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A good watch can make all the difference, both in an outfit and in your daily life. If you haven’t got one already, it’s time to start the search for your perfect timepiece. Everyone sets a budget for how much they’re are able or willing to spend, and we’re going to have a look at the best watches under $300 for both men and women, showing a variety of watch styles and models.
These are your best options if you’re looking for a timepiece that costs $300 or less. So have a look, see what you like, and prepare to say yes to your new stylish watch.
View The Best Watches Under $300 Below
1. Michael Kors Slim Runway Quartz Watch
If you could only pick one watch to wear for the rest of your life, wouldn’t you want to go with a classic beauty such as the Michael Kors Slim Runway? The case is thin and lightweight, yet you can feel the high quality in the materials and construction of the timepiece. It’s available in black, blue, gunmetal grey, gold, red and green.
Each color variety possesses an allure and charm that almost has you wanting to buy them all. It’s the perfect price range if you’re looking for watches under $300. The stainless steel bracelet includes a double push-button release. This watch offers excellent comfort for anyone lucky enough to wear it.
Pros:
+ Double push-button release
+ Slim, stylish and timeless design
+ With Japanese-quartz Movement
+ Available in multiple colors
Why We Like It – You can’t discuss the best watches for men without mentioning this stunning men’s watch. It’s one of those timeless, stainless steel watches you’ll be able to wear for the rest of your life.
2. Apple Watch Series 3
For the watch bearer who wants to go with something a little more modern, the Apple Watch Series 3 is a great option. Apple has equipped these high-tech watches with GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo, gyroscope, accelerometer, optical heart sensor, and much more. It’s the perfect sports watch to use for activities such as running, swimming, hiking, etc.
The Apple Watch comes in two different sizes and colors. It has a variety of features that are useful in your everyday life, such as the option to receive Smartphone notifications directly to your watch. Additionally, it can help you learn more about your sleeping habits and activity levels.
Pros:
+ Available in black and grey
+ Swimproof aluminum case
+ Gyroscope and accelerometer
+ Optical heart sensor
Why We Like It – The Apple Watch is the best watch for men and women who are looking for reliable sports watches under $300. It’s also an excellent option if you’re looking for a watch that you can pair with your iPhone.
3. MVMT Minimalist Vintage Watch
With a brushed stainless steel case, these Minimalist watches stand out in a crowd. They come in 10 different colors, so you can choose the style you prefer. It’s 45mm in diameter, which means it’s big enough to make an impact without weighing you down.
The band is made with real genuine leather, adding a feeling of luxury and class. This watch is available at a price lower than $300. Watches such as these are fine if you accidentally spill water on them, but they should not be submerged in water or used for swimming.
Pros:
+ Brushed stainless steel case
+ 10 different color options
+ Hardened mineral crystal glass
+ With a two-year guarantee
Why We Like It – The design is stunning, and you rarely find this many color options for such a prestigious and high-quality watch, especially not at such a great price.
4. Orient ‘Ray II’ Japanese Automatic
Have a look at these eye-catching watches that go just as well with a fancy suit as with your regular outfit; they have a hand-winding mechanism and hacking movement, and a power reserve for approximately 40 hours. It’s a great watch for someone who wants to hold onto old traditions and wear a timepiece that you still have to wind up by hand.
It has a certain charm to it. The price falls well below $300, giving you a timeless, all rights reserved watch for a fraction of what you’d pay for many similar products. You can choose between three different style options; that’s two with black dial and one with blue. The stainless steel bracelet is secured with a durable stainless steel clasp.
Pros:
+ Hacking movement and hand-winding
+ 40-hour power reserve
+ With 13mm case thickness
+ Three colors to choose from
Why We Like It – This is a classic style watch with hand-winding and a 40-hour power reserve. It’s a must for someone who wants a timepiece that resembles what the watch was once all about – class.
5. Timex Easy Reader Watch
Check the time on this beautiful but straightforward timepiece. Get all the benefits of a basic watch that goes with any look. Not everyone needs a complex Chronograph watch. Sometimes one with a 35mm silver-tone case and an 18mm leather strap – such as this great option here – is all you need.
It features large Arabic numerals, a date window located at 3 o’clock, and an Indiglo light-up watch dial. It’s water-resistant down to 100ft. This is one of the best watches; men’s magazines often feature it in ads and photos. And, it’s not hard to understand why, as this is very versatile, classy, and goes with everything.
Pros:
+ Round dial with Arabic numerals
+ Mineral glass crystal
+ Classy look with leather band
+ Indiglo light-up watch dial
Why We Like It – For a watch under $300, this timepiece is the complete package for someone who wants a basic watch to tell time. The mineral glass crystal prevents scratching, and the Indiglo light-up means you can tell the time even when it’s dark.
6. Garmin Instinct, Rugged Outdoor Watch
This rugged outdoor watch is ideal for someone who needs a watch that can keep up with their lifestyle. It is one of the best men’s watches for hiking and other outdoor activities. It’s equipped with GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo to help you navigate in difficult terrain with hills and trees.
The watch is made to be shock-resistant, water-resistant, and resistant to extreme temperatures, for which it has been deemed U.S. Military standard 810G. It also comes with preloaded activity profiles, chronograph, and long battery life. This is a smartwatch that’s compatible both with Android, iOS, and Windows Smartphones.
Pros:
+ Galileo, GLONASS and GPS
+ With built-in trackback feature
+ World-class smartwatch functions
+ Preloaded activity profiles
Why We Like It – The Garmin Instinct has it all! You can receive Smartphone notifications, use the GPS for navigation, monitor your heart rate and other health aspects, and much more!
7. Bertucci 12022 A-2T Original Classics Watch
The screw-down crown and date window are both located at 4 o’clock, which provides you with a better, ergonomic user experience. It’s water-resistant down to a depth of 330ft, has an all rights reserved, and has a patented matte case. It’s one of the best men’s and women’s watches for someone who wants a lightweight watch with a durable nylon wristband.
These watches are ideal for someone who prefers something discrete and high-quality, and who doesn’t care too much about having a Chronograph watch or a smartwatch. The basics allow you to tell time with style and ease. The round white dial with black Arabic numerals, surrounded by a unique sandblasted case, makes this a statement watch without being too much in your face.
Pros:
+ Round white dial with large numerals
+ Patented sandblasted matte case
+ Ergonomically located screw-down crown
+ Comfortable and durable nylon strap
Why We Like It – These are good watches for someone who likes a discreet watch, but still want to make that fashion statement. It’s a watch that will go with any outfit.
8. Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle Smartwatch
Combine modern Smartwatch features with a classic leather strap, and suddenly you have the best of both worlds. You can purchase this watch with a stainless steel or resin strap. You can exchange whatever you choose at a later date if you get tired of the one you have, or feel like you want to change it up.
These watches have built-in Google responses, chronograph features, and a battery that lasts for days. They also come with Google Pay, smartphone compatibility, GPS, and heart rate tracking. They’re swim-proof, so you don’t have to worry if you accidentally hop in the shower with it, or if you want to use its fitness features when swimming.
Pros:
+ Activity and heart rate tracking
+ With Google Pay Compatibility
+ Receive call- and social media notifications
+ Waterproof and safe for swimming
Why We Like It – Watches such as these are packed with features. They can pass on your smartphone notifications, guide you with GPS if you get lost, and they are waterproof and can even be used for swimming.
9. Seiko Divers Automatic
You get the best modern features with this watch, combined with a classic and timeless look. A thick stainless steel bracelet meets a large 44mm case with a deep blue dial, reflecting natural light beautifully.
The fold-over clasp includes a safety closure for your convenience, to make sure it won’t come undone and fall off. The scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal keeps your timepiece looking as good as new, even if you accidentally brush up against something or forget to take it out of your bag.
No scratches, no dents, and the classic look is perfect for business meetings, fancy events, and everyday wear. The 200-meter water resistance makes it suitable also for professional Marine operations and similar.
Pros:
+ Fold-over clasp on the bracelet
+ 200-meter water resistance
+ 21 jewels and automatic movement
+ Luminous indices/hands
Why We Like It – This is perhaps one of the best mens’ watches you can find if you’re looking for a classic timepiece that also won’t fail you by getting wet.
10. Tissot T-Classic Tradition Watch
Tissot is a brand that’s been delivering quality timepieces for decades. This is a watch design for man and woman fashion alike. The stainless steel case is thin but durable, beautifully framing a round white watch dial with large hour markers and a date window.
The leather band adds to the look of this classic watch. It’s a great option in terms of quality, price, and overall look. If you’re looking stunning and timelessly designed watches under $300, you can’t go wrong with this casual automatic movement watch.
Pros:
+ Thin and lightweight
+ Classy brown leather strap
+ Automatic Quartz movement
+ Water-resistant materials
Why We Like It – If you don’t need tons of different features in a watch, then perhaps this classic timepiece could be the stylish option you’ve been looking for.
Watches Under $300 Buyer’s Guide
It’s easy to believe that for a watch to be truly good, then it needs to cost a fortune. This isn’t necessarily true. Many cheap watches don’t live up to the quality standards of an exceptional timepiece, but the good news is that this isn’t a rule, and there are some amazing watches for less than $300 out there waiting for you to find them! This guide should make the decision a little easier, and to help you learn what to look for when trying to find a quality watch for under $300.
Type of Watch Movement
There is more than just one type of watch movement. This is something to look into to make sure you get the watch that is right for you. When watch shopping, you might notice terms such as “mechanical,” “quartz,” and “automatic.” Below is an explanation for what each of these means.
Automatic – An automatic watch is similar to watches from the past, as you need to wind them up. With automatic movement, the winding becomes automatic when you move your wrist around. This movement type is the least accurate out of the three, but it’s such a small difference that you’re unlikely to notice.
Mechanical – Now, these are the watches that you will have to wind up. While they require some extra effort, there’s something very special about a well-made mechanical watch. It’s important for a mechanical watch to be made with precision and expertise, as the construction has a direct impact on its accuracy.
They are not quite as accurate as a quartz movement watch, and they may occasionally be a few seconds off, but many watch enthusiasts would agree that it’s worth it to have such a timeless watch.
Quartz – It’s not a coincidence that most modern watches feature a quartz movement. Most cheap watches are driven by quartz, and the reason for this is because they are generally cheap for the watchmakers to produce. A quartz movement runs on batteries (which you’ll need to change after some time), and it works by a tiny electric jolt passing through quartz to move the watch’s hands.
Watch Glass
The glass that covers the dial is essential as it protects your watch. It isn’t just the glass that matters, but also what type of glass a watch has. Sapphire crystal glass is a premium material known for being resistant to scratching and dents. It’s often found in more expensive timepieces, even though you will occasionally also find it on an affordable watch.
Mineral crystal is a similar material but more budget-friendly. While it isn’t quite as scratch-resistant as sapphire glass, it will still be a lot more resistant than regular glass or a plastic window.
Watch Strap Materials
What strap you choose depends on what you would rather wear on your wrist. You are likely to come across nylon options, which are lightweight and comfortable to wear, classy stainless steel straps, a classic leather strap or perhaps a resin band, commonly found on sports watches. None of these are necessarily better than the others, as it depends on what you’ll be using your watch for, and when you’ll be using it. Choose based on your own preferences.
Does it matter how many feet my watch is water-resistant to?
Yes, as this will indicate whether the watch is made to be submerged in water, whether you can swim with it, or if it’s only okay to accidentally spill something on it, but not to take it with you in the shower. There is a big difference between a 30 feet water resistance and 660 feet, but the numbers do not indicate how deeply they can be submerged.
Can you get a good watch for less than $300?
You can, but it’s important to know what to look for, to avoid spending your money on products that don’t meet your expectations.
Conclusion
Are you ready to find your dream watch? This review article contains a variety of timepieces. They’re all worthy of their place on the list because they tick all the boxes for a quality, low-budget watch.
Whether you’re looking for a Chronograph watch, a smartwatch, or just something simple, there is something for you out there. A restricted budget should never stop you from getting the kind of watch you deserve.
Expert Tip
If you want a watch that runs on its own and doesn’t require more than a battery change every few years or so, go with a quartz movement watch or an automatic movement watch.
Did You Know
Owning a good watch was once considered a luxury, and many brands are still very pricy. But it’s still possible to find high-quality watches today without spending a fortune.
