[toc]
Having a watch for everyday purposes can be super handy for a lot of reasons. You’ve always got the time available when you need it, you have alarms to remind you of things, you know the date, and you look great.
Whether you’re looking for a new watch to up your style points or you want one that will let you get up in the morning, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. If you’re searching for a watch with hands or a digital watch, then we’ve got you covered. Here’s our list of the best everyday watches in 2021.
View The Best Everyday Watches Below
1. Michael Kors Slim Runway Quartz Watch
The Lim Runway watch by Michael Kors has a classic look to it that’s timeless and fashionable. It’s one watch that works with a suit or your workout attire, as well. It’s slick, slim, and lightweight, while also being reasonably durable.
It’s made from stainless steel and offers a three-link bracelet band. The case width is 44mm, and the band measures 22mm. It’s also only 8mm thick, making it slimmer than the vast majority of watches out there. The modern monochromatic sundial face features a three-way hand movement, so you can time-tell everywhere you go.
It can handle a little bit of water, as well. With 50 meters of water resistance, you can count on it for great time-keeping during light rain or if you happen to take a plunge unexpectedly. However, we don’t recommend you take this watch swimming or driving with you.
Pros:
+ Slim and lightweight
+ 50m water resistance
+ Classic minimalist look
+ Three-way hands
+ Stainless steel case
Cons:
– Not completely waterproof
Why We Like It – The Michael Kors Slim Runway watch is an excellent everyday watch for basically any activity. It looks cool, with a slick and classic design, and it’s durable enough to handle most bumps and bruises throughout the day. It’s also slim and comfortable, meaning it won’t get in the way at all.
2. Casio F108WH Illuminator Collection Digital Watch
If you’re looking for the classic digital watch from the turn of the digital age, then this Casio model may be the best choice for you. It’s delightfully simple and straightforward. It comes with button guards, so you don’t accidentally switch your settings in everyday life, and is durable and lightweight.
For a no-nonsense style watch for your everyday activities, there is no better digital watch. If you’re not interested in a lot of extra features that modern smartwatches offer, then the Illuminator is awesome. It gives you the time in 12 hour, or you can switch it to 24 hour. It also has a daily alarm, an hourly time signal, and an LED light to keep your life illuminated.
The 42mm casing is relatively small, but still large enough that you’ll be able to read it easily. The resin wrist band is comfortable, as well, while also being hefty and durable. With 30 meters of water resistance, it’s resistant to splashes, but we wouldn’t take it swimming for an extended period and expect it to hold up. Altogether, it’s a fairly good watch, for a reasonable price, from a reputable brand.
Pros:
+ Simple
+ Decent price
+ Digital display
+ Daily alarm
+ Water-resistant
Cons:
– Not very many features
– Old look
Why We Like It – If your goal is simplicity, then the Casio Illuminator is excellent. With no extra bells and whistles to slow you down, you’ll have this utility watch at your side every day. It’s long-lasting, comfortable, and it will give you excellent time-keeping without any hassle.
3. Fossil Grant Stainless Steel Quartz Watch
Fossil is a well-renowned brand around the world for its creativity in design. Their watches are always beautiful and functional, while also offering fairly reasonable prices. It has an analog display with three hand movements and a few other neat features that make this watch even better for everyday life.
The 44mm stainless steel case holds the master time, and it also holds three separate eyes for multiple functions, including the day of the week, date of the month, and the time of day in 24h. However, it can also be used as a stopwatch in the correct setting.
The leather strap is interchangeable with any other 22mm strap so that you can pick and choose your favorite colors. Or, just switch it up. The durability of this watch is mentionable, given that it’s made of strong and reliable materials. It can handle some splashing and light submerging, but wouldn’t hold up long in deep-sea under-water exploration. This is simply a beautiful watch with multiple functions that’s great for everyday use.
Pros:
+ Beautiful look
+ Multifunction
+ Three additional display eyes
+ Stainless steel case
+ Leather strap
Cons:
– No complete water resistance
Why We Like It – The design is impeccable, and the functionality is convenient. It’s an analog watch that can function as a stopwatch, which is a really cool feature. However, it’s also a standout because of the creativity of design. This is as well as the reasonable price for a watch with this level of quality.
4. Timex Weekender 38mm Watch
Timex is another reputable brand which is known for its reliability and simplicity. The Weekender watch is no exception. It has a lightweight, slim, and interchangeable design with a clear and easy-to-read display. You can read the 12-hour time, or brush up on your military lingo and use the 24-hour markings.
The case is 38mm thick and is made of brass and LLB, while the strap is made from nylon and offers super-easy adjustments. With a mineral lens cover, it’s tough and able to handle everyday knocks. It’s relatively water-resistant against splashing and light submerging.
The classic look will work well with everyday fashion or even a suit. It’s not a super flashy watch, and it’s also reasonably priced. There’s not much in terms of extra functionality with this watch, so if you want another type of classic, lightweight, clear display watch, then this may be the right one for you.
Pros:
+ Clear display
+ 12 and 24h
+ Nylon strap
+ Three hands
Cons:
– Not a lot of extra features
Why We Like It – This is one watch that’s simple and easy to read, while also being interchangeable. The lightweight design makes it comfortable, and it works well with everyday wear.
5. Anne Klein Bracelet Watch
This is the first watch on our list that’s designed specifically for women. It’s a little bit slimmer and lightweight. It features a 32mm case with a champagne dial and genuine diamond at 12 o’clock. There are also gold-tone indexes at the 3, 6, and 9 markers.
The bracelet is made of adjustable three-link materials. It offers a very slick and simple design as well. It works with any type of wear and will fit with a wide variety of fashion choices. It has a reasonable price, while also looking just slightly bougie. It doesn’t offer any water resistance, so you’ll need to try to keep it dry – definitely don’t go for an extended diving session.
It’s reasonably durable and should hold up nicely over a long period. It is super easy to adjust yourself if you’ve got the right tools, or you can just take it to a local jeweler to get it done for you. It comes with a variety of colors and styles to suit your needs, but overall is a beautiful and simple design for everyday use.
Pros:
+ Good price
+ Classic and simple look
+ Smaller case
+ Champagne display
+ Three hands
Cons:
– Not a lot of features
– No water resistance
Why We Like It – With simplicity at the forefront of this watch, it will work in any situation for women. It’s lightweight, comfortable, and relatively durable. It’s also decently affordable and looks great for a variety of attire types.
6. Timex Men’s Expedition Classic Digital Chrono Alarm Timer Full-Size Watch
The Expedition digital watch by Timex has a casual design that’s meant for men of all sizes and shapes. It comes in a variety of sizes, so no matter what you’re working with, you should be able to find a size that’s perfect for you. It’s simple and effective functionally, with not a lot of extra features, but it makes up for it with immense reliability, durability, and ease-of-use.
Its basic functions include time, date, stopwatch, and daily alarms. With an Indiglo backlight, it’s super easy to read at night, as well as the day. It also has a mounted compass on the top, making it suitable for backcountry expeditions.
The impressive 10-year battery life will keep you going for a long while. It has a resin band that is adjustable and interchangeable. Compared to many of the other watches on our list, it has an impressive level of water-resistance.
It is a watch that you can take swimming with you or a little deeper on a snorkeling expedition, and it won’t bug out on you. However, it’s not a diving watch, so should not be submerged super deep for an extended period.
Pros:
+ 100-meter water resistance
+ 10-year battery life
+ Basic, essential functionality
+ Indiglo Backlight
+ Mounted compass
+ Watch design for man
Cons:
-Not a lot of extra features
Why We Like It – The Expedition is the type of everyday watch that you will want more than one of. It’s an extremely reliable and durable model. While lacking modern design, it makes up for it in functionality and reliability. It has a simple look to it; it’s tough, and easy to read, making it one of the best watches today.
7. BUREI Fashion Minimalist Wrist Watch
The BUREI wristwatch is one of the best classically designed watches for everyday use. It’s not as much of a functional sport-style watch, but as far as everyday fashion and activities, it fits the bill perfectly. BUREI is not one of the most recognizable watch brands, which translates into a fantastic price for this watch. However, the quality of it is still quite impressive.
It’s fairly slim, making it lightweight and comfortable on the wrist. On hotter days, it tends to stay a little bit cooler instead of heating up and causing excessive sweat. It has a classic, simple design with clear cut lines and features that make it easy to ready. However, in darker light, it can be a little harder to read.
A stainless steel mesh band is surprisingly sturdy and comfortable, and of course, it’s adjustable to your wrist size. It’s not a dive watch by any stretch, but it should be able to handle a little bit of splashing and sweating here and there. If you want one of the best everyday watches you can get for an extremely low price, this may be the perfect one for you.
Pros:
+ Classic timeless design
+ Date marker
+ Slim back
+ Modern style
+ Suitable for everyday wear
Cons:
– Slightly difficult to see in dimmer light or the sun
Why We Like It – The classic style and sleek design of the BUREI watch are excellent. It’s a simple and suitable, reasonably priced watch for everyday wear that will fit with basically any style. It’s comfortable and fairly durable for the price you’ll pay.
8. Stuhrling Original Dress & Casual Watch
Stuhrling has created a great everyday watch that’s also suitable for a wide variety of syles except for activewear. If you want a watch that is good for dressing up, or down, then this might be a good one to choose. It’s super easy to read and lightweight, yet pretty durable for a well-priced watch. It also has a date marker on the 3 o’clock, so you’ll always be able to tell someone the date.
The leather strap is comfortable, and the thin case also carries a lightweight fashion on the arm for added comfort. The three-hand display allows you to time-tell down to the second, and the markers are highly detailed and easy to read. It doesn’t have a ton of additional features for you to enjoy, but it does have a beautiful, modern look.
As far as an affordable wristwatch goes, this one is great. It works in everyday situations and always looks good. There are not a lot of negative things you can say about this watch. It’s simply reliable and beautiful.
Pros:
+ Easy-to-read
+ Date marker
+ New/modern style for everyday wear
+ Reputable brand
+ Reasonable price
Cons:
– Not the most durable watch on the market
Why We Like It – If you want a simple, modern watch at a good price, then this might be the perfect one for you. It works in everyday situations and is easy to read and navigate. It’s also comfortable enough to wear all day without sweating too much from the back of the casing.
9. Casio Classic Quartz Watch
Casio never disappoints in being reliable and predictable in functionality and style. The Classic Quartz Watch is a symbol of the timelessness of the brand itself. First, it’s effortless and practical for everyday use and comes with the handy little features that you want from a reliable wristwatch.
It’s super durable and comfortable, with a resin band and a stainless steel casing. It’s fairly lightweight and small and doesn’t take up a ton of space or add too much weight to the wrist. It doesn’t have added hands, so it’s extremely easy to understand. It holds the date and time and also features a stopwatch, as well as daily alarms. The LED backlight will allow you to set your alarm in dimmer light.
It’s reasonably priced for the type of watch you’re getting. It’s relatively water-resistant, and durable and should be able to handle anything that could happen every day.
Pros:
+ Classic design
+ Handy features
+ Lightweight and comfortable
+ Easy-to-read
+ Unique look
Cons:
– Not the most attractive watch
Why We Like It – It is a simple and reliable version of a watch that will help you keep track of the time and the date every day. It has a unique look, which might make it stand out a little bit, but it’s one of the best everyday watches for the price.
10. FIZILI Ultra Thin Waterproof Wrist Watch
The last watch on our best everyday watch list is an analog watch with two hands and an extremely minimalist design. Although FIZILI is not a super recognizable brand, the look of this watch is unquestionable. It will always keep you looking good with any type of daily style.
It comes in a variety of colors, including matt black, and it also has a blue dial. The blue dial option is pretty cool and also a little easier to read. It’s lightweight and comfortable and has a stainless steel mesh band along with a fairly thin stainless steel casing.
The look of this watch is standout, and it’s the type of watch that a model would wear. It only comes with basic features so there is no stopwatch or any alarms, but if you want one of the best everyday watches for a great price, this is an excellent option.
Pros:
+ Classic look
+ Blue dial
+ Two hands
+ Matte finish
+ Comfortable and lightweight
Cons:
– Comes with no extra features
Why We Like It – This is one of the best everyday watches because of its simplicity and sleekness. It’s minimalist, comfortable, and leaves nothing to the imagination. It works with many different style types and will stand out from the crowd.
Everyday Watches Box Buyer’s Guide
What to look for in the Best Everyday Watch
Why Buy a Watch when you have a Phone?
True, everyone these days has a cell phone that time-keepsmay as well as every other piece of information you could ever want. With the most useful and innovative piece of technology in everybody’s pockets, why even consider a wristwatch?
Having a new watch may not be for everyone; however, here are some of the reasons why having a good looking watch on your wrist might be an advantage. A wristwatch is classy, discreet, convenient, and has a clear purpose.
A nice watch is a great way to show off your style. Watches are an excellent accessory that can ramp up your fashion factor immediately and can be a bit of a conversation starter.
You don’t always want to be pulling your phone out to look at the time. It could be buried in your clothes or your bag, and you don’t have time to dig for it. Having a watch on your wrist gives you the time at all times, so you don’t have to go digging.
A watch has one purpose. It tells you the time. Have you ever been having a conversation with someone, but they continuously check their phone screen? It feels a little bit disrespectful at times, right? Well, if they, or if you are just checking, then there’s no disrespect. You’re simply making sure you’re never late.
Analog or Digital?
When deciding which watch is best for you, you need to figure out if you would prefer an analog watch or a digital one. Analog watches have a minute, hour, and sometimes second hands on a circular dial. They are more old school and feature a pretty classic look. Some of the best everyday watches are analog. However, some are also digital.
Digital watches generally have no hands and instead use numbers. They tend to be more useful for people who want to have a daily alarm, stopwatch, and sometimes the date displayed. Unless you’re stepping up to a smartwatch, then the features on an everyday watch will be pretty simple. It will essentially come down to preference in this category.
Functionality
What do you want your watch for? Are you looking for a timepiece that can simply tell you the time? Are you looking for a watch that is a beautiful accessory to your fashion sense? Do you want a watch that will be able to keep track of your heart rate, GPS location, and set alarms for you? Do you want a dive watch?
You’ll need to figure out the purpose of you having a watch. Some watches are made for more than others, and a person who often visits the city won’t necessarily need navigational capabilities in their watch. Pay attention to the functions of the watch you’re looking for and make sure they’re going to work for the purposes you need.
Style
For those who are looking for a new watch simply for style purposes, it will likely be the most important quality within the watch. When you’re shopping for watches by brand, you usually have an idea of what you’re looking for. However, there are plenty of situations where you’re looking for a new watch that doesn’t necessarily fit into a specific brand.
Your new watch can accentuate your style in a way that few things can. Your choice in a watch says a lot about the things you value, and the style you’re trying to put forth. Not everybody wants a Rolex, and not everyone wants a Casio digital watch. Luckily, there are Billions of watches manufactured every year, so there are plenty of options to choose from.
Comfort
Comfort is a massive factor that can sometimes be put by the wayside to watch wearers. Comfort will be affected by many factors. The type of band on the wrist, the material on the back, how easily adjustable it is so you’re not cutting off circulation to your hands, etc.
Generally, stainless steel fabric, leather, and resin straps are the most widely used and most comfortable types of bands you can have for your wristwatch. Whichever one you get, you generally don’t have to worry about it.
However, leather straps are extra comfortable because they are smooth and won’t pinch your arm hair. Leather also looks a little more classy, depending on the style of face you’re working with. However, ensure that you’re keeping the type of materials used in mind when you’re buying a watch.
Brand
The type of brand of your watch might not be the most important thing in terms of the actual functionality and prestige. Or will it? For instance, Casio is a reputable brand name. The brands’ watches are reliable, durable, long-lasting, and tend to function precisely what people need them for. They also offer a decent warranty and will usually be able to take care of problems easier than a less established brand.
There are plenty of new watches which you won’t get a solid warranty with. As long as you keep that in mind when buying them, it’s fine. They might not be able to fix problems for you as quickly or as easily, but their watches are usually made the right way. You just need to make sure you’re going to get what you need from your new watch, and that it’s made with care.
Conclusion
No matter what type of watch you’re looking for, you should now have all the info you need to make the most informed decision. Whether you’re a style seeker, or you need one that will help you keep your life together, any of these choices will do the trick for you. Keep the factors from our buyer’s guide in mind, and you’ll find buying your new watch effortless.
Expert Tip
Pay close attention to the level of water resistance you get with your watch. Many of them can handle a little bit of splashing here and there, but if you need one that will give you a lot more coverage, ensure that it’s capable of handling the depth.
Did you know?
Casio was one of the first digital watch companies ever. Founded in 1946, it’s a brand that was one of the first to create digital watches as well as calculators and mobile phones. Their design has stayed relatively the same over the decades as well.
