As watch budgets go, this used to be a bit of a no-man’s land – not enough money to start investing in the big names, but a little too much to play fast and loose with the fashion brands. Then recessions hit, purse strings got tightened, which in turn bred a new kind of watch connoisseur – one who had knowledge and discernment but no longer possessed the readies for an investment purchase.

The mid-market saw that gauntlet and took it up with aplomb, which is why watches under £350 is now one of the most exciting and creative price points around. As you’re spending a bit more, you’ve got a few more mechanical watches available with movements varying from high-end Japanese to more basic Swiss. Not much in the way of precious metal here but definitely steel and steel that might even have seen the hand of a polisher.

This is also a sector that benefits from some digging around the more niche brands – they generally don’t have major marketing spend so every penny you’re outlaying goes straight into buying a damn fine watch. These are our favourites.

Citizen Promaster Diver

This is the absolute quintessence of a steel diving watch. And it’s a chrono, too. Being a Citizen, it is powered by its revolutionary Eco Drive, which was the first light-powered movement to place solar cells under the dial and boasts a six-month power reserve.

It also has the brand’s classic 6, 9 and 12 o’clock sub dial formation and is good to 200m, so ideal for Scuba diving. At 45mm, however, it is a substantial wrist presence, so maybe one to leave in the drawer when the wetsuit is exchanged for the business one.

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Baltic HMS 001 Blue Gilt

This is a brand that had watch connoisseurs talking before its Kickstarter campaign launched, something that says a lot about the desirability factor of these retro-inspired timepieces.