Amazon's $399 European luxury watch is powered by Citizen
The watch includes a sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance.
Overview
TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
I've been a watch collector, expert, addict, you name it, for a number of years now, and I'm always excited when I discover a new brand. The luxury watch market has been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride for the past half-decade. It's been up, and it's been down. While some people may opine that luxury watches are a sound investment for future returns, that's not always true. I've found that buying timepieces with the expectation of turning a profit isn't the smartest play. While the risk is different from investing in something like AI stocks because you have a tangible good in your hands, it's still a risky prospect.
That's precisely why I've started to enjoy shopping for microbrand watches so much. These smaller companies have some of the most fun and interesting designs on the market, but they don't usually require a huge investment on your part. They typically source parts from various Asian manufacturers and don't have the rigid design expectations of more traditional large watch companies. This allows them to be adaptable and innovative, not to mention more affordable. In my experience, it's far easier to enjoy a watch if you know it hasn't put a huge dent in your savings or your monthly budget. As such, I thought I'd share one of my most recent microbrand discoveries to see if you're as impressed with it as I am.
About Vintage watches
About Vintage is a brand based in Denmark that was founded by two childhood best friends in Copenhagen. Its watches take many of their design cues from classic mid-century timepieces, while blending minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic elements as well. While relatively affordable (that's a loaded phrase when it comes to watches), About Vintage watches have a few common characteristics across model lines that elevate the look and feel of its watches beyond what you might get from something at a discount retail or department store.
About Vintage 1960 Racing Chronograph
Case in point, the About Vintage 1960 Racing Chronograph is a gorgeous timepiece that looks 10 times worthy of its price tag. It's inspired by mid-century racing pieces that were elegant and stylish, not to mention rugged and useful. It has a 316L stainless steel case with a luster that matches its ruggedness. The watch is rustproof and corrosion resistant, so this is no delicate flower that you can't use as a daily driver. In fact, you can feel totally comfortable using the watch in and around the water, since it has a full 100 meters of water resistance.
The dial design is classic and familiar without being dull. Its three black subdials offer a beautiful contrast against the creamy face of the main dial. Each subregister measures running seconds, minutes, and hours, respectively. Around the exterior of the dial is a black tachymeter, which was originally intended for tracking car lap times. However, it's helpful in keeping tabs on just about anything, from your running laps to your hard-boiled eggs.
Details
Protecting the dial is a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The crystal has an anti-reflective coating that ensures maximum legibility, even in direct sunlight. The crystal has a slight dome to it, adding to the classic vintage aesthetic. In classic racing chronograph fashion, you'll get a supple leather strap in a beautiful deep tan color. When taken as a whole package, the watch and strap ooze classic luxury, and nobody will believe that you got this watch for less than a thousand dollars.
On the inside, the watch has the beating heart of a heritage luxury brand. Powering the beautiful timepiece is a highly accurate Miyota mecha-quartz movement. Miyota is a part of Citizen watches, and the movements are made in Nagano, Japan, where Citizen has been making its movements since the 1950s. Mecha-quartz movements are premium chronograph movements that blend mechanical watchmaking techniques with quartz regulation for the highest performance and accuracy. It's a step (or two) above a standard quartz chronograph movement that you may find in an affordable watch from a lesser brand.
Luxury resides at the intersection of quality and prestige. Microbrands like About Vintage have to turbo-boost their prestige through their quality. That's why they tend to deliver so much in such an affordable package. These brands use their smaller size as an advantage, rather than a disadvantage. It allows them to have complete control over the design process without the interference of customer expectations and boards of directors. They can be innovative and react quickly to the market. This leads to some of the most interesting watches released every year, and being able to afford them relatively easily is pure joy for watch collectors. That's why the About Vintage 1960 Racing Chronograph is a true luxury watch, in every sense of the word.
More microbrand watches
If the About Vintage 1960 Racing Chronograph doesn't speak to you, there are a lot of other microbrand options that likely will. Amazon sells some of the top-tier microbrand luxury watches on the internet, and we think they're all worth a look. There's something for just about everyone's style, from dressy to casual. While sports watches are the flavor of the day, more formal dress pieces are available as well for those with discerning tastes.
About Vintage 1982 GMT World Traveler
Undone Aqua II Foxtrot Dive Watch
AV-8 Hawker Hurricane Pilot's Watch
San Martin 1963 Watch
TheStreet Shopping is your guide for shopping insights and advice. We look beyond the price tag to find the best value in home, tech, and wellness gear based on product features and real-world use. Read more about our Editorial Standards and How We Choose Our Shopping Deals.
Source
Originally published at www.thestreet.com.
