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“So, what watch brands are actually good then?” – that’s the first question I’m almost always asked when I tell people I’m a professional watch reviewer. And to be honest, they’re right to ask it.

Years ago, the choice was obvious. If you were just getting into watches and didn’t want to spend much, there was no better place to start than a mechanical diver from legendary Japanese watchmakers Seiko.

Watch brands that have fallen asleep at the wheel in recent years, but boast the resources and historical track record to potentially save themselves…so long as they wake up in time!

I got hands-on with over 200 watches across my two channels in 2025, and today, I’ll be sharing with you the very best options I tried over the last twelve months.