The sports watches war: Six excellent sports watches at different price points

In the last few years, we have seen the proliferation of sports watches in the horological scene. Of course, some had hit the mark, while the others were slightly disappointing.

While we have covered quite a few listicles on sports watches, luxury or otherwise, we feel that it is a good time to revisit this topic once again – given that we have seen more novelties from this category in recent times.

In this week’s article, we will be looking at sports watches, across different price points. What are some of the watches that have made it onto the list this time? Let us find out.

Tissot PRX

We begin our article with a perennial favourite of ours: Tissot PRX.

The 40mm timepiece is one that ticks most of the right boxes. It features a great design, with a solid integrated bracelet, and a brilliant self-winding movement with an autonomy of 80 hours – all these at a price point of S$950. What more can you ask for?

Interestingly, we have seen quite a few PRXs in the wild. The same can also be said for the author’s circle of friends – some who are not even watch enthusiasts. We can definitely conclude that the PRX is definitely a successful timepiece, and one that really puts Tissot onto the horological map. After all, the sales figures do not lie.

Citizen Series 8 880 GMT

We have often waxed lyrical about Citizen’s timepiece, and the new Series 8 880 GMT certainly gives us more reason to do so.

The Series 8 880 GMT is an extension of the incredible Series 8 collection, which is Citizen’s interpretation of a sports watch with an integrated bracelet. The execution is excellent, with a great design and finishing to match. The addition of the GMT complication certainly adds extra value to the watch, especially in terms of functionality.

Priced at S$2,322, the 41mm timepiece certainly offers a lot of value. We personally think that this is perhaps one of the best modestly-priced novelties of 2023, although unfortunately, we still think that it might be an uphill task to convince the brand snobs.

Bell & Ross BR 05

Bell & Ross may not be the first timepiece that comes to mind when one thinks of sports watches, but the BR 05 certainly hopes to change that perception.

The 40mm BR 05 is Bell & Ross’ entry into the sports watch scene, and we understand that it has been rather well-received by collectors thus far. What is particularly compelling is that the BR 05 manages to incorporate Bell & Ross’ DNA – such as its rounded square case – into timepiece, which in turn also helps to make it appear less of a “cookie-cutter” sports watch unlike some of the other incumbents.

Bell & Ross had made a strong impression, and we certainly think that the BR 05 is a great sports watch. The watch is priced at S$7,900, and it is an excellent option especially for collectors who want something different from the rest.

Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic

Since its introduction in 2018, the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic is still perhaps one of our favourite luxury sports watches that is available in the market today. This is quite a statement, considering that we have seen many new luxury sports watches in recent times.

The Octo Finissimo line is one of the flagships of Bvlgari, where it aims to challenge the industry to produce some of the thinnest watches with different complications. For us, while the complicated pieces are certainly impressive, we have a soft spot for the time-only iteration as it allows the multi-faceted case and various design elements of the Octo collection to shine.

Our pick is the 40mm titanium version, which notably has a thickness of a mere 5.15mm. The watch is priced at S$22,600, and we are rather hard-pressed to find a timepiece that exudes as much style and substance as this watch.

Louis Vuitton Tambour

Louis Vuitton is a brand that is generally known for its luxury leather goods, but it is making great strides in the horology department as well in the last few years. The new Tambour is one such timepiece.

Relaunched in 2023 with a new silhouette, the Tambour is Louis Vuitton’s take in the highly saturated luxury sports watch category. The 40mm timepiece features a much sleeker drum-shaped case, with a magnificent bracelet that features brushed links and polished center links. The details in the dial are also exquisite, with crisp lines and demarcations makes the timepiece pleasing to the eye.

The retail price of the Tambour begins at S$27,100 for the steel variant. While it is a tad pricier than some of the other competitors, the Tambour certainly makes it up with its great concept and stunning finishing. The fact that its watchmaking is by La Fabrique du Temps certainly should make this timepiece a series contender in the field.

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph 5500V

Amongst the “holy trinity” of Swiss watchmaking, Vacheron Constantin has always been in the shadows behind the likes of Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. But the Overseas Chronograph is a living proof that the Geneva-based watch manufacturer is pulling no punches.

It is hard to believe that the new generation of Overseas watches has been around for the last seven years, but it is still a sublime timepiece that is capable of capturing our hearts every time we see it. The Overseas Chronograph is fitted with a beautiful in-house Calibre 5200, a self-winding vertical clutch chronograph with a power reserve of around 50 hours. The quick release mechanism for the watch strap also remains one of the most elegant solutions that we have ever seen – which allows the watch to be versatile in both dressy and casual occasions.

With a price tag of S$51,500, we reckon the watch offers collectors a serious alternative to the likes of both the Royal Oak and Nautilus. The Overseas is truly an understated piece, and its versatility is something that makes the watch a rather unique and interesting proposition within its category.

Concluding Thoughts

In the ever-growing sports watch category, there are definitely some excellent timepieces that have stood the test of time. The Vacheron Constantin Overseas and Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic, for instance, are some very fine specimens that we reckon will take quite a lot to beat. The same goes for the Tissot PRX, which offers an incredible value proposition.

Some other special mentions include the stunning Parmigiani Tonda PF, Girard-Perregaux Laureato, and the Chopard Alpine Eagle. The Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak are also worthy names, although their availability is another question altogether.

So, what are some of your favourite sports watches on the list, as well as your thoughts on this category of timepieces? Let us know in the comments section below.