Life can be generally mundane – so why wear boring watches?
This is especially true for individuals who like to express themselves, with what they wear. After all, watches can be considered as an extension of one’s personality and character.
Life in Techniclours: Quirky and Fun Watches Under S$10K
It has been perceived that such watches are generally priced on the higher end. Think of brands such as Urwerk, MB&F, and Debethune – and one can see why. However, the folks at Deployant beg to differ, and in today’s article, we are showing you examples of how fun watches can be obtained at a price point of below S$10,000.
Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire
We begin the article with a very cool version of the Amida Digitrend – cue the new Open Sapphire.
The Open Sapphire, as its name suggests, features a transparent hood that takes the watch onto a whole new level. Here, the hour and minute discs are exposed – which adds a new dimension to the timepiece especially since one can have another perspective of the watch when the discs are in motion.
Overall, we think that this is a fun and novel timepiece, even though the original one was conceived almost half a century ago. We have a soft spot for such interesting pieces, and we reckon the Amida Digitrend Open Sapphire will definitely be a conversational piece regardless of the setting. The timepiece is priced at CHF 4,500 (approximately S$7,220), and it is limited to a production of 100 pieces.
Accutron Spaceview 2020
Next, we have the uber-cool Spaceview 2020, from Accutron.
The unique timepiece was originally introduced in the 1960s, featuring a groundbreaking tuning fork movement that was noted to be more accurate than most mechanical watches at that time. The re-issue, launched in 2020, also broke new grounds with its electrostatic movement. On top of the cool engineering, the watch also features a distinctive open-worked dial which is one of the signatures of the Spaceview.
The 43.5mm Spaceview is priced at US$3,850, or approximately S$4,930. This is a rather special timepiece, with an interesting story to boot. While many may balk at paying almost S$5,000 for a non-mechanical timepiece, we do genuinely reckon that exceptions can be made for the Spaceview 2020 – in terms of its provenance, and the technical ingenuity behind the watch.
SpaceOne Worldtimer
We move on to one of the latest upstarts in the watchmaking scene. Introducing the Worldtimer, from SpaceOne (picture above courtesy of SpaceOne).
The Worldtimer is the third timepiece from the French independent watchmaking brand. Similar to its predecessors, the Worldtimer follows the same space-related theme that the brand is known for. We are huge fans of its rather original avant-garde design, as well as the functionality in the form of a worldtimer complication (although we do not think many will wear such a conspicuous timepiece overseas).
What impresses us the most is its price point. The watch, cased in titanium (with black or blue PVD coating), is priced rather reasonably at CHF 2,700 (approximately S$4,330) especially given its materials and complications. If one is looking for a contemporary and exciting timepiece in his or her collection, the SpaceOne Worldtimer is surely worth a consideration.
Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto
If you are looking for a statement timepiece that will blow the minds of many, but without blowing a hole in your wallet, the Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto might just be your best bet.
Introduced towards the end of 2022, the C1 Bel Canto immediately became the talk of the town with its incredibly sophisticated looks and chiming mechanism. The fact that it was offered by a relatively small outfit, and a mid-four figure price tag, certainly made many collectors lose their mind. Nevermind the luxury sports watch or the other popular options; this was the watch to own.
The 41mm timepiece is stunning, to say the least. The price tag is also attractive, with the most modest model coming in at S$5,195. This is almost unheard of in today’s market for such a timepiece with an interesting complication, and it certainly proves that manufacturers are still able to offer such interesting and innovative timepieces without having to break the bank.
Gorilla Fastback GT Drift “Elise”
Gorilla is the brainchild of Octavio Garcia and Lukas Gopp, with an aim to bring some semblance of adventure and boldness into their timepieces. The Fastback GT Drift, in our opinion, is one such timepiece that sets it apart from the rest.
Besides is loud colours, the Fastback GT Drift’s coup de grâce lies in its unusual wandering hours complication – a feature that is typically reserved mostly for higher end timepieces from brands such as H. Moser & Cie, Urwerk, and Audemars Piguet (although the caveat is that we are seeing some Chinese microbrands that are picking up on this as well). It is a relatively fun complication, and definitely a tad more special than the conventional timepieces.
Price-wise, the Fastback GT Drift – which is available in both 42mm and 44mm guises – retails from US$3,250 (approximately S$4,160) onwards. It is relatively inexpensive, considering that this watch is fitted with the ETA 2824-2 movement with a Vaucher module (versus Chinese movements that are used by some microbrands). This is a solid proposition especially if one is looking to inject some fun into his or her watch collection.
Behrens UltraLight 20G
We round up the article with a relative newcomer in the scene. Introducing Behrens, and its UltraLight 20G.
First introduced in 2023, the UltraLight 20G showcases the strong capabilities of the Chinese watch manufacturer. The watch, as its name suggests, weighs a mere 20 grams (case only). But beyond the technical feat, the watch also features a beautiful in-house produced manual-winding movement with the retrograde complication, housed in a beautifully milled titanium case.
The best part of the UltraLight 20G is its price point. The watch retails at US$7,600 (approximately S$9,730), which is priced rather reasonably for such a groundbreaking timepiece. Brand-aside, if one had just taken a look at the specification sheet alone, you may just assume that it is a watch that competes with the likes of Richard Mille. While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is also undeniable that the brand has done something incredible, without a ridiculous price tag.
Concluding Thoughts
We have managed to compile a selection of six fun and quirky timepieces which are priced below S$10,000 individually. Granted, not everyone can spend upwards of S$5,000 for a timepiece on a whim, but given the nature and niche nature of such watches, there is simply not enough mass market demand to produce such timepieces to generate economies of scale. Hence, prices tend to lean on the higher end of the spectrum.
However, if one has the means and intentions to get something fun, these six watches certainly offer something different from the usual crowd. The caveat is that not all of these watches are suitable to be worn on a regular basis, so that might be something that collectors might want to take note of – especially if they are looking for a daily beater.
We hope that this week’s article had provided our readers with some ideas to spice up their collection. Please let us know your thoughts, as well as watches that you think deserves a spot on the list.
