Editors' Picks: The Top Attainable Watches Of 2024

My pick here is not one, but a group of watches. No, I don’t think it’s cheating. This year, Milan-based outfit Unimatic introduced only its second permanent collection amidst its myriad of design-focused limited-edition pieces. Simply enough, they are called the Toolwatch Series. These are a quartet of quartz-powered three-handers with a specialization in toughness, and a sprinkle of GMT wanderlust on top.

Here’s how it breaks down: the series consists of two pairs of watches. One set is based on the brand’s 41.5mm dive-watch formula, with a rotating countdown bezel. These are the UT1 & UT1-GMT. The second pair, UT4 & UT4-GMT, are more of the field watch variety, with a fixed, sandblasted steel bezel, coming in at 40mm. Depending on your bezel preference, you then have the choice of a no-date three hander or a GMT with 6 o’clock date. I believe this is the superior position for a date window, and I welcome your opinions in the comments. The GMT takes the form of a color-matched aperture at 12 o’clock to keep the dials legible but still gives you that timezone-ability, if that’s something you’re into.

The only other specs I’ll mention are the water resistance (300 meters, legit) and the fact that all four models are made to MIL-STD-810H standards (super legit). So, why are these my top attainable watches of the year? Two reasons. First, these are excellent options if you want a highly capable piece that has a traditional analog form factor. They’re incredibly handsome and wearable, as I will attest firsthand as a Unimatic owner/enjoyer. I also love the tasteful use of International Orange. Second, they offer a great entry point to watch collecting as a whole. No matter if it’s the Toolwatch Series, the Classic Series, or one of the many interesting Limited runs, every watch from Unimatic comes individually numbered. There’s a feeling of individuality and personality with each watch; they are a little special, due either to a limited nature or to the number on the permanent collections. That being said, you get a lot of punch for the price: anywhere from 350-525 euros, depending on your flavor.

If you want a tough watch that has some personality, and even still feels a bit special, The Toolwatch Series from Unimatic is a great place to start.

The Nomos Club Campus has been the Glashütte-based watchmaker’s go-to entry level watch for nearly a decade now, and for good reason. The classic design and sheer bang for your buck has made it a mainstay on just about every “first nice watch” list out there. The 36mm wide and 8.2mm thick case (100 meters of water resistance) is outfitted with the in-house, manual-winding Alpha movement. The closed steel caseback here is actually a plus in my eyes because it can be engraved, something all too many entry-level watches overlook in favor of an exhibition window with a view of an underwhelming movement. This year saw two vibrant new dial color additions dubbed Nonstop Red and Endless Blue. Both dials are highly legible, and I’m such a fan of California dials with Arabic numerals on the upper half and Roman numerals on the lower. Both punchy new flavors are fun and while I would ordinarily go with the Endless Blue (I love a contrasting seconds sub-dial hand), there is something so effortlessly attention-grabbing about the Nonstop Red that I’m leaning towards that one. Either way, these new dials lend a fresh look to one of the true great value propositions out there, with a price of $1,500.

Erin Wilborn: Dennison Natural Stone Collection

It’s not often that a quartz watch can win over the enthusiast crowd, but when Dennison Watches kicked off its rebrand as a fully-fledged watchmaker (which is actually the brand’s second revival, after a brief tool watch stint back in 2016) a few months ago with a collection of its dressy A.L.D piece with stone dials, there was a general feeling that the brand had touched on something special for its re-revival. Much of this magic can be attributed not only to the brand’s lengthy history and case-making roots but also to its design efforts, led by second-generation watch designer Emmanuel Gueit, whose impressive watchmaking resumé includes the creation of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore. 

The original Dennison closed its doors in 1967, and the A.L.D line picks up exactly where the brand left off. Its smoothly curved, cushion-style case is a direct callback to the final case design that the brand produced. Given stone dials' recent stratospheric rise in popularity, the timing of Dennison’s relaunch feels quite kismet. Additionally, the concept of the stone dial feels stylistically aligned with the piece’s late-'60s design. What impresses me most about these watches is just how Unisex-friendly they are – measuriung at 37mm lug-to-lug, they’ve looked great on just about every wrist I’ve seen them on, including my tiny wrist. And whatever your gripes are with quartz, in addition to keeping the price point in the realm of the attainable, it also serves to help keep the case thin (its profile is just 6.05mm tall), which is a big reason each watch feels so comfortable on the wrist. Dennison prices the watch at just $690; there are a lot of brands out there doing less at a much steeper price. 

Blake Buettner: Nodus TrailTrekker

One of my favorite releases of the year, at any price, was the TrailTrekker from California-based Nodus. This watch falls under the brand's Design Lab family, and was done in collaboration with Kansas City-based watch brand Raven. Those two locations, and the landscape that separates them, served as the inspiration for the TrailTrekker. The design of this watch is unique, borrowing from a few different genres in a manner that works way better than you might expect. The result is a rugged, field-ish watch that makes use of the Miyota 9075 GMT movement, allowing for the coveted independently adjustable hour hand and a price well under $1,000. 

Part of the appeal with the TrailTrekker is the color of the gunmetal gray DLC case, which gets a matte coating and carries it through to the dial, bezel, and bracelet. This, paired with the black accents and well-proportioned lume across the dial makes for a unique and highly legible experience overall. The best part? The TrailTrekker comes in at $875, making it my pick for the best attainable watch of the year. 

D.C. Hannay: Prevail Field Watch

For this assignment, I'd considered picking the newly remastered Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz, but since Danny already has a Hamilton locked and loaded, I set my sights elsewhere. And honestly, I’m glad I did, because my top attainable watch this year is one of my favorite new watches, full stop. The Prevail Onward Future Field watch is so utterly different from anything else in recent memory, and while that’s not always a good thing, in this case, one of the most unique timepieces of the year also happens to be one of the most well-executed, and a bargain to boot. 

Prevail is the brainchild of Air Force vet Hassan Madras, and designed by Matt Smith-Johnson (Vero, Seals, Laco). Together, they’ve created a tough, accessible field watch that looks like nothing else, all while raising funds to benefit veteran health initiatives. And with continued wear, this is one of the rare instances where my affection for a watch grows stronger with time. Rather than a freeway pileup of visual clutter, the Prevail has a cohesive design language that unfolds with new detail each time I strap it on. 

You know how Hollywood sometimes pictures “the future”? It’s a place where the production design looks spotless, angular, well-lit, and overall, kinda terrible. Everything looks like a crappy prop, sort of like the “futuristic” vehicles in Total Recall or, even worse, Demolition Man. But not so with the Prevail. This is Grade A Worldbuilding, and the Prevail would absolutely be at home on the wrist of Harrison Ford in Blade Runner. 

The octagonal, matte stainless-steel case boasts the insurance policy that comes with fixed lugs and 200 meters of water resistance, along with substantive green lume on a scope-like dial design, a recessed sapphire crystal, and a no-fuss Ronda quartz movement inside. Available with smooth “Explorer” and turret-like “Tactical” bezel styles, you have your choice of three colorways and two dial layouts, and they come standard with color-coordinated, pass-through nylon straps. The case wears like a dream, and is one of those objects that feels resolutely solid, like a little ingot of steel. It’s the same feeling you get when closing the door on an ‘80s S-Class Mercedes, with that massive thunk that inspires confidence. “Of a piece,” if you will. It truly feels like a military-issue tool, and you’ll almost certainly fail before this watch does. Best of all is the price, a very attainable $275, with 10% going to The Heart and Armor Foundation.