TAL Sapphire Bassy Chronograph — Black

The Sapphire Bassy is where TAL’s chronograph starts to feel like a step up. It trades the entry Bassy’s mineral glass for a proper sapphire crystal — the same scratch-resistant material used on far pricier watches — and moves to a slightly more wearable 41mm case on a genuine-leather strap. The black-on-black colourway keeps it versatile, water resistance rises to 50 metres, and the Japanese quartz movement adds auto-date alongside the chronograph. It carries a 24-month warranty, double the entry Bassy’s. If the thing that puts you off cheap watches is a scuffed crystal, this is the TAL to look at, and it’s still under $200.