Quartz / Swiss
Coming soon to a store near you, the new Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Carbon (refs. 241776 & 241777) military-style collection offers you a decent Swiss made movement neatly packed into a feather-light carbon-fiber body. Despite being somewhat overpriced, the I.N.O.X. Carbon still gives you tons of style and comfort in return for that hard-earned cash.
Swiss
The new Hamilton Broadway Day Date Automatic (refs. H43515735 & H43515135), the Swiss brand's recent attempt at grabbing their own share of a growing "affordable dress watch" market, offers a nice blend of interesting exterior, good build quality and one of the best "long-play" mass-produced automatic movements that you can get in the sub-$1k price range. Unexpectedly elegant and amazingly refined, right now this may be one of the best choices for the money.
Swiss
The 2016 Alpina Startimer Pilot automatic chronograph (refs. AL-725B4S6, AL-725GR4S6 & AL-725N4S6) is available in three colors of its laconic, extremely sober dial and in two colors of the genuine leather strap. It is a bit expensive, many people may (and probably will) call it boring, and it is clearly not a match to majors like IWC and Omega in terms of mojo and perceived value, yet the combination of a highly ergonomic design, reliable mechanism, and an acceptable price make it a nice everyday watch for a person who can afford one.
Swiss
Recently bought by a Chinese investment holding company, Eterna keeps on churning out great (while a bit overpriced) time measuring devices that also happen to be elegant accessories. Far from being "groundbreaking," their 2016 Eterna Super Kontiki Chronograph (refs. 7770.41.49.1382 & 7770.41.49.1718) collection is now available not only in the brand's numerous stores around the world but also at some online retailers albeit at very small discounts.
Swiss
The 2016 limited edition Frederique Constant Peking to Paris (ref. FC-303WBRP5B6) may not be revolutionary or groundbreaking in any meaning of the words, but it is still an interesting (albeit a tad overpriced) timekeeper for a person interested in a nice three-hander with a just a grain of sportiness to it. While the "limited edition" part may be a bit gimmicky (in a sense that you can't seriously expect a piece limited to almost 2900 units to become a rarity in any foreseeable future,) all the rest is absolutely legit: it is an expertly designed, solidly built piece that is powered by a robust mechanism.
Swiss
If you noticed the sporty Chronoliner collection from last year but decided to pass on it for the lack of bling, this new limited edition 2016 Breitling Chronoliner Triple Time-Zone Chronograph will make you want to reconsider. Preserving the same energetic (some may even call it assertive) styling of the original, it comes in a lot dressier rose gold case that, thanks to careful balancing the mix of materials and textures somehow manages not to look too arrogant in all of its polished rose gold and glossy ceramic glory.
Swiss
Presented at Baselworld 2016, the automatic Eberhard & Co. Scafograf 300 (ref. 41034) looks like a faithful recreation of a classic model that was sold by the brand back in the 1950s. Offering you a nice combination of a robust Swiss movement, adequate water resistance rating of 300 meters, and an elegant exterior, it is mildly overpriced but will probably be successful in the long run when all sorts of discounts and rebates kick in.
Swiss
The 2016 Longines Heritage 1969 (ref. L2.310.4.72.0) is yet another bold attempt at reintroducing one of their many classic models for the modern audience. It is relatively inexpensive, although definitely far from affordable (if 'affordability' for you is something in the range where Certina and Tissot usually operate.) It is also powered by a fine-tuned version of one of the most robust self-winding calibers ever produced by ETA. All things considered, the Heritage 1969 may become an instant hit among those in need of a dressy timekeeper with a solid exterior and a bearable price tag.
Swiss
Presented at Baselworld 2016, the new Victorinox Swiss Army Airboss Mach 9 Automatic Limited Edition (ref. 241732) chronograph somehow manages to combine more or less adequate pricing (especially after all the usual discounts that the Swiss-based brand is known for) with a fairly small lot of pieces destined to be manufactured and sent to select stores around the world.
Swiss
During the last three or four years, Tissot has introduced a number of great classic-styled timekeepers in their Heritage line. Among others, the collection included an absolutely stunning 2013 Heritage Navigator 160th Anniversary that still stays in production. For this year, the entry-luxury brand adds an even more impressive (although deceptively simple) hand-wound Heritage 1936 (ref. T104.405.16.012.00). Staying true to the collection's concept, the model combines deliciously vintage appearance with a time-proven hand-wound caliber and more than attractive price. What else would you want for Christmas?