Mid level brands, which do you prefer?
I'd be interested to know what all you watch folk think when it comes to mid level brands. I'm thinking of your brands that typically have pieces in £500 to £1500 price range although I'm sure some of the brands have pieces that fall outside.
I'm thinking of brands such as #oris #christopherward #tissot #tagheuer #longines #hamilton #rado or #sinn
Tell me what you prefer and why? Bonus points for pics.
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James
Watch fan, collector and addict. Fully paid up member of the itty bitty wrist committee and pleased to see watch sizes getting back to normal. Check out my Instagram for Watch related pics Just_a_watc...
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Christopher Ward, Oris, Tag Heuer, Sinn. Last one still not in my collection. But planned.
https://www.watchcrunch.com/JaroWinti/posts/the-most-particular-dial-in-my-collection-what-is-yours-1808
https://www.watchcrunch.com/JaroWinti/posts/big-watch-on-a-small-wrist-who-cares-1507
Mid level is always hard for me, the sparsest tier of watchmaking. Each of these will have a hit every once in a while, but the mass appeal sizes always make it hard. Honestly, TAG needs more love. They make fantastic and attractive watches at really decent prices, and I'd say they have more hits than others. I think it's time we jumped off the "TAG sucks" bandwagon.
Mid level is always hard for me, the sparsest tier of watchmaking. Each of these will have a hit every once in a while, but the mass appeal sizes always make it hard. Honestly, TAG needs more love. They make fantastic and attractive watches at really decent prices, and I'd say they have more hits than others. I think it's time we jumped off the "TAG sucks" bandwagon.
I do believe it's a very love/hate tier of watches especially as I think a lot of the brands seem to struggle to find themselves and try cover too broad a spectrum.
TAG make some very nice pieces.
I'm a big fan of how many of the Hamiltons look just not the size of them unfortunately.
I don't consider watches by "levels".
All my watches are "top of the line"as far as I'm concerned.
I enjoy my Casio "Royale" as much as I enjoyed my (now gone) Chopard Mille Miglia 2001 version.
I don't consider watches by "levels".
All my watches are "top of the line"as far as I'm concerned.
I enjoy my Casio "Royale" as much as I enjoyed my (now gone) Chopard Mille Miglia 2001 version.
It's just a bit of fun and a way to get people talking about some of the brands that often don't get the love they deserve.
Its fine if you don't see watches in different tiers but many do.
Muhle glashutte, think they deserve more attention. I dont know if they are considered mid tier, but a lot of tgeir watches do fall into that price bracket.
https://www.muehle-glashuette.de/en/
I like how they improved the eta design, some small little touch like sticking the magnifying crystal on the underside, watch hands without counter-balance... Oh and with very small print of their brand name that doesnt scream on the dial 😉
I agree on Mühle Glashütte; Sinn I like, but they are barely in that price range any more.
Hamilton I don't like as a brand, because there are too many models I do not like, and I also do not like their constant marketing via product placement in Hollywood. However, they also have a number of watches I do like. Just browsing their website made me realise that I own a Chinese homage to the Khaki Aviation Day Date H64605531; I was not aware of that, I bought that watch because I liked the design...😊.
Muhle glashutte, think they deserve more attention. I dont know if they are considered mid tier, but a lot of tgeir watches do fall into that price bracket.
https://www.muehle-glashuette.de/en/
I like how they improved the eta design, some small little touch like sticking the magnifying crystal on the underside, watch hands without counter-balance... Oh and with very small print of their brand name that doesnt scream on the dial 😉
Just checked out their site and they have some really nice models in the range at the moment.
Do you have any personal experience with them?
I agree on Mühle Glashütte; Sinn I like, but they are barely in that price range any more.
Hamilton I don't like as a brand, because there are too many models I do not like, and I also do not like their constant marketing via product placement in Hollywood. However, they also have a number of watches I do like. Just browsing their website made me realise that I own a Chinese homage to the Khaki Aviation Day Date H64605531; I was not aware of that, I bought that watch because I liked the design...😊.
I don't mind the product placement or advertising via celebrity endorsement, it's a good way for a brand to advertise I think as long is its not distracting from the brand as a watch maker (looking at you Hublot). It even leads to some real fan favourite models they get it right.
I have watches from three of the brands you mention - a Hamilton Khaki Pilot, Oris Acquis GBR II, a Sinn 104, Sinn 144 and Sinn303. One of the reasons I have more from Sinn is that I feel that they make more compelling watches, however part of it is based on availability. With the exception of the Oris, I bought all of these locally as pre-owned from members of our local watch enthusiast group. Although that forum has offered watches from the other brands you mention as well, I've never found anything compelling enough from them to make me open up my wallet (The Rado Captain Hook has tempted me, as have a couple from Longines).
A shout out for Furlan Marri![]()
A shout out for Furlan Marri![]()
Nice looking piece. I'd have paid more money to have an auto movement in there though over a mechaquartz.
I have watches from three of the brands you mention - a Hamilton Khaki Pilot, Oris Acquis GBR II, a Sinn 104, Sinn 144 and Sinn303. One of the reasons I have more from Sinn is that I feel that they make more compelling watches, however part of it is based on availability. With the exception of the Oris, I bought all of these locally as pre-owned from members of our local watch enthusiast group. Although that forum has offered watches from the other brands you mention as well, I've never found anything compelling enough from them to make me open up my wallet (The Rado Captain Hook has tempted me, as have a couple from Longines).
Really love the look of that Sinn 104. I'd like the white dial varient.
Stowa for me
And also Nomos but I don't have one so I cant say too much about the quality of them personally
Stowa for me
And also Nomos but I don't have one so I cant say too much about the quality of them personally
I don't have a lot of experience with Stowa. Certainly Nomos make some fantastic watches. I think you struggle to get much with a £1500 budget.
Looking at the comments on this topic it becomes clear that some of us view "mid-level" in a different way. For me, the mid-level is not a level I would make experiments and own multiple watches of the kind. Your mid-level is my high-level. This is partially about price (and: disposable income), but also because there are diminishing returns the higher you go: I could not care less whether the movement is nicely decorated, and social media appeal carries zero weight for me anyway. An over-engineered Sinn I can still appreciate, but only as a grail watch, as a one off.
Point taken and rightly so 🙌🏼, so as said its more a price bracket thing woukd be more appropriate. I have acquaintances who only collects watches from holy trinity alike... thats some pieces i would never tap on, i suppose those are the true high tier, haute stuff.
Personally i think any watches pleasing to the eyes that speak to me, with an affordable price tag, those are the watches i should get.
https://youtu.be/E6rb2FnUcu0
I've read a couple of sources. Apparently some time around spring we should be seeing a 35mm PRX.
Gawd.... I cant spend anymore, at least not for a year or so🙈😅
My favourite "mid" level brand is Christopher Ward, followed closely by Marathon and Damasko.
To me, the $500-1500 range offers the best "bang for buck" watches, where you get well crafted watches, with reliable movements, and nice finishing. I have toyed with going up market, but came to the conclusion that spending more on a watch wouldn't make me any happier.
I share the same view, i started getting serious about this hobby with some $4000+ pieces quite some time ago... the longer i dwell, the more value i see from brands like cw, muhle glashutte, damasko, sinn, seiko even.... they are great and just as fun.
Nowadays its very difficult for me to fork out that same amount or more for another piece, it will have to be very unique and i wont be afraid to wear it often, makes me gotta include that into collection.
Mid level is always hard for me, the sparsest tier of watchmaking. Each of these will have a hit every once in a while, but the mass appeal sizes always make it hard. Honestly, TAG needs more love. They make fantastic and attractive watches at really decent prices, and I'd say they have more hits than others. I think it's time we jumped off the "TAG sucks" bandwagon.
Lets see if JCB can do it, great start w/the Autavias!
Really love the look of that Sinn 104. I'd like the white dial varient.
Sinn 104 I St Sa Matte
The Longines Master collection annual calendar is a really good choice!
https://www.longines.com/en-gb/watch-the-longines-master-collection-l2-910-4-77-3
Would you consider Casio a mid level brand all be it they do make a good watch?
On my wages, yes.
There are plenty of Brands and styles in that price range. The swatch group has a good coverage in that price range with Hamilton, Certina, Tissot, Mido and some of the Longines.
I personally like the Formex Essence which falls as well into this price range but most likely wil remain in the way under 500 bucks range
I will stick my neck out and give a shoutout to Edox, popular in Europe but for some reason the brand is rarely available in the U.S. Priced similarly to Mido/Hamilton/Sinn, many of their watches are available in the U.S. through the magic of gray market, the ONLY gray market purchases I make (and, oddly enough, the U.S. Edox service center is just a few miles away from where I live, so if I ever had a problem, I'm covered).
My favorite Edox is probably the most amazing purchase I've ever made, value-wise - this Grand Ocean model from about 15 years ago is a certified chronometer with a great ETA movement, sleek styling, and a superb caseback and rubber strap. I still consider this one of my best watches (I also own Rolex, Tag Heuer and Omega) and I got it for less than $600 thanks to the gray market. Rock solid.
Edox manufactures watches in both quartz and automatics and trust me, the quality is there. My advice: Check out their website, then keep your eyes open. They're worth your time.
There are plenty of Brands and styles in that price range. The swatch group has a good coverage in that price range with Hamilton, Certina, Tissot, Mido and some of the Longines.
I personally like the Formex Essence which falls as well into this price range but most likely wil remain in the way under 500 bucks range
Can I ask where you're finding a Formex Essence under 500 bucks please? It's be very interested in one.
What I ment was, that I like the Formex Essence as it would fall under the "midlevel" range ( 500 - 1500 bucks) but that I will only stay in the lower entry level and only buying watches for under 500 EUR for now....
my apologies if my comment looked like I know a way to get an Essence for under 500 (I wish)
What I ment was, that I like the Formex Essence as it would fall under the "midlevel" range ( 500 - 1500 bucks) but that I will only stay in the lower entry level and only buying watches for under 500 EUR for now....
my apologies if my comment looked like I know a way to get an Essence for under 500 (I wish)
Thank you for clarifying that for me. I got excited then thinking there were Formex out there under 500.
Thank you for clarifying that for me. I got excited then thinking there were Formex out there under 500.
I woud be all over that .... maybe we should pitch the idea to them...hahaha Ill be fine with a NH35 if I get it for under 500...😂
I woud be all over that .... maybe we should pitch the idea to them...hahaha Ill be fine with a NH35 if I get it for under 500...😂
We'd be losing the Cosc certification which is a big part of the charm of it for me. Maybe we just ask them to be nice and lend us one 😂
I will stick my neck out and give a shoutout to Edox, popular in Europe but for some reason the brand is rarely available in the U.S. Priced similarly to Mido/Hamilton/Sinn, many of their watches are available in the U.S. through the magic of gray market, the ONLY gray market purchases I make (and, oddly enough, the U.S. Edox service center is just a few miles away from where I live, so if I ever had a problem, I'm covered).
My favorite Edox is probably the most amazing purchase I've ever made, value-wise - this Grand Ocean model from about 15 years ago is a certified chronometer with a great ETA movement, sleek styling, and a superb caseback and rubber strap. I still consider this one of my best watches (I also own Rolex, Tag Heuer and Omega) and I got it for less than $600 thanks to the gray market. Rock solid.
Edox manufactures watches in both quartz and automatics and trust me, the quality is there. My advice: Check out their website, then keep your eyes open. They're worth your time.
It's nice to see your comment about Edox, I happen to be a big fan of the brand. I have a SkyDiver Neptunian diver and a bronze North Sea 1967 diver and they are always on my wrist. I own an Omega Seamaster and Tudor Pelagos (great divers) but I also really appreciate the 'other' Swiss brands that make quality watches. I also wear Mido, Certina, Rado and Alpina, great watch brands all. To your point, you really don't need to spend a huge amount of money to get a really nice Swiss watch.