5 Tailor-Made Watches You Won’t Believe Are Under £300

Sep 18, 2018

There are of course timepieces worn on the wrist that retail for next to nothing. So if you’re happy to spend only a few pounds on one that looks okay, then knock yourself out and buy it. It won’t last forever, and you may have to think twice about wearing it in the rain, but it will probably do for a while. However, it is most certainly possible to get yourself a high-quality – and bespoke – watch that doesn’t break the bank. But before we have a look at some of Undone’s finest watches, let’s consider the specs that a good watch should have.

What Makes A Decent Watch

The case

Titanium or ceramic cases are very tough, but expensive. However, stainless steel – unaffected by moisture or perspiration and unlikely to irritate the skin – is a perfect material for the job. 316L stainless steel, with its high purity level, is highly recommended.

The crystal

The priciest watch crystals (the glass over the watch face) are sapphire, which is extremely hard and scratch resistant. Hardened K1 mineral crystal is, however, almost as tough and stands up well when tested.

Waterproof

Each watch should be marked to show its water resistance. 10 ATM indicates it will withstand 100 meters (or 10 bar) pressure and is fine if you fancy a swim. However, 3 ATM is regarded as being perfectly adequate for normal day-to-day water exposure.

The movement

The basic choice is usually between a quartz movement (with the individual ticks of the second hand), and a mechanical movement (where the second hand sweeps around the watchface). These days, mechanical movements are associated with the luxury end of the market.

Undone Watches

Founded by Michael Young in 2014, Undone is the world’s leading custom watch brand. All their watches can be tailored according to your choice, are marked 3ATM, have a steel case, a hardened K1 mineral crystal, and a Seiko ‘hybrid’ quartz movement that combines quartz and mechanical technology and gives the second hand a luxury sweep.

Urban Vintage Killy

The display colour is beige, but if you’re not a fan of this, the model can, of course, be customized to give you the colour that most suits your taste.

Urban Tropical Caribbean

With its distinctive shades, this is one of those highly individual products that stands out from the crowd.

Urban Tropical Watchuseek

This features a black coated tachymeter bezel with a gold case, as well as an extra strap.

Urban Modern Orange

Simplistic yet stylish and available in a variety of other colours in the Modern range. A sleek and refined package with the characteristic hybrid chronograph movement.

Urban Mystique Eclipse

As this was designed by Michael Young himself, Undone’s founder, it has to be worth a look. As with all of the above, variations can be employed to give you the watch you’re looking for at a remarkable reasonable price for such a high-quality product.