Setting your sights on a nice watch can land you in pricey, and sometimes confusing, waters. As price tags head north, value becomes that much harder to pin down. $5,000 is a common benchmark for buying a top-notch watch, one that you’ll wear for a lifetime and pass on to future generations. Unfortunately, this is the high-volume realm of entry-to-mid-level luxury watches, and it’s tricky to navigate.

Any watch you buy at this price should have a few key features that set it apart from the sub-$1,000 category. The biggest question mark, besides an overall look and style that suits you, is the movement: this is mechanical watch territory, so you’ll first want to decide if you want an automatic or hand­-winding movement. The higher the quality of the movement, the fewer the complications you’ll get for your $5,000. It’s a trade-off between complexity and in­-house prestige. Of course, the brand name on the dial will have something to do with it as well.

There’s a good mix of brands present in this category, from well-known names like Omega to smaller companies like Nomos. Unless you want show off the badge, you may find more value in some of the smaller guys. We’re here to help. These are our 10 favorite watches for under $5,000.

Tutima M2 Coastline Chronograph

best watches under 5,000

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The Tutima M2 chronograph is a compelling watch with a military history and unique look. It’s also a beast on the wrist, however, and the Coastline collection was introduced to offer a similar experience but slimmed down to 43mm. Though 43mm still isn’t dainty, a lightweight titanium case will significantly improve its wearability, and matched to an integrated titanium bracelet it’ll be ready for just about anything.

Movement: Valjoux 7750 automatic
Diameter: 43mm
Price: $3,600

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Massena Lab Uni-Racer

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The brand Massena Lab often collaborates with other watchmakers, but the first watch of its own is the Uni-Racer. It’s based on a somewhat rare vintage watch, the Universal Geneve Uni-Compax, but updated in size to 39mm for modern tastes. Of course, it’s also got a modern movement, the manually wound Sellita SW510. It’s a pretty good alternative to the vintage original and costs a hell of a lot less too.

Movement: Sellita SW510 hand-wound
Diameter: 39mm
Price: $3,495

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Tudor Heritage Black Bay GMT

best watches under 5,000

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With in-house movements, top notch quality and a Rolex connection, Tudor watches offer phenomenal value for under $5,000. It’s no wonder they’re as popular as they are, and their success is led by the Black Bay line. And the collection just seems to grow and get better with the likes of bronze versions or the Black Bay Fifty Eight with its reduced size. One of the best reimagines the dive watch line as a GMT with the familiar “Pepsi” style, 24-hour bezel colored red and blue to indicate day and nighttime hours. It’s easily one of the most compelling watches for the money.

Movement: Tudor MT5652 COSC automatic
Diameter: 41mm
Price: $4,050

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Frederique Constant Manufacture Worldtimer

best watches under 5,000

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It’s truly rare to find a true world timer at such an accessible figure; but then, Frederique Constant seems to have a habit of doing these things. You would expect that their Manufacture Worldtimer would be powered by a decorated ebauche from some off-the-shelf supplier. Nope. The 26-jewel FC-718 is an in-house creation. Everything is controlled by the pumpkin crown, with the inner ring rotating to denote just which timezone you want to be tracking. The hours between 18:00 and 6:00 on the inner ring have received a dark blue treatment to denote nightfall and make at-a-glance time checks a cinch. A world map decorates much of the dial, save for the large date indicator at the 6 o’clock position.

Movement: Frederique Constant FC-718 automatic
Diameter: 42mm
Price: $4,195

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Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57

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The Superocean offers the sporty Breitling dive watch attitude with a little dash of throwback charm. With a 42mm case and Breitling’s excellent build and detailing, it comes in a few variations and is powered by the reliable ETA 2892 automatic movement. The brand took inspiration from an vintage model from 1957 and wanted to conceived of the watch as stylistically ideal for surfers with 100m of water resistance.

Movement: ETA 2892-A2 automatic
Diameter: 42mm
Price: $4,380

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IWC Pilot’s Watch Spitfire

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The Pilot’s Watch series by IWC Schaffhausen is one of the most iconic timepiece lines in horology. Gracing the wrists of discerning flyboys since 1936, the range is characterized by its impeccable legibility and dedication to accuracy in extreme conditions. The Spitfire continues this tradition with a robust, new in-house automatic calibre inside its antimagnetic, soft-iron inner case. With a 39mm diameter it sits in the sweet spot, midway between IWC’s Pilots Watch 36 (36mm) and their Big Pilot (44mm).

Movement: IWC 32110 automatic
Diameter: 39mm
Price: $4,450

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Cartier Clé

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The Cartier Clé is slightly overlooked but a compelling watch for those drawn to the brand’s classic style. Clé, which means “key” in French, refers to the non-round crown that’s meant to evoke the type of keys used to set and wind old clocks. Its got a somewhat turtle-like case shape but is excellently proportioned and well sized for a dress watch at 40mm. Inside, it’s powered by the brand’s own in-house automatic movement.

Movement: Cartier 1847 MC automatic
Diameter: 40mm
Price: $4,700

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Nomos Ahoi Datum

best watches under 5,000

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Nomos makes serious watches with award-winning design at a value. Their Ahoi Datum features an in­-house manufactured movement paired with a simple, Bauhaus-inspired aesthetic. The funky font and splash of color subtly adds personality, while the crown guards and 200m of water resistance promise durability. Nomos watches are made in Germany, in the historic town of Glashütte, and you can feel the level of attention that went into each detail.

Movement: Nomos DUW 5101 automatic
Diameter: 40.3mm
Price: $4,780

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Omega Seamaster Diver 300m

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Omega‘s Seamaster Diver 300m has long been associated with James Bond, who likes to wear it with a tuxedo. If you can pull off that look, good for you — but the point stands that it’s pretty versatile as well as having a unique look among dive watches. The newest versions are refined and better looking than ever with a ceramic dial and bezel, and they include the latest technology with Omega’s excellent 8800 automatic movement.

Movement: Omega Co-Axial 8800 automatic
Diameter: 42mm
Price: $4,900

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Grand Seiko Heritage SBGA401

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The Grand Seiko SBGA401 is easily the engineering marvel of this selection of watches. Powered by a self-winding Spring Drive movement, this Grand Seiko features a 72-hour power reserve and is accurate within 1 second per day. This combination of quartz accuracy and mechanical beauty is owed to Seiko’s ethereal, electro-mechanical Caliber 9R65 movement. The intricacies of the Spring Drive’s inner workings are a rabbit hole of horological geekery; it essentially combines elements of both traditional mechanical movements and quartz accuracy. It also offers a genuinely smooth sweep of its seconds hand.

Movement: Seiko Spring Drive 9R65 automatic
Diameter: 41mm
Price: $4,900

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