Balance of status and sports orientation: TOP-5 protected mechanical watches for men

Presented in 2020, the watches of the Japanese manufacturer Orient are positioned as a sports model. At the same time, they are made in a steel case with a diameter of 42 mm and received a metal strap, thanks to which they look harmoniously both in a business environment and in everyday wear.

The Orient RA-AA0001B dial protects the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The screw-down design of the crown will avoid both accidental rotations and problems with water ingress. The model is distinguished by high water protection of the WR200M class: it does not need to be removed from the hand during swimming and amateur diving (shallow dives).

The watch uses a Japanese movement with 22 stones F6922. This is a reliable midrange (makes 21,600 half-vibrations per hour) caliber, allowing a typical daily error by the standards of mechanics from +25 to -15 seconds. It, like most modern mechanisms, supports automatic winding, which allows you to "twist" the crown less often. The power reserve is the standard 40 hours.

The Orient RA-AA0001B dial is complemented by a double window near the three o'clock mark, where the day of the month and the day of the week are displayed. For good visibility in low light conditions, a luminescent coating is applied to the hands and hour markers.

Another useful option of the model is a unidirectional rotating bezel, which can be used as a stopwatch or countdown timer.

Orient RA-AA0001B is a high—quality mechanical watch that can become a worthy (and more affordable) alternative to Swiss analogues.

One of the most affordable mechanical watches in the TISSOT model range is very popular. After all, they are a good way to get a Swiss Made model for moderate money, that is, either to become the owner of a stylish executive class accessory, or to make someone a really status gift.

The attractive appearance of the TISSOT T106.407.11.051.00 is emphasized by the satin polishing of the fixed bezel, the original second hand with a T-shaped counterweight acting as a reference to the brand name, as well as a black textured dial. Among other design features, it is worth highlighting the transparent back cover, a recessed crown with a company logo and a laconic steel bracelet that goes well with the ears of the case.

The watch received a Swiss mechanical movement Swissmatic with 19 stones and a car factory. This is the basic solution in the branded line, which in fact ensures good accuracy of the stroke (an error of up to 10 – 15 seconds per day). But the main feature is an excellent power reserve — 72 hours, so at the factory, for example, on Friday, you can count on the clock not to stop on Monday morning. At the same time, the mechanism is not serviced, so in case of problems, it will have to be changed entirely.

The dial, which in addition to the three hands has a date window, is protected by sapphire crystal. It is also located on the back side of the case. WR100M class water resistance will allow you to swim and take bath procedures without taking off your watch.

Among the disadvantages, the observers of the model note that the numbers and dots on the bezel do not 100% coincide with the corresponding marks of the dial. However, if you keep silent about this, then many users do not notice such inaccuracy at all.

TISSOT T106.407.11.051.00 is not only a relatively affordable Swiss Made mechanic that emphasizes the status of its owner, but also a convenient watch that does not have to be wound up often.

The watches representing the Presage line of the Japanese company Seiko are made in a modern design. The main features of the design of the model include a white base of the dial, blue arrows and a laconic bezel. The back cover received a transparent sapphire crystal (as well as the dial itself) and provides a screw connection with a steel case. It is complemented by a steel strap with a folding clip-on closure.

The Seiko SSA303J1 uses a proprietary manufacturing mechanism with a 4R57 car factory. It consists of 200 components, of which 29 are stones that win against the background of metal bearings in terms of wear resistance. There should be no complaints about the accuracy of the clock: the maximum daily error, usually, does not exceed 20 seconds. In addition, for precise adjustment, when the crown is extended, the second hand stops (stop-second function).

The classic appearance does not negate a good level of water protection: the model withstands pressure up to 10 ATM, that is, it is definitely suitable for swimming in pools or open reservoirs.

In addition to the central second, hour and minute hands, the watch is equipped with a retrograde pointer — a power reserve indicator Power Reserve, which is also located on the main axis. It will clearly show when you need to manually start the mechanism. At the same time, the passport power reserve is 41 hours.

Another interesting feature of the model was an additional mini-dial (near the 6 o'clock mark). It serves to display the date of the month, acting as an alternative to traditional windows.

Seiko SSA303J1 is a Japanese—made mechanical watch balanced in terms of quality and price, which stands out against the background of analogues with an original and functional dial.

Despite its relative youth (the Epos brand officially appeared in 1983), the manufacturer belongs to those companies that take care of the rich Swiss watch traditions. And the Epos clock 3401.132.20.15.25 confirms this.

The transparent back cover of the model allows you to consider one of the original chips — a decorated mechanism with the presence of "Geneva stripes" Cotes de Geneve — a decorative pattern in the form of vertical stripes. Previously, Swiss craftsmen resorted to a similar processing method to remove small scratches that appear during assembly. Today it is a tribute to traditions, an element of decoration, as well as one of the signs of high—class mechanisms. By the way, the black dial of the model is decorated to match the Geneva stripes on the mechanism.

Epos 3401.132.20.15.25 uses a Swiss Made chassis with an ETA 2824-2 car factory. This is a running caliber with 25 stones and a power reserve of around 42 hours, which by Swiss standards has long earned the status of a reliable "workhorse" or even a "noble trotter", because with proper adjustment it is used even with certified chronometers. In our case, it is only slightly inferior to this status, but still provides the user with a high accuracy class. So, in fact, the daily error is usually less than 4 seconds (and the maximum allowable deviation does not exceed +/— 15 seconds).

The watch is made in a steel silver case with a diameter of 43 mm and received a leather strap. A similar version in a golden design is also on the market — Epos 3401.132.24.15.25 . In the watch you can swim and dive underwater without scuba gear (withstand up to 10 atmospheres).

The dial, protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, provides three main hands. They are complemented by fluorescent lighting and a window of the day of the month near the 3-hour mark.

Epos 3401.132.20.15.25 is a stylish and precise mechanic that can impose competition on many famous Swiss brands.

The representative of the AIKON series of the premium Swiss brand Maurice Lacroix is not just a status watch, but also a practical watch. Thus, the dial is covered with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and the excellent tightness (WR200M waterproof class) of the steel case makes it possible to engage in both swimming and diving in them (at moderate depths up to 20 metres). There is also a strap made of durable calfskin with a butterfly clasp and an Easychange quick replacement system.

The spectacular appearance of Maurice Lacroix AI6008-SS001-330-1 is emphasized by a black dial with satin finish and a pattern of Clous de Paris ("Paris nails"), as well as a transparent back cover that allows you to see the clockwork. By the way, it is also decorated — the so-called "Geneva stripes" Cotes de Geneve are used.

The ML115 automatic mechanism with 26 stones and a power reserve of up to 38 hours acts as a mechanical filling of the watch. Fans of the brand already know him — he also "works" in the diver model Maurice Lacroix PT6248-SS001-330-1 and other Maurice Lacroix watches.

From the point of view of reliability and accuracy, it is identical to the ETA 2824-2 caliber, since it was created by Swiss craftsmen on the basis of its full analogue Sellita SW200. Thus, the stroke error should not exceed a few seconds per day.

The watch is equipped with three hands and a window displaying the day of the month. If additional functions are required, then you should pay attention, for example, to a related model with a chronograph — Maurice Lacroix AI6038-SS001-131-1 . A special rhodium coating is applied to the hands and hour markers, providing illumination in the dark.

The price of Maurice Lacroix AI6008-SS001-330-1 cannot be called affordable, but that's why they are premium-class Swiss watches, which not everyone can boast of. At the same time, among the mechanical models of the branded line, they are among the most affordable today.