Building the Perfect Watch Collection Under £2,000

How much watch can you get for £2,000? Quite a bit, actually. Setting myself a hard limit—£2,000 total—I wanted to create a four-watch collection that could genuinely cover every base: a chronograph, a dive watch, a dress watch, and a go-anywhere, do-anything (GADA) piece. The rules? Simple. All watches had to be brand new, readily available (or restocking soon), and not limited editions. Pre-owned bargains might be tempting, but this collection should be easy to replicate.

So, let’s get building.

I’m kicking things off with a reliable chronograph, and I’m going straight to Seiko. The Speedtimer in white dial form (SSC813) ticks every box. At 39mm, it wears beautifully. It’s solar-powered—so you get that stress-free accuracy—and it has that classic panda look with great legibility and build quality. For £640, it’s a solid start, and yes, it takes a big bite out of the budget. But this is a watch you’ll love to wear, and I think it earns its spot.

Running total: £640
Remaining: £1,360

When it comes to value-packed divers, Citizen is hard to beat. I filtered their current models by price and quickly landed on the Promaster Diver (BN0150-28E). This thing is a tank—44mm with 200m of water resistance, solar-powered, and built to be used. Yes, it has a mineral crystal rather than sapphire, but for £289 you’re getting serious spec and rugged charm.

It’s not the most compact, but as a tool watch it delivers in spades, and Eco-Drive tech means you can wear it, forget about it, and rely on it.

Running total: £929
Remaining: £1,071

Now for something a little more refined. I had the Seiko Cocktail Time in mind initially, but since we already used Seiko for the chronograph, I limited the collection to one watch per brand—just to keep it interesting.

Instead, I turned to Dennison, a brand that’s quietly building some stunning designs. Their stone dial watches are a bit beyond this budget, but the Sunray Black in Steel ( fits perfectly. At 37mm by 33.5mm and just 6mm thick, it’s subtle, elegant, and wearable with anything—even a tuxedo. The embossed leather strap gives it an old-school charm, and it’s quartz, which keeps it low maintenance.

Running total: £1,296
Remaining: £704

This is the watch I’d probably wear the most. It’s a true GADA piece, and I wanted something from a British brand to represent the microbrand scene. The Beaucroft Element in Obsidian Black absolutely nails it.

It’s automatic (using the Miyota 9039), has 200m of water resistance, screw links, on-the-fly micro-adjustment, and sapphire crystal. Plus, the dial features a subtle mint teal seconds hand that plays beautifully against the black. The case design is inspired by Cambridge’s Bridge of Sighs—unique but wearable. It’s classy, robust, and very versatile.

Yes, it pushes the budget a little, but it’s worth it.

Running total: £1,945
Remaining: £55

With just £55 left in the budget, I wanted to pick up something that would add versatility to the collection. Since I already have a few nylon straps from Watch Gecko’s OCTOPOD range, I decided to go for something a little more refined this time—a Milanese mesh bracelet.

At £38, this satin-brushed or polished 20mm bracelet offers a clean, dressy look that would complement both the Dennison and Beaucroft beautifully. It's comfortable, classic, and easy to swap in when you want something with a touch of vintage flair.

Running total: £1,983.99
Remaining: £16.01

With just under £17 left in the pot, I couldn’t resist rounding out the collection with a true icon: the Casio F91W. At only £12.99 on Amazon, this digital legend is about as no-frills as it gets—but that’s exactly the charm.

It’s lightweight, practical, nostalgic, and endlessly useful. Whether you're timing a coffee brew, heading to the beach, or just want something super low-key, the F91W is the perfect beater. And for the price, it’s unbeatable.

Final total: £1,995.99
Under budget by: £4.01

• Seiko Speed Timer – £640
• Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Diver – £289
• Dennison Sunray Black Steel – £367
• Beaucroft Element Obsidian – £649
• Casio F91W – £12.99
• Watch Gecko Milanese Bracelet – £38

For just under £2,000, I’ve ended up with five seriously capable watches, a stylish new bracelet, and not a single compromise in versatility or character. From the robust practicality of the Citizen to the quiet refinement of the Dennison, there’s a little something for every occasion—backed up by a GADA powerhouse in the Beaucroft.

Including an automatic watch in this price range, alongside solar-powered pieces and quartz dress options, adds even more balance. And with 200m water resistance on two of them, these aren’t just pretty faces—they’re ready for action.

So, would you build a collection like this? What would your £2,000 collection look like? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to see what others would pick.