(This article features affiliate links, for more information, click here.)
Welcome to the ultimate mid-range chronograph buying guide of 2025. In another collaboration with WristFinds and PynionTime, this article brings you a curated selection of the finest chronograph watches priced between $500 and $1,000, a sweet spot where quality, style and watchmaking value meet affordability.
Chronographs are not just timekeepers, they’re functional tools with stopwatch precision wrapped in designs that can elevate your everyday style, whether you’re dressed down or suiting up. In the mid-range segment, many watches deliver robust movements, high-quality materials and design flair that punch well above their price.
5 Chronographs Between $500-1000
In this collaboration, we break down the top 15 affordable chronographs worth considering this year. WristFinds explored the more budget friendly models on Part 1, while we will cover the upper tier, bringing together two perspectives to help you make a smart, confident choice.
Bulova Lunar Pilot
The Bulova Lunar Pilot is one of the most iconic watches in the mid-range chronograph space, and for good reason. Inspired by the Bulova chronograph worn during the Apollo 15 mission, it brings a genuine piece of lunar history to the wrist without demanding luxury-tier prices. What makes it even more compelling is how well it balances that heritage with modern performance. You don’t have to buy an Omega Speedmaster to enjoy a watch with real outer-space heritage.
The case has a bold presence, the dial is clean and legible, and the high-frequency quartz movement offers accuracy most mechanical chronographs simply cannot match. Add in a robust steel build and sapphire crystal, and you get a timepiece that feels rugged enough for daily wear while still carrying the charm of a watch with real historical roots. It is the kind of chronograph that wears confidently, tells a story immediately, and delivers reliability whether you are timing a commute or showing it off to fellow watch enthusiasts.
Case/Dial: 45 mm stainless steel case, black dial with tachymeter scale and luminous hands
Crystal: Sapphire crystal
Water Resistance: 50 m / 5 ATM
Movement: High-Performance Quartz, 262 kHz, 1/20-second chronograph, 60-minute totalizer
Strap: Leather, nylon, or stainless-steel bracelet depending on variant
Why it stands out: A space-tested design paired with ultra-accurate quartz performance makes the Lunar Pilot one of the most characterful and reliable chronographs in this price range.
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SSC911
The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SSC911 brings legacy-inspired chronograph design into the modern era with smart, everyday practicality. This watch is ideal if you want a piece that feels classic yet contemporary, a watch that doesn’t just tell time, but delivers precision, convenience and reliability… all under $1,000.
With its solar-powered movement, tough sapphire crystal and clean dial layout, the SSC911 offers a balanced combination of sportiness and daily wear readiness. It’s the sort of chronograph that gets noticed the moment you strap it on, without ever feeling like overkill.
Case/Dial: 41.4 mm stainless steel case with silver dial, tachymeter bezel and luminous hands
Crystal: Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Water Resistance: 100 m / 10 bar
Movement: Solar quartz, Caliber V192, 60-minute chronograph, 1/5-second increments, 24-hour subdial, power reserve indicator, approximately 6-month power reserve when fully charged
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp
Why it stands out: A clean, vintage-inspired chronograph design paired with solar reliability makes the SSC911 a versatile and zero-maintenance daily wearer.
Tissot PR516 Chronograph 40 mm
The Tissot PR516 Chronograph 40 mm is a modern revival of one of Tissot’s most charming motorsport-inspired watches. It captures the golden age of racetrack timing with a crisp, retro-infused design, yet feels fully updated for today’s standards. The brushed surfaces, sharp case lines and balanced dial layout give it a distinctly upscale presence that punches far above its price.
It has the personality of a vintage paddock timer, but with the reliability, comfort and practicality that make it an effortless daily companion. If you want a chronograph with real heritage energy without stepping into luxury territory, the PR516 delivers that emotional appeal in a wearable, well-built package.
Case/Dial: 40 mm stainless steel case, sporty dial layout with contrasting subdials and tachymeter scale
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Water Resistance: 100 m / 10 bar
Movement: Quartz chronograph movement with central chronograph seconds, 30-minute counter, small seconds and date display
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with solid links and folding clasp
Why it stands out: Retro racing charm meets modern build quality, giving the PR516 a distinctive character and excellent value for a stylish everyday chronograph.
Furlan Marri Chronograph (Mecaquartz)
Furlan Marri offers a fresh take on the classic chronograph, vintage soul, tasteful design, and a modern mindset all wrapped into one. Founded in 2021, the brand quickly gained traction for delivering vintage-inspired chronographs with refined finishing and attractive pricing.
Their pieces draw heavily on mid-20th-century styling cues, old racing chronographs, timeless dress-watch proportion, elegant dial details, but they are built for the realities of modern life: reliable movements, accessible pricing, and wear-everywhere versatility. If you’re seeking a chronograph that stands out with subtle elegance rather than loud branding, a Furlan Marri makes a statement of taste and restraint.
Case/Dial: 38 mm stainless steel case with a sector-style dial showcasing a single subdial, refined vintage-inspired markers and elegantly shaped hands
Crystal: Domed or slightly curved sapphire (or quality crystal, depending on model)
Water Resistance: Typically 50 m / 5 ATM (adequate for everyday wear, not for diving)
Movement: Meca-quartz chronograph (hybrid quartz + mechanical module), combining quartz reliability with mechanical-style chronograph feel
Strap: Leather straps (often handmade or supple Italian leather), sometimes steel or mesh bracelets depending on variant
Why it stands out: Furlan Marri offers vintage-inspired chronograph design and thoughtful finishing at a price point far below typical luxury vintage-inspired chronographs. It’s a watch for those who appreciate subtlety, design storytelling and value.
Lorier Olympia Series II
The Lorier Olympia Series II sits at the very top of this list in terms of price, and it earns that position with ease. This is where the collection steps fully into mechanical territory, delivering a true automatic chronograph experience that feels premium the moment you press a pusher. The Olympia blends vintage racing design with modern practicality, offering a compact, comfortable case that still carries the presence and charm of classic motorsport watches.
It feels like the kind of chronograph you could wear daily without ever getting bored of it, thanks to its thoughtful proportions, tactile movement and refined aesthetics. Among the watches here, this one stands out as the enthusiast’s pick — mechanical, characterful and built with unmistakable intent.
Case/Dial: 39 mm stainless steel case with tricompax dial layout, tachymeter bezel and applied indices
Crystal: Domed Hesalite crystal
Water Resistance: 50 m / 5 bar
Movement: TMI NE88 automatic chronograph, column wheel and vertical clutch for smooth engagement
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet with solid links and micro-adjustable clasp
Why it stands out: It brings a full automatic chronograph movement and vintage-inspired charm in a compact, enthusiast-friendly package, making it the premium choice in this lineup.
And that’s a wrap! Whether you prefer the lunar heritage of Bulova, the solar convenience of Seiko, the retro racing flair of Tissot, the design-driven charm of Furlan Marri or the mechanical punch of Lorier, each piece offers something genuinely special in the 500 to 1,000 dollar range.
If you have not checked it out yet, make sure to read Part 1 from WristFinds as well. Their selection covers the more affordable entries in this roundup, giving you the complete picture from budget friendly chronographs all the way to the enthusiast-level picks featured here. Together, both lists give you a well-rounded guide to the best chronographs of 2025, no matter your style, experience or price point.
