30+ Best Watches Under $100 [2023 Guide]

Looking for a great affordable watch under $100? Look no further: here are 30+ hand picked options to choose from.

I get it: you want a nice watch but can’t (or don’t want to) spend a ton of money.

You see all these crazy expensive watches for sale everywhere, but you’re on a tight budget right now. Maybe one day, right?

The good news is, there are plenty of great watches under $100. And I’m not talking about cheap “fashion watches” or luxury counterfeits.

I’m talking about well made watches from respectable brands; watches that will look great and keep on ticking for very long time.

These watches may be affordable, but even certified “watch snobs” will approve of the watches listed below.

So, without further adieu, let’s get into it!

Quick Take

Short on time? Here are our top three picks for the best watches under $100 you can buy right now:

Our Pick

Timex Weekender Chronograph

$53.99

A chronograph is like an analog stopwatch, and the Timex Weekender Chrono might just be the best affordable chronograph on the market.

Buy Now

02/15/2023 12:35 am GMT

Budget Pick

Casio F91W

$13.99

This small, lightweight digital sport watch from Casio is arguably the best watch under $15 on the planet.

Buy Now Check Price on Jomashop

Upgrade Pick

Seiko SNE039 Solar Watch

This is a very practical watch. The black dial and 37mm stainless steel case and bracelet go with anything, from casual to dressy outfits.

Buy Now Check Price on Jomashop

Read on for more info and the complete list…

Best Watches Under $100

Keep in mind, this list is presented in no particular order. Also, prices may fluctuate (I’ve listed/linked to the lowest prices I could find online).

Here we go…

Seiko SNK809

• Style: Casual / Field
• Size: 37mm
• Movement: Automatic
• Price: $89

The SNK809 is quite possible the best affordable automatic watch on the market right now, especially if you like the casual field watch aesthetic.

It looks great on any kind of strap, be it NATO, canvas or leather. The SNK809 is black, but this watch is also available in green, blue and cream.

By the way, if you’re not sure what kind of movement you want, here’s the difference between quartz and mechanical watches.

I owned this watch for a few years and really loved it. It’s an excellent choice for your first mechanical watch!

If you want more info, check out the above SNK809 video review.

Timex Weekender Chronograph

• Style: Casual
• Size: 40mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $49

A chronograph is like an analog stopwatch, and the Timex Weekender Chrono might just be the best affordable chronograph on the market.

Its 40mm size, silver hardware and date window make a practical, easy-to-wear choice for any guy who wants a solid casual watch.

Choose from a wide variety of dial colors and straps, and remember that you can always swap the default strap for a different style.

Casio F91W

• Style: Digital
• Size: 33mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $11

This small, lightweight digital sport watch from Casio is arguably the best watch under $15 on the planet.

At just 33mm it’s a very small watch, at least by today’s standards. Due to its small size and light weight, the F91W actually disappears on your wrist.

It has very little wrist presence, which means you might even forget you’re wearing it.

It’s chock full of features, including a night light, alarm, stopwatch, calendar, date display and water resistance.

Plus, at just over $10 it’s a true “beater” watch. You don’t have to baby this one!

Casio Edifice EFV-100

• Style: Sport
• Size: 42mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $98

Another great Casio watch under $100 is the Edifice EFV-100:

This steel watch has a screw down crown and case back, which combined give it 100m of water resistance.

The bracelet looks better in pictures than it feels on the wrist, but for under $100, you can’t really expect premium quality steel.

Powered by a Japanese quartz movement, the EFV-100 has a sporty white dial with a chunky hand set and indices (sort of like a Tag Heuer Aquaracer).

This versatile, casual 42mm watch would be a perfect budget daily driver for someone with average or larger wrists.

Casio F91W Data Bank

• Style: Digital
• Size: 33mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $15

For a slightly different (and less popular) version of the F91W, check out the Casio Data Bank:

With its gold tone case and black resin strap, this watch has a sort of 80s vibe that you’ll either love or hate.

If gold isn’t your thing, you can check out the silver tone A158WA-1DF.

Swatch Once Again GB743

• Style: Casual
• Size: 33mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $38

Simple but instantly recognizable, this is a classic Swatch that’s easy to wear and easy to read.

Often listed as a women’s watch due to its 33mm case diameter, it’s perfect for anyone with small wrists (around size inches or less).

Swatch Twice Again SUOB705

• Style: Casual
• Size: 41mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $49

If you like the look of the Once Again but need something bigger, this watch is for you.

It’s 41mm, which is a great size for guys with average or larger wrists.

This simple watch should last several years before needing a new battery, and when it does eventually die, you can get a free battery exchange at any Swatch retail store.

Timex Ironman Classic

• Style: Digital
• Size: 38mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $55

Think of the Timex Ironman as a G-Shock for endurance athletes. It’s functional, practical, and much more modestly sized than even the smallest G-Shocks.

Available in many different colorways – some more subtle than others – this small digital watch won’t overpower your wrist at just 38mm in diameter.

The Ironman is chock full of practical features, including a countdown timer, multiple alarms, a calendar, a stopwatch with lap memory, Indiglo dial and 100m water resistance.

You could wear this watch because you like the way it looks, but most people who fall in love with the Timex Ironman do so for its functionality and practicality.

Seiko SNE039 Solar Watch

• Style: Casual
• Size: 37mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $99

As with any Seiko watch, you’re getting a ton of value for your money if you buy the SNE039.

This is a very practical watch. The black dial and 37mm stainless steel case and bracelet go with anything, from casual to dressy outfits.

The solar powered quartz movement is about as low maintenance as it gets, and the Hardlex dial window won’t scratch or crack easily.

This is an excellent choice for any guy’s first watch.

Vostok Amphibia

• Style: Casual / Dive
• Size: 41mm
• Movement: Automatic
• Price: $92

Vostok made watches for the Russian Soviet army during the Cold War. These days, their flagship Amphibia diver is a low key favorite among budget watch collectors.

Highly customizable and powered by an automatic (and hand-winding) movement, this 41mm dive watch features a whopping 200m of water resistance.

Yeah, 200m water resistance for under $100…crazy! Plus, this is one of those rare watches that garners respect from all enthusiasts, budget and luxury alike.

Seiko SNDC33 Chronograph

• Style: Casual
• Size: 40mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $99

The Seiko SNDC33 is a 40mm quartz powered analog chronograph watch that comes on a calfskin leather strap.

Chronograph watches are classic for a reason: they’re an analog stopwatches. How cool is that?

Even if you’re not using it to time vintage race car laps, it’s still a cool little piece of retro tech.

Along with the chronograph complication (i.e., three sub dials), the SNDC33 has a date window at 3 o’clock, lumed hands and 100m water resistance.

It’s actually a really practical watch, especially if you get in the habit of using the chronograph function (even it’s just to time your boiling pasta).

Bertucci A-1R Field Comfort

• Style: Casual
• Size: 36mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $55

If you like the field watch aesthetic and don’t want to spend a lot of money, you’re going to want to check out Bertucci, a company that specializes specifically in field watches.

Built for comfort, the A-1R is a 36mm light weight watch with a reinforced polycarbonate case, smooth Comfort-Webb band, and Swiss Super Luminous hands and markers.

In other words, it’s a feather weight field watch that will totally disappear on your wrist. Everything aspect of the Bertucci A-1R was designed for maximum comfort.

For a larger 40mm version of this watch, check out the A-2T.

Bertucci DX3 Field Watch

• Style: Casual / Field
• Size: 40mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $75

For a larger Bertucci field watch that’s more in line with modern day watch sizes, but still under $100, check out the Bertucci DX3.

Like the A-1R, this one is available in a few different colors. They all have a 40mm poly-resin case, military grade nylon band, matte finish hardware, offset crown and a Japanese quartz movement.

If you have average or larger wrists and want a comfy, durable field watch, look no further: the DX3 is for you.

Casio MDV106 Dive Watch

• Style: Casual / Dive
• Size: 44mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $45

There’s a reason this Casio dive watch has 4.5/5 stars on Amazon with over 5,300 ratings: it might be the best dive watch under $50 on the market today.

Like so many divers, this one is modeled after the Rolex Submariner. Its simple design might remind you of a Seiko SKX007, but it’s a fraction of the price.

With 200 M water resistance, you can definitely take this watch with you underwater.

Keep in mind, it’s a big watch (44m case diameter) and not a great choice for guys with smaller wrists.

Orient Bambino V2

• Style: Dress
• Size: 40.5mm
• Movement: Automatic
• Price: $99

The Orient Bambino might be the most beloved entry-level dress watch among watch enthusiasts – and for good reason.

With a universally pleasing 40mm case, domed crystal, dauphine hands, sunburst dial and Japanese automatic movement, this Bambino is an absolute steal at just over $100 (on sale).

Basically, this watch has no business selling for this low of a price. It could easily cost twice as much and still be a best seller.

Did I mention that Orient has been making all of their movements in-house, in Japan, for over 65 years?

Yeah…the Bambino is an excellent choice! If you want a smaller dress watch, check out this 36mm Bambino.

Orient Capital V2

• Style: Dress
• Size: 43mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $85

For a less popular and less expensive Orient watch, check out the Orient Capital.

This one has a quartz movement (battery powered), which allows for a thinner case (just 8 mm). This is a very thin watch that will slide easily under any shirt cuff – a great attribute for a dress watch.

Like the Bambino, the Capital has a day-date complication, which means you can see what day of the week it is, along with the numerical monthly date.

Bottom line: it’s another great choice from one of the most respected affordable watch brands in the world.

Citizen Eco-Drive BM8180

• Style: Casual
• Size: 37mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $105

Another affordable favorite, the Citizen Eco-Drive BM8180 is a great choice for anyone who wants a low maintenance watch that will just keep on ticking.

The BM8180 has a light-powered Japanese quartz movement that can get energy from any light source (natural or artificial).

With 100 M water resistance, you can take this watch swimming or even snorkeling (but not scuba diving).

Its case is 37.5mm in diameter and 9.5mm thick, and its band is just 18mm wide, so this is a small, low profile watch by today’s standards.

The stock strap isn’t the highest quality, but you could easily replace it with any strap you like.

Note: I realize this watch is often selling at just over $100, but it still offers a ton of value for the price!

Timex MK1 40mm Quartz Watch

• Style: Casual / Field
• Size: 40mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $67

Full of military inspired details and set on a NATO strap, this 40mm quartz watch from Timex is easy to read and wear.

Note: the MK1 is available with several different dial styles and strap combinations, so if the black on black isn’t your thing, or if you don’t want a nylon NATO strap, be sure to check out all of the other options on Timex.com (many aren’t available elsewhere).

Timex MK1 36mm Quartz Watch

• Style: Casual / Field
• Size: 36mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $79

If you like the look of the MK1 but want something smaller, the 36mm version is worth your consideration.

Part of the Timex Archive project, this is a “re-release of the first Camper model from the 80s” (according to Timex.com).

With its smaller case and thinner strap, it’s a low profile watch that’s great for anyone with smaller-than-average wrists, or anyone who prefers a smaller watch.

Casio World Timer

• Style: Digital
• Size: 39.5mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $20

Speaking of throwbacks, the Casio World Timer is an absolute classic and a must have for anyone who loves digital watches.

This watch is chock full of features, including daily alarms, a timer, a stopwatch, a world time indicator (obviously) and a backlight for nighttime visibility.

With a 39.5mm resin case, it’s not as big as something like a G-Shock, and with 100 M water resistance, you can take this piece with you in the water.

Timex Expedition Scout 40

• Style: Casual / Field
• Size: 40mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $42

Available in a wide variety of dial color and strap combinations, the Expedition Scout is one of Timex’s most popular references.

This easy wearing field watch features 50 M water resistance (okay for showering and short swims), luminous hands, a date window and Indiglo dial.

This is a great choice for your first watch, and it’s a safe choice if you’re buying a watch as a gift for someone else.

Timex Expedition Scout 36

• Style: Casual / Field
• Size: 36mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $45

This “unisex” version of the Expedition Scout has a 36mm case and is more suitable for people with smaller wrists.

Just like it’s big brother, it features luminous hands, Indiglo dial, mineral glass crystal, a date window and 50 M water resistance.

All in all, it’s another classic hit from Timex that’s geared toward smaller wrist sizes.

Orient Tri Star Automatic

• Style: Casual
• Size: 39mm
• Movement: Automatic
• Price: $80

Another affordable, stunning automatic watch from Orient, the Tri Star (or 3 Star) is a criminally underrated wrist watch.

With a 39mm wide and 11mm thick case, the Orient 3 Star is well suited for almost any wrist.

This stainless steel watch is powered by a Japanese automatic movement, which means there’s no battery to replace.

If you don’t like the black dial, it’s available in a variety of different styles and colors.

Timex T80 Watch

• Style: Digital
• Size: 34mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $44

The T80 is kind of like Timex’s version of the legendary Casio F91W. Since the T80 is way less popular than the F91W, it’s a great choice for anyone who likes to go against the grain (but still wants to retro aesthetic).

A small watch at just 34mm, the T80 is available in black, gold- or silver-tone. It has a few bells and whistles, including a lap/split timer, calendar and Timex’s patented Indiglo backlight.

As long as you keep your expectations in check (this bracelet may feel a bit plasticky if you’re expecting heavy stainless steel), the T80 is a clean, minimal digital throwback.

Casio MQ24 Resin Watch

• Style: Casual
• Size: 35mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $12

Available in black, white or cream for a whopping $12 on Amazon, this classic Casio is sort of the analog counterpart to the F91W.

With a 35mm case, it’s a very small watch by today’s standards, but its modest size only adds to its retro charm.

It’s also only 8mm thick, which means it won’t sit very high off your wrist. You’ll probably forget it’s even there, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

Bulova 96B104 Quartz Watch

• Style: Dress / Minimal
• Size: 37mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $95

Manufactured by Citizen-owned Bulova, a company that was founded almost 150 years ago, this understated dress watch is an absolute classic.

The 96B104 dial is pleasingly simple, complicated only by a small date window at 3 o’clock.

This watch is relatively small and ultra thin. Its 37mm wide and 6mm thick case is perfect for wearing under a dress shirt and jacket.

If you’re looking for a minimalist watch, this one from Bulova is a great alternative to Daniel Wellington or MVMT, as it’s produced by a brand with serious watchmaking heritage.

Same aesthetic, better quality and value.

Timex Fairfield 41

• Style: Minimal
• Size: 41mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $46

Available with a variety of straps, this minimalistic Timex watch is probably the best Daniel Wellington alternative you can buy.

It has the same clean lines and simple design as a Daniel Wellington, but its from a company that’s been making watches since 1854, and it’s more affordable than a DW.

Buy the Fairfield 41 and a couple of extra straps, and you’ll have a watch to wear with any outfit, for any occasion.

Timex Fairfield 37

• Style: Minimal
• Size: 37mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $46

A smaller clone of the Fairfield 41, this unisex sized watch is a great choice for men or women with smaller wrists.

Just like its big brother, it has a polished silver tone case, Indiglo dial, minimalist design and 30 M water resistance.

Citizen BI5000 Quartz Dress Watch

• Style: Dress / Minimal
• Size: 39mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $90

Just like the Bulova 96B104 and Timex Fairfield, the Citizen BI5000 is a classic and affordable dress watch that’s perfect for anyone who loves the minimalist aesthetic.

Set in a stainless steel silver tone case, the plain white dial features subdued decoration: stick indices, the Citizen logo at 12 o’clock, a date window at 3 o’clock and the water resistance rating at 6 o’clock.

The 39mm size and Japanese quartz movement make this simple watch a practical choice for anyone who wants something they dress up or down without spending a ton of money.

Casio G-Shock 5600BB

• Style: Digital
• Size: 48.5mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $40

Coming in a 49mm wide, this large digital watch isn’t a great choice for guys with slender wrists, but it is a classic nonetheless.

There’s a reason G-Shock watches are worn by extreme athletes, law enforcement officers and military personnel: they’re practically bulletproof.

With shock resistance, 200 M water resistance and EL backlight, you can take this watch almost anywhere (except a black tie gala, of course!).

Many watch collectors don’t consider any collection to complete without at least one G-Shock, and the 5600BB is one of the most popular and best-selling models.

If you love this watch but need something smaller, which is understandable, check out the Baby G instead.

Invicta 8926OB Pro Diver

• Style: Casual / Dive
• Size: 40mm
• Movement: Automatic
• Price: $79

Many consider the Invicta Pro Diver to be the best affordable dive watch on the market for many reasons, including its low price and Japanese automatic movement.

With a 40mm case, it’s a small to medium-sized dive watch – very wearable for most guys.

The Pro Diver also has an exhibition caseback that lets you see the automatic movement at work, which is a really cool feature for a watch under $100.

With 200 M water resistance, it’s not a watch you would actually want to take scuba diving, but it can definitely withstand showers, swimming and snorkeling.

If you really want a dive watch, love mechanical movements and don’t mind wearing a Rolex Submariner homage, the Pro Diver is a great choice for you.

Casio EF527D Edifice Chronograph

• Style: Casual
• Size: 45.5mm
• Movement: Quartz
• Price: $95

Speaking of homage watches, the Casio Edifice Chronograph has been called the “poor man’s Speedmaster” in reference to the long-adored Omega Speedmaster.

This multi-function stainless steel watch does way more than simply tell you what time it is.

It serves as a stopwatch, tachymeter, calendar, timer and simple calculator (or value converter). Not too shabby for a sub $100 watch!

Keep in mind, this is a large watch at 45.5mm in diameter, so it’s not the best choice for thin wrists.

So Many Affordable Watches…

Remember, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to wear a great watch.

Any watch on the list above is a great choice, whether it’s your first watch or a gift for a close friend.

Also, watch collecting is a marathon, not a sprint. You may buy/sell/trade watches for a long time, so don’t overthink your first purchase.

Whatever you end up buying, wear it in good health!