Borna Bosniak
Transparent watches are often divided into two categories. It’s the cheap plastic stuff you find in toy stores and the invisible paragons of transparency that are beyond the reach of ordinary people like you and me. And even though brands like Code41 and ArtyA are making cool sapphires, cased watches with premium movements have become more affordable these days, with prices in the mid-five digits. remains impossible for most people. But there are some products that try to counter this depressing trend, from the cheap and cheerful to the crude and rugged to the design-forward and surprisingly affordable.
Swatch Cleary Gent
Swatch Clearly Gent is a direct descendant of the legendary Jellyfish. While the original Jellyfish model reached a prohibitive price point for a Swatch, not to mention its fragile and yellowed construction, Clearly Gent makes the most of modern materials for its bio-based plastic case and TPU strap. I’m doing it. It’s the same size as the original at 34mm and is very affordable. Price: $80
Q Timex LCA 35mm
The Q Timex LCA was reissued a few years ago, paying homage to watches from the 1980s when LCD screen timekeepers were all the rage. You can pick up a translucent blue or black resin watch with a combination of analogue and digital display, as well as a model with a metal case that most closely resembles the 80s original. The 35mm x 9mm dimensions are appropriate for the era that inspired the model, but the resin-cased model has slightly less structural confidence than its steel counterpart. Still, for less than $100 and with so much to offer, most people would find it hard to complain. Price: $99
Casio G-Shock Transparent Pack
The general consensus seems to be that if the funky colors and design of the Swatch aren’t for you, but you want a durable, lightweight all-rounder, the G-Shock seems to be the clear (just kidding) choice . The transparent pack includes all the iconic designs and a variety of sizes rendered in both transparent and colored resin. My personal favorite is and still is the classic Square G, in this case the DWE5640RX, and I can’t lie. The allure of see-through CasiOak is hard to resist. What’s even better is that you can buy it at a great price on sale. Price: From USD 110 (currently on sale for USD 66)
nixon regulus clear
Nixon may be a bit of a surprising entrant, as it primarily focuses on fashion-oriented items, which aren’t often talked about by connoisseurs. But the Regulus was clearly developed in conjunction with U.S. Special Forces, and it looks like it has a piece of the tough, ready-to-go cake that G-Shock has all to itself. However, they do it differently, opting for a more minimalist design that eliminates the spec sheet bezel without sacrificing functionality. The entire package is water resistant to 100 meters, features dual chronographs, three alarms, an LED light with adjustable brightness, and the module is filled with Poron foam. Price: $150
Issey Miyake Glass Watch by Yoshoika Tokujin
From two products that clearly prioritized function over form, we arrive at one that flips the script. He seems to be a fan of transparent designs, and while we’ve covered Issey Miyake’s watches before, we haven’t covered their glass watches. Designed by Tokujin Yoshioka for Issey Miyake, the main feature of this glass watch is the large Hardlex section that forms the crystalline minimalist design. Like many other Issey Miyake watches, this model, realized in collaboration with Seiko, is powered by the imposing VJ20 quartz movement, measuring 39 mm in diameter and 15.6 mm in height. Here, the designer explains the challenges in producing this product since it was finally released 10 years after its creation in 2005. Or opt for Issey Miyake O. This O, also designed by Yoshioka, is basically a large see-through cuff with a minimalist watch face. That’s it. Price: ¥50,600 (~US$350)
Aventi Pure Sapphire A11-01SE
Is there a sapphire case in your roundup of affordable watches? Granted, CHF 5,500 isn’t cheap, but considering how much other manufacturers price their sapphire cases, this is something of a miracle. That’s not the only thing the Aventi A11 doesn’t hide well (another sapphire = see-through joke). The tourbillon can be seen through the opening in the skeletonized grid at 3 o’clock. The sharp-eyed and pessimistic among you will quickly notice that this is indeed a Chinese-made movement, but given the novelty of what’s on offer here, I don’t mind at all . Following a highly successful Kickstarter campaign and largely positive feedback from enthusiast circles, Aventi now offers a full range of avant-garde designs, although allocations to the A-11 have been suspended for the time being . Price: 5,500 Swiss Francs (~6,500 USD)
