How To Find Affordable Luxury Watches

What Makes A Watch Be Classed As Luxury?

In the world of watches, there is a clear distinction between what is considered premium and what is referred to as a standard watch. Luxury watches are all about the precision of the timekeeping, the craftsmanship and the quality of the materials. Even just the brand name can increase a watch's value! Let's take a look into all of the features that give luxury watches their status.

Materials
Using cheap plastic or hollow metals is a no-go. All of the materials used in a premium watch must be of high quality and built to last. Expect classic metals such as gold, platinum and stainless steel across the construction of the whole watch, including the lug, the bezel and the case. Watch bracelets are also crafted with high-quality materials, ensuring maximum comfort and longevity. Even a leather bracelet can be used on a luxury watch if the leather is of high quality. The crystal is another consideration in a luxury watch. The most notable premium watches have a sapphire crystal that is both scratch-resistant and durable.

A luxury watch is very noticeable based on the weight of the watch, however, it is important to look out for fakes.

Watch Movement
The watch movement (otherwise known as the calibre) is the internal mechanism that drives all timekeeping functions of the watch. There are different types of watch calibre, with some considered more illustrious than others due to their precision and craftsmanship. There are two main types of movements: mechanical and quartz.

Whether manual or automatic, mechanical watches are considered to be more luxurious due to the craftsmanship and expertise required for their build. With intricate moving parts and incredible attention to detail, mechanical watches move in a fluid motion that watch enthusiasts consider a premium design.

You can find out more about watch movements and what they mean in our ultimate guide to watch movements.

Premium Watch Features

Although the main function of a watch is to keep the time for a 24-hour day, luxury watches have additional features that give them their premium price points. The bezel, for example, can contain additional features, such as tachymeters, compasses and GMT time recorders to track time across different time zones.

Luxury watches are also suitable for extreme environments. State-of-the-art watches can be resistant to water for activities such as scuba diving and even space exploration activities, something you don't quite get with most standard watches.

The Brand Name
The name engraved on the dial of a watch also has major implications on the price tag. Many of the most luxurious watchmakers have been around for hundreds of years, most noticeably those out of Switzerland. These brands have engraved their names in society as experts in watchmaking, as well as being a part of some of the most historical events to date. Additionally, as some of the most luxurious watch brands have been producing timepieces since the 1800s, they have been known for making highly precise, hard-wearing watches that will last a lifetime and more.

How To Get Luxury Watches At Affordable Prices?
Purchasing a luxury watch can be expensive. With the high-quality materials and the value that these brands hold, having the funds to get a luxury watch is beyond the reach of most. And even if you do have the funds, the waiting list for some of the brands is incredibly long. Due to this high demand and the length of time it takes to produce such technical, hand-made items, waiting lists for luxury watches can be as long as five years.

With all the complications that come with getting your hands on a brand-new luxury watch, it seems inevitable that the price will be unaffordable for most. However, there is a solution. The second-hand watch market is the perfect place to go to find a luxury watch without a waiting list and at a price which is easier on the wallet.

Depending on the demand for the watch and the condition that it is in, you could purchase a luxury watch for as little as £1,000 – a bargain within the luxury watch market.

*Unsure if buying a pre-owned watch is for you, read our guide on choosing pre-owned over brand new watches.

What Are The Best Budget Luxury Watches?

Now we have discussed what makes a luxury watch and how you can get them at affordable prices, let’s explore the watches should you look out for in the second-hand market.

Omega
Omega watches are one of the most luxurious brands, known worldwide for their expertise in watch craftsmanship. Due to their long-established heritage and involvement in some of the most important moments in history, Omega has established a reputation that allows them to set high prices for their watches. This makes it tough to find an Omega watch at an affordable price. Not only that, but finding a pre-owned Omega that is in good condition can be difficult. But by using a reliable watch retailer with a strict quality assessment process like Ramsdens, you can be assured you are getting an Omega watch that is true to its value.

There are many Omega's that can be found at reasonable prices in the second-hand market, such as the Omega Constellation with its uniquely noticeable engravings. Or perhaps you want a mechanical watch, making an Omega de Ville or an Omega Chronostop a perfect choice. Even an Omega Seamaster, with its water resistance and link to the James Bond movies can be purchased for less than £2,000.

With such a large range of watches produced by Omega, there are many more second-hand Omega watches to choose from at a price within your budget.

Breitling
Breitling are another leader in the Swiss luxury watch market. Known for their exceptional precision, every Breitling watch is marked with a 'made by Breitling' label to imply that each watch has passed their strict quality control and is made with the finest of materials. What's more, Breitling has created watches designed for professionals, with many features signalling their expertise in innovative watch production. For less than £2,000, you can purchase a incredible time-pieces such as the Breitling Airwolf, Breitling Aerospace and Breitling Windrider. You could even find a Breitling Colt GMT watch at affordable prices. But if you are seeking some of the most sought-after Breitling models in good preowned condition, you may need to stretch your budget slightly more for the likes of a Breitling Avenger or a Breitling Superocean.

What Are The Best Budget Luxury Watches?

Tag Heuer

Edouard Heuer revolutionized the chronograph watch market, making some of the most innovative watches of their time. Synonymous with motor car racing and a sporty look, TAG Heuer is considered a luxurious watch due to its links with chronograph evolution and its ambition to create the most accurate timekeeping devices. Finding a TAG Heuer at an affordable price may come as a surprise, but it is not impossible. You can find a preowned TAG Heuer with a sapphire crystal and stainless steel case for under £1,000. And for even more bang for your buck, you can find yourself with a TAG Heuer with features such as water resistance and a tachymeter within the TAG Heuer Formula 1 range.

Cartier

If you want to expand your watch collection beyond the Swiss timepieces, look no further than French watch-making specialists Cartier. Renowned for their elegantly stylish watches made from the highest quality of materials, Cartier originally produced extravagant jewellery for high society, a style that is reminiscent within their watches too. So if you are looking for a luxurious watch that is uniquely stunning, but at a price that isn't harsh on your pockets, then a Cartier Santos or a Cartier Tank model may be the perfect fit.

Other Luxury Watches at Affordable Prices

There are many more luxury watchmakers that produce stunningly unique watches, all of which you can find at affordable prices within the second-hand market. Longines watches have a rich heritage, founded in 1832 as a Swiss pocket watch maker, and the Longines winged hourglass logo is considered one of the oldest registered trademarks in the world.

Raymond Weil is another premium watchmaker that produces timepieces just as good as those premium names but at a much more affordable price. Their beautiful watches are constructed with the finest materials and have close ties to legends such as David Bowie and the Beatles. Whether you are searching for a vintage watch for a black tie event or a more sporty look, then Raymond Weil will have a luxury timepiece perfect for your collection.

If you are after a Rolex, you may struggle to find one at an affordable price, even in the second-hand market. However, with strong ties to Rolex watches, Tudor is a timepiece producer that has taken many of the features of the most renowned luxury watches and used it for their own. Every Tudor watch has a mechanical movement and sapphire crystals, providing luxury without the eyewatering price tag.

Pre-Owned Luxury Watches at Ramsdens

Whatever you consider to be a luxury watch, here at Ramsdens, we have a huge collection of watches to suit any budget. Every one of our watches is checked and authenticated by our watch experts, and we even provide the original box and papers with many of our watches.

With demand increasing every year, and luxury watches to take care of your watch. See our watch care and cleaning guide for advice on how to look after your pre-owned luxury watch.

While you may have your eye on a particular luxury watch, or are simply beginning your luxury watch collection, at Ramsdens, we have finance options for many of our pre-owned watches, helping spread the cost over a set period of time. You may even find your perfect premium watch within our selection of watches on sale.

For help choosing a luxury watch, see our watch guides, for all the most practical advice on purchasing the perfect watch.