Tested: The 8 Best Beater Watches for Everyday Wear

As much as we love high-end luxury watches, there’s some serious value to adding a beater watch to your collection. These are timepieces that can go anywhere, do anything (GADA, as the kids say), and bring a blend of good looks and reliability in the process. If you talk to even the most pretentious watch enthusiast, he can tell you the benefits of beater watches. After all, the last thing you want to do is crack your Rolex when you shouldn’t have even been wearing it to begin with. To help you find your go-to GADA timepiece, we’ve compiled a guide to the best affordable beater watches around, testing each one ourselves.

How We Tested

“Beater watches” isn’t a technical watch category like divers or GMTs. Instead, it’s more of a signifier of capability and intent. Indicating how often you’ll wear a watch, the term is admittedly one that’s difficult to search for when shopping. There’s no “Beater Watches” menu on brands’ websites. As such, we had to pull from our own experience and expertise when compiling this guide. We looked at our favorite watchmakers, leaning in on their durable options with higher water resistance, sturdy materials, and low price points –– typically with quartz movements. From there, we got hands-on with each model to see what we liked and didn’t like. The results are detailed below.

Wrist Size: We should also mention that our tester has a wrist diameter of around 7″, so keep that in mind when comparing it to your own wrist.

What to Look For

Aesthetic: As with any watch of any type, a beater watch should look appealing enough to you. Likewise, you’ll probably want something that can be versatile no matter what outfit you decide to wear on a given day. Colors like black and blue are good choices, but there can be some fluctuation here.

Durability: A major purpose of a beater watch is to get, well, beaten to the ground, so to speak. Helping it trek as far as you do, a watch’s case construction and features should aid you on your travels. This means case materials like stainless steel, titanium, resin, carbon fiber, and the like. It also means a level of shock resistance and even a sturdy bezel like Hardlex or ceramic. You should also pay attention to water resistance, which should be able to endure a level of submersion. This means 50m or higher, but preferably at least 100m.

Movement: While it’s not a rule, a beater watch should have a quartz movement. Much more reliable, durable, and long-lasting than mechanical movements, these battery engines are an integral part of what defines a beater watch. With high shock resistance and minimal moving parts, they’re also significantly more affordable.

Price: As a rule, a beater watch shouldn’t break the bank. For this guide, we held the $500 mark as a hard cap, with some getting even under $100. If you’re going to be taking this watch everywhere every day, you don’t want it to cost thousands of dollars. On the flip side, you should be saving the pricier timepieces for special occasions so as not to spoil their specialness.

Casio Duro

Known as the Marlin because of the fishy emblem on its dial and caseback, the Casio Dura has cemented its place as one of the finest beaters on the market. Combining both rugged durability and impressive technical specs at an accessible price point, this timepiece is the perfect companion for those seeking a reliable tool watch that can handle tough conditions without breaking the bank.

With a 44mm stainless steel case, the Duro has a robust wrist presence and yet wears comfortably despite the bulk, thanks to the 12mm thickness and ergonomic case design. Under a scratch-resistant mineral crystal that protects the watch from the banging and bumping of your daily rigor, the dial is highly legible with its clean design and visible markers and handset. The black dial contrasts beautifully with the white accents. This watch was really easy to read at a glance. Meanwhile, the unidirectional bezel helps you out with diving, timing workouts, or even cooking. And most impressively, considering the price, this piece boasts 200m of water resistance, which is a rarity in the sub-$100 range.

G-SHOCK GW5000U-1

Offering the perfect balance of toughness and functionality, the G-SHOCK GW5000U-1 is one of the most iconic and enduring models in the Casio sub-label’s lineup. And that’s because it’s a faithful reissue of the brand’s original 1983 offering – with some modern updates of course. G-SHOCK has brought countless newcomers into the watch world and keeps them smitten with some of their higher-end models as well. However, we love this slightly elevated take on the entry-level piece, which still boasts the brand’s hallmarks like 200m of water resistance, 10 years of battery life, and a virtually indestructible resin case (with a stainless steel core).

Debuting in 1983 alongside the company’s introduction, the GW5000 sports a classic square case measuring 48.9mm × 42.8mm in size. And it’s surprisingly lightweight thanks to the resin material and ergonomic shape of the watch. You can literally take this watch anywhere without worrying about it surviving, and its feature set includes a stopwatch, alarm, countdown timer, and auto-calendar. Likewise, the time sets automatically thanks to the Multi-Band 6 radio-controlled function. The clear display allows you to easily read the dial and the Tough Solar keeps this thing ticking for years. If you enjoy the styling, but would like to save a bit of money, you can always opt for the less-feature packed (but still high-performing) G-SHOCK 5600 which will cost you less than a $100 – a beater everyone can get behind.

Timex Harborside Coast 44mm

Thanks to its hardy build, versatile design, and affordable price point, the Timex Harborside Coast is an excellent contender among the best beater watches, and at just over $100. It checks all the boxes you’d want in a GADA timepiece and looks great while doing it. Stretching 44mm across, the timepiece draws subtle inspiration from classic divers, featuring elements that echo aesthetics from more expensive models like the Rolex Submariner. Featuring a refined yet rugged look, the case alternates polished and brushed finishes akin to these luxury pieces on the market. However, this is powered by a quartz movement, which is more durable and reliable.

Rated to 100m underwater, the Harborside Coast is great for any aqueous activity, albeit not designed for professional diving. Meanwhile, the stainless steel case is admittedly heavy for those with smaller wrists. We loved the feel of the unidirectional bezel, which featured satisfying clicks, unlike some others on this list. Looks-wise, the watch can get you a lot of range, from pool parties to Friday date nights. If you don’t want to sacrifice either style or practicality for dependable performance, this Timex piece is a solid choice!

Citizen Garrison Super Titanium

Titanium can be a fantastic beater watch material for how lightweight yet durable it is (compared to stainless steel especially, weighing nearly half), but admittedly it’s difficult to find a titanium watch that isn’t too expensive. Enter the Citizen Garrison Super Titanium, which comes from a brand that knows how to make timepieces in economical yet efficient ways. Despite a 42mm case size, this watch isn’t cumbersome or heavy at all. Powered by the brand’s Eco-Drive solar movement, which can get charged via any light source –– not just the sun! Meanwhile, the Super Titanium material is made thanks to Citizen’s Duratect surface-hardening tech, enhancing the scratch resistance and overall durability compared to even your standard titanium timepiece.

While the larger profile is nowhere near overwhelming, the Garrison offers a balanced look with a minimalist-esque dial design and excellent legibility in various lighting conditions, making it easy to read at a glance. There’s also a convenient date window for added practicality. Matching the case is a titanium bracelet to elevate the classiness of the watch despite its casual appearance. it’s also quite comfortable around the wrist. While it’s on the higher end of this list, the watch’s extra features make it well worth the bump.

Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz 38mm

Few field watches are as iconic as the Hamilton Khaki Field. And while there are both mechanical and quartz versions of the timepiece, we opted for the lower-end option for this beater watch list. A modern, no-nonsense take on the timepieces made for the U.S. military during World War II, the Khaki Field stays true to the classic field watch’s utilitarian roots. Highly simple in appearance, it can be enhanced with your choice of strap (NATO or leather) with easy swapping capability.

Blending a classic design with a rugged 38mm stainless steel case, the watch is incredibly wearable and much smaller than most of the options we found for this guide. Offering a vintage-inspired size that fits comfortably on most wrists, this watch also features a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal to enhance the watch’s toughness, ensuring its ability to handle daily bumps and scrapes without compromising visibility. The aforementioned quartz movement is very reliable, durable, and accurate, with several years of battery life without any issues. While the 50m of water resistance isn’t as good as some others here, it’s more than enough to deal with rain and the occasional immersion without any problems.

Seiko 5 Sports SSK001

Looking at the higher end of the $500 range, Seiko has plenty of offerings deserving to be your go-to beater. Earning a reputation for crafting some of the best GADA watches around, the Japanese legend has quite the pedigree, with some models approaching the luxury range as well. Today, however, we’re taking a look at the SSK001, part of the Seiko 5 Sports family and a modern homage to the discontinued fan-favorite SKX series. This 42.5mm stainless steel watch blends the aesthetic of a classic diver with contemporary functionality and versatile styling.

It’s also important to note that the SSK001 is one of just two automatic watches on this list (along with the Nodus below, which also uses a Seiko movement), powered by the in-house Caliber 4R34 with a true GMT function so you can adjust the GMT hand independently of the other hands. Here, you have a Hardlex crystal on the bezel, which not only enhances the sporty appeal of the timepiece but offers a 24-hour GMT scale to go along with the fourth hand on the dial. It’s also important to note that the bezel clicks aren’t as satisfying or pronounced as some other options here, such as the Timex above. While 41 hours of power reserve isn’t terrible, we do wish it were a bit higher considering the watch’s travel appeal. Nevertheless, this is still one of the best affordable automatic watches on the market.

Marathon 41mm Black Nav With Tritium

Military-grade field watches are a great place to look when outfitting yourself with a rugged, durable timepiece that can withstand the trials and tribulations of your day-to-day life. Marathon is one such company that does this the best. Based in Canada but manufactured in Switzerland, the brand is known for its fan-favorite SAR models, but those are a bit too pricey for a list of beater watches. A great alternative is their 41mm Black Nav (short for Navigator), a quartz piece designed in partnership with the Kelly Air Force Base in the mid-’80s but revised again in 2019. Despite the larger size, the case material ensured that this felt effortlessly lightweight on your wrist.

Sporting a unique asymmetrical case design constructed of high-impact composite fibershell, the watch features a 24-hour inner scale on the dial for military time, a corner date window, and an “office” GMT-style bezel with a 12-hour scale (meaning, you can track a 2nd time zone but without a fourth hand on the dial). Powered by a Swiss-made ETA F06 high-torque quartz movement notable for its high accuracy and reliability under extreme conditions, the Black Nav has a low-battery indicator on the dial so you’re never caught off guard. For visibility, you get self-illuminating tritium gas tubes rather than lume coating, which might not glow as brightly but will do so consistently for up to 25 years without needing to be charged. Water resistant to 60m and strapped with a comfortable NATO band, the Black Nav is also MIL-PRF-46374G certified to withstand extreme temperatures, shocks, and vibrations. Admittedly a bit pricey for a quartz watch, this is still a robust, rugged watch that can compete with the best of them.

Nodus Sector Sport

On this list, you won’t find a lot of microbrands, simply because smaller operations aren’t typically designed to build watches in economical means. Nevertheless, brands like Nodus are an exception. The Los Angeles-based watchmaker is one of our favorite microbrands and its Sector Sport watch is a thoughtfully-crafted sports watch that possesses all the hallmarks of a quintessential beater. Built with a highly-wearable 38mm 316L stainless steel case, the timepiece is surprisingly lightweight yet exceptionally durable for daily wear. You might get a little less range with its sleek case and radiant dial color but nevertheless, this is a great pick if you want some heightened stylistic expression on your wrist each day.

Slim on the wrist thanks to a 12.5mm thickness, the watch is very comfortable and has exceptional presence despite the smaller diameter. Likewise, the matching steel bracelet feels great on the wrist if you’re looking for a bracelet option for your GADA watch. Rated to 100m underwater, the Sector Sport is also a surprisingly capable water watch for not being a diver by any means. There’s no diving bezel or any dive-focused features so this capability is a nice bonus. Despite the clean yet practical design, the watch’s dial is unique enough to warrant mention, with a sector-style layout that incorporates multiple textures to create depth and visual intrigue. Powering the Sector Sport is the aforementioned Seiko TMI NH38, an automatic movement and workhorse caliber known for its reliability and precision. Lastly, we also loved the double-dome sapphire crystal, which is scratch-resistant and anti-reflective, making it both durable and easy to read through.

Tested: The Best Automatic Watches Under $1,000

If your budget’s a little higher, you can check out the options on our guide to the best watches under $1,000.