From holiday stocking stuffers to a coming-of-age first watch, these six new timepieces are all less than $1,000, so they won’t break the bank. Yet in your holiday gift giving, they will provide a bit of fun, interesting back story and on-trend cool.

Brew Watch

Metric Star Chronograph, $450

Brew Watch, as the name suggests, is a brand inspired by coffee. But then it was founded in a New York City cafe in 2015 by Jonathan Ferrer, an industrial designer. Metaphorically, the brand reflects coffee culture’s notions of time, like savoring the moment. But its design language also is pretty caffeinated: The contrast between the eye-popping colors and brushed metal surfaces of some industrial espresso machines has inspired detailing, and the brand’s coffee bean logo adorns its crowns and case backs.

Beloved by collectors for its retro styling, the Metric Star Chronograph, or stopwatch, features a 36-millimeter by 41.5-millimeter cushion-shape steel case, sometimes called a TV shape, on an integrated bracelet. With a mix of brushed and polished details, the watch has an elegant gold-color dial with contrasting red and blue accents, including a blue line from 25 seconds to 35 seconds on the inner track — just the right amount of time, according to Mr. Ferrer, it takes to brew a perfect espresso shot.

A Fan Said Gary Getz, the founder of the global watch community called the Collectors Room, owns a similar model, the sold-out Brew Metric Retro Dial. The California resident praised the brand for its “instantly recognizable style and thoughtful, clever design,” adding that the price is noteworthy. “At this price level, generally you either get utility or visual appeal. And I think the great thing about the Brew is that you get both.”

As for collectors who might fault the piece’s quartz movement, Mr. Getz’s comment was: “I don’t care. It’s rugged, wearable and fun.”