A little history of watches and some advices for buying the perfect watch. After its successful launch in 2018, Victorinox announces the second mechanical iteration of Inox, its sports watch line known for almost comical toughness — tests include being blasted by corrosive liquids and run over by a tank — while maintaining a cool, streamlined aesthetic. As its name suggests, this version is made from a carbon composite, something also used to protect space shuttles from atmospheric re-entry at temperatures that can exceed 1,260°C, where presumably checking the time would be the last thing on your mind. Scratch-resistant, hypoallergenic and with Super-Luminova detailing on the dial and the strap, it somehow weighs in at just a fraction under 100g. One of the toughest watches on this planet then, now fully space-proofed.

Let’s move on to the under 1000 USD category. While the circa $10 Casio F91W-1 probably also deserves a place on a list like this, we’ll begin with the awesome World Time just to avoid Casio-overload. But the Japanese brand is undeniably strong in this price point with tough, reliable, dirt-cheap watches. Oh, and some people find them to be quite stylish as well. This Casio World Time offers all these attributes and more (including world time, calendar, and alarms) with a dash of retro-futuristic nostalgia, and it’s surprisingly robust for such a great price. Using an automatic movement based on an old caliber originally from Seiko, the Orient 3 Star is a simple, utilitarian automatic akin to the Seiko 5. While there’s not much in the way of fit and finish, it does have a well-proportioned 37.5mm case, a stainless steel bracelet and a colorful dial. Its as simple of an automatic watch that you can get, but therein lies its charm.

This handsome, traditional timepiece pays homage to Tissot’s iconic 1943 collection. The Heritage boasts a topstitched leather strap with a stainless steel buckle closure to keep it steady and stylish on your wrist. The clean-brushed dial and vintage hands on the face also complement the watch’s vintage appeal. The Swiss-quartz movement ensures time accuracy to within a few seconds a year, and at 42mm, it’s understatedly elegant, calling for quiet attention rather than loudly seeking it. While being huge fans of the Jazzmaster series, we’ve also discovered another inexpensive Hamilton model that’s worthy of occupying space in your watch case. The Khaki Aviation Pilot combines some vintage design elements and Swiss ingenuity, while the brown croco-embossed leather accessorizes well with any pair of brown dress shoes, fitting snugly on the wrist.

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