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A watch can be that final touch an outfit needs, or simply a device to help you keep track of time throughout the day. There are so many different watches to choose from; automatic movement watches, a fancy watch with a stainless steel case, a watch with a leather strap, a digital watch or a mechanical movement watch – so many options, but what happens when you are on a budget and when you need something cheap!
Most cheap watches might not meet your standards in terms of quality, durability, and functions, but the good news is that there are some great affordable watches out there, and this article will help you find them.
Below are some of the cheapest watches you can get without having to compromise when it comes to quality, and one might be the watch of your dreams!
View The Best Cheap Watches Below
1. Timex Unisex Weekender 38mm Watch
The Timex Weekender is one of the best cheap watches, and this is because it looks anything but cheap! The round stainless steel case measures 38mm – a great size both for a slim wrist and for a wrist that is a little wider; it is an automatic watch and you can choose to get it with a leather strap, a nylon strap and much more, with various style options being available.
The brand offers quality and variation at an affordable price, and the Timex Weekender is one of their bestsellers! Simplicity meets functionality and an affordable price, and the automatic movement of the Timex Weekender makes sure you will be getting a timepiece you can rely on, also when using it daily, and these watches are also water resistant down to 30 meters.
Pros:
+ 38-millimeter stainless steel case
+ Different 20mm strap options
+ Indiglo light-up watch dial
+ Large Arabic numerals
Why We Like It – Durability, water resistance, automatic movement and a variety of watch straps to choose from makes these Timex Weekender womens and mens watches an excellent choice when you are looking for a cheap timepiece.
2. Nine West Women’s Strap Watch
Classy Roman numerals draws your eyes straight to the large white watch dial surrounded by a rose gold or gold case. It shows you the time with style, and the watch is easy to put on and take off thanks to a comfortable strap with convenient buckle closure. It is not water resistant, but you get that luxurious feel you wouldn’t expect to find in a cheap budget watch, from a brand that is known for its quality timepieces.
A good watch needs to look great, be durable and show time accurately, and these Nine West watches for women with Japanese Quartz movement do not disappoint! The dial is covered with a durable mineral window, which is unlikely to scratch even after years of uninterrupted use. When you get a watch like this – you will not want to take it off!
Pros:
+ Large easy-to-read analog display
+ Stationary bezel function
+ Tang buckle and metal clasp
+ Mineral window and Japanese Quartz movement
Why We Like It – Have a look at these stylish timepieces from one of the classiest brands for watches, and enjoy luxury without having to pay a high price.
3. Invicta Men’s Pro Diver Quartz Watch
The contrasts of the stainless steel and the clear blue dial makes these automatic movement watches stand out! It has flame fusion crystal covering the 37,9mm dial – preventing it from scratching – and quartz movement for superb accuracy and 200-meter water resistance. The look of a watch like this us unique in many ways, with a gorgeous design with push crown and stainless steel case and bracelet.
You would never guess these watches to be budget options just by the look of them, and you get plenty for your money when you invest in an Invicta man watch. Also, there is a date display featured on the watch dial, and the luminous hands help make sure you can use your timepiece effortlessly als when it is dark.
Pros:
+ Water resistant to 200 meters
+ Automatic watch movement
+ Simple and classic style design
+ With featured date window
Why We Like It – The price is surprisinly low for these stainless steel men watches, and you get impressive features like a uniquely designed watch dial and date window, that will have people believe you’ve paid good money for it.
4. Casio Men’s ‘G-Shock’ Quartz Resin Sport Watch
This digital watch has a black durable resin band that will sit comfortably around your wrist throughout the day, and it also has a black watch face that gives it a sleek and sporty look. The style works great for someone who is active and enjoys sports, especially since it has useful features like a stop watch, multiple alarms, time, date and countdown timer, and it is both shock- and water resistant.
Casio is a brand that is very well known in the watch-making business, and a Casio watch is usually almost a guarantee for quality and durability, despite being surprisingly affordable! It is an excellent watch for outdoor activities, as you won’t have to worry about accidentally getting it wet or bumping into something. When looking for quality watches brands matter, and Casio is always a reliable choice.
Pros:
+ Casio shock resistance
+ Afterglow EL backlight
+ 48.5mm resin case
+ Multiple alarm options
Why We Like It – With one of these Casio watches, you won’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain when out for your adventures, and the large watch face makes it the ultimate budget digital watch for athletes.
5. Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size Watch
For those who want a Timex with a generously large digital display – the Timex Ironman might be just what you’ve been looking for! The 18mm band is made with resin, and it connects to a durable 45mm resin case that is both water resistant, shock resistant and perfect for outdoor adventures!
This watch also makes a great vintage fashion statement, and it is a timepiece style that has become increasingly popular on runways all around the world. It isn’t just versatile when it comes to its looks, but it is also packed with Timex features like 30-lap memory, 100-hour chronograph, two time zones, Indiglo Light-Up watch dial, 24-hour military time and an acrylic lense covering the digital display, making the Timex Ironman a budget watch you can use for any situation.
Pros:
+ 24-hour military time
+ 100-hour chronograph
+ Thick and durable resin strap
+ Digital display and acrylic lense
Why We Like It – A Timex watch is a Timex watch, which means you get numerous useful sports features that you would often pay the double for when choosing a different quality brand.
6. Casio Men’s Solar Sport Combination Watch
Get it in gray and orange, black or green, depending on what color you like the most, and start enjoying the many benefits of this water resistant, all rights reserved, automatic movement watch!
It is solar powered, which saves you the hassle of changing the battery or charging it up constantly (the solar charge allows you to use your watch uninterruptedly for 2-23 months), and on the side of the case you will find convenient button controls which are perfect for when you are using for example the stop watch function.
The watch is not at all as expensive as you might think when you look at its sporty yet classy design, and it is lightweight and comfortable to wear thanks to the sporty resin strap construction. It goes with any style, and it is considered a very fashionable watch.
Pros:
+ Solar power recharge
+ Bright LED backlight
+ 100-meter water resistance
+ Enhanced digital watch face
Why We Like It – If you are looking for the best sports watch you can get for an affordable price, this digital automatic watch from Casio ticks all the boxes! Extra plus for it being solar powered.
7. Casio F91W-1 Classic Resin Strap Digital Sport Watch
With all rights reserved, this classic style sports watch impresses with its retro design, water resistance and with some of the best basic sports features like stop watch and daily alarms. It looks great, and the case and band is made with durable and resin with premium water resistance, so that you don’t have to worry if you accidentally get your watch wet, the way you might with some low-quality stainless steel watches.
Also, a watch like this sits comfortably on wrists all sizes – both slim wrists and wider wrists – and it is easy to keep clean thanks to the material. Just wipe it off, and your watch will be as good as new. The water resistance does not make this watch suitable for swimming, but you are more than fine if you get stuck in the rain or if you would happen to splash liquid onto your new watch, maing it one of the best cheaper watches for someone who is a little clumsy.
Pros:
+ 1/100 Second Stopwatch
+ Multiple daily alarms
+ Retro vintage style
+ Rectangular resin case
Why We Like It – This model has something irresistibly vintage about it, and it takes sporty minimalism to a whole new dimension! It is one of the best casual sports watches, and has well-developed features like multiple alarms.
8. Anne Klein Women’s Genuine Diamond Dial Bracelet Watch
This timeless stainless steel watch comes in many varieties, and you find colors like gold, silver, emerald green and much more, for it to easily match your personality and personal style. A sense of luxury comes with the diamond accent and the jewelry clasp, and the steel bracelet also has adjustable end links.
This is a watch with a round flat case and Japanese-Quartz movement, and the case seems to effortlessly capsul in a round glimmering watch dial. If water resistance is something that matters to you, then perhaps this timepiece isn’t quite right, but if you are looking for a stunning watch that will have people’s chins drop, and that won’t cost you more than you can afford, there is no doubt that the Anne Klein Diamond bracelet watch is the product for you.
Pros:
+ Jewelry clasp and diamond accent
+ Glimmering hourly hands
+ A luxurious and timeless design
+ Large luminous hourly hands
Why We Like It – Water resistance may not be the strong-suit of this watch, but it is one of the most luxurious looking timepieces you can find for such an affordable price.
Cheap Watches Buyer’s Guide
It is one thing t look for the bst watch out there if you have the whole world of watches at your feet, but the truth is that not everyone can afford the most luxurious watch brands or buy the a watch that costs hundreds (or even thousands of dollars).
Being on a budget is nothing to be ashamed of, and it definitely does not mean that you can’t find a watch that will live up to your expectations both in terms of look and design, but also in quality and durability, so that you can keep your new timepiece for years. The key is to learn how to distinguish a quality watch from a lower quality watch, because believe it or not – it is not all about the price.
It is also a common misconception that a cheaper watch will never have any features like chronograph, stop watch and such, but this is incorrect as you can see when having a look at the best products featured here in this article. The following is a quick guide to help you learn what to look for in a budget watch, and what to avoid in order to save both time and money.
How to Pick a Low-Price Watch
Sure, when trying to save money when buying a watch, you could go pick out the first one you find, but this is likely to lead to you coming home with a low-quality watch that may not last more than a few months.
Most watches are quit accurate when showing time, and it isn’t generally this that is the issue with some budget watches, as the biggest problem tends to be the lack of quality and durability, which inevitably leads to your watch breaking or malfunctioning long before you’ve grown tired of it. This shouldn’t happen, so the first thing to aim for is to get a watch from a brand known for making good watches.
Even expensive high-quality brands will often have a few mre affordable models, usually with less features or a less complex construction or style, and these could be a way for you to get a quality watch from a respectable brand without paying a fortune.
There are also brands specializing themselves in making cheaper quality watches, so research, before you make your purchase, is essential. Learn to look beyond just the style when trying to find the best watch on the market that still falls within your budget, and start seeing past just the stainless steel bracelet, leather strap or colorful case watch.
The watch industry is very reputable and there lies a lot of pride in the art of watch-making, and this is why it is a good idea to stick to well-known brands also when looking for something cheaper.
Movement
The movement of a watch is something you might not have thought about, but it matters when trying to find an affordable timepiece. The reason for this is that there might be a price-difference depending on what type of movment a watch has, and most cheaper watches will have automatic movement or possibly Quartz movement, rather than mechanical movement.
This is what determines how a watch runs, and an interesting fact is that quartz and automatic movement watches are actually more accurate than a mechanical movement watch (the type you need to wind up manually), despite these being more expensive and considered more desireable by some watch experts and collectors. If you are looking for a cheaper option, however, go with an automatic-movement watch or one with for example Japanese Quartz.
Watch Style
The style of the watch does not usually have much to do with how much it will cost you, yet it matters more than you think. It is in your best interest to pick a watch that you can see yourself wearing for a long time to come, as a watch you will get tired of quickly is likely to result in you having to purchase a new one – hence, spend more money.
There are so many relevant features like water resistance, chronograph, routating bezel and more you could consider, but when it comes down to it – you will be looking at your watch every day, and you need a timepiece you enjoy visually too. Are you a stainless steel kind of person?
Go for it! Or is a leather strap more up your alley? Go with that! The style will determine how often you will wear it and how long you will continue to love it just as much as you did when you bought it, which saves you money in the long-run.
Additional Features
Something worth considering when you are looking for a high-quality watch for a low price is that while extra features sound great, they could bring on a headache! Think about it; the more features a watch has, the more things it can do and the more the watchmaker has promised for it to accomplish, the more likely is there that something will eventually go wrong.
Compare it to a TV remote control with 100 buttons, and set it up against a simple remote with an on- and an off button. With so many buttons, the likeliness of a button failing is bigger than on the simpler remote, simply due to probability.
If you are someone who needs several functions in a watch, then you need to make sure you pick a product from a watchmaker you can trust. A trustable watchmaker would not risk their reputation even when making a more affordable product, making it unlikely they will put a faulty watch on the market.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to features is that the more features a watch has, the more expensive it might be. An essential tip is to avoid getting carried away and to sit down and consider what features are absolutely essential to you, and which you can be without. If you find that you only really need your product to show you what time it is.
Then perhaps it would be a good idea to purchase a simply designed watch where focus has been put on giving you less features but with top quality, rather than the other way around. Knowing what type of product you are looking for already before you start your search will always be beneficial, as it will significantly narrow down your options to guide you furher towards that perfect timepiece that won’t burn a large hole in your wallet.
Is an affordable watch as good as an expensive watch?
If you know what to look for and what to avoid, you can actually find a watch that lasts you just as long as a much more expensive watch would, and that tells time and more just as accurately. Whether it is “just as good” depends on too many factors to properly be able to answer the question.
All budget options listed in this article cost less than $500, and they are all good in their own unique ways. Consider what features you value in a watch, to find the one that will best serve you and your needs.
What is the cheapest watch in the world?
You can probably walk into a low-price dollar store somewhere and find a riddiculously low-priced watch – perhaps for less than a dollar, but ask yourself if it is likely that such a watch will last for more than a few weeks. Price matters, but you might not want to go with the absolute cheapest option you find.
Conclusion
Whether you are on the hunt for an automatic watch with a fancy stainless steel bracelet, an old-fashioned mechanical movement watch with a leather strap, a sports watch with chronograph or one with a large digital watch face – there is one for you out there somewhere that falls within your desired price class.
A watch can be so much more than just a device for telling time, but not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a good timepiece. The price is not the only thing you need to look at, and this guide will have hopefully given you a better idea of what to look for and what to avoid when trying to find a low price quality watch.
Expert Tip
Sometimes you will benefit from choosing a quality brand product with fewer features, instead of choosing a lower quality brand packed with functions.
Did You Know
Watches with automatic watch movement are often cheaper than mechanical or quartz movement watches, due to the simplified (and less costly) construction.