Bang for Your Buck: 5 Outstanding Watches under INR 3 Lakh

Mechanical luxury watches demonstrate precise craftsmanship and timeless elegance. Indeed, these timepieces represent the peak of horological perfection. However, hefty price tags can be a tad daunting for watch enthusiasts who are thinking of building a collection from scratch. So, here’s a curated list of relatively affordable — priced under INR 3 lakh — luxury timepieces that can kickstart your journey as a collector.  

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TAG Heuer Carrera Date

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When you're considering a watch with a 29 mm case diameter, you're generally looking at options that lean towards a more classic or vintage style. This watch comes in a 29 mm stainless steel case with a polished bezel. It gets a blue sunray-brushed dial and a date window at 6 o’clock as well. The sunray look is created using a particular polishing procedure that involves brushing the dial with a tiny abrasive substance in a radial pattern, from the centre towards the periphery. This results in lines that reflect light differently, depending on the angle, giving the dial a lively, dynamic look.

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This model is powered by the Calibre 9 automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve. The timepiece is finished on a stainless steel strap with a stainless steel push-button folding clasp. This watch is water-resistant for up to 100 metres and features an anti-reflective sapphire crystal to protect the dial. 

Price - INR 2,70,000 (approx.)

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RADO True Round Automatic Open Heart

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An open-heart watch features a dial with a cutaway, offering a view of the movement’s escapement or other moving parts. The timepiece cutaway deserves extra attention. An artistically carved "8" is boldly offset towards the middle of the dial of the watch. The 40 mm watch has a polished black high-tech ceramic monobloc casing and crown. Its black PVD-coated titanium caseback with sapphire crystal provides a clear view of the movement.

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It has a black sunray dial with rose gold-coloured bevels, a grey printed minute track, rose gold hour markers with white Super-LumiNova, and a rose gold-coloured second hand. A classic rose gold-coloured Rado moving anchor is presented on a black backdrop, with the brand's emblem inscribed on the dial. The watch is powered by the Rado calibre R734, which has an 80-hour power reserve. The open-heart movement has an antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring and a sunray guilloche finish. The watch is completed on a polished black high-tech ceramic bracelet with a titanium 3-fold clasp.

Price - INR 2,44,000 (approx.)

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Frederique Constant Highlife Avener

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Frederique Constant collaborated with French singer and producer The Avener to create the watch. This 432-piece limited-edition watch features a 39 mm stainless steel case. The watch has a black diamond-like carbon (DLC) casing, a black dial, bright black coating, and a date display with a black backdrop at 6 o'clock. Only the hands and the hour markers stand out to indicate the time. The sound wave pattern is concentric, spreading out from the centre in a tribute to the Geneva-based Manufacturer's popular sunburst finish; The Avener has symbolically repurposed this in the shape of an electro finish, from which only the frequency display emerges in glossy relief.

Powering the watch is the FC-303 (Base SW200) movement with a 38-hour power reserve. Each piece carries a message that is close to the artiste’s heart: a ‘tempo', which means 'return to the original pace', at 6 o’clock, above the date window. The model is completed on a black strap. Each timepiece comes with two tool-free interchangeable straps, the first with a choice of steel or black rubber and the second with the option of rubber or nubuck, both in black.

Price - INR 2,21,000 (approx.)

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Seiko Prospex Great Blue Sumo Scuba PADI Special Edition

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The Seiko Prospex Great Blue Sumo Scuba PADI Special Edition is a compelling 45 mm stainless steel watch that blends durability and practicality with an eye-catching design. Designed for diving enthusiasts, this watch symbolises the spirit of discovery and pays homage to Seiko's relationship with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). 

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The bezel's light blue minute hand and scale provide excellent readability even in deep water. The dial features eight dots, one triangular and two bar-shaped hour markers as well as a date window at 3 o'clock. It operates on an in-house mechanical 6R35 calibre movement, delivering 70-hour power reserve, and is water-resistant for up to 200 metres. 

Price - INR 1,10,000 (approx.)

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Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 40 mm

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The Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 40 mm is an impressive dive watch known for its robust design and reliable performance in challenging conditions. The watch has a 40 mm stainless steel case, a comfortable fit for a variety of wrist sizes. It strikes a balance between being large enough for easy readability and being not too bulky, which is ideal for both casual wear and diving.

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The vertically brushed dial fades from blue to black and has a date window at 6 o’clock; the hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova. The watch is run by the Powermatic 80 automatic movement, notable for its 80-hour power reserve, which is quite impressive and ensures that the watch can run for over three days on a full wind. This watch is finished on an interchangeable stainless steel bracelet or a black tropical strap.

Price - INR 70,500 (approx.)‍