Watchlist: the best timepieces for up to £1,000

Like Farer and Helgray, Elliot Brown – a no-nonsense UK maker founded by two surfer dudes – is growing up fast, along with its loyal fans. And with age comes sophistication and the desire for a proper watch with proper mechanics. Step forward the self-winding Tyneham.

£795; elliotbrownwatches.com

On the one hand, Seiko makes solid, cheap, classy, but yes, cheap watches; on the other, its Grand Seiko division handcrafts beauties to rival Rolex. In between is Presage, a mechanically driven series of dress watches only available in Japan… until now. You really can’t go wrong.

£799; seiko.co.uk

Hamilton, like its Swatch stablemates Tissot and Certina, is all about fantastic-value watches, but with an added touch of behind-enemy-lines, out-in-the-fieldness. So thank goodness it's made a rugged, harpoon-proof diving watch suited to the needs of your typical Navy SEAL. 

£840; hamiltonwatch.com

It was only a matter of time before UK newbie Farer ventured into Swiss-mechanical territory, as it’s a brand inspired by the pluck of explorers past. Plus, its manufacturing partner is Roventa-Henex, which makes (anonymously) for some of Switzerland’s biggest players.

£875; farer.com

No, not that sort of fireman – we’re talking about the bloke in charge of the steam trains of the US’s 19th-century railroad. Mr Ball himself was charged with keeping the conductors of his country’s rapidly growing network on time (within 30 seconds of each other, in fact) and crash-free. They’d certainly whistle twice at this tribute to the pocket watches of yore.

£850; ballwatch.com

Look at it. Just… look at it. You want it, don’t you? Of course you do. Especially if, like Erhard Junghans himself, you’re a fan of Maybach, whose 1932 DS8 Zeppelin’s dashboard and cream paintwork have directly informed this gorgeous dial. Yes, it’s 50 quid over £1,000, but who’s counting?

£1,050; junghans.de