The Finest Time-Only Watches $50,000 Buys You - Part 2

Dimitri Tsilioris
Jun 12
4 min read

A $50,000 budget for a time-only sports watch should really open the door to the creme of the crop. The very best that the watchmaking industry can offer. I'm talking about the usual suspect -- Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet. And $50,000 does indeed open that highly coveted door. But at that $50,000 price point, that same door opens up to a range of other, equally as impressive and historic, albeit less hypey watchmakers like Blancpain and Chopard.

Without further adieu, here are the finest time-only sports watches you can buy for under $50,000.

Let's go!

The Finest Time-Only Watches $50,000 Buys You - Part 1

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Patek Philippe 5167A-001 Aquanaut

Outside of the Nautilus, the Aquanaut is perhaps one of the most recognisable and subsequently coveted and desired watches from Patek Philippe. It resonates with almost every collector and enthusiast, and is considered by many as one of the best truly high-end sports watches out there. Coming in well under the $50,000 ceiling, the 5167A-001 Aquanaut is a watch for the ages -- that is if you can actually get one at retail.

Brand: Patek Philippe
Model: Aquanaut
Reference: 5167A-001
Case: 40.80mm x 8.10mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 30m
Movement: 26-330 S C
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power Reserve: 45 hours

The Patek Philippe 5167-001 Aquanaut is priced at $39,850.

PATEK PHILIPPE

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15550ST

I was torn between this and the larger 41mm reference 15510ST. I went with the 15550ST purely for the fact that it's smaller and just looks better proportionally. Its monotone grey-on-grey-on-grey aesthetic makes it supremely wearable, while its balanced case dimensions make for a rather low-key easy wearer. Out of all of the closed-dial Royal Oak references, the 15550ST speaks to me the most, especially so in this unique colourway. Leaves a few thousand in the budget, too.

Brand: Audemars Piguet
Model: Royal Oak
Reference: 15550ST.OO.1356ST.07
Case: 37mm x 9.10mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 50m
Movement: 5900
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power Reserve: 60 hours

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15550ST is priced at CHF23,800 (Which converts to approximately $45,000).

AUDEMARS PIGUET

Rolex Land-Dweller 40

The polarising Land-Dweller trumped a lot of other really high quality offerings from Rolex. The main reason -- the new calibre 7135. This is the first time Rolex went high-beat, and while its dial likely needs a few refinements, I think on the whole the Land-Dweller is a triumph. For less than half the budget, you're getting a truly robust, well-built, high-tech mechanical timepiece that really speaks volumes about Rolex's pursuit of excellence.

Brand: Rolex
Model: Land-Dweller 40
Reference: 127334
Case: 40mm x 9.70mm
Case Material: Stainless steel; White gold
Water Resistance: 30m
Movement: 7135
Frequency: 5 Hz
Power Reserve: 66 hours

The Rolex Land-Dweller 40 is priced at $24,200.

ROLEX

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding

Of course the Geneva-seal Overseas from Vacheron Constantin was going to feature. For the money, you would be hard-pressed to find a better suitor for the best time-only sports watch under $50,000. The Overseas Self-Winding might even fare well as one of the best one-watch-collection contenders with its extra strap options, too. At $41,7000, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding offers tremendous value for money and is one of the most impressive pieces on this list, period.

Brand: Vacheron Constantin
Model: Overseas Self-Winding
Reference: 4520V/210A-B128
Case: 41mm x 10.69mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 150m
Movement: 5100
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power Reserve: 60 hours

The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding is priced at $41,700.

VACHERON CONSTANTIN

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date

An obscure addition, but a wholly justified one. The Polaris Date from Jaeger-LeCoultre carries with it the penchant of being a genuine piece of watchmaking ingenuity. Like all of Jaeger-LeCoultre's timepieces, the Polaris Date endured the rigorous 1,000 hour test that the maison has become known for, so you know you're purchasing a very well made timepiece. One of the most "budget friendly" options here, the Polaris Date still holds its own against watches here that cost more than double its $17,900 price tag.

Brand: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Model: Polaris Date
Reference: Q9068650
Case: 42mm x 13.92mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 200m
Movement: 899
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power Reserve: 70 hours

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date is priced at $17,900.

JAEGER-LECOULTRE

Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm Sage Green

From the house of Girard-Perregaux comes the brilliant Laureato 38mm Sage Green. I chose this model because of its funky colourway and undersized case proportions, much like the Royal Oak above. The Laureato 38mm Sage Green was released only last year and I was able to spend some time with it so can attest to its build quality and wearability. The Laureato collection in general offers so much, with the Laureato 38mm Sage Green positioning itself as one of the prime sub-$50,000 candidates.

Brand: Girard-Perregaux
Model: Laureato 38mm Sage Green
Reference: 81005-11-3407-1CM
Case: 38mm x 10mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: GP03300
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power Reserve: 46 hours

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm Sage Green is priced at $24,700.

GIRARD-PERREGAUX

Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS

For lovers of true haute horlogerie comes the Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS. This model spoke to me for two reasons. The first is the chronometre certified Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark calibre L.U.C 96-40-L movement with its two stacked barrels and the second is that gorgeous salmon-coloured textured dial. All in all, the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS might be expensive but it really is a supreme bit of kit.

Brand: Chopard
Model: Alpine Eagle 41 XPS
Reference: 298623-3001
Case: 41mm x 8.03mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: L.U.C 96.40-L
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power Reserve: 65 hours

The Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS is priced at $41,400.

CHOPARD

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe

And finally we have the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe from Blancpain. I chose the smaller variant as I felt its balance and proportions spoke to me, but were you to go larger there is no doubt the $50,000 budget would suffice. I've always preferred the more contemporary look of the Bathyscaphe lineage as opposed to the traditional Fifty Fathoms, and in this particular guise there is little to complain about. Another very budget-friendly option leaving plenty in the coffer for another addition, too.