TOP 5 Swiss mechanical watches for a budget of $1000

Representing the Pro Diver line of the Invicta brand, the watches are solutions for fans of swimming and recreational diving. They are characterized by high water protection class WR200M, which means you can swim and scuba dive in them to a depth of up to 20 meters.

The Invicta Pro Diver Men 8928 is also ready for water sports thanks to its screw-down crown. Another feature for different types of activities is the date window near the three o’clock position. It is complemented by a magnifying lens, which is designed to improve the visibility of the current day of the month.

The appearance of the watch has something in common with the legendary Rolex Submariner. Both the case and the strap are made of stainless steel, and the main accent is the blue bezel, which stands out against the background of the main silver and gold design. The dial base also received a dark blue color. Against its background, golden hands with a luminescent coating are clearly visible, so there will be no difficulties with reading the time. By the way, the bezel is not just for beauty: it rotates, so it can replace a timer or stopwatch.

The Invicta Pro Diver Men 8928 also looks impressive from the back, because it has a transparent back cover.

The “heart” of the model is the mechanical caliber NH35A. This is a fairly popular mechanism, often used in entry-level and middle-class watches. It is self-winding, equipped with 24 jewels and has a moderate power reserve of 41 hours.

The caliber itself was produced not in Switzerland, but in Japan - by the reputable concern Seiko. This is partly the reason for the very affordable price of the watch, both for the “mechanics” of a Swiss brand.

If your priority is high water resistance and practicality rather than the Swiss Made label, then the Invicta Pro Diver Men 8928 is a very interesting option.

Watches from the manufacturer Certina are distinguished by their classic metal design. Both the bracelet with a folding clip and the case of the model are made of silver stainless steel. The hour markers and three hands echo them in color. And they, in turn, are clearly visible against the background of the black substrate. Plus, for better visibility in the dark , the hands are coated with Super-LumiNova.

In addition to displaying the time, Certina DS Action Day-Date C032.430.11.051.00 is always ready to remind the owner of the current date and day of the week. A matching double rectangular window is located next to the three o'clock position.

The watch is equipped with a mechanical caliber Powermatic 80.621. First of all, this is a Swiss movement, and the Swiss Made marking is an unspoken confirmation of its reliability. In addition, the caliber has earned the status of a “marathon runner”, since its power reserve reaches 80 hours. Well, if there is active physical activity, the user will not have to wind the watch manually at all, because there is an automatic winding mechanism.

By the way, you can observe the work of the “mechanics” in the Certina DS Action Day-Date C032.430.11.051.00 with your own eyes, since the back cover is transparent.

The model represents the signature Aqua line, which includes watches with high water resistance. The parameter stated here in the WR200M will be sufficient for most use scenarios, with the possible exception of deep-sea diving.

Another feature is the high-quality protection of the dial from scratches, because it is offered not mineral, but sapphire glass.

Certina DS Action Day-Date C032.430.11.051.00 is a high-quality Swiss “mechanics” with good water resistance and an excellent power reserve.

In 2021, the watch joined the T-Sport line of the TISSOT brand and is positioned as a sports model. The additive in the name Seastar indicates that they are perfect for diving. Thus, water protection corresponds to the highest parameter WR300M, so TISSOT Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 T120.407.11.041.02 are ready even for deep-sea diving.

To increase water resistance, a screw-down crown is offered here. And another confirmation of the diving status of the model is the bezel that rotates only counterclockwise. For example, it will help control the air reserves in the cylinder, eliminating accidental turns towards adding time.

The watch is characterized by wear-resistant and durable design. The case is made of stainless steel, and the dial is protected by sapphire crystal, which combines standard transparency with high scratch protection. Matching them is the black bezel ring, which is made of lightweight but wear-resistant ceramic.

The blue backing of the TISSOT Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 T120.407.11.041.02 goes well with the main design colors (black and silver) and contrasts with the hands and hour markers (which, by the way, have a luminescent coating applied to them). And the role of a stylish designer feature is given to the original Milanese bracelet.

The status of the model is emphasized by the automatic movement Powermatic 80.111. This is a Swiss Made caliber with 23 jewels and an extended power reserve of up to 80 hours. Accordingly, the clock can “sleep” all weekend and continue to run properly on Monday.

Other features worth highlighting are the transparent back cover and the original display of the day of the month. The date window is located next to the “six” and has a round rather than the usual rectangular shape.

TISSOT Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 T120.407.11.041.02 is a great choice for divers and all those who are looking for a “mechanical” that does not need to be started often.

A representative of the Land series of the Luminox brand, it is the heir to the popular field watch among military watches. From them, Luminox 1901 received an additional 24-hour scale, a practical leather strap and informative dial illumination. Moreover, it uses not a traditional luminescent coating, but more advanced tritium cones located on the hour markers and two hands (hour and minute). This type of illumination is brighter, does not require recharge from a light source and lasts up to 20–25 years.

The watch is quite large: diameter 44 mm and thickness 14 mm, which is not typical for classic field models. They have a reliable sapphire crystal and a case made of 316L stainless steel : they are not afraid of scratches, dust, or water. Water protection up to 20 atmospheres allows you not only to swim, but also to scuba dive to a shallow depth. Therefore, Luminox 1901 is suitable for various types of activities, including sports, travel, hiking, fishing or hunting trips.

The watch is equipped with a 3-hand mechanical caliber SW220-1 HH5. This is a Swiss Made movement manufactured by Sellita with automatic winding and a power reserve of up to 41 hours. The caliber boasts 26 jewels, which are characterized by increased wear resistance compared to conventional bearings. Also, this “mechanics” is characterized by an increased frequency of semi-oscillations (28,800 thousand per hour), which contributes to increased accuracy.

In addition to showing the time, the watch can replace the calendar, telling you the day of the week and the day of the month: a rectangular window with this information is located next to the “troika”.

Luminox 1901 is a reliable Swiss watch, ready for difficult operating conditions and intense loads.

As part of the Passion series, the Swiss from Epos offer elegant watches that go well with business clothes and more. The 41 mm diameter case is made of stainless steel with beveled polished edges. The black leather strap is notable for its embossing imitating crocodile skin. The blue backing also looks impressive in Epos 3501.132.20.16.25, against which the silver hour markers and hands are clearly visible.

There are also various related variations on sale. They differ both in the materials used to make the strap and in the color of the dial. You can choose the most classic model, like Epos 3501.132.20.15.25, and a brighter version, for example, Epos 3501.132.20.13.30.

The watch looks stylish not only from the front. On the back there is a transparent cover that reveals the clock mechanism. It stands out in terms of design thanks to its Cotes de Geneve pattern. Such decor is considered a tribute to rich watchmaking traditions and a characteristic feature of high-quality “mechanics”.

By the way, the ETA 2824-2 caliber used in the watch is not only decorated. It is equipped with 25 jewels, has automatic winding and a decent power reserve of 42 hours. The mechanism is of the high-precision category (frequency 4 Hz or 28.8 thousand vibrations per hour), so the user has the right to count on minimal movement errors, usually amounting to only a few seconds per day.

The metal case of the model is complemented by sapphire crystal, which perfectly resists scratches. Protection against water is also at a decent level, because with the WR100M indicator in the watch it is permissible not only to take a shower, but also to swim in the pool. Among other features, it is worth highlighting the presence of fluorescent backlight, a date window near the “three” and a classic clasp with a buckle.

Epos 3501.132.20.16.25 is a high-quality Swiss Made watch with a balanced ratio of attractiveness, reliability and cost.