5 Budget-Friendly Luxury Watches for Christmas and the New Year
Saving money isn’t the only reason you should consider buying a pre-owned watch for a gift at Christmas. Buying a second-hand watch is a nod to the brand’s past but also a way to wear something a little nostalgic on the wrist during the festive period. Having said that, pre-owned watches nowadays are seldom ancient. In fact, many collectors wear a watch for a short period of time before trading it in for another one. It’s a way of working your way up the horological ladder in a more manageable way, rather than spending years and years saving for a brand new luxury timepiece. This often means that the pre-owned watches you come across on the market aren’t all that old. Newer models that have been worn very little allow you to own a watch in mint condition packed with all the modern features you like in a wristwatch. They also make great purchases for Christmas.
Maybe a special someone in your life wants to get into the world of luxury watch collecting but doesn’t know where to start. We already offer some great advice in the guides and articles we publish here at Charles Martin. For more details, you can check out our blog page here. Otherwise, you can always call us for more advice or arrange a time to pop into store and take a look at what’s on offer. Whether your loved one is new to watch collecting or not, a reliable and reputable pre-owned luxury watch stockist is the best place to start your search.
One of the key things to do before you begin your quest to find the perfect luxury watch to gift to a loved one this Christmas is to set out a budget for yourself. It will allow you to shop more enjoyably and without the added pressure of unnecessary expense. Secondly, you may have a brand in mind before you start your shopping experience with us, but if not, don’t worry. At Charles Martin, we stock a range of world-renowned brands. Our stock moves fast, so if you see a timepiece you’re interested in, don’t hesitate to call us and arrange a viewing before it gets snapped up. You can also shop safe in the knowledge that all our luxury timepieces are genuine. Having experienced our customer service this Christmas, it’s a place you’ll likely want to return to for your future watch services. When the time comes for that, you can check out our watch services here.
So, without further ado, it’s time to check out these budget-friendly watches for Christmas from our pre-owned ranges.
Fortis F-43 Flieger watch
https://charlesmartinwatchcompany.com/pre-owned-watches/p/pre-owned-fortis-f43
If there’s one thing I love about Fortis it’s that the brand isn’t too shy to stray away from the norm. Its watches don’t always follow the “rules” so putting a day window on the left-hand side of the dial is pretty unconventional. It’s what gets a watch noticed. This particular model is a limited edition that wears and looks just like a traditional pilot’s watch. The Fortis F-43 Flieger watch celebrates 100 years of the brand with a limited production run. Just 2012 pieces of this design were made available to the public, constituting a pretty rare timepiece to own. Considering its sought-after design, this watch is on sale at Charles Martin Watch Company for just under £2k. Some of the model’s distinctive features include a robust stainless steel case that measures a confident 43mm diameter and a rich black dial that makes timekeeping particularly easy to read under light-limiting conditions.
Inside the Fortis F-43 Flieger watch is a Swiss-made automatic movement, which you can catch a glimpse of by turning the watch over to reveal the caseback. From here, you can admire the performance of the movement as it powers the watch through a sapphire crystal glass exhibition feature. The watch features luminous detailing applied to the Arabic numeral hour markers around the hour track and the central hands. As mentioned, the day aperture is displayed at the 9 o’clock location, balanced by the date aperture at 3 o’clock. The remaining detail on the dial can be found in the minute track around the edge of the display, the triangular pilot-inspired marker at 12 o’clock and the Fortis logo at the top of the dial. This is a great option for anyone with a keen interest in pilot’s watches and will make a great practical tool for a loved one this Christmas.
The Longines Hydroconquest watch
Being as old as it is, Longines is a name widely recognised in the watch-wearing universe and its designs certainly celebrate a long tradition characterised by elegance and performance. The Hydroconquest watch collection belongs to the bigger Sports series by the Swiss brand and is dedicated to men and women who want to experience both the technical innovation and the elegance of a Longines watch, whether that be for underwater purposes or not. If your loved one would benefit from a robust wristwatch to withstand the rigours of daily use outside or when exploring, the Longines Hydroconquest watch is a great option.
The model has been crafted from stainless steel and features various dial colours including blue and black. The dial is surrounded by a unidirectional rotating bezel in a matching colour and can be aligned with the central minute hand. Polished silver hands accompany a set of Arabic numerals and indexes that guarantee superior legibility in the dark or when underwater. This is thanks to plenty of Super-LumiNova material. The steel case itself is water-resistant to 300 meters and comes sealed with an anti-glare and scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass front for ultimate protection over the dial. This diver’s watch from Longines also features a screw-down crown and caseback, along with a robust steel bracelet. Ideal for outdoor-goers and explorers, the Longines Hydroconquest is a watch we often trade with at Charles Martin. For alternative dive watches to the Hydroconquest, however, check out the next model…
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer
At just over £1000, you can’t get better value-for-money than the TAG Heuer Aquaracer watch. The Swiss-based manufacturer has been producing Avant-garde watch designs since 1860 and is synonymous with the sporting world. TAG Heuer is known for its reasonably-priced timepieces. Of course, these watches are even more affordable from the pre-owned market. This model measures a diameter of 41mm and has been crafted from stainless steel, with a unidirectional rotating bezel in steel for measuring time spent underwater.
The watch is available in various dial colours, but I love the timeless appeal of the black and steel model. Plus, it’s guaranteed to wear well alongside any outfit you choose to wear it with. The robust stainless steel bracelet of this Aquaracer has, of course, been designed for use underwater but it looks particularly stylish when paired with formal attire too. The model is now discontinued, which makes it an even more appealing prospect on the pre-owned market. Qualities like its robust case and super-legible dial will appeal to your loved one if they spend a lot of their time outdoors or in the water. The watch is powered by the Calibre 5 automatic movement, which performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivers a power reserve of 38 hours once fully wound.
Generally speaking, the Aquaracer watch by TAG Heuer is a great collection to explore whether you’re buying for a professional sportsman, a keen diver or someone who regularly hikes up mountains. This model is water resistant to 300 meters but some models from the series offer features like a helium escape valve. Others come with a chronograph function. Some TAG Heuer watches even pay homage to an earlier model that went by the reference of 844. These newer versions go by the name of the Aquaracer Professional and were released in the year 2021. They differ from other models in the fact that they feature a newly designed bezel, a different wave-effect dial pattern and come in titanium options too.
Whether you’re buying a watch for Christmas or not, you can always register your interest with us for a particular TAG Heuer model and leave your details with us should we receive one in store. Contact us here (link) for more details.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41
https://charlesmartinwatchcompany.com/pre-owned-watches/p/pre-owned-rolex-oyster-perpetual-41
There is no way this Rolex watch is going unnoticed. Its vibrant red dial can be picked out from the other side of a crowded room thanks to its vivid hue and unmistakable Oyster Perpetual characteristics. The watch has over 90 years of history to look back on. It’s also the perfect companion for any occasion thanks to its versatile design. If you’re looking for a quality wristwatch for your loved one this Christmas and you want to go timeless and classic, look for a watch like the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. Rolex revamped the collection in the year 2020, giving the line-up an array of new colours to choose from. Another great quality of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 is the fact that it’s powered by an in-house calibre for guaranteed precision. The movement is also fitted with a Paraflex shock absorber system. Since 2020, the models from this range have been fitted with an in-house movement that provides an impressive power reserve of 70 hours once fully wound.
One key feature of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 watch is its Twinlock screw-down crown, which protects the internal environment from water damage inside the case. Rolex watches are also highly likely to appreciate in value over time, so given this watch’s price of £13,995 here at Charles Martin, the watch is likely to provide a perfect investment piece for your loved one this Christmas. It may not be the most budget-friendly watch on this list, but it’s certainly a great investment proposition that your loved one is bound to appreciate this year.
The 41mm model features a red dial with baton indexes, luminous-treated central hands and the iconic Rolex logo at 12 o’clock underneath a sapphire crystal glass front. This coveted piece was manufactured in 2021 and comes with the original box and paperwork for investment purposes. To finish, its classic stainless steel bracelet completes the look of this Oyster Perpetual watch and is fitted with a comfortable folding clasp.
Omega Aqua Terra watch
The Omega Aqua Terra belongs to the brand’s much larger Seamaster watch collection and comes equipped with plenty of features for water-based activities, sports or outdoor exploration. Thanks to the values of every Omega watch, the Aqua Terra is developed using superior materials blended with high-tech timekeeping technology. The brand is renowned worldwide for its manufacture of the Co-Axial calibre, which guarantees a smoother and more reliable performance thanks to a design that differs from standard automatic movements on the market. Omega is also known for its unmistakable designs like the Constellation dress watch series and the iconic Speedmaster – the first watch to venture to the moon.
This Omega Aqua Terra watch is a classic-looking dive watch that will appeal to your loved one if he prefers understated watches. The model easily doubles up as a dress watch at night thanks to its silver-coloured dial and stainless steel bracelet. The watch measures a compact 39mm diameter thus it’s a great choice for those with smaller wrists. The watch was manufactured in 1998 and comes with very little visible signs of wear and tear. It also comes with the full paperwork and box for treasuring as an investment piece for years to come.
If you’d like to learn more about any of the watches we’ve featured in this guide to the best budget-friendly watches this Christmas you can call and speak to a member of our sales team today on (enter).