Invariably, the first thing to come in mind is Swiss, but hey, let me tell you straightaway that it won’t be Swiss enough. True, the Swiss brought some of the best innovations in horology; be it in design or in technology, the words Geneve and Suisse bring around a mesmerizing effect. But only for so long – at least to me – the price tag stays hidden.

It’s said necessity is the mother of invention, so that got me looking for alternatives and I’m more than glad to say the quest also brought me across some of the Swiss stuff at half their actual price. Say, this Hamilton Khaki X-Wind Automatic Chronograph or the Tissot T-Touch Expert Pilot Analog-Digital; today I can think buying one of them (as a Christmas gift to me) is simply because they are coming so low and with their warranties intact.

However, in the same price bracket, you also get stuff from some of the other legendary brands and to me; nothing makes me happier than peeping across the Japanese coastline. If Swiss is not exactly your cuppa in terms of durability and sturdiness, then brands like Citizen, Seiko and Casio are good place to start.

“Wait a minute, did you say Casio?” Oh yes, very much but it’s not the dime-a-dozen electronic watches I meant; take a look at the Caiso Tough Sky Cockpit G-Shock and the Casio Sky Cockpit Triple G Resist Atomic and I think you will agree with me. If not, you may well go the way of the Hamilton Seaview Day Date Automatic and stay satiated under the chandelier with pink champagne in the tulip. I like the heat, the wind, the dust and the asphalt; if I get something ten times sturdier than the Swiss watches at the same price, I won’t look back.

There are also a few more examples I would like to put forth before I end this and I can’t help but stare dewy eyed at this Seiko Premier Kinetic Direct Drive Moon Phase.
One watch for all formal occasions, that’s it. However, for something simpler in appearance, nothing quite beats the Hamilton Intra-Matic Automatic.

Ideally, a man should have one watch for every setting he frequents into. That way, just four are enough to complete your watch-drobe. One I’ve spoken just a while back; among the rest, it’s the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk EcoDrive Titanium (your travel watch), the Citizen Automatic Professional Divers (your vacation-on-the-beach watch) and the  Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium (strictly a workwear).