Chronograph under £2,000

[Deckert]

I have my 50th birthday coming up soon and my family have agreed to buy me a watch to add to my collection.
Budget is £2,000, hopefully a little lower.
I'm a sucker for a nice three dial chronograph so thats what I'm looking for. Requirements are:
42mm maximum
15mm height maximum
Automatic or hand-wound, not quartz
Bracelet or leather I'm not overly fussed

I really want a Speedy Pro but they are out of reach, but that gives you an idea of the sort of thing I'm after.

So far i've found:
Christopher Ward C60 Chronograph - I like but 17.2mm tall is way too much
Brellum DuoBox - I like but am unsure about the box shape crystal

I'm just not familiar enough with makes of watches to know where to look. Has anyone got any other suggestions I could start to look into (I couldn't see an auto Tag I liked within the budget) ?
Thanks

Edited by Deckert on Monday 23 November 10:07

[dxbtiger]

Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope?

Jura watches have them on offer at the moment I see.

Something less dressy, they have a few Sinn options under 2k as well.

[WhisperingWasp]

https://www.jurawatches.co.uk/collections/maurice-...

?

ETA sorry missed the 42mm bit.

Edited by WhisperingWasp on Monday 23 November 10:27

[Barchettaman]

Decent budget!

Here’s a left-field choice that night appeal.

https://www.guinand-uhren.de/series-155/serie-155....

Guinand were set up by the founder of Sinn, apparently. They’re also just down the road from me here in Frankfurt.


Having said all that I would also recommend you have a look at the Newmark 6BB and the Bulova Lunar Pilot. Both quartz I know but both really nice.

[Deckert]

Thanks all, some really good suggestions there, I am going to put them all in to a list.

[mikees]

The thing is that you will always want a Speedie Pro whatever you buy. So better to wait and get what you really want?

[vixen1700]

Barchettaman said:

Decent budget!

Here’s a left-field choice that night appeal.

https://www.guinand-uhren.de/series-155/serie-155....

Guinand were set up by the founder of Sinn, apparently. They’re also just down the road from me here in Frankfurt.

Nice choice, I have a silver 155 and it's a lovely bit of kit. The blue version must have been released very recently!

Keeping the German theme: https://www.stowa.de/en/Chronograph+1938+bronze.ht... The Stowa 1938 which is a lovely looking thing.

[Podie]

43mm...

Tissot Heritage 1973...

[Riff Raff]

if you like Speedmasters, a Sinn 103 perhaps? 41mm.



https://www.chronomaster.co.uk/watches/sinn-103-st...

[Deckert]

I like the more simplistic look of the Stowa.
The highly domed acrylic crystal on the Sinn scares me a bit , i think the watch looks great but that crystal looks vulnerable.
I need to see that Tissot in real life, i like it, i wonder if it might be too long lug-to-lug for my wrist.
Lots of ideas to put in to the mix, thanks.

[timberman]

https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Junghans-...

[timberman]

https://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/Oris-Arti...

a bit over budget but I think worth the extra

I've had an Oris TT1 chronograph for years , still enjoy it even though it is a bit big for my wrist

[WhisperingWasp]

This is lovely:
https://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/6957196/

Edited by WhisperingWasp on Monday 23 November 17:40

[mackay45]

I picked up a Speedy Pro a few months ago for £2.2k, so I'd say you should be able to get one for around your budget. Mine has barely left my wrist since I bought it

[Dicky Knee]

You may not want to go pre-owned but there are some great watches to be had and if you decide to trade in against an Omega in the future you should get a big chunk of you money back.

Zenith El Primero is a highly regarded chronograph movement and used by Rolex in their early Daytona models.

Zenith El Primero:

https://www.hackettwatches.com/watch/zenith-port-r...

Limited Edition Sinn:

https://www.chronomaster.co.uk/watches/pre-owned-s...

Another Zenith (slightly smaller dial):

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/zenith/zenith-el-primer...

[gregs656]

mackay45 said:

I picked up a Speedy Pro a few months ago for £2.2k, so I'd say you should be able to get one for around your budget. Mine has barely left my wrist since I bought it

That would be my suggestion too, although prices for full size speedmasters seem quite strong at the moment.

[GC8]

mikees said:

The thing is that you will always want a Speedie Pro whatever you buy. So better to wait and get what you really want?

Remember too, that these were a max. £1750 watch until the financial st hit the fan in 2009. Most used prices are highly speculative, but every now and then you see one more realistically priced.

Used price used to be around £1,000...

[bigandclever]

I like ...


Enamel dial, lovely.

https://amjwatches.co.uk/seiko-presage-chrono-srq0...

No idea about seller, but £1300 is £700 off rrp.

[wombleh]

There is a Sapphire version of the 103, might be the“st sa”. Sinn 356 is smaller flieger style chrono in similar price range.

Damasko dc56 in that price range is probably more robust and has flat sapphire.

Marloe just released a chrono that’s a bit marmite but maybe worth a look if you like the Christopher ward one. https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/pages/atlantic

Farer also do one that’s fairly thin and bit like a stylised speedy: https://farer.com/products/moritz-chronograph-spor...

Edited by wombleh on Monday 23 November 19:27

[Mr.Chips]

Marloe have recently launched a new chronograph, it looks lovely.