The Best Watches Under $500 of 2024

Whether you have an interest in precision, or fashion, or is it just the pure collector’s compulsion, watch collecting has never been so in vogue—complete with insane prices for the best-known brands. For those of us who don’t have the opportunity to throw down tens of thousands of dollars on a Rolex or the latest Richard Mille, there are still quality watches available, especially for under $500, like our overall pick, the Seiko 5 Sports SKX watch. It's a high-quality, stainless-steel automatic that's water resistant up to 100 meters.

These days, however, there are a variety of well-priced watch brands masquerading as quality timepieces, when they’re really just cheap fashion accessories that will break down too-soon after purchase. If you’ve already been down this road, have no shame, we all want a good looking, quality watch that doesn’t break the bank.

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Best Overall Watch Under $500: Seiko 5 Sports SKX Mid-Size

For over 150 years, Seiko has been making watches. They’re responsible for the creation of the world's first commercial quartz wristwatch (1969), the first Japanese-made wristwatch (1913), Japan's first automatic wristwatch (1956), and Japan's first diver's wristwatch in 1965. And it’s that vintage diver that really interests us now. The Seiko 5 Sports SKX Mid-Size looks back to the brand’s classic ’80s diver’s design, while delivering everything one could want from a modern watch twice its price. From 100 meters of water resistance to a 41-hour power reserve, this durable beauty manages to be both fashionable and useful.

• CASE: Stainless steel

• MOVEMENT: Automatic Caliber 4R36

• DIAL: Green

• SIZE: 38mm

• STRAP: Stainless-steel bracelet

Best Timeless Classic Under $500: Timex Marlin Jet Automatic

The Marlin name has been around since the 1960’s, as a waterproof, dust proof and shock proof Timex that can pass for dress watch or every day watch. This reinterpretation goes big on the space-race-era retro look—chiefly the domed Hesalite crystal surrounding the polished steel bezel, the concave matte silver dial, the polished steel markers and hands, and the 24-hour sundial at 9 o’clock. At first glance, the crystal almost looks like a protective case over the actual watch, then you realize it’s a design feature, and the polished steel bezel with twin stripes and Marlin branding floats in it like a lacquered artifact—this and the concave dial are the most distinguishing visual elements of the new Marlin Jet. Inside is an automatic self-winding movement that you can see through the case back. It comes on a blue Perlon fabric strap, which is comfortable but feels a tad too thin relative to the case itself—thought this also makes it light and breathable, and the fact that you can thread the buckle through any point in the fabric makes it micro-adjustable. The 19mm lug width is less common than 20mm, so switching straps with your other watches could be limited. The brushed steel case contrasts beautifully with the polished steel bezel, and the crown is grooved for grip and engraved with the letter “T." True to the Marlin name, it’s water resistant—50 meters in this case

• CASE: Stainless steel

• MOVEMENT: Miyota automatic

• DIAL: Matte silver

• SIZE: 38mm
  

• STRAP: Perlon textile

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Best GMT Watch Under $500: Seiko 5 GMT

Seiko has a long history in the watch world and was responsible for the creation of the world's first commercial quartz wristwatch in 1969. Still, it’s the Seiko 5 Sports—originally launched in 1968—collection of mechanical watches that interests us. The collection was relaunched in 2019, and recently introduced a trio of GMT caliber offerings. They all have automatic movements, are made from stainless steel, and are water resistant up to 100 meters.

• CASE: Stainless steel

• MOVEMENT: Caliber 4R34

• DIAL: Orange

• SIZE: 42.5mm

• STRAP: Stainless-steel bracelet

Best Automatic Watch Under $500: Citizen Promaster Dive Automatic

Originally a Swiss-Japanese company (now Japanese), Citizen’s history stretches back to the early 20th century, and its watches deserve more recognition. They’re affordable, use innovative technology, and need minimal maintenance thanks to high build quality. The Promaster Dive Automatic dives (sorry) into the history of the original version that was released in 1989. It has an automatic movement (no battery required), is water resistant up to 200 meters, and is made from stainless steel.

• CASE: Stainless steel

• MOVEMENT: 8204 automatic

• DIAL: Black

• SIZE: 44mm

• STRAP: Polyurethane

Best EDC Watch Under $500: Timex Navi XL Automatic

With its vintage design and large face, this Timex diver can easily become your everyday watch. It features an automatic movement that can store up-to 40 hours of energy, meaning as long as you’re moving it’ll keep ticking. It’s made from stainless steel and is water resistant up to 100 meters.

• CASE: Stainless steel

• MOVEMENT: 02N automatic

• DIAL: Black, green

• SIZE: 41mm

• STRAP: Leather

Best Dive Watch Under $500: Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver

Dan Henry came from the mind of a watch collector who decided he wanted to recreate his favorite vintage timepieces and make them available to the masses. The 1970 Automatic Diver is our favorite of the brand's beautiful, classic designs at affordable pieces. It comes in four colors and two sizes. It’s stainless steel, waterproof up to 200 meters, and features an automatic Seiko Caliber NH35 movement.

• CASE: Stainless steel

• MOVEMENT: Seiko Caliber NH35 automatic

• DIAL: Matte black, blue

• SIZE: 44mm

• STRAP: Rubber

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More Watches Under $500 We Love

What Makes for a Good Watch Under $500?

Everyone has their own sense of style and design, so simply judging a watch by taste is in the eye of the beholder or judge. When it comes to a high-quality watch made for an affordable price, there are a few things you should be looking for: watch movement, watch material, water resistance, and finish.

Watch Movement

Watch movements are basically the engine that makes the whole thing run. Without going into too much detail, they go from relatively simple to extremely complicated and that is often reflected in a watch’s price point. In most quality affordable timepieces, you’ll find a quartz movement or a certified mechanical movement (COSC)—though most handmade mechanical movement watches will cost you a minimum of $10,000.

Despite the somewhat unreasonable negative energy around them, quartz movements tend to be more accurate and more affordable, since they require fewer moving parts. Seiko (the original), Miyota, and Ronda have all made movements that have proven themselves over time.

Watch Material

While platinum, gold, ceramic, and titanium watches are great, you’re unlikely to find one for under $500, so you should generally be looking for stainless steel, which will be unaffected by moisture. There are three different levels of stainless steel that can be used, of which 316L and 904L are higher quality. There is also 304 steel commonly found in inexpensive watches.

Water Resistance

Few things are as damaging to a watch as water, so waterproofing is necessity. Some watches are made to go deep underwater, like dive watches, and are water resistant for a hundred meters-plus. Others are made for a night on the town, but even those should still be able to stand up if a sudden rainstorm hits. Overall, better-sealed watches are an advantage in many situations and give peace of mind.

Finish

In the end, a watch should look and feel good on your wrist, and that’s what separates the affordable from the cheap. There shouldn’t be any loose screws or odd bumps and it should be nicely polished without any scratches. While there are plenty of watches available, we’ve listed below brands that have proven themselves over time.

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Why You Should Trust Me

I’ve been collecting watches for nearly as long as I’ve been able to tell time. Around the age of 10, I started disassembling pocket watches to see what makes them tick. Today, I feel naked if I accidentally leave the house without a watch on my wrist—so I’ll go back and get one. (Is it horology or is it OCD? Only my shrink knows for sure.) Currently my cache includes a variety of vintage and contemporary pieces from micro brands to G-Shock. Most days I wear an Explorer II (Ref. 226570) but my grandmother’s Mickey Mouse watch will always be my favorite.