Akribos XXIV Watches – Bold and Affordable
When it comes to luxury watches, we’d all love to have a famous brand that offers amazing features and good looks. The problem, of course, is that those qualities are often accompanied by sky-high prices. It’s not unusual to see watches priced at $5000, $10,000 or even $250,000, and that’s beyond the reach of most consumers.
That’s where companies like Akribos XXIV watches have found their niche – they offer a well made, stylish timepiece with a high quality movement, all at a price point that most consumers will find to be affordable. Given the price range offered with Akribos XXIV watches, you’ll be surprised at the size of the product line as well as the broad range of styles, colors and features. If you’re looking for an interesting timepiece and you’re on a budget, you should definitely give this brand a look.
Read on for the full Akribos XXIV watches review.
Build Quality
Movements
Innovation
Styling and Features
Care and Maintenance
Warranty
Prices
Where to Buy
Summary
Akribos XXIV Watches Build Quality
The build quality of Akribos XXIV watches is surprisingly good, given their relative affordability. Cases are made from high-tech ceramic and stainless steel. Faces are protected by mineral crystal. Water resistance is going to vary by model, but we’ve seen models in the product line that were rated to 100 meters, so you won’t have to worry about getting them wet. With proper care, your watch should last for a number of years with few maintenance issues.
Many budget watchmakers use quartz movements, often sourced from China, because they’re both reliable and inexpensive. That’s not the case with here. They use Swiss-made movements, but save money by having their timepieces assembled in Hong Kong.
What’s really surprising is that Akribos XXIV watches are sold with three different types of movements, depending on the model. They offer quartz electronic movements, automatic mechanical movements and even a few models with a manual-wind mechanical movement. That’s a lot of diversity for a company that is targeting the lower end of the luxury watch price range.
You’re not likely to find much technical innovation in budget designer watches; that sort of thing comes from the high end of the market and trickles down. That’s why the company uses tried-and-true technology with little, if any, in-house innovation. That doesn’t mean that you’re going to find watches with few features; it just means that they’re working with technologies that other companies have refined. Most of what makes the brand stand out is the styling, rather than what’s going on under the hood.
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Big, bold and oversized, with lots of color, would be a quick way to describe the product line in a nutshell. The company offers hundreds of different models for both men and women, and they offer styles that range from daily casual to business to elegant evening wear, with a number of sports and chronograph models, too.
For bling, you’ll have to settle for gold tone and crystal; you’re not going to get actual gold or diamonds at the prices you’ll pay. That’s not a downside; these are attractive watches that are available in a wide variety of styles and colors. Many of the models feature large, oversized cases and lots of models include bold colors, so these watches are not for the timid. With four or five hundred models to choose from, you’ll almost certainly find something. They make some interesting mechanical skeleton models, too, which is a bonus for those who love to see mechanical works in their timepieces.
Many of the models feature quartz electronic movements, which are highly reliable yet relatively maintenance free. You’ll need to replace the battery every two years or so, but aside from that, you won’t have to worry about maintenance too much. Mechanical models should be inspected by a technician every four or five years to see if they need to be lubricated.
All watches should be stored in a cool, dry place, and away from strong magnetic fields or extremes of temperature. With proper care, you’ll find that these watches should last a long time.
The warranty is the industry standard – two years from the date of purchase against defects in materials and craftsmanship. We rarely find a company that offers a longer warranty; two years is just what pretty much every watchmaker offers. That’s usually plenty of time to find out if your watch is defective, and few of them are, thanks to thorough factory testing before shipping.
There are two great things about this brand – the wide variety of styles and the cost. You’ll find that prices are quite competitive, and as luxury brands go, they’re definitely at the low end of the spectrum. Most models are priced in the hundreds, rather than thousands, of dollars, with prices ranging from roughly $295 to about $1500 or so.
Keep in mind that these are suggested list prices; it’s possible to shop around and buy at a discount online. We’ve seen many models priced at less than $100 at Internet retailers. There’s not a lot of collector interest in the brand just yet, but that may change with time as they do make a number of interesting mechanical models and collectors love those.
Right now, we wouldn’t suggest buying the brand for an investment, but you might want to buy them simply because they’re good timepieces at a great price.
You can find the brand for sale at a number of brick and mortar retailers, including department stores and a few jewelry stores. You will also find them for sale at a number of online retailers, and that’s where you’re most likely to be able to buy at a discount. Keep in mind that the product line is huge; the company makes hundreds of different models, so don’t expect any retailer to carry everything. Still, most sellers should have a nice selection.
Akribos XXIV Watches Summary
There’s a lot to like about Akribos XXIV watches. They’re stylish, colorful, and loaded with features. There’s something in the product line for fans of quartz, automatic and even manually wound models. They’ve got big, oversized styling and lots of color. And best of all, they’re quite affordably priced. In fact, they’re so affordably priced that you may be tempted to buy more than one. If you like style, quality and a bargain, you’ll love Akribos XXIV watches.