Tissot, Vigilo, Michel Herbelin, Swatch, Baltic Seiko, Awake, Yema: watches for less than 400 euros
It is possible to find beautiful and nice watches without breaking the bank. Here is a special selection of timepieces for less than 400 euros.
TISSOT GENTLEMAN QUARTZ: AN ELEGANT WATCH FOR YOUR WRIST
In our article New dials for the Gentleman Powermatic 80, we presented the new automatic versions of the Tissot Gentlemen Powermatic 80 Silicium collection. Now, in his video about watches for less than 400 euros, Frank Sans C has revealed a model that is powered by a Swiss quartz movement and displays a blue dial (or a black and silver dial). Available with a brown leather strap (350 euros), this edition holds a 316L stainless steel case of 40mm diameter and is sustained by curved horns, which certainly ensures more comfort for the wrist.
Everything helps to ensure good legibility: indeed, Dauphine hands contrast the refined dial, markers are covered in a luminescent material and the date aperture is placed at 3 o’clock. Quite impressive, the Tissot Gentleman is a watch to wear on any occasion, whether to match an elegant suit or a casual outfit with a sweatshirt and sneakers. It also has good value for money, which is very important.
Price: 350 euros, leather strap – 380 euros, stainless steel strap
Technical details:
316L stainless steel case
40mm diameter, 8,5mm thickness
Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
Water-resistant up to a 10 bar pressure (100 m/ 330 ft)
Swiss quartz movement with EOL function (ETA F06.115)
Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Battery type Renata 371
Blue dial
Polished and satin-finished hour markers with white Super-LumiNova® pigments
Faceted Dauphine hands and covered in white Super-LumiNova® pigments
Applied chapter date aperture
Polished and satin-finished steel strap with 3 links. Black or brown cow’s leather with contrasting stitching.
Butterfly clasp with push buttons
Read our technical data sheets on the Tissot Gentleman collection watches.
VIGILO L20: LIMITED EDITION
You guessed it; this is certainly one of the meaningful encounters of 2021. But the fact that one of the designers of this Swiss brand is the son of a friend of mine has nothing to do with it (or maybe in an unconscious way, who knows?). But it would be diminishing his talent (which he doesn’t lack a bit!). Also, the comments on my video about watches for less than € 500 have confirmed that I made the right choice, since that was the first time that I presented a Vigilo watch and people who bought it have left enthusiastic comments. The barrel-shaped case brings a cool and trendy look to the watch but what I specially like is the “soft touch” of the strap. Indeed, the element that is most in contact with the body is the strap, so it has to feel confortable to wear it. The featured model has been chosen for the perfect harmony between the three colours: ecru dial, brown strap and PVD pink gold case. It certainly gives a seductive look to the watch. Now, I am looking forward to the “full colours” watches they have announced…
Vigilo L20, limited edition of 100 pieces: € 289
SWATCH X PEANUTS: A BEAUTIFUL COLLABORATION
That is exactly why we love Swatch: for its fanciful touch and collaborations that hit the target and send us back to happy memories of our childhood. The new collection Swatch x Peanuts is certainly no exception. Charles M. Schulz’ emblematic characters have taken over the set of Frank Sans C.
It was a nostalgic moment, on the set, when the three models of this colourful partnership were revealed. Featuring black and white drawings of the mischievous dog, the Grande Brachetto (Gent version) also comes with a matte black strap and case. The happy partnership is symbolised by the print of the Swiss flag. Snoopy is also featured on the dial of the HeeHeeHee edition (New Gent), on which the glass of the case makes it look like the character is wearing a cosmonaut’s helmet. It seems like a small detail but it is an important one since Snoopy is NASAS’s mascot and that a “Silver Snoopy Award” is presented to employees that have significantly contributed to the human space flight program.
The watch is also available in a Maxi version of 210 cm (380 euros), which you will see on the next videos of Frank Sans C since he bought one. The First Base (New Gent) pays tribute to members of the Baseball team. A dysfunctional team whose adventures were really funny. Special detail on the dial: the lollipop hands feature a baseball glove and a baseball at their end (Woodstock and Snoopy’s bowl are featured on the blue model’s hands).
All the watches feature a bio-sourced material case and a silicon strap with different colours. Collectors who want to buy all of the models will receive a free display frame.
Read our technical date sheets on the Swatch X Peanuts collection.
Technical details:
Quartz movement
Bio-sourced case material
Silicone strap
Plastic clasp material
Price:
Gent model: 80 euros
New gent model: 95 euros
MICHEL HERBELIN EQUINOXE: SEDUCTION GARANTEED
This is the perfect urbanite watch. The Michel Herbelin Equinoxe, powered by a quartz movement, displays a simple but original design. Indeed, the eye catching 39mm diameter stainless steel case displays longs horns that enhance the round-shaped case. The gold leather vintage strap with cream-coloured stitching perfectly matches the anthracite grey dial. As a result of its sun-brushed guillochage at the centre of the dial, this model shows delicacy and hypnotises us. For greater legibility, the watch also features two long hands, big Arabic numerals and a date at 6 o’clock.
Price: 380 euros
Technical details:
316L polished stainless steel case
Sapphire glass
Diameter: 39 mm
Water-resistant up to 50 meters
Anthracite matte dial, sun guilloché in the centre and circular-brushed on the edges
Silver Arabic numerals and markers
Silver hour and minutes hands, covered by luminescent material
Date aperture at 6 o’clock
Functions: hours, minutes, date
Gold leather bracelet and sellier stitching
Ardillon buckle
Swiss quartz movement (11 ½ RONA 715)
Read our technical data sheets Michel Herbelin.
YEMA RALLYGRAF MICHEL VAILLANT: A WATCH FOR HEROES
Comic books are celebrated with this 39mm diameter stainless steel chronograph worn by the main character Michel Vaillant in the latest “Pikes Peak” album released last October (volume 10 of the saga). While intimately linked to car races, the Rallygraf features two blue sub-dials (hours and minutes) inspired by the v-shaped front bumper of the character’s first racing car in the “Le Grand Défi” comic book released in 1959. Its tachymeter bezel measures the average speed over a given distance.
Equipped with a mechanical-Quartz hybrid calibre, this instrument is powered by a quartz movement that measures time while a mechanical module controls the chronograph’s hand. Featuring a Rally-style leather bracelet (like some glove compartments or wheels) and blue and red stitching (it’s a French brand, I’ll remind you!), the watch will certainly seduce lovers of beautiful mechanical pieces.
Price: 399 euros
Technical details:
Polished 316L stainless steel case
Diameter: 39mm
Thickness: 13,10 mm
Lug: 20 mm
Circular brushed steel tachymeter bezel
Pushed crown with YEMA logo embossed
2.00 mm K1 mineral double domed crystal
Water resistance: 10 BAR/ 330 feet / 100m
Quartz movement
Seiko VK64 calibre
Mechanical-quartz hybrid calibre
32,768 Hz frequency
60 seconds chronograph
Functions:
Hours, minutes, seconds
Date at 6 o’clockDouble counter chronograph, minutes, hours
White matt dial, REHAUT vaillant blue
Applied markers in polished stainless steel
Green luminova markers
Polished stainless steel hands
Perforated black leather bracelet
Clasp with engraved YEMA logo
SEIKO 5 SPORTS 140th ANNIVERSARY: SPORTIVE SOUL
Founded by Kintaro Hattori in 1881, the Japanese watch brand Seiko is celebrating its 140th anniversary by releasing four emblematic watches that built the brand’s reputation across the years. Among them, the steel version of the Seiko 5 Sports with a luminous white dial with a unidirectional rotating bezel and LumiBrite on blue hands and markers. This 42,5 mm edition is powered by an automatic calibre that ensures a power reserve of 41 hours. The watch is very attractive thanks to its sportive look and good price. It is a shame that there is no edition number engraved on the case back, when we know that there are only 11,000 pieces in the world…
Price: 300 euros –limited edition up to 11,000 pieces
Technical details:
Stainless steel case and bracelet, three-fold clasp with push button release
Hardlex glass
See-through screw case back
Diameter: 42,5 mm, thickness: 13,4 mm
Water resistance: 10 BAR
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Calibre 4R36
Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour (6 per second)
Power reserve: 41 hours
24 jewels
AWAKE: ECO-RESPONSIBLE AND SOLAR POWERED
Awake La Bleue
For his new video, Franck Sans C has selected two Awake watches, one of which we already know all about. First watch ever that is made with recycled fishing nets, the 38 mm timepiece has become the Maison’s icon after president Emmanuel Macron was spotted wearing one during the G7 Biarritz summit in 2019. Rightly nicknamed “la Bleue”, the eco-responsible model, with a solar powered calibre and a battery that doesn’t need to be changed, is the symbol of oceans protection. A very important initiative for the brand.
Price: 195 euros for la Bleue
Technical details:
Movement: Solar technology developed in Japan
Power reserve: 4 months
Case: recycled fishing nets
Diameter: 38 mm
Thickness: 7,7mm
Weight: 26g (case only)
Water resistance: 10 ATM
Glass: mineral with anti-reflective treatment
Strap: nylon developed from recycled plastic
Awake AW.01 Urban Jungle
New model for this year: the urban Jungle is available with a 42mm case powered by a photovoltaic movement equipped with a power reserve of 6 months. The watch is eco-responsible and its cement-coloured nylon case perfectly matches the khaki strap fabricated with recycled plastic bottles and the vegetable leather loops. A model cut out for the urban jungle.
Technical details:
Movement: photovoltaic
Power reserve: 6 months
Case: nylon
Diameter: 42 mm
Thickness: 11mm
Weight: 29g (case only)
Water resistance: 5 ATM – 50m
Mineral glass
Strap: phoenix with recycled plastic bottles
Price: 280 euros for the Jungle – limited up to 70 pieces
BALTIC HMS002: VINTAGE SPIRIT
Sometimes I fall in love at first sight with some brands. That was the case with Vigilo and it was also the case with Awake and Baltic.
The Baltic that I have selected (38mm diameter) is a sight for sore eyes; I really love the shades of grey, silver and the presence of distinct materials (brushed/sanded) that match perfectly the blue colour of the “leaf” hands and the strap. As for design, the staggered case middle is nice for its relief effects that make it easy for the eye to concentrate on the “sector” dial. As for its looks, the watch has a very vintage style and its mineral glass highlights it even more. An Italian calf leather strap and an automatic calibre displaying 42 hours of power reserve complete the beautiful set that collectors will be able to add to their hunting list.
Price: 399 euros
Technical details:
Stainless steel 316l case inspired by the step cases of the 1940s
38mm (diameter) x 47mm (lug to lug)
Lug width: 20mm
Thickness: 12mm
Automatic movement miyota 821a
Domed mineral glass
Leaf hand
Sector dial
Water resistance: 5O m (5 ATM)
Italian calf leather strap
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