For a long, long time, watch movements have been made primarily of metal. But there's a new kid in town, a so-called wonder material that claims to be completely anti-magnetic and require zero lubrication: silicon. But is it as good as the watch brands would have us believe?

Being a watchmaker is all about battling the laws of physics. Whatever it is you want to do, friction, mass, inertia, gravity, momentum, magnetism, position, movement—it’s all out to get you. Every now and then, however, comes a watchmaker who can seemingly bend these laws to their will to make something that should otherwise be impossible. Meet one of those watchmakers: François-Paul Journe.

How technology has changed in the last hundred years. If you were to ask someone under the age of twenty what the disk icon on the save button means, or to explain why pumping your fist in a circle indicates lowering a car window, you’d probably be treated to a blank expression and perhaps a polite but firm request to stop asking stupid questions, but nevertheless—floppy discs and manually wound windows were barely a few decades ago. Imagine, then, how out of touch we must be with technology from the 1950s …

You probably know TAG Heuer best as the entry-level Swiss luxury watchmaker famous for its big, square Monaco, but I expect you never thought you’d see the day when the following sentence was true: here’s a TAG Heuer that costs over £13,000.

Just a few seconds holding an A. Lange & Söhne tells you that it’s something special. A few more minutes and a loupe and you’ll be treated to a look at some of the finest watchmaking in the world, and that’s just the entry-level stuff. Imagine then, how impressive an A. Lange & Söhne can be when the brand decides to make an ultra-exclusive limited edition.

It is the quintessential watch—and by that I mean that it is exactly what you imagine when you think of the word, ‘watch’. It is objectively one of the simplest, most bland and unimaginative designs to ever to be strapped to a wrist—yet also perhaps the most popular and iconic in the world. Why is that?

Everything’s smart these days: smart phones, smart cars—Teslas, not Smart cars—smart refrigerators, smart socks—you name it, if it exists, it’s been reimagined as a ‘smart’ product. It’s like the clock radio of the modern age, a necessity to give everyday items the ability to participate in the inevitable robot uprising. One company you wouldn’t expect to be dabbling in that arena is Jaeger-LeCoultre, but it has—and has done all the way back to the 1950s.

This Franck Muller Master Square retails at £86,300. Cheap, it is not, but good value? Perhaps one of the best. How is this possible?

It’s no secret that Omega has been chasing Rolex’s success for near on half a century. It must be galling for the head honchos at the Swatch Group to see the five-pronged crown take all the glory with such ease, especially since, back when Rolex was just a notion in the mind of young German Hans Wilsdorf, Omega was the force to be reckoned with. But those halcyon days at the turn of the 20th century were not to last for Omega, its dominance a withered husk by the dawn of the next. But the fight’s not over, not yet, thanks to this: the 2018 Seamaster 300M.

It seems bonkers to use the term ‘entry level’ in the same sentence as ‘£13,100’, but yet, here it is: the A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin is the brand’s entry level watch, and it costs a whopping £13,100. But is it worth it?

The Luminor has been a staple of Panerai’s collection since the Italian company first opened its doors to the public in 1993, this Base the purest and simplest iteration. It’s been discontinued now—and cost around £4,000 before it was—by something that looks exactly the same but costs over £1,000 more. Why would anyone want to pay that?

You’re one of two people. You either look at vintage watches as a challenge and an adventure, jumping in and reaping the many pleasures that are to be had by purchasing a watch that comes from an era when mechanical was current tech; or you’re someone who eyes them with caution, hesitant at the idea of owning a watch older than you are. If you’re the latter, it’s understandable—not everyone wants to take that particular leap—but it’s a shame to miss out. There is a third option however: cheat.

If you’re lucky enough to own a Rolex Daytona, you may find yourself wondering where to go next. After all, when it comes to luxury sports chronographs that balance a high-end feel with a laid back informality, there aren’t really too many avenues to go down—most other watches either lean more towards function, or the other way, to luxury. Maybe there is nowhere to go? Maybe—until now.

Ever looked at Tudor’s Black Bay and thought, ‘It’s great, but it’s just a bit too big’? Turns out you’re not the only one, because while the successful 41mm full-size Black Bay continues to live on, Tudor has actually done something about it.

It’s a funny old game, watchmaking. Never mind hankering after the outdated technology that is the mechanical movement, the most desirable feature of this collection of wheels and springs is one that was built for a device that has been obsolete for the better part of a century. I’m talking about the tourbillon of course, and it’s one of watchmaking’s most desirable mechanisms—and also one of the most unobtainable. Or is it?

As nice as watches from the likes of Rolex and Patek Philippe are, not everyone is fortunate enough to have the budget for them—but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fantastic affordable substitutes out there. So, here are three expensive watches—and three alternatives for under £1,500.