Watches A to Z: Torgoen

If you are a watch enthusiast interested in affordable watches. One brand may deserve a second look: Torgoen. The Torgoen watch brand was founded in 2009 by watchmakers and aviation enthusiasts who were inspired by aircraft instrument panels. Led by Israeli-born pilot and entrepreneur, Benzi Rozenski, the brand focuses on practical, readable, aviation-themed, timepieces. The brand was acquired by E. Gluck Corporation in 2019. However, the focus on quality, design, and affordability continues unabated.

Torgoen T10 Carbon Pilot Watch for Men (Amazon photo)

One of the Torgoen watches that caught my eye is the Torgoen T10 Carbon Pilot Watch (above) for men. It has a 44mm diameter case, very readable hands and markers, 100-meter water resistance, and a Swiss Quartz Ronda movement. The Torgoen T10 watch is available here on Amazon via my affiliate link. 

Torgoen watches use quality Swiss movements, comfortable silicone or Italian leather straps, and high grade materials like 316L Stainless Steel for watch cases and K1 or sapphire for watch crystals. For affordability, final assembly of the watches may be done in Asian manufacturing centers. While a handful of Torgoen watches are offered on Amazon at very attractive prices, the brand primarily sells direct to consumer from their own website. 

Torgoen XP-51 (Torgoen Photo)

Some of the brand's most interesting timepieces are created in collaboration with the award-winning historic aircraft preservation firm, Pacific Fighters. As of this writing, all of the Torgoen x Pacific Fighters watches sell at price points between $350 and $500. Unfortunately, most of these limited production timepieces have sold out except for the current offering. The amazing Torgoen XP-51 Mustang Quartz GMT watch. It is made from wing flap skin metal from an actual P-51 Mustang that is undergoing restoration. You'll definitely want to check their website out for this watch, current offerings, clearance deals and more.  You can find them all here at Torgoen.com.

Top 10 Inexpensive Watches - Part 2

This week, let's continue our Top 10 Inexpensive watches list with some relatively inexpensive watches that bring unique capabilities to our wrists.

6. Casio G Shock.  Lots of premium watch companies advertise military-style watches.  But, when you actually see pictures of American military personnel in the field, they are actually wearing Casio G-Shock watches.  They are rugged, waterproof, and constructed to take a beating. The G Shock is mostly thought of as a digital watch, but Casio now offers some very attractive ana-digital versions.  You can find Casio G Shock watch on Amazon here.

A Casio G Shock Watch

7 & 8. ADNA and Modify.  There are a couple of companies that use interchangeable silicone watch straps:  ADNA and Modify Watches.  Both companies provided me with example watches.  ADNA watches appeal to the traditionalist with masculine diver-style dials, while Modify watches are focused more on artistic expression with square dials.  It is amazingly easy to change straps on either kind of watch.  If you hate dealing with watch strap pins, you'll value these watches much more than their low price points.

[As of 2024, I think both of these watch brands are pretty hard to find in the U.S.]

A Modify Watch

An Adna Watch

9. Citizen Eco Drive.  When it comes to harnessing the sun with attractive watches, Citizen is the leader.  Eco Drive watches allow wearers to almost completely leave the world of watch batteries behind.

A Citizen Eco-Drive Weekender Watch

10. Bulova Precisionist.  Finally, I have one expensive quartz watch on my list: the Bulova Precisionist.  It's reputed to be the most accurate quartz watch in the world.  It's hard not to be mesmerized by the graceful movement of the big yellow second hand across the dial.  At prices generally ranging from $400 to $700, the Precisionist is not cheap.  But, a watch with this level of accuracy also doesn't break the bank! You can also find some great deals from time to time! [In 2023, I bought the Bulova Precisionist below.  You can read my complete Bulova Bulova Precisionist review here.]

A Bulova Precisionist Watch for Men

With price points from $50 to $500, these inexpensive watches don't sell for chump change.  Instead, they confirm that the life of a watch collector can start well below $1000.

Top 10 Inexpensive Watches - Part 1

I recently read an interesting post on the WatchTime blog.  Watch industry insider, Alexander Linz listed The Watch Insider’s Top 10 Best-Value Chronographs of 2014. These were all fine mechanical watches that he considered excellent affordable chronographs.  Unfortunately, with the exception of one Swatch, all of the watches listed were premium watches that cost thousands of dollars.

Like many mortal men, I am cursed with having taste without wealth.  I can admire the chosen watches for their style, engineering, craftsmanship, and brand history.  However, as a middle-aged, middle class, American man, I can only pray that I accumulate the wealth needed to comfortably acquire such a timepiece. If I ever earn the requisite fortune to acquire such a watch, I hope that I have the class to wear it without it being perceived as doing an end zone dance to show status over others.

For those of us in the 99-percent, I would propose an alternate top 10 list of best inexpensive watches.  I can't claim the level of horological expertise that belong to Alexander Linz and the staff at WatchTime Magazine. But, I believe their are many worthwhile timepieces at low price points. Some of these watches bring new and unique capabilities to watch collectors while others allow common people to emulate the looks of classic watches.  While high end watch aficionados embrace the tradition of mechanical watch making, the rest of us enjoy the accuracy of  quartz watch movements.

First, in this post, let's look at 5 inexpensive watches that give us classic looks or unique styles!  Companies like Invicta and Stuhrling Original have brought timeless styles to common folks.  While these companies also have innovative designs, we have to thank them for putting classic looks on our wrists.

1.  Invicta Pro Diver.  The Invicta Pro Diver is a classic dive watch inspired by the Rolex Sub.  There are many colors and all do a good job of channeling the classic Rolex Submariner.  You can read my review of my Invicta Specialty Pro Diver watch here.

2.  Stuhrling Original Concorse Raceway.  If you like the Rolex Speedmaster, the Concorso Raceway will give you the look at a fraction of the price.  It has chronograph features and looks great.

Beyond the classics, come the watches that bring unique style to our wrists.

3.  Skagen.  If any brand has a unique and immediately recognizable style, it is Skagen.  The Skagen brand brings Danish design to the wrist.   Skagen watches have a minimalist modern Scandinavian look.  They also have thin streamlined cases.  The Grenen by Skagen watch below really typifies the Skagen look.

A Grenen by Skagen watch

4.  AVI-8.  The AVI-8 brand of watches bring classic aviation icons to the wrist.  The AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane practically beckons you to spin the prop and take to the skies.  AVI-8 provided me with a sample watch and it is one of my favorites.

5.  Izod.  The Izod line of watches brings a preppy look to the wrist with class and panache.  For those of us old enough to remember the Izod craze of the early eighties.  If you want a real Izod on your wrist, it's the one to buy.  There are many affordable Izod watches in stores like Burlington today.

An Izod Watch

These watches show that you don't have to spend a lot of money to wear seriously stylish watches.  Next week, we'll look at 5 more watches that bring unique capabilities to our wrists!

[This post was updated with new photographs in May 2024.]