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If there’s one thing that an affordable watch should be, it’s fun. While the luxury watch world is all about sophistication and class, shoppers aiming toward lower-priced timepieces focus more on style and comfort. Whether you want something to wear while building IKEA furniture or doing a 50-mile ride on your new road bike, a Swatch watch is a versatile and lighthearted option.
Many affordable watch brands choose to remain relatively nameless, with forgettable monikers being the standard. Swatch, on the other hand, knows exactly who it is, and it wants you to do the same. The Swiss brand started in 1983 by making fun and affordable watches for the masses. That said, it has since become a global giant in watchmaking, and The Swatch Group parent company now even owns multiple luxury timepiece brands such as Omega and Breguet. It owns 19 watch brands in total, but the impetus was the colorful and interesting little plastic watches that made the company’s name.
Thanks to Amazon, you have plenty of Swatch watches from which to choose, and we thought sharing a few of our recent favorites might be a worthwhile endeavor. Prices start at just $65, but there are also luxury options available, so there’s truly something for everyone, whether you’re starting your collection or looking to add to it.
Swatch Big Bold Past The Horizon Watch
This watch includes all the classic hallmarks of a Swatch watch. It’s made from a resin polymer, has an interesting look with an open dial, and it’s waterproof up to 100 feet. The neutral monochromatic design also ensures it will match with almost anything.
Swatch Gent Casual Unisex Watch
The small but mighty Gent Casual Unisex Watch is a perfect buy for anyone who likes a more under-the-radar look. The bright white plastic strap and case make the watch highly legible, no matter the lighting conditions. This watch is a great one to share between a couple. With a regular price of just $65, this is the most affordable option on the list.
Swatch Skin Irony Casual Watch
This is one of the rare Swatch watches that actually has a stainless steel case and bracelet. The watch’s dial is inventive and interesting, and the chronograph function is more useful than most realize. The intricate design of the bracelet gives off a wonderful shine in the sunlight. If you want something from the brand that has a little more heft than most of the alternatives, then this is the right pick for you.
Benefits of a Swatch Watch
There are many good reasons to buy a Swatch watch. However, the three most important of these are construction, style, and cost. Most Swatch watches are made from a resin or plastic polymer that’s durable and easy to wear. While there are some stainless steel variants, plastic tends to be the order of the day. It makes the watches relatively water-resistant, incredibly lightweight, and immensely comfortable. This construction allows watch designers to be creative in their concepts and affords them the freedom to think outside the box when it comes to shapes, sizes, and color combinations. This leads into the second advantage mentioned above, which is style.
Style-wise, Swatch watches are some of the most interesting-looking watches you can buy. They tend to be colorful and have an original look you don’t find with most other watches. Nevertheless, there are definitely some more subdued options to choose from if you’re more of a wallflower. Either way, Swatch watches are known for being playful conversation pieces, regardless of the model you choose.
Finally, affordability is one of the biggest draws that people have to these watches. Regardless of their prices, these are still high-quality Swiss timepieces. The only difference between a Swatch watch and other Swiss pieces is that Swatch has an incredibly low barrier to entry. It’s the perfect first watch for kids or young adults who are just getting into the watch collecting world. In fact, I would recommend a Swatch as a first watch gift to any young person. It’s the perfect way to teach them both the value of money and time.
More Swatch watches
If none of the above models catch your eye, perhaps one of the following options may speak to you a little more. Swatch has so many options to choose from; we could practically keep this list going on forever. Nevertheless, we know you have limited time and attention, so we’ll limit it to our very favorites.
Swatch Big Bold Chronograph Watch
Swatch Biosourced Casual Resin Watch
Swatch Chrono Checkpoint Casual Watch
Swatch Big Bold Indigo Glow Watch
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