I don’t know about you guys, but when Christmas rolls around, my watch fund is usually depleted due to presents for the Fiance and my parents. My parents like nice things, and so does my fiance, so that usually means the budget for a nice watch or two is gone once I purchase their gifts.

This year is no different. 🙂

What do I do when Christmas comes and I have an itch to buy a watch? Well, last year I didn’t buy anything, but this year, I have decided to cut my budget down to sub $1000 watches. The ones I picked up recently are a Marathon TSAR and a Hamilton X-Wind. I have also picked up a couple of very affordable watches hand assembled by a fellow in the USA. I have been noticing an increase of this kind of maker in recent years. Small boutique in-house watch assembly, perhaps self-taught, but not swiss-trained. The watches are affordable and the movements are not usually Swiss, which is fine since they are usually sub-$300 watches and have their unique charm.

This year of course with the international economic crisis and credit crunch people are being doubly frugal during the holiday season. Wal-mart is the supposed store of choice for Christmas shopping this year. What else can we do to aleviate the need to fulfil the watch craving? Try magazines, or old clocks… Aircraft clocks are in abundance on ebay and can be easily had for under $100. They also have 8 day mechanical movements which make them quite appealing to mechanical watch collectors. Also do not forget Howard Miller mantel and desk clocks. The good ones have 8 Day German made movements, and retail well over $500US, and can be had on ebay for under $200. The quartz variety are much cheaper.

Another watch brand I picked up one of is a Ticino, which is a slightly higher quality Asian manufactured watch than the typical peices from Alpha and Trias, etc. I did also purchase an Alpha for under $50 as well, which I will be reviewing as soon as it comes in. Seeing as I have just gone back to school and am out of a job at the moment, I figured I should not buy any more expensive watches until I start my new job after the new year some time.

So here are some more affordable solutions from the Breitling Source to alleviate those Holiday Watch Spending blues (if you even have them!).

  1. Affordable Swiss Brands (Hamilton, Oris, Marathon, Tissot)
  2. Asian Made watches (Ticino, Seiko, Citizen, Alpha)
  3. USA Hand-Crafted Home-Made Watches (Try Ebay)
  4. Howard Miller Mechanical Clocks
  5. Aircraft Instrument Clocks