The Best Watches Under $200, Tested by Style Editors

This retro dive watch-inspired Timex was the top performer in our testing for the best watches under $200. With a case and clasp bracelet that are all stainless steel, and acrylic dome glass, it looked and functioned well above that price cutoff. The quartz movement kept reliable time over a multiple week trial period, with a day-date complication that adjusted very easily. One of the coolest features is a battery door built into the case back that makes changing out the battery very simple. Plus, it will save you some money going to the jewelry store.

Reviving the Q series, along with the Marlin series, put Timex back on the horological style map. The American timekeeping giant was known for being affordable and dependable, now you can add undeniably cool to that list. While the Q series has expanded to over a dozen watches, the original reissue is still the marquee option.

All the nuts and bolts that impress our watch testers were there, but it was looks that really set this watch apart. Old school dive watches like the Rolex Submariner offer a huge styling range. The Timex Q gives that same vibe for a small fraction of the cost. It is a true every day, go-to wristwatch that complimented every outfit we paired it with.

One minor criticism we need to note is that this is not a true dive watch. While it has the look, with a dual color bezel and high visibility dial, it’s only water resistant to 50 meters. Which means that you should only wear it for light swimming and not take it on any serious dives (if that’s your thing).

Read More: The Best Casio Watches for Men

In the humble opinion of our watch obsessed editors, Orient is probably the most underrated brand out there when it comes to value. Where else will you find an elegant dress watch with a hand wound automatic movement for $175? The Bambino doesn’t just look the part, it was super reliable and we didn’t find anything cheap or flimsy about it in our testing. This is a perfect business casual work watch that can stay on your wrist when you dress down the rest of the week.

The most important feature to know about it, if you’re considering this watch, is the hand wound movement. It’s powered from a spring like an automatic movement, but you have to compress that spring by turning the crown. The best way to keep it running accurately is to give it a few twists every time you put it on and take it off.

Pros

• Stainless steel case and band are durable
• Works with wide range of looks

A bracelet watch has a square case that is a similar width to the band. Some of the most sought-after luxury watches in the world feature this style (see: the Cartier Tank Watch), but Breda offers it at a much friendlier price. With no second hand, it is less for keeping a close eye on the time, and more of a stylish accessory. You can keep this one stashed away for formal occasions, but it adds a dressy touch to casual outfits.

Our testers were impressed with the durability of this dress watch. The stainless steel case and bracelet had a sturdy feel that managed not to get bulky after a long time on the wrist. The window is a tough mineral crystal, where you typically see a more fragile acrylic in this price range. Despite a formal appearance, this a strong watch that you can wear every day without worrying about damaging it.

​​G-Shock has dozens of sub-$200 options that offer a wide range of features, tough-as-nails durability, and stylish looks. Selecting just one was the hardest part, but we landed on the GA-B2100 because it has a hybrid face with analog hands and a digital window. This combination is easy to read on the move without putting your wrist close to your face. We put it through the wringer with indoor and outdoor training, and the timekeeping was easy to toggle and responsive.

All of the features and settings are easy to control from four exterior buttons, but it does connect to a smartphone via bluetooth. At 45 mm, the case can appear bulky, but the resin felt light as a feather and incredibly soft. It never felt heavy or cumbersome in our testing and worked on guys with smaller wrists, just as well as larger wrists.

We’ve found plenty of affordable options out there that look like dive watches, but skimp on aquatic friendly features. The Mako II from Orient is fully functional for swimming, snorkeling, and any other waterbound activity that doesn’t involve scuba gear. Features like a dual action clasp, rounded off case and bezel, and a screw down crown kept it water tight and secure on our wrist during testing. The lume on the hands and indices was long lasting and bright.

Our editors think this is a perfect everyday watch for anyone who spends time around water, as well as being an ideal vacation watch. It’s lightweight, waterproof, and durable so you pretty much never have to take it off. The classic diver aesthetic can dress up or down and pretty much looks good with everything.

The new Sekio 5 Sport line is known for incredible value in the $300-$500 range, but the old Seiko 5 models are still available for even more affordable prices. Coming in at just under $200, the SNXS77 is a casual workhorse timepiece built for everyday wear. This model has been in production since the ’90s, and it runs on a Seiko automatic movement that has been known to hold up for decades of continuous wear. After test driving it for a few weeks, this classic still holds up.

The two attributes that really stood out in our testing were the size and dial. A 37 mm, the case hit an ideal middle ground between larger tool watches and smaller dress watches, fitting comfortably on different sized wrists. We really like the simple and functional design of the dial. The squared off hands and indices are almost dressy, but offset by the sporty look of the day-date window.

Bertucci nailed the classic field watch look, but used an untraditional case material to make it more durable, comfortable, and affordable. The first thing we noticed about this rugged ticker was how lightweight and soft the polycarbonate case is. It felt more like a modern sport watch on our wrist. Dial visibility was a big standout in our testing, thanks to the large numerals and strong lume.

One small but important feature is the fixed lug design, which means that you can only put NATO style bands on this watch, but it does make switching the band a piece of cake. We were able to quickly remove the band and wash it by hand or machine when it got dirty or sweaty. There are countless color and pattern nato strap options out there for $15 to $20, making it cheap and easy to change up the look of this watch.