The 2025 Starter Watch All-Stars are here to redefine what an affordable timepiece can be. If you’re shopping for your first real watch, you’ll find plenty of timeless options that feel premium without straining the wallet. And yes, you can stretch your budget to around $1,000 for genuine value, or explore just over $5,000 for an expanded selection—opening the door to watches that feel aspirational without being out of reach.
Watches (throughout) courtesy of brands; Backgrounds (throughout): Getty Images
As a watch editor for GQ, the frequent question is what to buy as a gift for a husband, boyfriend, or son—whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or graduation. Most requests come from everyday budget ranges, yet the market has evolved. In recent years, entry-level models have surged in quality, so you don’t have to settle when choosing a starter piece. With thoughtful options near $1,000 and compelling choices just over $5,000, there’s a world of possibilities. While iconic names endure—tags like the TAG Heuer Carrera stand out—we’re also seeing a fresh crop of dependable, more accessible staples.
Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto
Chiming watches use intricate mechanisms to strike a gong on the hour. They were once the domain of ultra‑luxury craftsmanship. That changed in 2022 when indie maker Christopher Ward introduced the Bel Canto, a breakthrough that made this unusual complication accessible to enthusiasts at $3,995.
Nomos Glashütte Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer
Among 2025’s standout models is a worldtimer with a surprisingly friendly price tag. Nomos, known for bold color palettes, updates the world timer to track all 24 time zones in a design that comes in vacation-ready teal, mossy green, and burnt orange hues, priced at $5,190.
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT
Tudor’s lineup is full of strong candidates, but the Black Bay line especially keeps getting better with new colors and added complications. The latest GMT model features a red-and-black “Coke” bezel, a timeless, easy‑to‑wear starter watch you could reasonably wear for a lifetime, priced at $5,125.
Hamilton Khaki Field Murph
The Khaki Field has long been a top pick for beginners, and the Murph edition adds extra appeal since its 2019 debut. Designed to evoke a vintage aesthetic—featuring bold numerals and a cathedral-style hour hand—the watch remains accessible at $995.
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80
Drawing inspiration from a 1978 Tissot archive, the PRX is often compared to iconic steel sport watches of its era, such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or the Vacheron Constantin 222. Yet unlike those high‑end counterparts, this model delivers similar styling for under a grand at $795.
Longines Legend Diver
Longines’ Legend Diver has stood the test of time since 1959. In recent years, the brand refined it to perfection with a 39‑mm case, a bead‑of‑rice bracelet, and dial options like terra-cotta and forest green—priced at $3,850.
anOrdain Model 2 Porcelain
Scotland’s anOrdain is celebrated for its enamel dials, which are notoriously difficult to craft. To broaden accessibility, the brand unveiled a porcelain‑dial variant that remains stunning and precise while simplifying mass production, priced at $2,587.
Cam Wolf is GQ's Watch Editor.
A version of this story originally appeared in the December 2025/January 2026 issue of GQ under the title “The 2025 Starter Watch All-Stars.”
Cam Wolf (https://www.gq.com/contributor/cam-wolf) is GQ’s Watch Editor. He joined the magazine in 2017 after stints at Racked (RIP) as the site’s first and only Menswear Editor, and Complex as Style News Editor. Early in his GQ tenure, he immersed himself in the world of watches and quickly developed a deep affinity for the genre.
