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The best Swiss watches under $500: Your best buy is a Swatch watch (and these are the best)

There's more than just the ultra-trendy moonswatch

Swatch Watch Face
Courtesy of Swatch

Most of us have our favorite watch, which we wear on our wrists to look elegant, mature, and ready to face the world personally and professionally. However, we also want a second watch that is stylish, fun, and expressive. We want a way to show off our personality. That is where a Swatch watch comes in. While some people believe it stands for Swiss watches because it is a watch brand in the watch capital of the world, Switzerland, it actually stands for “second watch” because the company realizes there’s a market for fun alternatives to classic men’s watches.

With the oversaturated industry of men’s watches often adopting a stuffy and old-school feel, Swatches are intended to be different—more fun than your Rolex or Omega but as dependable as both. The choices in watches are aplenty, but here are the ones to keep your eye on.

Swatch Antarctic
Courtesy of Swatch

Antarctic Ocean Bioceramic Fifty Fathoms

The Fifty Fathoms Collection honors life on the Seven Seas with a true dive watch dedicated to each of the oceans. The Antarctic version is a beautiful all-white, ice-centered piece that will stand out no matter what you wear. Most guys don’t think they can pull off a white watch, but this bad boy does the job for you.

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Swatch Mission to Saturn
Courtesy of Swatch

Mission to Saturn Bioceramic Moonswatch

The Moonswatch line is 11 models combining the beautiful Swatch bioceramic construction with Omega Speedmaster. Due to its involvement in the moon race of the 1960s, the latter has a following. There is no question why this line is so popular in the Swatch world, and the Mission to Saturn version, with its earth-toned colorway, can take the place of any brown watch you own, giving your outfit a little personality.

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Swatch Core Sistem Boreal
Courtesy of Swatch

Core Sistem Boreal

From the solar system back to the oceans, this beautiful work of art features a watch face and dial inspired by a maritime compass. While it may look similar to your other silver bracelet watches in your collection, the subtle detail outshines the rest in a way that will keep you on the right heading throughout the day.

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Swatch Big Bold Checkpoint
Courtesy of Swatch

Big Bold Checkpoint Black

Black isn’t the usual color you think of when you think of bold. While it usually fades to the background, this version stands out due to the eye-catching checkered pattern on the face and the secondary dials’ bold striped patterns. This may be an all-black piece you think of as a subtlety with an outfit, but you’ll get more questions about it than you are ready for.

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Swatch Irony Blue Grid
Courtesy of Swatch

Irony Blue Grid

This version may be the most basic of the bunch, as it looks similar to many other watch faces with the blue dial and pops of red. It feels very similar to the Omega Seamaster with the blue rubber strap that will keep the attention. This watch is perfect for your weekend backyard barbeque or trip to the coast.

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Swatch SkinEarth
Courtesy of Swatch

Skin Irony 42 Skinearth

Sometimes the best way to stand out is to remain small and sleek. The Skinearth collection is the perfect way to do that with its ultra-thin profile. The green strap and sun-brushed dial take you back to the roots of the collection, sticking to the earthly green colors. No matter how small and sleek it is though, the pops of orange and white won’t go unnoticed for long.

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Swatch September Carbonic Green
Courtesy of Swatch

The September Collection Carbonic Green

For those of us who like to wear green but don’t want to be as subtle or earthy as the Skinearth, there is the September Collection’s Carbonic Green. This green is louder and will definitely stand out with the solid rubber strap combined with the bright green digits and white dials.

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Swatch Core Night Flight
Courtesy of Swatch / Swatch

Core Night Flight

This is the most classic look of everything on the list. While you may be looking for something that stands out against the rest of your collection, this option is perfect for the guy just starting out and looking for something basic and ready to be worn right away. The black dial and silver bracelet are about as straightforward as they get with Swatch.

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Swatch Halloween Capsule Your Time is Coming
Courtesy of Swatch

Halloween Capsule Your Time is Coming

Okay, forget the straight-forward, and let’s look at something truly unique, something Swatch does better than anyone. With Halloween right around the corner, pick up something spooky and fun to get in the mood for the big day. The dial already has a terrifyingly cool dial that really steps it up in the glow of trick-or-treating light.

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Swatch OOPS! Big Bold Planets
Courtesy of Swatch

Big Bold OOPS

Finally, get yourself something that will stand out not only because of the color but also because of the style. Its black rubber strap and bright orange colorway will become the centerpiece of any outfit, but that is only the beginning of what makes this piece striking. The transparent watch face allows you to see the working dials and the numbers are jumbled up in a crazy way to give the watch a zany look. The seven lands on one of the inner gears, the eight is bigger than the rest, and the nine is outside the dial on the bezel.

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If you are more of a fan of orange than black, you can swap out the strap for an all-orange look to really make it pop. The definition of what Swatch watches are meant to do.

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Mark D McKee
Mark is a full-time freelance writer and men's coach. He spent time as a style consultant and bespoke suit salesman before…
Panerai drops military-inspired dive watches in striking green
Italian watchmaker honors naval aviation heritage with rugged military-inspired timepieces
Panerai’s New Dive Watche

Panerai has introduced two new dive watches that pay tribute to its longstanding relationship with the Italian Navy, a partnership spanning back to the 1910s. The Submersible Marina Militare (PAM01697) and Submersible Marina Carbotech (PAM01698) draw design inspiration from the flight gear and helmets of the Aviazione Navale, the Italian Navy's aviation sector.
Both timepieces feature stunning green grained matte dials with black gradient finishes that reflect the military aesthetic of naval aviation equipment. The distinctive coloring creates a sophisticated contrast while maintaining the robust character expected from Panerai's professional diving instruments.
Each watch displays a Marina Militare signature at 6 o'clock, complemented by accents of grey Super-LumiNova inspired by the colors of Aviazione Navale aircraft. The small seconds counter has been crafted to resemble a radar display, with "Aviazione Navale" engraved on the dial, creating an authentic connection to the naval aviation theme.
Panerai has enhanced legibility by making the applied indexes 20 percent wider in diameter compared to previous models. This practical improvement ensures optimal readability in challenging conditions, maintaining the brand's commitment to functional design.
Both watches feature an engraved Aviazione Navale wing emblem on the caseback, marking a first for Panerai and reinforcing the naval aviation tribute. The automatic P.900 caliber with 171 components powers both timepieces, providing reliable performance for professional diving applications.
The primary differences lie in case construction and dimensions. The Submersible Marina Carbotech (PAM01698) features a 14.25mm thick case crafted from Carbotech, Panerai's carbon fiber-based material known for its lightweight properties and distinctive marbled appearance. The Submersible Marina Militare (PAM01697) utilizes a 13.45mm thick case made from brushed 316LVM stainless steel, offering traditional durability.
Both models share a 44mm case diameter and 300-meter water resistance, making them suitable for serious diving activities. The watches come equipped with both green canvas and black rubber straps, providing versatility while maintaining the military aesthetic.
Panerai's naval heritage traces back to creating precision instruments for Italian Navy missions, eventually expanding to landing systems and technical equipment. The brand's 1935 Ref. 2533 prototype established its reputation for timepieces designed for challenging underwater operations.
The Submersible Marina Militare (PAM01697) retails for $12,500, while the Carbotech version (PAM01698) is priced at $19,500. Both models are available immediately, offering collectors the opportunity to own timepieces that celebrate over a century of Italian naval tradition combined with Panerai's modern diving watch expertise.
These releases demonstrate Panerai's ability to honor its military heritage while incorporating contemporary materials and manufacturing techniques, creating timepieces that appeal to both history enthusiasts and modern adventurers.

Find out more here.

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Only 88 exist: Girard-Perregaux’s $52K Aston Martin watch
This $52K skeleton watch channels Aston Martin’s racing soul
The breathtaking Laureato Skeleton Aston Martin Edition from the front

Girard-Perregaux brings its precision skeletonized watchmaking to the forefront of the industry yet again with the release of its breathtaking Laureato Skeleton Aston Martin Edition. This masterpiece of a collection effortlessly combines Swiss precision and British racing heritage. With only 88 pieces available in the collection, this exclusive watch features a 44mm black ceramic case with understated Aston Martin Racing Green accents, mimicking the sleek aerodynamics of the brand’s legendary sports cars. Just underneath its anti-reflective sapphire crystal lies a gorgeous openworked dial, revealing the intricate micro-mechanics of Girard-Perregaux’s GP01800-1043 automatic movement — a sleek merger of polished bevels, skeletonized bridges, and a 22k gold oscillating weight.

The intersection of automotive passion and horological excellence

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Seiko’s new Alpinist watch has a starry night dial
This stunning Seiko Alpinist captures the night sky on your wrist
Seiko Prospex Alpinist ‘Night Sky’ European Exclusive Limited Edition, with blue dial

Seiko has just released the Prospex Alpinist Night Sky SPB531, a stunning limited edition paying homage to the celestial wonders above mountain peaks. The collection is available exclusively in Europe; this 39.5mm stainless steel watch features a dark blue dial  mimicking a starry night pattern, evoking the enchanting Alpine skies that inspired its design. The timepiece brings together the Alpinist’s signature inner rotating compass ring with a gold-plated seconds hand and applied gold indices, creating a stark contrast against its celestial backdrop. Powered by the 6R35 automatic movement with a 70-hour power reserve, the SPB531 is as dependable as it is visually captivating.

A modern mountaineering watch with vintage appeal

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