Best gift watches under $500
Borna BošnjakThe holiday season is upon us, which means it may be the time you are looking to buy a watch – whether as a gift for yourself or for a family member, friend or that special someone in your life. To make your life easier, we pulled the best watches of the year from our NOW Magazine Buying Guide, just for you. You can find our favourite picks under US$1,000, under US$5,000, under US$10,000, and under US$50,000, so you can be sure that the perfect watch for your special someone is somewhere in there, regardless of budget, or who that special someone is.
Boldr Supply Co. Venture Blue Fuel
Singaporean microbrand Boldr Supply Co. make a serious claim for the best-value watches around. The Venture Blue Fuel is a titanium field watch powered by a Seiko automatic movement, with incredible lume and great attention to detail. Boldr even colour-match the date wheel to the blue dial, something we rarely see on watches many times the price. Lightweight and sturdy, this entire package is a steal at its price point. Price: A$550, US$339
Casio G-Shock Master of G-Land Mudman
Every G-Shock is tough, but the Master of G Mudman may just be the toughest of them all. Equipped with a dual-layer LCD, a whole host of sensors providing altitude, direction, temperature, barometric pressure data, and solar charging, the only thing that may detract from the appeal of the Mudman is its gargantuan size. Having said that, the Mudman mole is engraved on the caseback, making it a cute must-have. Price: A$800, US$380
Autodromo Group C Digital Sport Chronograph
If you’re looking for the perfect watch for the motorsport enthusiast, look no further than Autodromo. At risk of sounding like a sales pitch, the brand has truly captured the hearts of racing fans with every release, including the digital Group C. Taking inspiration from iconic racing liveries of the Group C endurance era and the cars that took part, like the insanely fast Sauber C9 and dominating Porsche 962. Price: A$800, US$475
Seiko 5 Sports 55th Anniversary Bruce Lee Limited Edition
Certain watches become icons because of the people that wear them, and the case of Bruce Lee was no different. The actor and martial artist is to the world of vintage Seiko what Paul Newman is to die-hard Daytona enthusiasts. In fact, there is still an ongoing debate as to the exact variant of the 6139-powered Seiko chronograph the star actually wore. The SRPK39 honours Lee with many subtle touches. Price: A$750, US$495
Baltic HMS 003 Salmon
Just like its chronograph sibling, the new Baltic HMS 003 stands out with its subtly revised design and affordable price point. Distilling it down to just that, however, is a disservice to its well-finished case and intricate dial, and even more so to the carefully executed design. To those with a smaller wrist wishing for a modern watch that feels and wears like a vintage one – this it it, folks. Price: A$725, €360