The wonderful counter to rising prices at the very top end of the watch world is that, frankly, things have never looked better for those seeking proper mechanical watches on a budget. Entry-level timepieces keep getting better and cheaper—and this isn't just from newly established microbrands hoping to make a name for themselves, but from the major players, too.

Recently, I was asked to pick a couple of wallet-friendly watches for WIRED's Gear newsletter , and it sent me down a glorious rabbit hole where I was genuinely surprised by superb timepieces well below what WIRED has previously set for affordable watches (the sub-$1,000 bracket).…