The 10 Best Men’s Dive Watches Under $500

When filling out your everyday carry and wardrobe, it can be pretty easy to get discouraged by high-priced gear — especially things you might view as a non-necessity. And some of the biggest offenders of sticker shock are wristwatches. However, you don’t have to have a swimming pool full of gold coins in order to afford a good dive watch that’s both handsome and reliable. In fact, you can find a wealth of superb divers for under $500 if you know where to look. And that’s exactly why we’re here today. The following guide is stacked with dive watches that are all affordable even for those on a tight budget. Wether you find yourself taking a dip in the ocean or not, it’s nice to know your gear will be at the ready – and we’ve got you covered with the best dive watches under $500.

What To Look For in a Sub-$500 Dive Watch

Appearance: One of the benefits of affordable watches is that they can often look like really expensive ones, even if they don’t perform the same way. And unless you’re actually taking these watches to the depths of the sea, how a timepiece looks on your wrist will be the most important factor to consider at this price point. Everything from color to stap to case dimensions will determine if you should buy a certain model.

Depth Rating: With a couple of exceptions, most of the watches on this list will have a water resistance of 200m, which is plenty capable for casual wear and even recreational diving. In fact, only professional and military divers will ever venture much past 100m.

Movement: Most of the dive watches on this list will have quartz movements, which aren’t as sophisticated but are typically more durable and reliable than automatic movements. They also have the benefit of lasting years on a single charge.

Orient Mako II Automatic Dive Watch

You might think it laughable to think that you could find an automatic dive watch for a price as low as $121. But you’d be wrong because that’s exactly what you’ll find in the Orient ‘Mako II’ you see here. With a dive timer bezel, date window, 200m water resistance, and stainless steel case with matching link band, this is one of the best budget-friendly watches you can find, bar none.

Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Watch

While it’s not an automatic timepiece like the Orient above, the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster dive watch you see here is no less one of the best budget-friendly options out there. That’s thanks in part to its iconic styling, stainless steel case, dive timer bezel, 200m water-resistance rating, and (in this particular case) durable and comfortable polyurethane strap.

Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver 44mm

Normally, when you want a dive watch that looks and functions as good as this, you have to pay double or more the cost of Dan Henry’s 1970 Automatic. Thankfully, that’s not the case here. With its clean, yet iconic styling, this 44mm watch would look good in any venue — watery or not — and has a beautiful vintage style. It also has a reliable Seiko Caliber NH35 automatic movement, an improved Super-LumiNova glow, 200m of water resistance, a rubber compression strap, and an embossed 3D caseback. Date and no-date versions are available, and the timepiece also comes in a 40mm size option.

MWC Submariner Military Dive Watch

As is the case with many of MWC’s offerings, the Submariner dive watch was originally built to meet rigorous mil-spec standards — with the intention of field usage. Luckily, the brand also had the wherewithal to make some for civilian customers. That means, if you pick one up, you get a sturdy stainless steel case, a self-winding automatic movement, 300m of water resistance, a screw-down crown, a duo of NATO strap options, and timeless styling.

Seiko Prospex Sea SRPE99

From one of the most prolific watch brands in the world, the tonneau-shaped Prospex Sea Diver SRPE99 is one of the most iconic and sought-after in Seiko’s lineup. Featuring a “Pepsi” elapsed-time bezel, the 45mm timepiece was made in partnership with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and boasts 200m of water resistance from its stainless steel case. Powered by the Caliber 4R36 automatic movement, the watch can also be manually wound if needed.

Luminox Original Navy SEAL 43mm

In case you’re wondering, yes, the Luminox watch you see here was actually made for Navy SEALs — but it’s also available for civilian purchase. And that means you can wrap this ultra-tough, blacked-out timepiece around your wrist with its lightweight and durable 43mm CARBONOX case, Swiss Quartz movement, 200m water-resistance rating, scratch-resistant mineral crystal, black genuine rubber strap, and more. If you want a dive watch built for the best waterborne soldiers in the world, this is it.

Casio G-Shock Frogman Dive Watch

The G-Shock lineup doesn’t mesh with the rest of the dive watch world due to its odd-yet-iconic styling. But that doesn’t really matter, especially when you consider the merits of their impressive Frogman watch you see here. With 200m of water resistance, anti-shock housing, a solar-powered movement, and a wealth of useful onboard sensors, you could argue that this is actually a good deal more useful than any of the others on this list. And while it might not be suitable for a formal occasion, that’s not really what this is about. This is an unbelievably impressive actual dive watch, whether you like it or not.

Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Professional Diver Watch

A member of Victorinox’s noteworthy lineup of Swiss Army watches, this entry in their I.N.O.X. lineup is both affordable and unmistakably stylish. It can also handle depths of up to 200m, has a reliable Swiss quartz movement to keep it ticking right on time, a rubber strap to match its striking dial, and anti-magnetic housing to ensure the movement isn’t affected by the Earth’s ambient field. This is also one of the few watches on this list that’s available in a wide variety of colorways, so you can match it to your own personal style.

Nodus Retrospect III

American microbrand Nodus designs and assembles its watches in Los Angeles and imbues each silhouette with a certain versatility. Case in point, this ’50s-inspired Retrospect III is a sufficient automatic diver that uses a Seiko TMI NH35 movement but can also swing as a serviceable dress watch for under $500. It brings you 200m of water resistance from its 42mm stainless steel case which houses a stunning blue dial. Around the dial is a slanted 120-click bezel with a matte DLC steel insert that’s fully lumed.

Tissot Seastar 1000 Automatic Dive Watch

For some of you, the $500 ceiling is quite flexible. If that’s so, check out this fabulous piece from an iconic brand. A classically-styled and handsome dive watch if there ever was one, the Tissot Seastar 1000 is so beautiful you might not want to ever take it into the water. However, if you do, you can be sure it will keep right on ticking, as it is water-resistant down to 300m below the surface of the ocean. It also has a stainless steel case, a striking blue dial with a rotating dive timer bezel to match, a steel link band, and a Swiss automatic movement to keep it ticking for decades and decades.

The Best Dive Watches For Any Budget

Maybe you already own a few entry level watches, and you’re ready to start investing into your growing collection? If that’s the case, check out our hands-on guide to the best dive watches at any price point.