Tired of the big-shot watch brands and don’t wanna go for microbrand watches? Why not try the next best thing? We’re talking the best about mid-range Swatch watches. There are so many brands within the Swatch group that offer great premium watches at half the price of high-end luxury brands. We bet you’ve even come across most of these brands but didn’t know that they’re part of the Swatch collection.
We’ll tell you all about swatch watches right here. Let’s look at some of these brands, their history, their best features and some of their bestselling watches.
Mid-Range Swatch Watches Guide
Mid-range Swatch watches are the next best thing to high-end luxury watches. Still, why should you go for them? These are a stepping stone to premium watches. In fact, most of these watches fall within the lower end of luxury watches. They feature excellent build and premium design, with prices ranging typically from $500 to $3,000. Overall, you can experience the best of both worlds with a good mid-range Swatch Swiss watch.
Brand reputation is crucial as it guarantees reliability, heritage, and value retention. If you look at any brand in the Swatch group, you’ll find that they’re all born from a significant history and share a rich watchmaking heritage. All Swatch watches stand out for their superior Swiss-made precision, characterized by meticulous engineering and high manufacturing standards.
Top Mid-Range Swatch Watches
The Swatch Group is the top watch conglomerate in the world. While the Swatch collection comprises many high-end brands like Omega, Blancpain, and Glashütte Original, there’re also many popular mid-range brands as well. We’re sure you’ve definitely heard of these watches but you didn’t know that all these brands are part of this group and are available on the Swatch online store.
- Tissot
- Longines
- Rado
- Mido
- Hamilton
- Certina
These mid-range brands offer excellent watches known for their top-notch Swiss movements, impeccable craftsmanship, and strict quality checks. Swiss-made watches are known for advanced engineering and high standards for accuracy and durability. This approach makes it the biggest watch collective in the world.
Tissot
Even if you are not a regular watch enthusiast, you’ve definitely heard of Tissot watches. Founded in 1853, the brand has a solid reputation for great quality watches that are built with in-house movements, impact-resistant build and stylish design. We even have a few popular picks from the brand.
The brand’s most popular series is the Popular Tissot PRX. The PRX, starting at around $375, is a sleek reissue of a 1978 classic, perfect for everyday wear. The next is the Tissot Seastar, one of the best dive watch collections in the market today and the second most popular Tissot watches for men. Starting at around $500, this is a robust dive watch with impressive water resistance.
Key features of the Tissot automatic watch include the Powermatic 80 movement, which offers an 80-hour power reserve, and T-Touch technology, which incorporates touch-sensitive sapphire crystals for multifunctional capabilities. For enthusiasts, Tissot is often the most popular stepping stone to luxury watches.
Longines
The Longines watch brand is a well-known name among fans of Swatch watches. The brand, founded in 1832, has a long history in Swiss watchmaking and is well-respected for its reliable performance.
Notable models include the Longines Master Collection and the Longines HydroConquest. The Master Collection, starting at around $1,600, features classic designs with advanced features like chronographs and moon phase indicators. The HydroConquest, starting at approximately $1,300, offers great water resistance and a robust build for diving enthusiasts.
Longines watches also use innovative technology, such as silicon balance springs, to make their movements more precise. These features, combined with competitive pricing, make Longines watches a great value for money within the Swatch collection.
Rado
One of the lesser-recognized swatch watches, the brand is still well-known to true watch lovers. Rado Swatch watches are renowned for their innovative use of materials like high-tech ceramics, which are hypoallergenic and incredibly scratch-resistant. Founded in 1917, the brand has created a name for itself with its high-quality premium watches.
In the mid-range segment, Rado offers models like the HyperChrome and the Centrix. The HyperChrome, starting at around $1,500, is known for its scratch-resistant ceramic case. The Centrix, starting at approximately $1,000, combines lightweight comfort with a versatile look, making it suitable for both casual and formal occasions. In addition, a number of Rado limited edition watches have gained popularity among collectors.
Rado also has a range of versatile designs for both men and women. Add high-quality swiss movements and craftsmanship to the mix, and you’ll see why the brand has great mid-range swatches for him and her both.
Mido
Okay, now we’ve all heard of Mido, if not, here’s the complete guide. The Multifort TV Big Date design was a huge hit within the swatch collection! Established in 1918, Mido has a rich heritage of great designs, starting from its flagship Mido Commander watch models.
The brand draws much inspiration from architecture. Key models include the Mido Commander Ocean Star and the Mido Baroncelli. The Ocean Star, starting at around $900, is perfect for diving enthusiasts with its robust build and water resistance. There are also a few Mido limited edition watches in this collection. The Baroncelli, starting at approximately $800, is loved for its classic, sophisticated design.
Features that make Mido a great choice include the Caliber 80 movement, offering an impressive 80-hour power reserve. The brand also uses high-quality materials like stainless steel and sapphire crystal. Whether you’re looking for a rugged sports watch or a refined dress watch, the brand has versatile options in the mid-range luxury market.
Hamilton
The history of Hamilton Field watches is nothing short of famous worldwide. An American brand that transitioned to the Swatch Group much later, in 1984, combines American heritage with Swiss precision. The field watches were the OG Hamilton watches for men during WW.
Popular models include the Hamilton Khaki Field automatic watch and the Hamilton Jazzmaster. The Hamilton Field watch, starting at around $500, is renowned for its military-grade durability and design. The Jazzmaster, starting at approximately $700, is a stark contrast to the field watches. This series has a contemporary look that’s perfect for formal occasions.
Key features of Hamilton field watches include reliable Swiss automatic movements, sturdy build quality, and distinctive design elements drawn from aviation and military history. These watches have a historical significance with modern elements. It’s evident why the brand has held on to a steady position in the swatch group even after all these years.
Certina
Okay, another lesser-known name but nonetheless a significant part of the Swatch collection. Founded in 1888, Certina’s key innovation is its Double Security (DS) concept, introduced in 1959. This concept enhances shock and water resistance, ensuring exceptional robustness. It’s primarily used in Certina titanium diver models from the brand.
Popular mid-range models include the Certina DS Action Diver and the Certina DS-1. The DS Action Diver, starting at around $800, is well-regarded for its ISO 6425 certification and impressive diving capabilities. The DS-1, starting at approximately $700, offers a vintage-inspired design with modern features. Apart from these, Certina GMT watches have also become quite popular recently.
Unique aspects of Certina watches include their use of high-quality materials such as sapphire crystal and stainless steel. Except for the DS feature, the brand doesn’t have many unique features. But, in the end, people who bought them have had only good things to say about it. The brand has held on to its substantial fan-base over the years.
