The 30 Best Cheap Watches for Men Look a Million Bucks

Cheap Watches for Men Under $100

Rugged with a progressive, industrial profile, this stainless steel watch is a perfect choice for urbanites who live by the mantra of sophisticated style. Made to be water resistant at up to 165 feet, it’s suitable for recreational swimming and showering too.

Bring a pop of color to your wrist game with this olive green watch. The nylon strap is adjustable and designed to fit up to an eight-inch wrist circumference. That’s not the only thoughtful feature: The watch also includes 24-hour military time, should you ever need the conversion.

“This is a beautiful watch, very pleasing on the eyes, [and] the thinnest watch I’ve ever owned,” writes one of the 5,700+ customers who gave this sleek piece a glowing 5-star review. “It tucks easily under my sleeve.” Read: It’s a great buy if all you want is something unfussy that won’t make you feel like you’re wearing a bulky accessory.

Thanks to its black resin band and stainless steel case, Casio’s analog watch might not look like a breezy beach accessory, but it has a secret skill: This durable watch is water-resistant up to 660 feet deep, which makes it more waterproof than most watches.

This elegant piece looks like it was dug up at some fancy antique market—when in reality, it’s under $35 and eligible for Prime shipping. And it comes with chronograph functionality, meaning you can use it as an accurate stopwatch as well as a regular dressy timepiece.

“If you’re looking for a thin and lightweight watch for very little money, I don’t think this one can be beat,” writes one reviewer, who notes they’ve had the watch for two months without any signs of it slowing down. The rectangular face is a little unusual, but if you like slick lines and a contemporary feel, it could well be your new go-to accessory.

Cheap Watches Under $200

Go battery-free with an automatic diver watch. Invicta’s customer-favorite version is made with luminous markers, water resistance up to 200 meters, and a stainless steel outlook that’ll dress up any look (yes, even your faded wash tee).

The watch equivalent of a Hans Wegner chair, this minimalist-meets-mid-century design is another great Scandinavian style option from Skagen. It comes with a 40mm stainless steel case, a three-hand analog display, and a chic leather band. The tiny blue and orange accents make it stand out just enough.

With gold accents matching the rich tan leather band, Vincero’s Chrono S is the perfect everyday piece. Not only will it go with just about everything in your wardrobe, but it can definitely stand up to some wear and tear. Oh, and it’s a chronograph in case you’ve not noticed, delivering as much form as function.

Between the antique brass face and the textured black leather strap, this rectangular wristwatch is ideal for vintage lovers. Peugeot is offering free lifetime battery replacement with each purchase, so you’ll never have to worry about upkeep.

You can’t go wrong with a Casio G-Shock. And this one is tough as nails, rugged like a workhorse, and has some hidden perks: It’s a semi-diver with a 100-meter water resistance, powered by sunlight, and can time-keep automatically via calibration radio signals. That’s to say nothing of how hunky it looks.

“Ditch the apple watch and swap in a nice leather banded watch to round out your look,” says personal stylist Grace Thomas regarding the best watches for business casual attire. “Brands like Nordgreen won’t break the bank and are offered in beautiful leather options.” We especially love the Native because it’s fully customizable: on top of the dressy, minimalist style, you get to personalize the strap, size, dial, and color.

Cheap Watches Under $300

Built like a luxe off-road SUV, Vaer’s entry-level field watch really is the exemplar of style and substance. And because it’s a field watch, it’s designed to last you through all kinds of outdoor adventures.

Can’t afford that ridiculously expensive but even more ridiculously covetable Cartier tank watch, worn by the likes of Princess Diana and Muhammad Ali? Japanese watchmaker, Seiko, has a much more pared-down version that looks just as elegant, as a not-too-shabby alternative.

It feels true to the ’70s because, well, the model first hit the scene in that era and created a stir for quartz technology. Decades later, looking at the once smash-hit diver’s reissue, even the most critical watch aficionado can still appreciate its timeless design: A “Pepsi” red-and-blue bezel on a distinctive stainless steel body, updated with modern quartz movement.

Wear it with your favorite structured suit or with a breezy button-down for a casual dinner; either way, Kenneth Cole’s Skeleton watch is a versatile find you’ll get tons of mileage out of. It’s practically a piece of art, and its openwork details and transparent design will actually get you looking at the clock ticking away, thoughtfully.

This solar watch moonlights as your everyday dress watch. Made in stainless steel, it’s tough and rugged and will last as long as its power does: one hour under direct sunlight can fuel the watch for a month! Plus, it’s water-resistant at up to 100 meters, while oozing out class and elegance.