Good mid-level brands

[jakesmith]

I've just become aware of Christopher Ward, Steinhart, they seem to make some very nice looking gear, are there any others were you can get a bloody nice quality watch for £300-£700ish mark - not so much big players like Seiko but newer entrants to the market

[ZesPak]

I like my Magrette, offers a lot for the cash and a distinct style.

Speaking of which, they just made their first bronze watch.

Damn tempting tbh:

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 11th February 15:40

[lostkiwi]

ZesPak said:

I like my Magrette, offers a lot for the cash and a distinct style.

Speaking of which, they just made their first bronze watch.

Damn tempting tbh:

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 11th February 15:40

Their second bronze watch...
Although technically it was made from brass Magrette offered a free case swap to bronze for anyone wanting bronze.
This was the first one (and I have one in my drawer).


Magrette are excellent. I now have two - the Bronze and the Kara. Love them both but especially the Kara...
I'm hoping to get an engraved one at some point.

Update : that's a prototype - the production one the crown was at 3 o'clock.

Edited by lostkiwi on Monday 11th February 16:11

[lostkiwi]

OP, also take a look at Mühle Glasshütte. Slightly out of budget but exceptional quality.

[-crookedtail-]

Have you heard of the Zoretto Jota? A 1000m, ETA 2824-2 powered dive watch for around £500, looks to get good review online in a sea of micro brands. Although looks rather large if you have small wrists.

I quite like the vintage look to it.

[guindilias]

Those Magrettes are stunning - I hate gold watches, as a rule, but that bronze is just perfect. So I went to their page and my wallet is $300 lighter on a pre-order for the Moana Pafica Waterman Bronze. 42mm is the absolute maximum size I can wear without looking like the watch is wearing ME, but the shape of it makes it look more 40mm ish, perfect for me.
Also one of the few watches that look better on a leather strap - a bronze strap would be too "steampunk" - and probably leave you with a green tattoo on your wrist.
Thanks, Zespak!

[lostkiwi]

guindilias said:

Those Magrettes are stunning - I hate gold watches, as a rule, but that bronze is just perfect. So I went to their page and my wallet is $300 lighter on a pre-order for the Moana Pafica Waterman Bronze. 42mm is the absolute maximum size I can wear without looking like the watch is wearing ME, but the shape of it makes it look more 40mm ish, perfect for me.
Also one of the few watches that look better on a leather strap - a bronze strap would be too "steampunk" - and probably leave you with a green tattoo on your wrist.
Thanks, Zespak!

You won't be disappointed. They are lovely.
I can see one being on my shopping list this year too.

Edited by lostkiwi on Monday 11th February 20:58

[Phil.]

Stowa - excellent quality classic designs.

https://www.stowa.de/

[MrVert]

Certina are also nice and good quality.

https://www.certina.com

[T6 vanman]

MrVert said:

Certina are also nice and good quality.

https://www.certina.com

Another vote for Certina - bought one over x-mas and very impressed, Ball do some very nice watches but buy at sales time as they are always on sale somewhere, Slightly over price but my Meistersinger exudes quality for the price

[Wildfire]

ZesPak said:

I like my Magrette, offers a lot for the cash and a distinct style.

Speaking of which, they just made their first bronze watch.

Damn tempting tbh:

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 11th February 15:40

Ooooo... I am tempted to order that!!

[anonymous-user]

lostkiwi said:

ZesPak said:

I like my Magrette, offers a lot for the cash and a distinct style.

Speaking of which, they just made their first bronze watch.

Damn tempting tbh:

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 11th February 15:40

Their second bronze watch...
Although technically it was made from brass Magrette offered a free case swap to bronze for anyone wanting bronze.
This was the first one (and I have one in my drawer).


Magrette are excellent. I now have two - the Bronze and the Kara. Love them both but especially the Kara...
I'm hoping to get an engraved one at some point.

Update : that's a prototype - the production one the crown was at 3 o'clock.

Edited by lostkiwi on Monday 11th February 16:11

They look a bit like Homages to me.

First one Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre and second very Panerai.

[marcosgt]

Timefactors.com do a nice selection of micro-brand watches (the just released Aerotimer, a homage to the Blancpain Air Command looks very nice).

I know some here don't find always Eddie Platts particularly easy to deal with (I always have, I have to say), but the quality of his watches are excellent.

I also recently bought a Schaffen Watch via a Kickstarter, but you can buy them directly now.

I was very pleased with my watch.

Certina do make some good watches, I bought one of their moonphase quartz watches and I'm very pleased with it,

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

They look a bit like Homages to me.

First one Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre and second very Panerai.

Well, I guess they have dials, winders and hands.... I think you're looking a bit too hard, most watches have elements you can find in other watches, if you look really hard.

They're like motorcycles, everything has a tank, a saddle, handlebars and two wheels! On that basis, a Ducatti is just a homage to a Yamaha FS-1E!

Aside from a bezel, I can't see much similarity between the Spectre and the Magrette at all!

M

Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 12th February 16:35

[lostkiwi]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

They look a bit like Homages to me.

First one Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre and second very Panerai.

Can't see Omega there at all. As for Panerai the case shape is about all. On that basis you could claim every Rolex is a homage to Seiko....

[vixen1700]

Phil. said:

Stowa - excellent quality classic designs.

https://www.stowa.de/

Another vote from me. Excellent quality, design and not forgetting their customer service.

[Barchettaman]

Maen look a decent competitor for, say, a Steinhart:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/maen-hudson-38-a...

However for my £500 I’d get an Orient Mako and a BOTR Seiko Presage, plenty of bases covered with those two.

Edited by Barchettaman on Tuesday 12th February 23:01

[jakesmith]

MrVert said:

Certina are also nice and good quality.

https://www.certina.com

Thanks this is all very interesting reading
I think Certina is most what I am looking for - less so the blatant homages but there are lots of more original and slightly quirky designs on there for £400-£600 the sort of thing I could buy as a little treat without getting in too much trouble

[ZesPak]

guindilias said:

Those Magrettes are stunning - I hate gold watches, as a rule, but that bronze is just perfect. So I went to their page and my wallet is $300 lighter on a pre-order for the Moana Pafica Waterman Bronze. 42mm is the absolute maximum size I can wear without looking like the watch is wearing ME, but the shape of it makes it look more 40mm ish, perfect for me.
Also one of the few watches that look better on a leather strap - a bronze strap would be too "steampunk" - and probably leave you with a green tattoo on your wrist.
Thanks, Zespak!

You won't be disappointed. I love mine.
But now I want that bronze one.

[VEX]

ZesPak said:

I like my Magrette, offers a lot for the cash and a distinct style.

Speaking of which, they just made their first bronze watch.

Damn tempting tbh:

Edited by ZesPak on Monday 11th February 15:40

That is stunning, especially having looked at the website and the blue/bronze is amazing, so different but so works.

[anonymous-user]

lostkiwi said:

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

They look a bit like Homages to me.

First one Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre and second very Panerai.

Can't see Omega there at all. As for Panerai the case shape is about all. On that basis you could claim every Rolex is a homage to Seiko....

Just the first thing that popped in my head when looking at them. The Omega bezel is pretty distinctive IMO.