These are my TOP 5 Best watch collections under $10,000! You’ll find a bunch of amazing affordable watches here that you can mix and match or get them all!
The Best Watch Collection for Maximum Versatility
The first collection lends itself to maximum versatility, and so really I want this to be a collection that is able to be used in any situation and at any time.
Grand Seiko SBGM221
The first watch in this collection is the Grand Seiko SBGM221. It’s a watch that is about $3,700 on the secondary market and I feel you get a tremendous amount of value considering the finishing of the dial, indices, and the hands, and of course, that amazing movement from Grand Seiko.
It’s a watch that has a GMT complication that functions a lot like the Rolex GMT with the jumping hour hand and I love that ivory cream dial. It’s a watch that can be dressed up, or dressed down, and for $3,700, it’s a no-brainer.
Omega Constellation Globemaster
The second watch in this collection is the Omega Constellation Globemaster. It’s a watch that you can get pre-owned for under $5,000. I think it’s absolutely phenomenal considering it’s a Genta-designed watch in a 39-millimeter stainless steel case, which is really just a perfect size, that comes with a phenomenal display movement and a great pie pan dial.
It’s a watch that you can wear every day to frankly any situation and it wouldn’t be out of place. An important note on this watch is it actually has a tungsten bezel, and so that means it’s going to be super scratch resistant unlike, for example, the Rolex Datejust which uses a white gold bezel in the fluted bezel, which is super scratch-prone. And so you get a lot of value for money overall in this piece.
Longines Legend Diver
The last watch for this collection that’s focused on maximum versatility is the Longines Legend Diver. It’s a watch that can be bought pre-owned for about $1,600 and I think you get a lot of value.
It’s a dive watch that’s based on a vintage watch from Longines that I think is really, really well done, but again, that’s super versatile in that it can be dressed up, dressed down, and you ultimately get all the style and history and heritage of the Longines brand.
The Best Watch Collection for Vintage Themed
This next collection is for the type of collector who really appreciates vintage designs, and so all of these really lean themselves to historical inspiration from vintage watches of these brands.
Omega Seamaster 1948
My first choice is the Omega Seamaster 1948. Again, based on a vintage watch from Omega. It’s a very clean and timeless design in that it’s kind of just three hands with an opaline dial that is time only in a design that is classic and timeless.
At 38 millimeters in a stainless steel case, I think this is a really perfect design that makes for a great daily wearer. At that price point of under $5,500 on the secondary market, I think this is a real bargain from Omega.
Tissot Heritage 1948
The next watch is the Tissot Heritage 1948. This is a watch that’s super interesting in its case because it has these wonderfully twisted lugs that I absolutely love.
It’s a watch that definitely evokes a bygone era in terms of watchmaking design. At that price point of under $2,000, I think it actually makes for a watch that is a real bargain.
Tudor Black Bay Fifty Eight
This last watch is one that can really be worn in any situation and certainly evokes that vintage design, and that is the Tudor Black Bay Fifty Eight that was based on the reference 7924 from Tudor, a Tudor Submariner that was originally made in 1958.
I really like the gilt accents, the rose gold hands, and that red triangle at 12 o’clock. I think overall this is an outstanding design that really can be worn in any situation and caps off this collection really nicely.
The Best Watch Collection for the Small Wristed
The next collection is for someone like me who actually has quite a small wrist. At 6.25 inches, it’s hard to find watches that fit my wrist properly. And so this is for that collector that has that smaller wrist and that is looking for great options.
Zenith El Primero A384
This first watch is a super unique watch in its case shape, and it is the Zenith El Primero A384. It’s a watch that can be had for under $6,000 that I think is really great in that it has a really nice panda style dial in a super unique case format in 37 millimeters that really can be worn dressed up, dressed down, and is great for somebody with a smaller wrist.
Now, you can get this watch on the bracelet, but the bracelet is super flimsy, so I definitely recommend getting it on a leather strap. Again, I think it’s a much more versatile piece on that leather strap or you can even throw it on rubber to make it quite sporty.
Tudor Black Bay Fifty Eight
The next watch is one that I just mentioned earlier, and that is the Tudor Black Bay Fifty Eight. But for this collection, I wanted to add a little bit of a pop of color, so I’m picking the blue version.
Again, as I mentioned, it’s a watch that really can do anything and it’s that classic dive watch that is a staple in any collection.
Sector Dial Longines
Last but not least is one from Longines. Longines has really been producing a lot of bangers from their heritage collection and one that I really personally like is the Sector Dial Longines.
I especially like it for this collection in the black dial. It’s a watch that’s time-only, super simple, super elegant, can be dressed up or down, and really caps off this collection nicely because it’s that time-only, wind, set, and wear kind of watch that every collection needs.
The Best Watch Collection for the Large Wrists
Since I just did a collection for the small wristed collectors, I think it’s only fair that I do one for those with a larger wrist, namely ones with a bigger than the seven-inch wrist.
Tudor Black Bay GMT
The first watch in this collection is from Tudor, the Tudor Black Bay GMT, which I think is one of the very best alternatives to a Rolex GMT.
It’s super functional, definitely wears a lot bigger with its 42-millimeter case size and I love that kind of Pepsi-style bezel that I feel is very retro-inspired, yet you get the modern build quality of a modern watch.
Omega Seamaster 300M
The next watch is the Omega Seamaster 300M with the wave dial. I especially like the white one with the black bezel, what I call the Great White or the Polar Seamaster.
I think it’s a great watch under that $4,500 price point that can be dressed up or down and again, it’s that dive watch that can do anything and be in any situation, and it’s a timeless and enduring classic.
Hamilton IntraMatic Chronograph
We have a diver, we have a GMT, and so to cap off this collection, you have to have a chronograph. The one that I would choose is the Hamilton IntraMatic Chronograph. It’s a two-register chronograph with a date at six o’clock that I feel is really well-done by Hamilton, and I think is a great bargain at that under $2,000 price point.
Now, they made both a panda-style version as well as that blue version, which I would pick for this collection just as an added pop of color and to give that versatility that this collection needs.
My Personal Top Watch Collection Under $10,000
Last but not least are my personal picks. If I had to choose a watch collection under $10,000, what would it look like?
Grand Seiko SBGM221
Well, the first watch is the Grand Seiko SBGM221. This is a watch that I mentioned in the first collection and I feel you get a lot of value for money from it.
From that ivory dial to that amazing finishing, I think it’s really a watch that is stunning and that represents a lot of value especially because it’s from Grand Seiko, which isn’t a brand that isn’t necessarily super popular and definitely a watch for the collector in the “know”.
Tudor Black Bay Fifty Eight
Next is the Tudor Black Bay Fifty Eight. I would choose the black version because it would make for a good contrast with the Grand Seiko, and at the end of the day, I really appreciate the vintage style and theme of that watch much more than, for example, the blue version.
Again, the Tudor Black Bay Fifty Eight is that “do-anything” dive watch that I feel every collection needs because it is very robust and really can be worn in any situation.
Longines Heritage Chronograph
And lastly is one of those bangers that I mentioned earlier from Longines – those retro-inspired watches from their Heritage collection. The watch is the Longines Heritage Chronograph. It has a wonderful design with that tuxedo-style dial and a two-register chronograph format, which are my personal favorite.
It’s a watch that’s inspired by a vintage reference from Longines while getting the modern case and movement sensibility of a modern watch. And so you get really the best of both worlds in this watch, not only from a design perspective, but also I feel from a functionality standpoint as it adds that chronograph to this collection.
I think this Longines caps off the collection really nicely in that you get a GMT, you get a dive watch, and you also get a chronograph. So, you really cover all three major functions, all for under $10,000, and all for watches that can be worn every day and in any situation.