10 Best men’s watches under 100$

A lot of men like to wear watches, be it because you love horology, or as a status symbol or a fashion piece.

Personally, I love wearing watches but it can become very expensive, very fast. There are watches ranging from 10$ all up to 500.000$ dollars.

That being said you don’t need to break the bank if you want to buy a nice looking watch.

Here are 10 watches under 100$ which are in my opinion great value for the price.

1. Casio W – 217H

This is the classic Casio F – 91W but better.

The Casio F – 91W is an iconic watch in its own right and still a great pick, but I did have its own problems. The two biggest ones for me were the terrible backlight and the small case size 35mm.

The Casio W – 217H comes with the bigger case diameter of 41.2mm and a nice usable orange backlight. A feature worth mentioning is the greater water resistance of 5 ATM so you don’t have to worry about the watch every time you wash your hands.

For about 20$ this is a must buy casual watch.

2. Casio F – 168WA – 1

The metallic version of the iconic Casio F – 91W.

The F – 168WA is very comfortable and light, with a surprisingly easy to adjust the strap.

Again unlike the F – 91W the F 168WA has a very clear blue backlight which I can actually use in the dark.

Another interesting feature worth mentioning is the alarm which is loud enough that you can use it to wake up in the morning.

If you prefer the metallic aesthetic over the black resin one that this is the watch for you. The only downside to this watch is the small case diameter of 32mm.

3. Skagen Ancher SKW 6082

The Skagen brand comes from Denmark and offers some pretty interesting looking watches.

The Skagen Ancher is a good pick for under 100$ if you are looking for a simple and timeless design.

The version with the white face and brown leather band can be easily combined with a casual or a formal outfit.

4. Seiko SNK 805 and 807

The SNK 805 and 807 are a part of Seiko’s military collection and automatic watches to boot, which means that like most Seiko’s automatic watches they are powered by the movement of the wearer’s arm.

I just had to mention both the SNK 805 and 807 because they are both nice budget pick for an automatic watch.

The 805 comes with a blue nato strap for a nice casual look which you can fit well into your business casual style while the 807 comes with the green strap which gives of a nice military vibe.

5. Orient Bambino V3

Out of all the mentioned watches, I am a bit biased about this one. In my opinion, this is the best men’s watch for under 100$.

For this price, you are getting a real classic of watchmaking, with an automatic movement. Like the Seiko SNK 805 and 807, the Bambino is powered by the movement of your hand.

The Bambino sports an all-metal “in house” movement, a detail which watches enthusiasts really pay a lot of attention to simply because it is more challenging and expensive to make your own movement than just to buy from a manufacturer.

This being said the Orient movement is very reliable and precise even if it is a budget watch.

The Bambino has a timeless and classy design.

If you want a nice dressy watch which will get compliments then this is the watch for you.

6. Vostok Amphibia #710059 – “Scuba Dude”

This is a brand with a fascinating history. The Soviet Union commissioned the Russian watchmakers to make a diver watch to rival the Swiss-made ones. Long story short, the watchmakers worked with what they had and the Vostok Amphibia was born, a first of many.

The Vostok Amphibia is like the Lada, big and robust, but surprisingly not too clunky and is comfortable to wear. It sports an acrylic dial window which is 3mm thick and tough with a Swiss automatic movement which is a nice addition for a men’s budget watch.

The Amphibia comes in a variety of band options, personally I love the beige strap for a casual look and the steel strap for the classic diver watch look.

For under 100$ you are getting an awesome men’s diver watch from a brand with a unique history.

7. Timex Weekender Chronograph

The Timex Weekender is a perfect example of a functional fashion watch. It is inexpensive, functional and versatile.

The Weekender Chronograph is pretty much like the standard Timex Weekender just with the stopwatch added on.

The best thing about this Chronograph is that it comes in many varieties and if you don’t like the strap the design of the watch allows you to easily change it. You can dress it up with a nice leather strap or make your Chronograph more casual with a nice blue Nato strap.

8. Guanqin GWQ16034

Yes, it is a Chinese watch and a pretty interesting one.

It has a minimalistic, clean look, which is perfect for formal settings.

With a bit of research, I found out that the GWQ 16034 sports a sapphire glass dial window and a Seiko NH36A Seiko movement, which is an inexpensive and reliable movement.

It comes with a genuine leather strap which could be better but at the price range, it is alright.

It can be found on Amazon for 70$ or so, and for that price, you are getting good value watch with an automatic movement which looks like it costs more.

9. Citizen Eco-Drive BM 8180 – 03E

This is an Eco-Drive watch which is a new line of watches made by Citizen which uses light as a power source which is neat.

As for the watch itself, it is a bit smaller and lightweight so much so that you will feel like you are not even wearing it.

With its olive green strap, it has a nice casual look for everyday wear and making some good outfit combinations.

10. Braun watch BN0032WHBKG

When you think of Braun you probably think about shaving machines, trimmers, and hair dryers, but they do make watches which are worth a mention.

The Braun watch is a German-made watch with has a timeless, minimalist aestetic.

It comes with a white or black dial face, and a leather or metallic band, which does give you some options.

For a dressier look go with the white dial and leather strap.

Honorable mentions

Casio MQ24 – 7B2

How could I not mention this watch? It’s is worn by Pope Francis and it deserves a mention for that alone.

This is probably the most inexpensive watch you can buy with it costing just 10$. A bit smaller watch but a nice pick for an everyday watch.

Seiko SUP 880

This watch is a curiosity for me with it’s Cartier square watch look.

It has a quartz movement which is solar powered with analog display. This watch is in my honorable mentions because I have tried it and can’t make it work with my outfit.

If you are looking for a dressy watch and a square aesthetic than try this watch it might work for you.