It must be argued that $ 500 is the lower limit for an entry-level luxury watch. We believe there is a reason to refuse. Whether you’re looking for a state-of-the-art smartwatch, a watch that can impress you in the office, or a tactical watch that you can take along the way, you can get a whole lot for less than half a giant. You just need to know where to look.
While there are plenty of super affordable watches out there, if you broaden your search to include the best watches under $ 500, you will have more opportunity to get a really high quality and specialized watch. Before you spend your hard earned money, read our comprehensive list.
20 best watches under $ 500
1. Citizen Eco Drive Promaster diving watch
Still the most outstanding diving watch in the world
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All functions that a serious diver would like to have are available in the Promaster and are all handled professionally. However, the Coup de Grace is the phenomenal eco-drive technology that powers this watch. Just expose it to light – natural or artificial – and it will automatically charge for its entire life. It is by far the best solar battery used on a watch, and offers an incredibly impressive six-hour power reserve.
advantages
- First class battery
- Incredibly reliable across the board
- Supported by a five-year guarantee
disadvantage
- Not the most noticeable diving watch
Complexionblack Case size44 x 12 mm materialsStainless steel, plastic MoveEco-Drive (solar) seal200 metres
2. Bulova 96B251 men’s moonwatch
Pilot watch basics, elegantly displayed
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Bulova’s moon watch takes the huge amount of information available on a pilot’s watch and repackages it well. All information is here, but Bulova’s extraordinary sense of style is also expressed. The use of structured surfaces, simple indices and a color scheme of black, silver and white makes all information accessible without being ugly or overwhelming.
advantages
- Comes with two interchangeable straps
- Great implementation of the moon landing theme
- Better than the average quartz movement
disadvantage
- The backlight is a bit weak
Complexionblack Case size45 x 13.5 mm materialsStainless steel, leather / nylon Movequartz seal30 meters
3. Michael Kors Slim Runway Watch
Matt black is the new black
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Michael Kors offers luxury for beginners, but the sensitivity of this designer watch suggests something that goes well beyond the price of around $ 200. The simplicity here really works, and while our favorite is the all black on black model, there are nearly a dozen bold choices here. Due to its slim design it fits in different wrist sizes and comfortably under the sleeves of your suit jacket.
advantages
- Comes with a two year warranty
- 11 different color schemes to choose from
- Slim and light form factor
disadvantage
Complexionblack Case size42 x 21 mm materialsStainless steel MoveJapanese quartz seal50 meters
4. Nixon A105 Sentry Quartz Movement Watch
Traditionally casual, but tailored to your personality
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The A105 Nixon Sentry is conservative with its simple white and gray color scheme with red hues, but that’s only an option of over two dozen. Regardless, every watch in the line has a good sense of durability. This won’t be the watch that gets the attention of the entire office, but it is a stable and reliable watch with a quartz movement that will give you good performance at a modest price and provide the means to express your personal style.
advantages
- Wide range of color options
- Date and day window
- Simple but expressive design
disadvantage
ComplexionWhite Case size42 x 11 mm materialsStainless steel, leather MoveJapanese quartz seal100 meters
5. Samsung Galaxy Watch Smartwatch
A feature-rich smartwatch at fair prices
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The Apple Watch may be the most popular smartwatch, but the Galaxy offers Apple a run for its money at a reasonable price. But this particular model is in contact with its roots. It contains dial options that look absolutely analog while offering you the best features for men’s watches from an intelligent device. This reduced design approach means that these wristwatches can remain charged for days.
advantages
- Top-class intelligent functions
- Realistically analog dial
disadvantage
- Slight difficulties with text synchronization
Complexionblack Case size46 x 33 mm materialsStainless steel, rubber MoveSmartwatch seal50 meters
6. Tissot PR 100 Swiss Quartz Dress Watch
The definition of luxury in the boardroom
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The Tissot PR 100 may look like some of the best men’s watches on the market, but it doesn’t charge the same price. The band is loud silver and uses some meticulous links, but the dial is as reserved as possible. This helps curb the otherwise gaudy design choices, but also makes the dial easier to read than most watches, even when the three chronograph subdials are taken into account. And keeping everything together is Swiss design from all over the world.
advantages
- Bejeweled but not overwhelming design
- Precise Swiss engineering
disadvantage
- May be too noticeable for some
Complexionblack Case size41 x 11 mm materialsStainless steel MoveSwiss quartz seal100 meters
7. Seiko 5 Sports Automatic Watch
A watch for real athletes
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The Seiko 5 has been in the best entry-level watch lists for a year, and the latest entry is as solid as ever. An outdoor watch through and through, this is tough enough to handle even the most extreme activities. A Seiko automatic movement is designed for a lifetime. The Seiko 5 has a Hardlex crystal protection as well as a water resistance, which is suitable even for the enthusiastic beach goers.
advantages
- Incredibly durable design
- Easy to read light indicator
disadvantage
- Not built for serious divers
Complexionblack Case size43 x 22 mm materialsStainless steel MoveAutomatically seal100 meters
8. Fossil men’s Nate stainless steel quartz watch
For men who love black
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The entire body of the Nate may just be variations on black, but Fossil has managed to create some serious gaps in the gaps. This is largely achieved through textured and raised lettering, but it’s a bold design choice that is easier to read than you can imagine and is sure to be eye-catching just about anywhere. And for sports enthusiasts there are subdials on the quartz watch for the second, minute and hour.
advantages
- Clearly monochrome design
- Chronograph and date window
disadvantage
- Black dial difficult to read in the dark
Complexionblack Case size50 x 13 mm materialsStainless steel, metal Movequartz seal50 meters
9. Seiko SNKN37 Automatic Automatic Watch
An explosion from the past
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The SNKN37 is a watch your grandfather may have worn, and we mean that as a compliment. It’s classic without being nostalgic and retro without being cheesy. More importantly, it’s reliable. The automatic movement with automatic winding ensures that you no longer have to worry about wasting time as long as you wear it. The leather strap feels soft and comfortable on the wrist while expressing a uniquely structured surface.
advantages
- Stylish, comfortable leather strap
- Automatic movement with automatic winding
disadvantage
Complexionblue Case size44 x 11 mm materialsStainless steel, leather MoveAutomatically seal50 meters
10. Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph
Highly functional and powered by light
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The Citizen AT2141-52L takes on the design of a diving watch and updates it without overloading everything. Three subdials and a date window share the space without getting too full, and much of it is due to the subdued but outstanding gradient of the blue dial. However, the coolest thing is Eco-Drive technology – a “solar” battery that you can use to charge Eco-Drive watches in both sunlight and artificial lighting. and the stainless steel case is sturdy enough for rough use.
advantages
- Stainless steel case protected by sapphire glass
- Impressive eco-drive battery
disadvantage
- The brightness is a little weak
Complexionblue Case size42 x 11 mm materialsStainless steel MoveJapanese quartz seal100 meters
11. G-Shock GG-1000 MUDMASTER watch
The standard for robust performance
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G-Shock watches are designed for the harshest of uses, but the Mudmaster is designed specifically for people who like to play in the dirt. It is completely sludge resistant and uses some complex sensors that can be used as a thermometer, compass or stopwatch. Thanks to the bright LED, this watch is easy to read even in the dark. And if something fails, both a digital and an analog display are integrated. This Casio G-Shock is a great watch that is powerful enough for the military but budgeted for the average consumer.
advantages
- The most robust men’s watch
- Wide range of sensors
disadvantage
ComplexionGray Case size56 x 15 mm materialsStainless steel, resin Movequartz seal200 metres
12. Orient Japanese Automatic Diving Watch
Perfectly executed dive watch essentials
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Orient recognizes that “richly decorated” and “attractive” are not always synonymous. This watch focuses on the essentials of diving watches: durability, water resistance and accuracy. They stand out in every respect and still manage to improve the aesthetics of diving watches in their own way. The classic blue tones on the face have a nice depth layer, and both the indices and the hands have a unique personality without deviating too far from a working formula.
advantages
- Date and day window
- 40-hour power reserve
disadvantage
- Can stay too close to tradition
Complexionblue Case size42 x 13 mm materialsStainless steel MoveJapanese automatic seal200 metres
13. Citizen AW1361-10H Eco-Drive Avion
An incredibly easy to read pilot’s watch
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Pilot’s watches may not be the necessity they once were for aviators, but Citizen makes a compelling case for their continued value. The “Type B” dial used by this watch is fun to navigate and incredibly functional. All three number fields are easy to analyze thanks to the clear labeling and the well thought-out distance. It also comes with a phenomenal feel leather cord with so
me exquisite stitching that hold it together.
advantages
- Choose fun and function type B.
- Clearly displayed pilot information
disadvantage
- Poor functionality in the dark
ComplexionGray Case size45 x 13 mm materialsStainless steel, leather MoveJapanese quartz seal100 meters
14. Seiko SSC139 Excelsior solar watch
Looks like it’s from another world
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The Excelsior does not look like other Eco-Drive watches on the planet. It doesn’t look like other clocks on the planet, period. But its futuristic design definitely turns it into an instant conversation piece, and it manages to pack a lot of benefits to boot. This includes a functional chronograph with three dials and a four-part stepper motor. These watches are even waterproof enough to take snorkeling with you.
advantages
- Really a unique design
- Is automatically reset to the current time
disadvantage
- Slightly bulky form factor
• Face colorblack Case size43 x 12 mm materialsStainless steel MoveJapanese quartz seal100 meters
15. Michael Kors Lexington Chronograph
Fashion and functionality on a budget
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Michael Kors is a fashion house, not a watch manufacturer, and that benefits them at the Lexington. These are black dial watches under $ 500, but they seem to cost significantly more. Thanks to the combination of eye-catching gold accents and a chronograph that uses these bright accents more practically, there is a good balance between lightning and substance. And if you don’t like the traditional black and gold design, there are over a dozen variations to choose from.
advantages
- Very stylish design
- Fully functional chronograph
disadvantage
- Not practical for general use
Complexionblack Case size45 x 13 mm materialsStainless steel Movequartz seal100 meters
16. Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle touchscreen smartwatch
A fashion-conscious approach to smartwatches
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The Wear OS is a notoriously tricky smartwatch operating system, but Fossil does an incredible job and makes the most of it. There’s a battery under the steel case that can keep up with the big boys, and a processor that won’t slow down even in more complex processes. Although Fossil’s greatest strength is what they did with the operating system here, they also created a clean interface that is reminiscent of Apple Watches while maintaining its own personality.
advantages
- Up to two days of battery life
- Simple swipe-based navigation
disadvantage
- A little light on functions
Complexionvariable Case size44 x 12 mm materialsStainless steel, silicone MoveDigital seal30 meters
17. Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Watch
The standard for field clocks
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The Hamilton Khaki Field Watch isn’t the cheapest watch on this list, but its understated stainless steel case goes against a watch built for reliability. The numbering is bright, legible and underpinned by a serious luminosity. But the real attraction will be for collectors. This is a watch designed to mimic the look of the original field watches down to the smallest detail, and is reflected in the mechanical self-winding movement. The only concessions they made in the interest of modernity are durability and precision.
advantages
- Very authentic field clock design
- Very light face
disadvantage
- Too simple for some customers
Complexion
black Case size38 x 9 mm materialsStainless steel, nylon MoveMechanically seal50 meters
18. Seiko SSA346J1 Presage Cocktail Watch
Seiko’s most elegant budget watch
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Seiko is perhaps best known for their sports watches, but they can also dress up. The Presage Cocktail is reminiscent of Art Deco sensibility and the romance of the jazz era, and the dial, dedicated exclusively to keeping track of the date, is a refreshing change from the simple numerical windows that are packed in so many timepieces. This is a watch for special occasions, which is reflected in the relatively long power reserve.
advantages
- An ideal choice for parties
- Cool date tracking wheel
disadvantage
- Limited circumstances to bear
ComplexionOff white Case size40 x 14 mm materialsSteel, leather MoveAutomatically seal50 meters
19. Swatch YVS444G Irony Night Flight
A modern twist on the pilot’s watch
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Pilot’s watches are often designed by the narrow expectations of nostalgia, but Swatch is breaking new ground with its Night Flight model. It reads brightly by day or light and displays all the information you need in an easy-to-analyze format. The three chronographs are fairly easy to read and are accompanied by a small but legible date window. And the tachymeter, a crucial necessity for pilot’s watches, is a real pleasure.
advantages
- Accurate adjustable total station
- Complete chronograph and date window
disadvantage
- Only waterproof up to 30 meters
Complexionblack Case size43 x 13 mm materialssteel Movequartz seal30 meters
20. SRPA21 Prospex X Padi by Seiko Men
A legendary diving watch with a well-deserved reputation
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The Seiko Prospex line is one of the most acclaimed sports watch lines in the world. So it’s worth paying attention to when working with PADI (the professional association of diving instructors). This is a diving watch that takes its intent seriously, from the responsive but solid unidirectional click of the bezel to the strict water resistance regulations. Even the symbolic blue and red color scheme serves a useful purpose for tracking the elapsed time in less than clear water.
advantages
- Produced entirely in-house by Seiko
- Developed in close partnership with PADI
- Stylish but functional choice of colors
disadvantage
- Can be hard to find in stock
Complexionblue Case size45 x 13.5 mm materialsStainless steel MoveAutomatically seal100 meters
If you’re looking for the best men’s watch, there are only so many hours a day and so many options that you can go through. Whether you’re going to old school or want to find the newest and coolest watch, we can help you find the top watches under $ 500. If you have had the opportunity to test one of these watches yourself, we recommend that you share the following comments.