Watch Insider’s Top 10 Watches Under €10K With In-House Movements


A regular reader of Watch-Insider.com, Nick Senn, inspired me to compile this Top 10 list recently, focusing on watch brands that offer models with in-house movements at what most aficionados would consider affordable prices. Here we re-present the list, with links to more info on several of the watches. The upper limit of price here is 10,000 euros — not inexpensive, but in this day and age, quite reasonable for a watch with a top-notch manufacture movement. You will find mostly larger, established watch brands listed here, rather than smaller, “exotic” brands, because these are the brands capable of producing movements in larger quantities and this of keeping prices a bit lower. Also, the brands shown here will tend to have a history of quality and offer good, worldwide after-sale service.

Breitling Transocean Chrono GMT: The chronograph specialist has shown with its in-house Caliber B04, and all its various versions, that hard work pays off. The price of this Breitling watch starts at €7,560, with a leather strap.

Breitling Transocean Chrono GMT
Breitling Transocean Chrono GMT

Cartier Calibre de Cartier Chronographe: Cartier has made great strides recently in becoming a true manufacture. The brand now offers numerous watches with in-house movements to its customers. The Chronographe is equipped with Caliber 1904-CH MC. The watch shown here, with a steel bracelet, sells for €9,050.

Cartier Calibre de Cartier Chronographe
Cartier Montre Calibre de Cartier chronographe

Chopard Superfast Power Control: With its new Fleurier Ébauches calibers, Chopard now has a range of in-house movements that are much more affordable than its existing L.U.C variants. The Superfast models are the first to be outfitted with them. Other collections, such as the Mille Miglia, will follow suit soon. The price of the watch shown with rubber strap: €7,990. Click here for more on the Chopard Superfast collection.

Chopard Superfast Power Control
Chopard Superfast Power Control
No Responses to “Watch Insider’s Top 10 Watches Under €10K With In-House Movements”

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  1. macewindufan

    I think the Girard Perregaux Sea Hawk (GP03300-0074) should be included.. under 10k, in house, just nice.

    Reply
  2. srhardy

    not everyone make the list, its because a list has limits and someone has to miss out…

    its not personal, they will say its a selection of what one person likes over another!

    I saw a HORRIBLE diesel watch, it was a monstrosity but someone thought it worth repairing, where i would have hid it in the bin! One mans poison is another’s meat… But the asian offers are always missing but thats probably because they don’t advertise here maybe?

    ebay has awesome manual, automatic watches and self winding watches for under $50 delivered, and for as little as $10… but they will NEVER advertise here!

    Reply
    • srhardy

      You might have BALLS but they dont use a custom in house movment that im aware of, they mod SWATCH designs from what ive read… But yeah, seaQuest4ever+1

      Reply
  3. Cam Lichfield

    I know this article is a reprint but I thought by now they would have corrected the Breitling Transocean Chrono GMT is actually the 04 movement not the 01. Still a great movement and a beautiful watch.

    Reply
    • Mark Bernardo

      Cam, good catch. We’ve made the correction. Thanks for keeping us on our toes!

      Reply
  4. JeffBD

    I don’t know if anyone can debate that these watches aren’t laudable choices; they all have a following. I think this list would be a whole lot more interesting (and possibly more accurately reflect most watch aficianados’ habits) if it was a list of top 10 ‘pre-owned’ watches under 10K€ with in-house movements… (I am glancing at my sub-10K WG Chopard LUC Quattro right now…and smiling.)

    Reply
  5. Gadgety

    Let’s see. Four in house Richemont movements (Cartier, Jaeger, Montblanc, Panerai), two in house ETA movements (Omega, Glashütte), two in house Independent group movements (Breitling, Chopard), one in the house of LVMH movement (Zenith), and the obiquituous in house Rolex movement.

    Reply
  6. Gentlemen,

    I think you’re forgetting what this article is meant to be.
    To quote the first paragraph “Here are my [top 10] choices from among the new models introduced in 2013”.

    What this means is that the list is based personal choice. It’s not meant to be a buyer’s guide for watches under 10K, where Grand Seiko or Nomos missing would be considered a fault. It’s just a personal list of watches under 10K, released in 2013.
    Not having Seiko on the list doesn’t mean anything, except perhaps that Mr. Linz values all other other choices here more, or maybe he’s simply forgotten about them.

    Either way, no reason to draw blood.

    Reply
  7. How about Damasko new in-house. And cheapest of them all Seiko and Frederique Constant.

    Reply
  8. I think it was a mistake omitting smaller manufacturers (e.g. Nomos, Frederique Constant, etc.). Those actually have some of the best values around by giving you an in-house movement for relatively low prices.

    Reply
  9. Very interesting article but can we have one now on decent watches under £1,000?
    Always worth a read and I wouldnt miss an issue for anything but please dont forget to broaden your coverage a bit more to cover watches at the lower end of the price range. Bill

    Reply
    • srhardy

      I think its overated but thanks for asking… No, seriously its the grandaddy of the inhouse deskdivers watches and i love it, just cant afford it

      Reply
  10. Clive Kay

    Please include the seiko springdrive collection as they are well within the price range

    Reply
  11. Neil Kirby

    Is a steel Rolex really worth €6,800?; I rather think we’re being taken for a ride,in paying for Rolex to plaster their name across every sporting event imaginable, and not for any noticeable improvement in their watches.

    Reply
    • Agree. In my opinion Rolex is a status watch without the substance and makes minimal improvements at a snails pace.

      Reply
  12. alex ioancio

    And you forget Tag Heuer, if it would be my opinion I have been chosen an another Zenith! Don’t forget Schaffi!
    It would be nicer to make a list of top 20. My personal choice is Omega 15000best price quality and what you want cheers

    Reply
  13. alex ioancio

    It’s pretty funny to see your comments about the missing of this or that. But instead of that send a mail to alex and tell your list. After that we will see what are you missed out!! Try!
    it is like being at the stadium at a football game and hearing the drunk people yelling on players about not doing some passes well! And if you put them on the grass they cannot run properly 10 yards. In other order in general it is a general mistake not talking much about Seiko. It is or not intentionally missed I don’t know but if you admit or not it is a watch giant. I am not satisfied about Seiko with the fact that they get out model randomly and you have to get the plane to go to Singapore to buy a specific watch. For instance the Seiko discburger. I can’t find it!!That’s a big problem with their marketing. And of course it is only my humble oppinion

    Reply
    • Fabio Anderaos

      Regarding Seiko, I agree with your comments. I really also don´t understand the marketing approach from Seiko Time Corp. The company does not have an intelligent distribution network. It manufactures excellent automatic watches for a wide range of consumers, from less than US$ 200 (Seiko 5) to the high-end Credor Sonnerie model (more than US$ 100 thou, whose price I consider excessive). At Basel World 2013 the brand showed few models of the Grand Seiko line, which is a very small part of its collection.

      Reply
      • srhardy

        citizen, seiko need a iShakeup and apple will be delivering it to them soon! same as the Japanese changed the world with quarts, apple will change what a watch is and is going to be!

        that said, I HATE THE IWATCH!

        but the watch that can auto correct, date & time based on mobile sync (open source time anyone?) is the future after quartz revolution. Im ok with winding an old fashion watch, but a gen’s comming that will say ‘i have a mobile and it has the accurate time, date, tide, moon & every other things is upon us…

        Reply
  14. Fabio Anderaos

    I think it should be considered the automatic watches from Seiko. The Grand Seiko collection, for instance, is a true manufacture. The steel case version is about US$ 4,000 in US.

    Reply
  15. Randy Guerette

    I am continually disappointed in Watchtime as you continue to ignore great smaller brands in the market. One brand in particular is Pequignet. A French Manufacture with extremely high quality watches, with quite a few complications and all for under 6500 euros.

    Reply
    • Fabio Anderaos

      During my visit to Basel World 2013 I heard some comments about the caliber Royal of Pequignet.
      It is said that its in-house movement has shown serious technical problems. However, the company did not exhibit at the BW, otherwise the people would be able to contact directly the company about the caliber Royal.

      Reply
  16. Matt Frost

    I’d be interested to know why the IWC Portuguese Automatic or Portofino 8 Days didn’t make the list.
    I’m thinking about buying one of these very soon. The Jaeger LeCoultre Master Calendar is also on my shortlist, so it’s good to see that’s in there.

    Reply
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