here 10 models of different styles, all carefully selected. Reliable parts with a relatively versatile design, offering excellent value for money!
Whether you’re an avid novice or a seasoned collector looking for affordable new pieces, these watches will get you started or continue your collection without breaking the bank.
Swatch System51 Col-Ora – SUTB408
We start this selection with the Swatch brand and its Sistem51 Sistem Col-Ora SUTB408 watch. A long and complicated name for a contemporary model which, on the other hand, is intended to be rather minimalist. On the white dial, subtle hints of color appear at the stick indexes. For the rest, monochrome with black hands filled with white luminescent material, and a discreet date window at 3 o’clock.
The most eccentric will appreciate the originality of the back of this watch which is adorned with streaks multicoloredwhile showing some parts of the movement.
For the structure, the piece remains sober with a plastic case 42 mm black, as well as a comfortable black textured silicone strap with vertical ridges.
A modern, simple and versatile automatic watch!
Swatch Sistem51 Col-Ora SUTB408 on Swiss Made Watch.com
Citizen Vintage – NJ0100-71L
This creation of the Japanese brand Citizen displays a rather sporty look with its structure in stainless steel and its 42 mm tonneau case. This frames a striped blue dial whose retro allure counterbalances the contemporary simplicity of the rest of the watch. Above, the time is indicated using sword-shaped hands and a fine second hand, to which is added a date window at 3 o’clock.
Fans of nautical and aquatic activities will be delighted to learn that this watch is waterproof up to 100 meters, leaving a good margin for their leisure activities at the water’s edge.
Finally, on the movement side, this model is equipped with an in-house 21-jewel caliber, the Citizen 8210with an oscillation frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of approximately 40 hours.
Citizen Vintage NJ0100-71L on Swiss Made Watch.com
Pulsar – PL4045X1
This automatic men’s watch from Pulsar is adorned with a large 42 mm stainless steel case and comes with a chic genuine leather strap black alligator style. It incorporates a rather singular dial with its light gray smoky background in the center then black around the edge, the whole is magnified by a sunburst finish. Navigated by simple metal hands and indexes, its face is accompanied at 3 o’clock by a day-date window on a black background.
The timepiece is driven by the caliber Y676an automatic movement close to the famous 7s26 from the Seiko factory, guaranteeing a power reserve of 41 hours.
This piece will delight anyone looking for a modern and elegant watch to wear on a daily basis.
Pulsar PL4045X1 on Swiss Made Watch.com
Zeppelin LZ127 Graf Zeppelin – 7656-2
For those who prefer pieces of vintage-style, this automatic watch from Zeppelin is a very nice option! It features a 40 mm stainless steel case whose rounded lugs are connected to a black leather strap with alligator stitching.
On the dial, we recognize the mark of the German brand with its logo in the shape of an aircraft and its classic Arabic numerals whose golden coating is also found on the luminescent hands. The words “Automatic” appear at 6 o’clock and a window indicates the date on a white background at 3 o’clock.
The timepiece carries on board the caliber Miyota 821Aa 21-jewel automatic movement with an oscillation frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of 42 hours.
A perfect model for retro lovers!
Zeppelin LZ127 Graf Zeppelin 7656-2 on Swiss Made Watch.com
Citizen Crystal Seven Mechanical – NH8390-03XE
We return to the Japanese brand Citizen with the Crystal Seven Mechanical NH8390-03XE. A watch that looks like an adventurer with its brown calfskin strap and its superb green dial emerald with a sunburst vignette finish.
Above, the design is somewhat reminiscent of that of a compass with its fine cross lines, meeting around a central point on which are deployed luminescent hands and indexes. The date is indicated in an aperture traditionally located at 3 o’clock.
The 40.2 mm case of this timepiece is made of stainless steel and houses the Japanese caliber Miyota 8200-CTQ, a precise and reliable automatic movement offering practical day date complication.
Crystal Seven Mechanical watch NH8390-03XE on Swiss Made Watch.com
Zeppelin LZ129 Hindenburg – 8062-5
Retro again with Zeppelin for this LZ129 Hindenburg 8062-5! On the program, a superb brown alligator-style leather strap paired with a round stainless steel case 40 mm in diameter.
Colors that go wonderfully with the beige background on which the hour hand is easily identified thanks to its openwork circle. Each of the elements of this dial plays on finesse, including the small date window whose cutout has been carried out with great delicacy. The whole thing is skilfully orchestrated by the caliber Miyota 821A !
This watch with vintage charm is ideal for anyone wishing to acquire a contemporary creation with an undeniably antique look.
Watch LZ129 Hindenburg 8062-5 on Swiss Made Watch.com
Orient Bambino V2 – AC00009W
We go slightly upmarket while remaining on an affordable price with this piece signed Orient.
A classic watch with a particularly elegant simple white dial, adorned with a delicate railroad and Roman numeral indexes traversed by blued hands. To these are added the brand logo and the date window at 3 o’clock. The whole is overlooked by a curved glass whose shape gives an effect of depth to the dial!
On the structure side, we find a stainless steel case 40.5 mm in diameter as well as a brown leather strap.
At the heart of this Bambino beats the Orient F6724 caliber, a 22-jewel movement endowed with a 40-hour power reserve and whose oscillation frequency is given for 21,600 vibrations per hour.
Orient Bambino V2 White AC00009W on Swiss Made Watch.com
Pierre Lannier Evidence – 327B166
This beautiful blue is an excellent choice to start a collection! It is a refined and modern watch, whose navy color is enhanced by astonishing touches of red that can be found inside the leather strap and on some elements of the dial.
The latter is dressed in a sunburst finish featuring simple luminescent indexes and hands as well as three counters: one for the small secondone for the date and one for the power reserve. A harmonious whole that in no way hinders the rather refined appearance of the watch.
The stainless steel case of this tocante measures 43 mm and houses an automatic movement offering 30 hours of power reserve.
Pierre Lannier Evidence Automatic 327B166 on Swiss Made Watch.com
Orient Bambino Open Heart – RA-AG0027Y10B
This magnificent Orient presents, as its name suggests, the particularity of offering a view of its movement via a disc placed between 8 and 10 o’clock. A detail that will appeal to lovers of fine watchmaking!
To highlight this open heart », the brand has opted for a brown dial gradient ranging from light in the middle to dark around the edges, with the addition of a sunburst finish offering delicate plays of light.
Regarding the mechanism of this automatic timepiece, it is the F6T22 caliber, an in-house movement that is both precise and reliable, with 21,600 vibrations per hour as well as a power reserve of 40 hours.
Orient Bambino Open Heart RA-AG0027Y10B on Swiss Made Watch.com
Citizen Mechanical Field – NJ2190-85E
We end this selection of accessible automatic timepieces with a racy model from Citizen. If you are looking for an affordable and efficient diver’s watch, the Mechanical Field NJ2190-85E will allow you to dive up to 100 meters underwater, so that leaves plenty of room for manoeuvre!
Here, the design is resolutely sporty but retains this ability to adapt to everyday life. The large 46mm stainless steel case is topped by a notched bezel that acts as a compass and comes with a bracelet also in steel.
THE black dial features large luminescent hands and numerals for excellent visibility in the dark, as well as a date window at 3 o’clock.
Finally, the crown placed at 4 o’clock makes it easy to adjust the various functions of the watch, while offering optimal comfort on the wrist. Regarding the mechanism, this diver is equipped with caliber 8210, a robust motor with a power reserve of 40 hours.
Citizen Mechanical Field NJ2190-85E on Swiss Made Watch.com
Between discreet dressy pieces and models with a more sporty and bestial character, there is now a wide range of possibilities offering you the opportunity to start a collection of watches without breaking the bank! A real gateway to the watchmaking world, the models presented here will allow you to taste the pleasure of wearing, on your wrist, a beautiful accessory developed in the purest tradition.