The Best Watches Under USD 10K On Wristcheck Right Now

It doesn’t always feel like it, but working within a defined budget while watch collecting is an excellent thing. When you can’t buy every timepiece that catches your eye, you really need to consider what it is you like and why, honing your taste and refining your interest along the way.

Working within a budget also doesn’t mean you can’t buy excellent watches. So if you’ve got five figures saved to get an exceptional timepiece on your wrist, let’s take a look at the best watches under USD 10k that you can buy from Wristcheck right now. From the original modern perpetual calendar to the expert craftsmanship of Audemars Piguet’s goldsmiths, there’s something for everyone. 

IWC DaVinci Perpetual Calendar Ref. 3750

The Perpetual Calendar is a complication that has become synonymous with IWC over the last three decades, after the legendary watchmaker Kurt Klaus invented a mechanical calendar that could be adjusted only using the crown. This very watch was the DaVinci Perpetual Calendar ref. 3750 Klaus’ innovation made its debut in, launched in 1985 and cased in 39mm of yellow gold. The heart of this watch is the calibre 79261, the calendar and moonphase of which is accurate to within one day every 144 years, while offering a respectable 44 hours of power reserve. A piece of history, and easily one of the best watches under USD 10k on the market today.

Rolex Explorer 1 Ref. 14270

If you’re after a classic, no-fuss watch that you can wear every day, while also scratching that itch to own a watch made by the Big Crown, the Rolex Explorer 1 ref. 14270 is very hard to look past. Arriving in the quintessential 36mm Rolex case size (the popularity of the 39mm and 41mm case sizes is a relatively new phenomenon) and with the instantly recognisable 3, 6, and 9 Arabic numerals against the jet-black dial, there’s a neo-vintage charm to this mid-90s watch that’s undeniable. With the green factory sticker still present on the caseback, this ref. 14270 is powered by the 48-hour power reserve calibre 3000 and is water resistant to 100m, making it an ideal daily companion. 

Omega Seamaster Diver 300m “No Time To Die” James Bond

Over the last half-decade, there was perhaps no film release that was surrounded by more hype and anticipation than the long-delayed James Bond installment, No Time To Die. As the last occasion that Daniel Craig would play the world’s most famous secret agent, Omega’s CEO confirmed that Craid had a hand in designing the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m “No Time To Die” James Bond watch worn prominently in the film. Executed in 42mm of lightweight titanium and featuring a darkened lume dial without a date window, one of the most exciting elements of this 007 edition is the woven titanium bracelet, cementing it as one of the most wearable and distinctive James Bond watches ever produced.

Kurono Toyko Chrono Tokyo Tic Tac x Hajime Asaoka "Panda"

If there’s a chronograph-shaped hole in your collection and you’re looking to fill it with something that’s unusual and desirable in equal measure, the Kurono Toyko Chrono Tokyo Tic Tac x Hajime Asaoka "Panda" is a compelling option. The panda dial is a well-known quantity that collectors love for its contrast and legibility, while the heritage-inspired 38mm stainless steel case transports you to another era, complete with pump pushers and a closed caseback. It’s powered by the calibre NE86 with a solid 45 hours of power reserve, and presents an opportunity to own a rare watch crafted by the celebrated Japanese watchmaker Hajime Asaoka.

Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0

There’s no doubt that the Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 isn’t for everyone, but those that like it tend to love it. As its unusual shape and time display suggest, the Casquette 2.0 takes its inspiration from the 1970s when digital timepieces made their debut, but modernizes the design with a titanium and ceramic case that measures 34mm in width. Arriving with additional functions that include a second time zone, chronograph and low battery indicator, this is one of just 820 examples that were produced by Girard-Perregaux for the 2022 reissue.

Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43

As far as pilot’s chronographs go, there aren’t many that are more Swiss than this Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 created in partnership with Swissair. It was the debut model released within the Navitimer Airline Editions collection, made easy to spot thanks to its black reverse panda dial with red highlights and cased in 43mm of stainless steel with a matching steel bracelet. Powered by the ever-reliable automatic calibre B01, you’ll enjoy an impressive 70 hours of power reserve and an exhibition caseback through which you can see it in action.

Zenith Defy Classic Titanium

Another ideal everyday watch — but one with a slightly more avant-garde design — the Zenith Defy Classic Titanium is extremely comfortable on the wrist thanks to its 41mm titanium case and bracelet, with a dial you won’t tire of looking at. Fully skeletonized to offer an uninterrupted view of the automatic calibre Elite 670 SK beneath the dial, this Defy fuses futuristic elements with a case shape that was born near the middle of the last century. Offering 50 hours of power reserve and a rock solid 100m of water resistance, this watch isn’t one that’ll let you down. 

Audemars Piguet Dress Watch In Yellow Gold With Diamonds

For those lusting after a classic dress watch with the name Audemars Piguet splashed proudly across the dial, this solid yellow gold timepiece oozes old-school opulence. Boasting a ring of diamonds around its bezel, as well as on the dial and hands, the bracelet of this watch is a metallurgical work of art thanks to the subtle pattern carved across its surface. If you’re one who pulls on a dinner jacket more than a couple of times a year, this watch would be the perfect pairing. 

Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch

Among the most iconic watches of history, only a handful come close to the legendary status of the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. This specific ref. 145.022-69 was produced in a brief window between 1968 and 1970, exactly when NASA finally put boots on the moon, and contains the celebrated manually wound calibre 861 inside. It’s not often such a nice example shows up, complete with signs of graceful aging on the bezel, so if you’ve been thinking about a Speedmaster, this could be the one for you. 

MB&F M.A.D.1 RED

One of the quirkiest watches released in the last couple of years, the MB&F M.A.D.1 RED is what you get when you pour the almost unlimited creative capacity of Max Büsser into a (relatively) affordable timepiece. As the brains behind MB&F — a brand whose watches typically sell for six figures and beyond — the M.A.D.1 RED was an attempt at making a timepiece that was equally unusual in its time display, at a price that most could afford. Measuring 42mm in diameter and powered by the Miyota 821A with 60 hours of power reserve, this is an eye-catcher, for sure.