These Are Our Favorite Men’s Watches for Any Budget

Shopping for a watch can be a pretty difficult endeavor. Whether you’re buying your first watch or your fiftieth, you’re going to go through many of the same considerations. What style are you looking for? Do you want a quartz or a mechanical? How will you be using the watch? In other words, is this a beater? An everyday watch? Is it only for special occasions? And finally, arguably the most important question to ask yourself: What kind of budget are you working with? Knowing that the gargantuan task of finding the perfect watch can sometimes seem impossible, we’ve done all of the legwork for you in putting together this guide to the best men’s watches for any budget.

How This Guide Is Broken Up

Working with ten different price categories ranging from under a hundred bucks to just south of $50K, we’ve sought out the best watches for you to consider adding to your wrist. So whether you want a diver or a chronograph, a quartz or an automatic, a Timex or a Rolex — you get the idea — you’re likely to find what you’re looking for in the below guide to the best watches for men.

Watch Movement Types

Quartz: Quartz is usually used for less expensive models due to the low cost of production. However, the battery-powered timepieces are also much more accurate than their automatic and manual-winding brethren. Likewise, they also last significantly longer on a single charge. The downside? Once these watches are dead, it can be difficult to get them ticking again.

Automatic: An automatic watch ticks for about as long as its power reserve lasts, which can be anywhere from 1 to a few days. When the power runs out, it begins again from being worn –– although you’ll have to reset the time each time. The standard bearer in the watch world, automatic movements, while a bit more expensive than quartz, have a much longer overall life than quartz watches.

Manual-Winding: Less common than the two above, manual-wound watches are similar in mechanics to an automatic watch, but require you to physically wind the movement to keep it ticking.

Types of Watch Styles

Diver: Made for adventuring and tough conditions, dive watches have seemed to flood the space these days. With water resistance of 100m or higher, these timepieces often have rotating bezels for tracking time and well-lumed dials.

Dress Watch: More focused on the watch’s actual aesthetic, dress watches are intended to adorn your wrist in, you guessed it, dressier occasions. These often feature minimalist dials, leather straps, and Roman numerals.

Chronograph: Essentially a stopwatch on your wrist, chronographs have a history with auto racing and can be recognized by the two or three subdials on the dial, which are intended to time seconds, minutes, and hours when the pushers on the outside of the case are activated.

Pilot’s Watch/GMT: Dating back to the early days of aviation, pilot’s watches began as a way to ensure visibility and magnetic resistance in harsh conditions. However, when GMT movements became more popular, traditional pilot’s watches gave way to these dual-timezone travel pieces.

What to Look for in a Watch

Type: In this guide, you’ll see everything from simple time-only watches to highly-complicated references, and everything in between. Regardless of the price tag, you’ll want a timepiece that fits into a specific type you lean towards, whether that’s divers, pilot’s watches, or chronographs.

Size: Even if you love how a watch looks, the size of the watch will determine how it looks and wears on your wrist. Larger watches (e.g., 40mm or higher) may be too bulky for a whole day’s wear. Conversely, smaller timepieces may not be favorable if you have a large wrist.

Movement: Most watches on this list will feature an automatic movement, which means you’ll be looking at power reserve (i.e., how long the watch will tick without being worn). However, manual-wound and quartz timepieces do exist on this guide –– the latter of which will be exclusively in the lower end of the price range.

Water Resistance: While you don’t necessarily need a 300m dive watch unless you’re an actual recreational or professional diver, it’s important to know what the water resistance of your timepiece is. 100m is a solid standard if you’re looking to take this thing out swimming or even hiking. However, many of the higher-priced haute horology pieces won’t offer as much water resistance, nor should you be taking them out in tough conditions.

Strap/Bracelet: When shopping for a watch, don’t underestimate the importance of strap or bracelet material. Each material has its own pros and cons. For instance, metal is heavy, leather doesn’t breathe, and rubber won’t be as stylistically versatile.

Price: As you can see below, you can acquire quality watches at lower price points just as you can higher price points. And it’s the watch’s value that you should be looking for. For instance, if your budget is $200, you’ll want a piece that gives you more than $200 worth of value. That was our intention when compiling our list.

Under $100

Casio Duro

Kicking things off is Casio’s popular quartz-powered diver. Coming in with an MSRP that’s well under $100 and frequently available for under $50 on sale, this is really a no-risk proposition. It has an impressive 200m water resistance, surprisingly good bezel action, and classic good looks that recall the icons of the space.

G-SHOCK GA-2100

Ask most watch enthusiasts what their favorite beater watch is in their collection and most will point you toward some kind of G-SHOCK. One of the brand’s most popular styles is the GA-2100 — nicknamed the “CasiOak” due to its AP Royal Oak-like octagonal case shape. The affordable piece has all of the functionality and ruggedness you’d expect from a G-SHOCK while upping the style quotient considerably.

Under $500

Timex Q Timex GMT

The original modern reissue of 1979’s Q Timex was already a smash hit for Timex following its debut in 2019, but now the brand that “takes a licking and keeps on ticking” has upped the ante with the hot new GMT version. A natural complication for the Pepsi-bezeled Q, the quartz-powered travel watch retains the 38mm hooded-lug case of its predecessor but adds an improved bracelet and applied indices in addition to the new Swiss-made movement.

Seiko 5 Sports SKX GMT

Seiko surprised the market by unveiling what’s sure to be the watch of the summer this year when it released this sporty GMT. Boasting intentional stylistic cues from the iconic (and discontinued) SKX diver, this bargain-priced automatic GMT comes in three pitch-perfect colorways, all of which feature a cyclops date window, a bi-color bezel, and a Jubilee bracelet.

Lorier Neptune

While the bulk of the brands you’ll find in this guide are tried and true watchmakers, the industry is also filled with small independent microbrands that offer tremendous value and are able to give enthusiasts exactly what they want. One of the best is Lorier. Run by a husband and wife team in New York, the brand’s flagship Neptune is one of the best vintage-style divers on the market, even featuring a plexiglass crystal for added authenticity. Keep your eyes peeled later this summer, as Lorier will be launching the Neptune’s improved fourth generation.

Under $1,000

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38

It’s not often that you’ll be able to find a true watch icon for under 500 bucks, but that’s exactly what the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is. A direct descendant of the original Khaki Field of the 1960s — itself an evolution of Hamilton’s WWII field watches — this moderately-sized hand-cranker remains the standard by which all other field watches are measured.

Tissot PRX Powermatic 80

It’s tough to think of a watch that has energized a brand as much as the PRX has for Tissot. The integrated bracelet sports watch — a reinterpretation of a late-’70s Tissot of the same name — has become the 169-year-old brand’s most recognizable watch. Offering excellent finishing, an 80-hour automatic movement, and Gérald Genta-like looks, the PRX is extremely tough to beat at this price.

Certina DS PH200M

Retro dive watches are all the rage right now, but they can sometimes get a little redundant. That’s definitely not the case with this Certina. Directly inspired by Certina’s original DS PH200M from 1968, the new incarnation keeps the timeless design but modernizes the materials. The watch features a generously domed sapphire crystal, a unique etched and domed ceramic bezel, and a silky stainless steel mesh bracelet.

Under $2,000

Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver

Some brands tend to get too caught up in replicating their own heritage that they forget to embrace the now. Zodiac is not one of those brands, imbuing its vintage-style dive watches with playful colors and wrist presence while remembering its past. This Super Sea Wolf is a modern take on the watchmaker’s first-ever diver from 1953 –– and one of the industry’s first as well. Surrounded by a black bezel, the seafoam green dial pops off your wrist with orange accents, while the matching tropic strap is period-correct.

NOMOS Club Campus

Representing what German watchmakers are capable of is NOMOS. The Glashütte-based brand makes some of the best Bauhaus-inspired dress watches around, but it’s the brand’s Club Campus line that excites us the most. Designed to be an entry point to quality watchmaking for new collectors, the Club Campus is equal parts sporty and dressy, with plenty of gorgeous details that you can only appreciate once you have the watch in hand.

Doxa Sub 300T

Most dive watches these days aren’t really being taken very far underwater — they’re popular because people like the style. But if you want a dive watch that puts functionality before aesthetics, then Doxa is where it’s at. The iconic dive watchmaker’s Sub 300T is one of the most capable divers you can get, with a whopping 1,500m water resistance, a high-vis “Professional” orange dial, and a patented bezel with an integrated no-decompression dive time calculator.

For a deeper dive, read our review of the DOXA Sub 300T Professional watch.

Under $5,000

Longines Spirit Zulu Time

One of the best releases of the year by any watch brand is Longines’ pitch-perfect GMT version of its ever-expanding and increasingly-popular Spirit line of pilot’s watches. The watch does just about everything we want a travel watch to do. Independently-adjustable local hour hand? Check. Original and attractive design? Check. Symmetrical date placement, vacation-ready water resistance, COSC certification? Check, check, check. Longines has been on a roll lately, but this is just ridiculously good.

For a deeper dive, read our review of the Longines Spirit Zulu Time watch.

Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Diver

Speaking of brands that know when to double down when they’ve got a hit on their hands, we have Rado. Not long ago, the brand was mainly known for its unique ceramic dress watches. Interesting pieces, but not the type of thing to set enthusiasts’ hearts aflutter. Enter the Captain Cook diver. A reissue of an obscure and short-lived ‘60s diver from the brand, the modern Captain Cook reinvigorated Rado and has since seen countless iterations. Our favorite is this ceramic version which combines the two main sides of the brand’s business to great effect.

Tudor Black Bay 58

As the more affordable sister brand to Rolex, Tudor is the backup choice for many watch enthusiasts. But truth be told, this brand doesn’t deserve to play second fiddle to any brand — not even Rolex. Its Black Bay 58 is one of the best divers on the market bar none, combining classic tool watch ruggedness with luxury detailing and knockout vintage-inspired looks that are about as versatile as it gets.

For a deeper dive, check out our review of the Tudor Black Bay 58 watch.

Oris ProPilot X Kermit Edition

The fact that Oris has remained steadfastly independent while the vast majority of its Swiss competition has fallen under the corporate umbrella of one luxury conglomerate or another is a testament to the brand’s daring nature; as is this take on its popular ProPilot X line. Pairing a unique and eye-catching relief bezel with a titanium case and a striking green dial featuring Kermit the Frog in the date window, this is far from your average dive watch, and it’s these types of risks that make us love Oris so much.

Under $10,000

IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX

IWC has many iconic lines in its catalog, but the Schaffhausen-based brand is best known for its simply-named “Pilot’s Watch.” Available in a number of different case sizes, colors, and configurations, we’re big fans of this simple and moderately-sized reference that’s actually useful for flyboys today. With its gorgeous blue sunburst dial that’s easy to read thanks to its hands and hour markers, the timepiece also features an in-house automatic movement that’s protected from magnetic forces and a sapphire crystal designed to be secure against displacement from air pressure drops mid-flight.

For a deeper dive, read our review of the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX.

Panerai Luminor Base Logo

If it’s wrist presence that you’re after, there’s simply no beating Panerai. A little-known Italian watchmaker for most of its history, the brand’s oversized cushion-cased timepieces reached a larger audience thanks to their popularity with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger beginning in the late ‘90s. Now, Panerai plays in the high-end sandbox with other major luxury brands, and this watch — the simplest version of its flagship Luminor line — is perhaps the easiest way to gain entry to the “Paneristi.”

Omega Speedmaster Professional

If historical significance is important to you when it comes to watches, then there’s no beating the Speedy. Colloquially known as the “Moonwatch,” the Speedmaster Professional famously became the first watch worn on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Since that time, it’s been widely associated with space travel and has been cleared for flight missions by NASA for going on 60 years. But even if you don’t care about all that, the Omega Speedmaster still features one of the most aesthetically pleasing and perfect dial designs in history.

Rolex Submariner

Perhaps the only watch in the world more iconic and recognizable than the Speedmaster is this. The dive watch by which all others are measured, the Submariner is not only the quintessential Rolex but the quintessential wristwatch. It is the dream watch of countless watch enthusiasts and casual fans alike, and will forever be the epitome of cool. Plus, at the end of the day, it’s just a great watch, with a bulletproof movement, a design that goes with everything, and legit dive watch utility.

Grand Seiko SLGA009 “White Birch”

Despite what you may have heard, the Swiss do not have a total monopoly over the luxury watch market. Keeping them in check from the east is Grand Seiko, the high-end offshoot of Japanese giant Seiko. Grand Seiko is known for a few things that it does better than anyone else: its impeccable hand-finishing, its beautiful and intricate nature-inspired dials, and its exclusive hybrid Spring Drive movements that combine mechanical craftsmanship with quartz accuracy. This modern icon, a follow-up to the Hi-Beat Mechanical SLGH005 that was inspired by the white birch forests outside the brand’s studio, combines all three.

Under $20,000

Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute

Breitling’s standard Navitimer is already one of the most iconic and recognizable watches in existence, but throw in a story about an early astronaut and some extra features and you’re really cooking with gas. This new Navitimer is a reissue of the legendary Cosmonaute, a special 24-hour chronograph that Breitling custom-made for astronaut Scott Carpenter in 1962 that subsequently became the first Swiss watch worn in space. The new version adds some notable improvements, namely a platinum bezel, a glareproof sapphire crystal, and a modern movement with 70 hours of power on tap.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms

The Rolex Submariner gets a lot of attention for being the world’s definitive dive watch, but it wasn’t the first. Beating it to market by several months was Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms, and if you ask the world’s oldest extant watchmaker, they’ll tell you that the Fifty Fathoms is still besting the Sub today. With a case and bracelet crafted from titanium, a fully-lumed domed sapphire bezel insert, and a beautifully decorated movement that will last an entire work week without needing to be topped off, the OG diver may still be the one to beat.

For a deeper dive, read our review of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch.

Under $50,000

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar

A perpetual calendar is arguably the king of watch complications, as the ability for a machine composed only of springs and gears to autonomously keep track of the day, week, and month for your entire life — accounting even for leap years — is mind-blowing, to put it lightly. It’s no wonder, then, that mechanical perpetual calendars frequently reach six figures, but not this one from JLC. The watchmaker’s watchmaker offers not only one of the most affordable perpetual calendars on the market but also one of the best-looking and thinnest, coming in at just a hair over 9mm.

Ressence Type 1 MRP

Few watchmakers have as memorable a design ethos as Ressence, whose Orbital Convex System allows its subdials to rotate on the same plane as its minute hand. The company can perfectly blend minimalist and unorthodox in a way no other has been able to do. Exclusive for MR PORTER, this spectacular take on the brand’s Type 1 model features a case made from rose gold and titanium, adorned with a classy brown leather strap. Arguably the most elegant model ever to come out of the Belgium house, this reference also sports a white dial with gold accents.

Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time

While everyone these days is obsessed with another classic Genta design, the Nautilus, we actually think the Aquanaut is the superior of Patek’s two steel sports watch lines. Its design is sleeker, more modern, and sportier, and its relative lack of hype makes it a little more of a hidden gem (just a little, prices are rising fast). And once you add in Patek’s innovative Travel Time complication that uses four hands, two windows, and 12-hour timekeeping, you’ve got what we consider the coolest sports watch offered by Patek… and maybe anyone else, for that matter.

Over $50,000

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Arguably securing the bronze to the Submariner’s gold and Speedmaster’s silver in the race to be the most iconic watch of all time, AP’s Royal Oak is credited with creating the whole idea of the stainless steel luxury sports watch. Gérald Genta’s original design kicked off the now-ubiquitous integrated bracelet style in 1972, and today this 50th-anniversary version of the icon continues the tradition with all of the style and prestige that the watch has accumulated over the past five decades.

Tested: The Best Quartz Watches to Buy

If you’re interested in learning more about quartz timepieces and figuring out which ones are best for you, check out our recent guide where we tested the best quartz watches around.