Claude Bernard Watches Review – Affordable Swiss

Claude Bernard Watches Review

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claude bernard watches reviewIf you’re a wristwatch fan, there are lots of choices – literally thousands of companies around the world offer watches for sale under their own name.  If you want Swiss watches, on the other hand, the list gets small rather quickly, as there aren’t all that many companies making watches in Switzerland anymore.

Those that are offer watches that are often more expensive than a lot of would-be buyers can afford.  That’s where Claude Bernard watches come in.

The company’s products offer quality Swiss-made watches at prices that are far more affordable than what you’d normally expect to find from Swiss watch companies.

There are tradeoffs, of course; you’re not going to find gold or platinum cases or diamond-studded bezels here.  On the other hand, you’re also not going to have to pay upwards of $10,000 for one.

If you’re looking for a well-made Swiss watch that won’t break your bank, then this brand is worth a look.

Read on for the full Claude Bernard watches review.

Build Quality
Movements
Innovation
Styling and Features
Care and Maintenance
Warranty
Prices
Where to Buy
Summary

Claude Bernard Watches Build Quality

The company was founded in 1965 by Samuel Weisz, but today Claude Bernard watches are owned by the Edox group.  Their target market is to offer Swiss-made watches at a slightly lower price point than Edox, while still providing good build quality.

And the build quality is good.  They offer stainless steel cases, and they use rock-hard sapphire crystal to protect the watch face.  Sapphire crystal is quite expensive, but it’s quite resistant to scratching.

Water resistance varies from 30 to 100 meters.  It’s OK to get your watch wet, but you wouldn’t want to go diving with them.

Movements

The watches are built in Switzerland using mostly Swiss parts.  Swiss law is quite strict regarding the percentage of a watch’s components that must be Swiss in origin in order for the timepiece to bear the words “Swiss made.”

One of those requirements is that the movements be Swiss-made, and that’s true here.  Their models have both automatic mechanical movements and quartz electronic movements.  These are, according to the Claude Bernard watches Website, sourced from Swiss manufacturers Ronda and Eta, though we’ve read elsewhere that some models of Claude Bernard watches also have movements from Sellita.

All of these companies are among the world’s best-known providers of Swiss watch movements, and they all make a quality movement that’s both reliable and accurate.

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Innovation

At their price point, you won’t find any true innovation in this brand, though they do offer models with a few complications, including the date, moon phases,  and chronograph features.  A few models have windows in the watch face so that you can see the mechanical movement underneath.

One model in the product line, the Silver Blue Automatic Left Winder, is interesting in that the watch crown is on the left side of the watch, making it one of the few watches on the market that’s well-suited to left-handed wearers.

claude bernard womens chronograph

Styling and Features

The styling is traditional and largely austere; you’re not going to find odd shapes or unusual colors in the product line.

They do offer about 35 watches each for men and women.  Cases are all 316L stainless steel, though there are a few models with PVD coatings.

Colors tend to the traditional black, white, silver, gold and a few models are blue.  Straps are leather and bracelets are stainless steel.  Case sizes are large, but not oversized; men’s models run about 40mm and womens’ about 35mm.

While you won’t find gemstones, they do offer at least one women’s model that has a bezel that’s covered with Swarovski crystals, which is great for buyers who like a watch with a little bit of bling.

We did find it interesting that there are a few women’s chronographs in the product line.  While chronographs are popular, we rarely see models designed for women.

claude bernard watches left hand

Care and Maintenance

We couldn’t find a specific maintenance schedule for Claude Bernard watches on their Website, but their mechanical models should be examined by a jeweler every five years or so to ensure that the watertight seal is intact and that the movement is operating correctly.

For quartz models, you’ll need to have the battery replaced every few years.  Aside from that, you should store watch away from strong magnetic fields and extremes of temperature.

With proper care, your watch should run well for years to come.

Claude Bernard Watches Warranty

The warranty offered with the purchase  is good, but not exceptional.  These watches are warranted against defects in materials and craftsmanship for two years from the date of purchase.  That’s the same warranty that you’ll find with 90% of watches on the market.

Defects are likely quite rare, as these watches use well-tested and reliable movements.

Prices

As Swiss-made watches go, you’ll find that the prices of Claude Bernard watches are quite reasonable.  Models start at about $150 and go up to about $1000 or so, with most in the $250-$350 range.

That makes them quite affordable in comparison to many other brands, and these watches are designed to be affordable and less expensive than their sister brand, Edox, while still offering good quality.

claude bernard swarovskiWhere to Buy

You can find this brand for sale at a few brick and mortar retailers, though you’ll likely have to go to a specialty watch shop to find them.

You’ll also find Claude Bernard watches for sale at a number of larger online retailers as well as the official Website, which is located in the UK.

By shopping online, you’ll likely have a better opportunity to buy them at a discount, as online retailers often are able to offer lower prices than brick and mortar stores.

Claude Bernard Watches Summary

If you’re looking for a Swiss-made watch but you can’t afford the top-tier brands such as Chopard or Rolex, you definitely will want to take a look at Claude Bernard watches.

They offer a well-built, reliable timepiece with a Swiss movement at a price point that most everyone can afford.

They offer a good variety of watches for both men and women, a nice set of features, and all at a price that won’t require you to take out a loan.

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