These 5 affordable two-tone watches have all the swagger, but just a little bit of the cost

Zach Blass

Affordable two-tone watches as a segment is a bit of an oxymoron, considering once gold enters the mix, prices skyrocket. Just a precious metal bezel ring can result in a price increase of a thousand dollars. But two-tone does not necessitate solid precious metal in the mix, and whether or not two-tone necessitates gold colour at all is up for discussion. That being said, we know most people searching for two-tone watches are looking for a mix of steel and gold, and these five affordable watches deliver the bi-metal look, all under the entry-level luxury benchmark of US$3,000.

Citizen Corso

Offering Oysterquartz Datejust vibes, the Citizen Corso offers robust elegance at a very attractive price. Like all the other watches on this list, no actual precious metal is used. In the case of the Corso, the entire watch is stainless steel, but the crown, bezel, and Jubilee-like bracelet incorporate gold-tone. Measuring 40mm in diameter, the Corso offers 100 metres of water resistance and is powered by Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology that will allow the watch to run continuously thanks to the power of light. For someone’s first analogue watch, the Corso is a solid place to start. Price: US$300

Seiko 5 Sports SRE004

So, I totally get it’s less likely you’re searching for a 28mm diameter watch. But, I think it is worth highlighting that Seiko offers a two-tone automatic in such a size for just US$350. Far too often, watches of this scale are left with a quartz movement. Though there’s nothing bad about quartz, for those who prefer teeny-tiny watches for their wrists, it’s nice to know the romance of a mechanical movement is on the table. The stainless steel SRE004 measures 28mm in diameter, 11.2mm thick, and 33.1mm lug-to-lug – basically the width and length of a Cartier Tank Normale. Inside, you have an in-house, 40-hour automatic 2R06 movement with both day and date complications. If this one is just a tad too small, that’s totally fine – I would direct you towards the larger SRPK22. Just know, however, that despite its size, the SRE004 is 100-metre water-resistant and lives up to the Seiko 5 Sports name. Price: US$350

Mido Ocean Star 200

If you prefer a rose gold tone over a yellow gold tone, the Mido Ocean Star 200 is a stellar option to consider. The power of the Swatch Group is its shared expertise in which base calibres are upgraded in-group to deliver high spec at a lower cost. The Ocean Star 200 is a 42.5mm steel dive watch, 11.8mm thick, with 200 metres of water resistance secured by a screw-down crown. Inside, you have an 80-hour automatic movement with more stamina than anything offered by a Wilsdorf family watch, and this Calibre 80 also adds further intrigue with both day and date indications colour-matched to the black dial. Price: US$1,100, available from the Time+Tide Shop

Longines Hydroconquest

Longines is a storied Swiss brand, rich in heritage. But in the modern era, the brand is best known for comfortably living just above and below the entry-luxury price-point. This Hydroconquest is an example of a Longines offering well below the entry-luxury US$3,000 benchmark, yet it delivers a lot of the things more expensive dive watches offer. Measuring 41mm in diameter, 11.9mm thick, and 51.1mm lug-to-lug, the watch certainly wears on the larger side (best suited for average to above-average-sized wrists). It’s rated 300 metres water-resistant with a screw-down crown, and has a dial-matching ceramic bezel insert less often seen at this price point. Inside, you have an L888 automatic with a weekend-proof 72 hours of power reserve. Price: US$1,550

Frederique Constant Highlife COSC Automatic

The most expensive watch on this list offers two distinct value-adds. First, the Frederique Constant Highlife COSC Automatic is, well, COSC-certified to run within +6/-4 seconds per day. This COSC-certified automatic movement is also notably an in-house movement as well, though its 38 hours of power reserve is by no means record-breaking. Second, it’s the only watch on this affordable two-tone list to come with two interchangeable integrated straps: a stainless steel bracelet with rose gold tone centre links and a brown rubber strap. The Highlife COSC Automatic measures 41mm in diameter and 10.84mm in thickness with a compact lug-to-lug length, and it is a surface-swimming-safe 50 metres water-resistant. Price: US$2,595