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There’s a new trend on the rise in the world of fashion and accessories, and it’s called affordable luxury. Things definitely aren’t getting any cheaper, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still treat yourself. Whether it’s a high-end pair of sneakers or a beautiful luxury watch, consumers still want to feel like they’re splurging while getting a decent value proposition for their hard-earned money. That’s what affordable luxury is all about, and we found a microbrand watch at Amazon that fits perfectly into that category for smart shoppers.
However, before sharing the watch with you, it’s probably worth noting a few of the reasons behind this emerging trend. Inflation, groceries, and energy costs all continue to increase. At the same time, wages aren’t increasing in accordance with these consistent cost-of-living increases. That paradigm leads to a labor force that’s working more and more while getting less and less for their money. For many people, it’s hard to stay motivated in what seems like a rat race of ever-diminishing returns. That’s where the concept of quiet luxury comes in. It’s a way to give yourself a little performance bonus of sorts without putting your monthly budget at risk.
AV-8 Hawker Hurricane Dual-Time Watch
The AV-8 Hawker Hurricane Dual-Time Watch may be the perfect example of an affordable luxury buy, and it’s a good-looking one at that. All AV-8 models are vintage aviation-inspired timepieces that harken back to the heyday of flight. This one has a 316L stainless steel case and bracelet that are rustproof and corrosion resistant. The 43.5-millimeter case size is ideal for great legibility without being too oversized.
It has 50 meters of water resistance as well, which means you can feel safe doing tasks like washing dishes and strolling in the rain without any fear of internal damage. On the inside, the watch is powered by a high-accuracy Japanese quartz movement that has an impressive dual-time feature. This is a microbrand luxury watch that you surely won’t regret buying, especially at the current price of $159. It’s also available in six colorways and strap treatments.
Benefits of a dual-time quartz watch
There is a lot of upside to buying a dual-time quartz watch. The most obvious of these are accuracy, time zone tracking, and affordability and maintenance. On the accuracy front, quartz watches use a standard watch battery to power the hands. However, the electrical signal is passed through a quartz crystal before arriving at the handset. That quartz pass-through part of the process helps to regulate the movement by exactly one second each pass. This allows most quartz watches to be far more accurate than even the most expensive Swiss mechanical alternatives, such as a Rolex.
What’s more, if you get a quartz watch with a dual-time function, you’ll never be out of sync with your preferred time zone. While most standard GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) watches have an extra hand on the main dial to track a second time zone, a true dual-time watch can be easier to read for some. Dual-time watches usually have a dedicated sundial that shows a second time zone all its own, separated from the primary dial. Such is the case with the above-mentioned AV-8 dual-time model.
Finally, a quartz dual-time watch is usually more affordable than most mechanical alternatives. That goes for both the purchase price as well as the long-term maintenance. Because quartz watches are more electronic than mechanical, you don’t have to send them for regular servicing like you do a hand-wound watch. That means, other than a battery change every few years, there’s really no consistent upkeep costs with a quartz timepiece.
More AV-8 Microbrand Watches
If the AV-8 Hawker Hurricane Dual-Time Watch isn’t for you, then the brand has a number of other options that may suit you better. Whether you want something a bit sportier or you prefer to dress up your wrist a bit, this popular microbrand can make it happen. Just be sure to put one in your cart sooner rather than later, as this is a watchmaker on the rise and it’s best to get one before they fly off the shelves for good.
AV-8 Hawker Hunter Pilot’s Watch
AV-8 Hawker Hurricane Classic Chronograph
AV-8 Hawker Hurricane Automatic Three-Hand Watch
AV-8 Spitfire Pilot’s Chronograph
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