Perhaps you had a financial windfall or just managed to save up, whatever the case may be, you have 6,000 Euro to spend on a luxury timepiece. The thing is, that you can buy a lot of different types (and brands) of watches for this amount of money. We selected 10 watches for you, that are interesting candidates if you budget goes as far as 6,000 Euro.
Now, you have two options here: You can buy a new watch from a couple of brands, or you can decide to spend your money on a pre-owned watch, enabling you to pick a watch from a brand that would normally be out of reach (when buying new). Do you buy a new Mazda 6 with as many options as you can think of, or do you pick that three-year-old BMW 3-series with at least leather seats and a decent engine? It is exactly where your preferences are or what makes you feel most comfortable.
Some of you already get goose bumps thinking of buying a pre-owned watch, others simply refuse to pay the full price for a new watch and rather have someone else taking care of that. This top 10 watches under 6,000 Euro is a mix-and-match between new watches and pre-owned watches, from several brands.
Rolex Submariner
The most iconic sports watch of them all, the Rolex Submariner. Seen on the wrist of many actors, singers, sports people and perhaps your neighbor. It’s the reference sports watch you could say, since the 1950s. Even James Bond wore one in a couple of movies and Steve McQueen can often be seen on photos wearing his Submariner. Besides being a watch that speaks to everyone’s imagination, it is also a very good watch. As simple as that. With a budget of 6,000 Euro, a new Submariner with date is a bit out of reach (retail 7,750 Euro at the time of writing) and the Submariner without date as well (retail 6,800 Euro at the time of writing).
However, a pre-owned Rolex Submariner 114060 can be had for just under 6,000 Euro from one of Chrono24’s Trusted Sellers. This is the most recent model, with ceramic bezel and beefier lugs. If you are looking for a Rolex Submariner with date, you need to look for the previous reference 16610 model with aluminum bezel inlay.
IWC Portuguese Chronograph 3714
IWC Schaffhausen has a number of different collections, from very sporty to dress watches. A nice in-between model is this IWC Portuguese Chronograph reference 3714. It will fit your business attire as it does to your polo shirt and jeans. A classic design with one of the most popular complications in the world of horology, the chronograph. With a list price of just under 8,000 Euro, this watch can be found in the pre-owned market for below 6,000 Euro.
Available with various dial color schemes, we prefer to pick this silvery white dial version with gold hands and numerals. Influenced by an iconic vintage piece form the 1930s, the Portuguese Chronograph will be a perfect companion for a smart and understated look. This watch measures almost 41mm and has only a very thin bezel, making it appear bigger.
Rolex Explorer
One of the most affordable sports Rolex models today is the Explorer reference 214270. The Explorer was the watch that Ian Fleming wore himself and selected for ‘007’ in his books. Whether you buy a vintage or a new Explorer, it is a Rolex with a scent of understatement yet being beautiful and well respected by the true collectors and connoisseurs. This 39mm Explorer has been recently (2016) upgraded and fits a budget of 6,000 Euro.
It lacks the famous (but also often disliked) cyclops loupe as it has no date feature. The Rolex Explorer has been updated with all the latest innovations from the manufacture from Geneva though. So it will come with a 5-year warranty, including on the accuracy (-2/+2 seconds a day) of the movement.
Breitling Navitimer 01
Say Breitling and chances are pretty big that someone will reply with ‘Navitimer’. The watch that astronaut Scott Carpenter wore in 1962 during his Aurora 7 orbital mission. Today, there are lots of Navitimer models to choose from, but we selected the 43mm Breitling Navitimer 01 watch, with in-house developed chronograph caliber. It retails for just over 7,000 Euro, but it can be had for less on Chrono24. New and pre-owned, whereas the new models are close to the budget of 6,000 Euro we defined for this Top 10 overview. With the Navitimer, you will be sporting one of the most iconic chronograph watches in the world.
NOMOS Zürich Worldtime
Officially called Weltzeit (which means Worldtime), this NOMOS model is part of the Zürich collection. Available with a white silver plated dial or a midnight blue dial, and the price of a new Zürich Weltzeit is well below the budget of 6,000 Euro. For this, you will buy a watch that has a won several awards in Germany and Austria. The Weltzeit is fitted with their caliber 5201 movement, featuring their own in-house designed NOMOS swing system. This watch enables you to read the time in 24 different time zones.
A perfect watch for the world traveler who loves mechanical watches with an elegant appearance. This NOMOS is relatively large compared to models from their other collections, with its 39.9mm case diameter. Officially, the midnight blue version is sold out, but you will be able to find one on Chrono24 (unused) for sure.
Rolex Datejust
This classic watch is often also referred to as the granddaddy of all modern wrist watches. Introduced in the mid 1940s, and still very similar looking to those first versions. Our favorite model though, comes on a Jubilee bracelet and has the white gold fluted bezel. This model is now also available in 41mm, but exceeds the budget of 6,000 Euro and is not on the market yet (at the time of writing).
The Datejust II in 41mm has been discontinued but of course a wide range of new or pre-owned pieces are still available on Chrono24. If you choose a steel-only model with black dial and smooth bezel you have a perfectly elegant and timeless watch with all the best traits of Rolex.
Panerai Luminor
Panerai is not a hype, they are here to stay. Not everyone was convinced at first with those huge cases (today we laugh at calling 44mm a big watch), but they have conquered their position in the horological landscape. Especially since they started making their in-house movements.
Some of the models still use the trusty old Unitas hand-wound movement (like the PAM01000 Logo, a great choice as well) but our favored model is the Luminor Base PAM0560 with their in-house caliber P.5000 movement with an 8-days power reserve. The good news is, that it retails for just under our budget of 6,000 Euro and with a bit of luck you will find it even cheaper on Chrono24.
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre HEUER 01
The Carrera is one of the collections that Jack Heuer himself created in the early 1960s. Heavily influenced by cars and motor sports you might say. This line of the collection has been updated often, including a recent smartwatch. We won’t go there, and instead focus on this mechanical self-winding Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 model in 45mm. A technical looking piece, and in fact it is. It features TAG Heuer’s in-house chronograph movement and for an attractive price (retail price is 4,750 Euro).
The Carrera is a modern watch in every aspect, but surely nods a little to the classic Carrera models from the past with the shape of the lugs for example. With the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre HEUER 01 you will make a statement, wearing a state-of-the-art watch yet respecting the art of mechanical watches.
IWC Pilot Chronograph
One of IWC’s true tool watches, this Pilot Chronograph (or Flieger Chrono in German) with reference IW377709. It underwent some changes over the years, such as a larger diameter and a slightly different dial. But in essence, this is the Pilot Chronograph that has been on the market for ages. Powered by an ETA based caliber 7750 movement, a work-horse that is out there for decades. But fear not, although IWC did not equip their standard Pilot Chronograph with an in-house movement, this movement has been fully adjusted by the watchmakers in Schaffhausen.
The watch grew from a modest 39mm diameter at the time of its introduction in 1994 till the 43mm it is today. A bit more modern, for a pilot’s watch. The IWC Pilot Chronograph retails for just below 6,000 Euro, but you will find them (new & unused) under 4,500 Euro on Chrono24.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Large Steel
The only rectangular watch in this Top 10 watches under 6,000 Euro overview, but perhaps one of the most legendary ones: the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. We selected the Reverso Classic Large, also used to be known as the Grande Reverso. With a list price of well over 8,000 Euro, out of our budget for a new timepiece. However, this piece of haute horlogerie can be bought in the pre-owned market for under 6,000 Euro. A young occasion to be precise, as some of the offered models on Chrono24 are hardly worn and offered at an attractive price.
Jaeger-LeCoultre belongs to the manufactures that develop and produce their own movements, and actually has one of the highest number of different calibers. The Reverso Classic Large has dimensions of 45.6 mm x 27mm which is by no means small. The watch only measures 8.5mm in height, which makes it a perfect dress watch under any cuff. This stylish timepiece is definitely a conversation maker and plays by the rules of haute horlogerie.
