Top 20 GADA Watches Under $1000

[@eternalmemri]

Just a bit over $1000, but the Hanhart Preventor HD12 is the PERFECT GADA watch. Saving up for it rn

[@ScottEvans-u6q]

I have to agree with other comments here, have been watching your videos for a while now,and your content, knowledge is getting better every time ( from one manc to another well done, merry Christmas 👍

[@AdAce21]

Great video and great list, overall. The beauty of the Dresskx is you can get one, buy an aftermarket bracelet (I recommend the jubilee from Long Island Watch), upgrade the glass to sapphire and you're still well under $500. I even upgraded mine with a color-matched kanji date wheel movement.

[@TopTierTicker]

Great suggestion with the mods. Like you say, you can turn it into a beast for less than $500. A new bracelet does a lot for not very much! Mark does a great job with those mod parts 👌

[@Jaydub-on1zc]

Thanks for providing all these excellent selections, Kieron! A standout for me among the watches you profiled is the Alpinist 1959. One of the nicest looking Seikos that is not a cocktail time, and a model I hadn’t seen before. Least impressive to me was the RZE; perhaps I just can’t get past their amateurish logo.

[@RafaelMoralesjr73]

That one caught my eyes too

[@kerryjgee]

Great video thanx man!

[@TopTierTicker]

Glad you liked it!

[@johanvandersandt8904]

There really is something for everyone in here! You've got all sorts of styles and colors and finishes from a variety of brands. I like that Certina and I'm a sucker for Citizen so that gets my vote too! I think I should get me a yellow dial next year. They are growing on me! Merry Christmas to you Kieron!

[@TopTierTicker]

I'll be getting one of those Zenshin's in for review early next year. Probably the white dial and the salmon chronograph. Beautiful pieces!

[@johanvandersandt8904]

@@TopTierTicker It looks awesome! Cant wait for you to have a look at it!

[@stuartdavies7351]

My gada is the Casio Oceanus OCW TS200. You really don’t need any other watch other than that… (…and the other colour variants of course!).

[@MrBacchus18]

That's what I grab when I don't feel like setting the time on my autos.

[@cesarmartinez7098]

They are not selling it anymore on Casio website 😔

[@stuartdavies7351]

@@cesarmartinez7098I did notice that too 🤷‍♂️ - plenty still available out in the wild. Great watch.

[@mnmnmnmnmnmnmn]

@@cesarmartinez7098get it from a Japanese proxy, ebay, or sometimes even amazon

[@AlexChis88]

For me it is the Longines Conquest 41 mm in black. Screwdown crown and caseback, 300m water resistance and chose quartz instead of automatic for enhanced durability. It's the best GADA watch I own.

[@j1d7s]

A very nice selection! It features an RZE I own (in the yellow enamel dial variant) and my first San Martin, I got the one with the blue dial recently and love it. I would have included a watch from Wise, they offer incredible value and they have models that I would consider to be GADA, too.

[@TopTierTicker]

Wise very nearly made the list. It was between them and Echo/Neutra and I went with the Averau. Great two pieces you have with the Resolute and SN0144. Enjoy!

[@hootonhoot]

Good job highlighting the Citizen Forza line👌 EDIT: Excellent job with choosing the SN0144 in top spot! I was so impressed with this piece that I bought two in 36mm during the last sales💯👍👌

[@joshprice333]

Great video! Just for info I have the Hamilton KFA and it has a push pull crown, not screw down.

[@FatherSonWatchTalk]

Glad you included the Casio Edifice. There are models with sapphire crystals for around $100 usd. I have one, the EFB108D and it’s awesome!🎉

[@turbyoulance]

Great Video Mr K. I love the Erebus Ascent .Hate the Hamilton KHAKI "you beaut GI JOE watches" but.

[@JamesNeal-e3d]

I think I've watched nearly all your videos to date and the quality of them just gets better and better each time so please keep it up as they're very entertaining. I think you're from my neck of the woods too or not so far away. Salford any chance? Either way keep it going and all the best

[@TopTierTicker]

I really appreciate that mate. I'm trying my best to improve each time with the quality. This one took me all week to make, hence the single upload this week. Close! I'm from a town called Stalybridge. Just next to Oldham.

[@JamesNeal-e3d]

@@TopTierTicker Well you're doing a grand job and I hope it's worth the effort you put into it as your videos are a lot of fun to watch. It's like talking to an old friend in the pub over a pint talking about watches etc which I really enjoy.. I don't know Stalybridge too well but I've a few mates from Oldham etc. We're all pretty class and close to one another up North aren't we so we look after the herd here. Anyway, I'm looking forward to your next video. Keep it going as a lot of people get enjoyment from them! Thanks again, J

[@vrsprngVI]

Hopefully we will see you on Teddy's end of year video next year. Great content you have here, sir.

[@TopTierTicker]

That would be great! I enjoy a good Teddy vid. Always appreciated his professionalism. Thank you for watching 🙏

[@timrosenthal46]

That was great thanks mate ! Merry Christmas ...

[@TopTierTicker]

Thanks Tim! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

[@vanderplaat1049]

Nice video! I was very entertained and you got me thinking on some watches. Cheers!

[@manuellorente370]

Gran trabajo y muy honesto, como siempre. Sin lugar a dudas ese San Martín le saca los colores a muchas marcas de entidad.

[@C.C._TJ_Jason]

Outstanding video! Really love the list you put together here and the way you presented it.

[@TopTierTicker]

Thanks a ton! Glad you enjoyed it. This one took me a full week to put together 😆😩

[@zographiapusic1439]

No Henry Archer Vesterhav? 38 or 40mm, 10.45mm thick, date 9019 movement, 200 meter WR, exhibition caseback and incredible dial color options at $499...crazy.

[@KP-wp5sz]

That is a miss for sure!

[@grunt5074]

I was about to say the same thing.

[@E_D_43]

Well said.

[@TheAussiePencil]

Plus sapphire and on the fly adjustable clasp! Henry Archer is criminally underrated

[@TheFinalBoss23]

I was warming up my fingers to type this exact comment with a longer rant. Criminal not to include the Vesterhav. Would just like to add Micro adjustment that could give CW a run for their money, Lume that would outperform any other on this list and build/finishing that could go toe to toe with some of the higher end luxury pieces.

[@maxinahunt8652]

So many fantastic choices. Fun video And great script! For me one of the GADA requirements is lots of bracelet and strap choices as well. That Echo Neutra has been tugging at me for awhile now.

[@CarsonLoewe]

Glad to see you warmed up to the lighter side of the price scale. Happy to see SM on here giving credit its due, and u gave way to too many Hamiltons on the list. Assimilation nearly complete.

[@D3ZG1978]

I've got the RZE resolutel in mint green and the Nodus sector field in marine blue and both are fantastic

[@sweetcorn1968]

Ooh! That Addiesdive AD2055 is a lovely looking watch. Thanks again. 😊

[@TopTierTicker]

Glad you're enjoying it mate. Unbelievable watch for the money that is 👌

[@zographiapusic1439]

Astor & Banks Fortitude Light or Pro versions...beautiful

[@kiwifrenchie6036]

Any suggestions for Cartier tank alternative?

[@TopTierTicker]

I made a full video featuring 10 of them! Just search Cartier Tank Alternatives and it should pop up

[@avalchinov]

Great video. I am always looking for the GADA. Currently using Casio w217h for that purpose.

[@TopTierTicker]

Can't go wrong with a digital Casio!

[@Cappingtoncappercap]

Great upload mate

[@TopTierTicker]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching

[@chrislyall6251]

Great video K,well done on taking the time to make it,maybe you could do a video on Best Dress Watches under $1000, C West London.

[@SingleTrackMined]

I have the Certina DS Action Chronometer...it is a perfect GADA watch, imo. I love Certina

[@TopTierTicker]

Good to hear you enjoy it. I saw one in person earlier this year and it was eye-catching. Thanks for watching!

[@boltfanindenver17]

Just got in one of the new nodus sector pilot’s and absolutely love it. But I need a GADA and your back to back options of the Erebus and the Beaucroft I keep going back and forth between. Leaning Beaucroft for those gorgeous Forest Green and Sunset Orange dial choices.

[@TopTierTicker]

Great two choices. Can't go wrong with either of them. I've actually just got the Ascent in myself for review. I'll be covering the Aventurine dial version in early Jan 👌

[@ryanbane]

Great list :)

[@youpluman]

great review, good job, like it all.

[@Kaladin-t4w]

Disappointed that you didn't make the teddy video this year. 100% my favourite watch channel. Keep up the great content looking forward to seeing you on teddy's channel next year.

[@TopTierTicker]

You're too kind, thank you. I enjoy Teddy's end of year round up too. It'd be cool to feature on it one day for sure. Appreciate your support this year my friend 🙏

[@iansclone]

As a Hamilton fan, I'm glad two made your list. However, I'm not convinced the Khaki is GADA-esque. For under $1000, my vote would be the Jazzmaster line, if a 50m WR can be overlooked.

[@TopTierTicker]

Interesting! A man with some style 👌😎

[@richardvanvliet2287]

Great video, great list😃 I guess under 1000 ($€£) is good as it’s been perceived as “affordable”, or attainable, whereas above 1000 is not (well for me at least). And then lots of great watches in this space. I prefer the microbrands. The big brands and Chinese seem to lack something special for me. So, I’ve been looking at Beaucroft, RZE and Nodus for a while… …and ordered the Beaucroft Element a week ago😬

[@ahha6304]

Henry Archer watches, all under 1,000 -- mainly divers, and looks awesome

[@johannesaxeman4508]

Tusenö från Göteborg. Not bad stuff! Thanx.

[@RobMyself]

Hey what's the wrist size shown with that Laco? Good video. Thanks.

[@TopTierTicker]

Hi Rob. My wrist size is 6.5 inch and it was the 42mm Augsburg

[@RobMyself]

@TopTierTicker Thanks! We're nearly identical and I found that 42 for $360. New. That thing looks great and I'm going to get it. This will be my first mechanical watch and the price of right. Let the obsession begin! 😂

[@KevinColwill-k2r]

Excellent choices. Thanks for all the quality content over the year. Merry Christmas

[@TopTierTicker]

Thank you, Kevin! Merry Christmas to you too. I appreciate your support over the year. Here's to a good 2025!

[@RealAndyOriginal]

I really like the Hamilton but have heard people say they break.

[@xianreiss]

I like under 100. I might consider the San Martin SN0144 with some Christmas money.

[@rossyoung8892]

I'm wearing that silver dial baltany date just right now, it's a very good watch although I will say the clasp sits rather proud of bracelet and has a tendency to catch on surfaces. Aside from that if you can get past the 'homage' aspect of it (not 100% sure if I can but I'm keeping it for now) it's a very cool watch

[@TopTierTicker]

Glad to hear you're enjoying it. It just looks sooo good. The two-tone burgandy piece is sexy as hell! I'll be getting one in for review early 2025 for sure! Thanks for watching Ross 🙏 enjoy Christmas and New year!

[@watchalot919]

I would have to say I class some of those as field or dress watches. I just landed the San Martin in orange with a 36mm dial and reviewed it, and it's a fantastic watch. I would add a few more to that, the Direnzo DRZ02R, the Astor Banks Fortitude, and the Relio Solstice. If your on a real budget the Watchdives 005 is very good as well. To be fair mate I suppose there are sooooo many out there the video could have run for days.

[@TopTierTicker]

Brilliant! The fact you class some of them as field / dress means I've done my job right. The perfect GADA rides the line between the two in my opinion. So naturally some lean more one way than the other. That's the one. I could've made this a top 50 if I had the time. But no one wants to hear me speak for that long 😂 I appreciate your suggestions. I'll check them out in some more detail

[@keyboard.grinder]

Please add Daniel Wellington (my favourite brand)

[@TopTierTicker]

No chance 🤣

[@Bob.martens]

I have a SARB017. And two other Alpinists. I hate bracelets, 90% of the time I wear fabric straps. I think I'm GADA covered:)

[@moneymikz]

Thanks to the PRX hype the Gentleman gets overlooked even though it’s objectively better you can get them like new for about $400 now.

[@TopTierTicker]

You've said it perfectly. In fact, the whole Tissot catalogue often gets overlooked now.

[@Leepal1969]

If money was no object I actually would go out and buy about half of these watches. I think the Echo/Neutra is my favourite though.

[@Lord_englishgent]

I have a blood red 38mm Traska in the UK brand new if anyone is interested... amazing watch, but I want the 36mm... also I own the San Martin he mentions at the end. and it is the best GADA watch to buy for the money,

[@ziem1246]

drop me a dm mate. i'd be interested.

[@aphex_303]

The new Hanhart Preventor HD12 beats the Murph in the GADA stakes with a scratch-resistant case, screw-down crown, better water resistance, better AR and a more legible dial - all for pretty much the same price (in Europe at least).

[@cameronslade6452]

Love the video, but just have to point out that you said the Hamilton khaki field auto has a screw down crown, it doesn’t it’s just push-pull. I have one myself, so unless they’ve changed it in the last few months, you’ve made a little error there.

[@TopTierTicker]

Correct! My bad on that. I've been under the impression it had one for years... Even thought I've handled one in store 😆 Thanks for correcting that.

[@kickstothehead3705]

I got the last San Martin for bout 250$ on the sale

[@TopTierTicker]

Good deal!

[@benh715]

Some great choices. I was torn between the Erebus and the Tuseno, but that san Martin might have stolen the show.

[@TopTierTicker]

Can't go wrong with any on this list! The choice of dials with the Erebus is really neat though. The red helix and aventurine are darlings.

[@BAF605]

Good list, but Importers to UK and Europe should be aware the "admin fees" many couriers are now charging. They often add another 10% on top of the tax collected. That's a real consideration. and one you should include when comparing prices within your tax area, which on first look may appear more expensive. Obviously I'm not talking Ali deals here, their checkout system has always been transparent in my experience.

[@yama-fanboy]

YES!

[@BFit25]

Seiko SNXS79

[@c.s2001]

No Belhamel or Venezianco?

[@TopTierTicker]

Venezianico don't have a watch that I'd consider a true GADA just yet. And I'm not too aware of Belhamel. I'll check them out 👌

[@c.s2001]

Belhamel have at the moment only one model the Contra 39 which I have in charcoal blue. Very soon they will have two other colours and another called R39. They send me updates that’s how I know fyi.

[@gregtolley3455]

When will the wall between micro/ali brands finally fall? Aren't we already there? Is Phoibos more legit than SM just because they are from Hong Kong and don't sell on Ali?

[@nilsbrongers6115]

And the Erebus is a 100% Ali Express as well

[@TopTierTicker]

I don't think it's a thing of being 'more legit'. It's just a different route of selling isn't it. AliExpress is an open marketplace. Selling direct is much harder. It's the indipendant thing that I respect. They do everything themselves.

[@Pounderino]

@@nilsbrongers6115it’s awesome you think that all the other brands don’t also do the same thing. That’s why they’re waiting on a batch to sell. They’re all using factories just like the Erebus. So if you’re saying they’re Ali express then why not almost every other micro?

[@nilsbrongers6115]

@@Pounderino when did I say all other brands are not Chinese as well?? Ofcourse they are. Even “Swiss Made” means that a large part of the watch can be from China. But some microbrands assemble their watches themselves like Traska in the USA or Baltic in France from components produced in China. The Erebus however is 100% Chinese (with imported Miyota mvmt okay..) I like a good Swiss or German watch so I have a Tudor. And I also really like Casio’s but there you can see “Made in China” on the back, which is more honest!

[@Pounderino]

@@nilsbrongers6115so you do know.. Crazy because when you threw out a single name to put up in the aliexpress category from the micro brand world, I figured you didn’t understand how it all worked. The guy says there made in a Chinese factory and shows them doing the work. What’s with the Erebus hate random people have?

[@dargainsMotorcycleASMR]

The 42mm Murph's seconds hand says EUREKA

[@E_D_43]

Great list with great watches at different price points. I'd also add Henry Archer Versterhaven and the Clemence Munro.

[@TopTierTicker]

Clemence Monro was on the list originally but they're completely sold out at the moment without a restock date. Thanks for the Henry Archer suggestion, I'll check it out

[@D3ZG1978]

Cant include them all I suppose..

[@sowhat8087]

17 minutes too long for info presented by others Thanks for the effort

[@ammro]

No Lorier?! Falcon is a great GADA

[@marikal2341]

Murph didn't wear the watch in the movie, it was her dad's, but she did solve a mystery with it that saved mankind.

[@TopTierTicker]

Ah, I see. I have seen the movie but it was a loooong time ago now. Thanks for clearing this up

[@marikal2341]

@@TopTierTicker I recently rewatched it after getting into watches, as I couldn't remember who Murph was.

[@Opnmdjxkxmmff]

Anything with an exhibition case back cannot be a Gada watch it will not put up a fight against magnetic interference.

[@aleksandertobiassen9867]

Do not recommend that Certina. The screw down crown has worn out 3 times and the movement would stop randomly sometimes meaning it is not the +/-10sec a year watch it is promised to be.

[@sgg3745]

Gada?

[@Pistolero891]

Wish Seiko did that 1959 Alpinist in a 40mm size, such a beauty!

[@nilsbrongers6115]

Henry Archer………..

[@adk7962]

Holy smokes. If you can’t find a watch for you in this list, maybe watch collecting isn’t for you (or at least collecting GADA watches isn’t for you). 😅 Thanks for taking the time to put this together! I’ve always said if you have $200 for a one watch collection, the Dress KX is the way to go. Thanks again!

[@KabobHope]

The Dress KX is the best value on the market. I like the silver with gold accents for a little extra pop.

[@adk7962]

@ Yup. I think that’s Jody’s favorite also.

[@Wayne-q1v6l]

Thumbnail has a dateless GADA 😂 And then starts with the first watch, apparently another dateless GADA 😂 What am I missing?

[@TopTierTicker]

Who said a GADA needs a date? It's all about how it looks! Universal style

[@Wayne-q1v6l]

@@TopTierTicker It's in the name. GoAnywhereDoAnything. A dateless watch is useless at the office for many. If I need to check my phone for the date then my watch is redundant.

[@motouno3778]

Casio have done themselves a HUGE disservice by putting that stupid edifice name on the dial ! There are a few that I really like but there's no way I'd buy one with that on the dial . Cheers

[@FatherSonWatchTalk]

I have one and it’s growing on me. Just Casio and the “E” would work better with Edifice on the case-back. doesn’t bother me too much, but I agree. Great GADA watches.

[@PatQuakernaat]

I still cant get why some nice affordable brands have such shitty logos. Those crap logos make the watch look cheap. RZE, abd the Seiko 5 logo are just 2 examples which I would purchase if the logo was done different.

[@TopTierTicker]

Sounds like you're a perfectionist when it comes to design. Nothing wrong with that by the way. I respect it 👌

[@freddyfox5002]

No smart watches?

[@TopTierTicker]

Smart watch for a formal occasion? 🤮 They're great for sports & workouts but no chance with a shirt for me

[@macondo84]

Did you really recommend copies of other watches? Your opinion is totally worthless... For me it's a red flag

[@hdog6371]

Could you take a look at the watches from the regimental shop. They have 5 or so watches including a lovely g10 for about £100. The quality of this g10 is worth talking about. No one on KZbin has covered these watches.

[@shergill4301]

Good video

[@TopTierTicker]

Appreciate that! Thanks for dropping by

[@oz836]

No Formex love. Wow.

[@TopTierTicker]

Under $1000 only. Otherwise I would've included them