“Affordable” and “luxury” are two words that rarely mix. When it comes to the world of luxury watches, the two may seem even further apart due to the sterling reputation of brands like Rolex, Omega, and Seiko.

Despite that, there are entry-level luxury watches that combine the high-end features and craftsmanship you’d expect from luxury watch brands with affordable prices.

Below, we break down a few of the best affordable luxury watches on the market. Of course, “luxury” and “affordable” mean something different to everyone. For the purposes of this article, we define affordable as between $1,000 and $7,000. But don’t worry if that’s out of your price range — we also discuss a creative way to save up for a luxury watch.

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You may think that shopping for affordable luxury watches means you’ll miss out on iconic brands. However, thanks to Rolex’s Datejust you can wear high-end history on your wrist at an entry-level price point.

The Datejust has had features like the self-winding waterproof chronometer since it was released in 1945. However, what set it apart was that it was the first wristwatch with the date displaying at 3 o’clock on the dial. A few years later, Rolex added a magnifying “Cyclops” lens above the face, and a legend was born.

The Datejust bracelet comes in three distinct styles, two consisting of three links and one with five links, and uses Rolex’s exclusive Rolesor design. That means that the bezel, the winding crown, and the center bracelet links are made of everose or yellow gold with the rest of the watch made from Oystersteel.

There are endless options for the face of this timepiece such as diamonds, mother-of pearl, and colors as well as index and Roman numerals. All that beautiful craftsmanship is backed up by Rolex’s precise Calibre 3235 self-winding movement that offers shock and magnetic field resistance.

Price: $7,000 to $20,000+ 

Tudor’s 1926 combines the options of a modern luxury watch with the classic elegance of a dress watch. Unlike Rolex’s Datejust, the Tudor 1926 has an option for leather bands to accompany a polished steel bezel and a waterproof case rated for up to 100 meters.

There are also plenty of options for customization on the face, like arrow-shaped hour markers, silver and opaline Arabic numerals, and odd-numbered hour markers set with diamonds to name a few. Of course, with a high-end brand like Tudor you get a reliably precise self-winding Caliber T201 mechanical movement with a 38-hour power reserve.

The Tudor 1926 comes in 28, 36, 39, and 41 mm sizes with all available for rose gold finishes. 

Price: $1,900 to $5,000+

Cartier is another iconic name that stands out even among luxury watch brands. The Must de Cartier line came from the “Quartz Crisis” of the 1970s, and as a result is a great example of luxury watches adapting to the watch world.

You may know Cartier for their angular and other distinct watch shapes and sizes, but the Ronde Must de Cartier plays on the classic round shape with a leather strap or steel bracelet that can be fitted to your wrist.

Along with the timeless face that uses Roman numerals, blue sword-shaped hands, and a sapphire cabochon to stand out, the look of the Ronde Must de Cartier is backed up by a quartz movement and a water resistance rated for up to 100 feet in sizes of 29, 36, and 40 mm. 

Price: $2,700 to $5,000+

A common issue for those who are buying entry level high-end watches is that watch enthusiasts find a watch with the right price tag, buy it, and then find that they’ve bought a dress watch that’s too flashy or expensive to wear often.

The NOMOS Club Automatic combines all the perks of buying from luxury watch brands with minimalist design that provides excellent wearability. In fact, the NOMOS Club Automatic is a dive watch with water resistance of up to 200 meters.

Of course, this watch looks great, too thanks to a stainless steel case, domed sapphire crystal glass, and galvanized white silver-plated dial hour numerals. Functionality is still just as important as looks thanks to a DUW 5101 automatic caliber with a power reserve of up to 42 hours, and rhodium-plated hands that stand out in a crowd — and in the dark. You can also customize your Club Automatic with a textile band or sport bracelet. 

Price: $3,500 (starting)

Say hello to Seiko and the SBGA211, otherwise known as the Snowflake. If you’re unfamiliar with Seiko, then the Snowflake is a great entry-level watch to introduce you to their brand. 

One of the most distinct features is the dial of the watch and its unique texture that looks like wind-blown snow. On top of the unique dial, the Snowflake adds a blued steel second hand, while a Caliber 9R65 powers the watch with a 72-hour power reserve. 

The case measures 41 mm, and the high-intensity titanium bracelet provides a light, durable surface that is scratch and corrosion resistant. Plus, the Snowflake has a 100 meter water resistance rating.

Price: $6,200

OMEGA is another name that will ​​immediately stand out to watch collectors across the world amongst luxury watch brands. The De Ville line is one of OMEGA’s most popular collections due to how variable and versatile the watches are.

The line includes everything from the Ladymatic (which was among the first self-winding watches made for women) to the Tourbillon (the first manual-winding central tourbillon to receive Master Chronometer certification). There are dozens of OMEGA De Ville timepieces, so you could build an entire watch collection around them. 

Price: $4,000 (starting)

Named after the grueling Carrera Panamericana race across Mexico, this watch proves that Tag Heuer combines the best of luxury and adventure in their watches.

Although there are several chronograph versions of the Carrera, the Carrera Date model is one of the best watches on the market. It combines a fixed steel bezel and case with a steel crown, so the watch is strong enough to be rated for water resistance of up to 50 meters. 

The Carrera Date also comes with a steel bracelet and a Caliber 7 automatic movement and a 56-hour power reserve, so this watch functions just as well as it looks. Tag Heuer also offers a leather version of the bracelet and several different dial designs so that you can customize your watch to your exact tastes. 

Price: $3,200 (starting) 

Oris is a classic Swiss watchmaker whose name promises precision and reliability. In fact, Oris is known among luxury watch brands for their innovative 1938 “big crown” design that allowed pilots to adjust their watches while wearing bulky leather gloves. Oris applied that same focus to their famous dive watch.

The Divers Sixty-Five lives up to its name, with a water resistance rating of up to 100 meters. The case is made from stainless steel and the dial has a date window, instantaneous date, and date corrector along with automatic winding with a 38-hour power reserve to make this one of the most reliable entry level luxury watches on the market. 

The Oris Divers Sixty-Five is also customizable thanks to sizing that ranges from 35 mm to 43.5 mm, multiple dial colors, as well as leather, rubber, stainless steel, and textile band options. 

Price: $2,500

Since Longines made their first chronograph in 1878, their sport watches have been worn by those pushing the boundaries of alpine skiing — and the Conquest lives up to that reputation.

The Conquest combines Swiss craftsmanship and an elegant yet durable design with a water resistance of up to 300 meters. The Conquest’s look is just as strong as its stainless steel case that can be paired with a black or brown leather band or a stainless steel bracelet. Plus, you can opt for a black, silver, or sunray blue to compliment the Arabic numerals that measure hours, minutes, seconds and the date with a quartz L157 caliber movement. 

Price: $900 (starting)

The best way to save on luxury watches 

Even though this list focuses on entry-level luxury watches, many will still need to save in order to purchase one without building debt. Fortunately, Accrue Savings makes it easy to do just that by rewarding those who save.

In fact, Accrue partners with Bezel, Vincero, myGemma, and Kiefer to make it easy to save for your luxury timepiece. All you have to do to take advantage of it is create a target savings goal, deposit your first dollar, and then make deposits at a schedule that fits you.

If you follow those steps then our partner brands will kick in a percentage of your savings to help you reach your goal faster. Once you do, you’ll be able to buy your luxury watch with a preloaded virtual debit card.

Save up to earn $200 for your watch with Accrue Savings

Affordable luxury watches may seem unrealistic at first thought, but with proper research and budgeting you can afford a beautiful watch that fits your tastes and lifestyle perfectly.

Accrue Savings makes it even easier for you to save for your next timepiece. See how Accrue and our partner brands can help you take a high-quality watch from your dreams to your wrist!

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