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Finding the right watch is more than just finding a model you like, as it also needs to fall within the price range you had in mind. Not everyone wants to spend thousands of dollars on a timepiece, and not everyone can, but the good news is that there are several high-quality options that fall right under $100, and many have the same features you would expect to find on a much more pricey alternative.
These are some of the best watches you can find under $100, and each one has its unique set of features and designs, to help you find your inexpensive dream watch.
View The Best Watches Under $100 Below
1. Timex Unisex Weekender 38mm Watch
Timex is a brand often associated with quality, perfect time-telling, many design options, and long-lasting batteries, and this model is no exception! It has Indiglo light-up watch dial, 24-hour Military time, a large size round dial with Arabic numerals, an exchangeable bracelet and many different varieties to choose from, and it is easy to pick one that goes with your personal style.
It is a great minimalist watch with a solid back, a band that sits well around both slim wrists and wider wrists, and what is even better – they are great cheap watches for men and for women! Water resistance to 100ft, quartz movement, large-diameter dial, stainless steel details and more – a beautiful and affordable watch under 100 bucks to wear for any occasion.
Pros:
+ Scratch-resistant mineral glass
+ Comfortable watch strap
+ Durable battery
+ Round-shaped bezel
Why We Like It – A wristwatch-like this solid back automatic movement watch is perfect for someone who wants a timeless timepiece with exchangeable straps, and it is perfect for when you want quality products while being on a budget.
2. CakCity Mens Digital Sports Watch
This may come as a surprise to many, but there are some product options when you need a cool and simple watch at an affordable price. The CakCity automatic watch is a black digital display men’s wear product with LED back-light, 24-hour military time, easy-to-press buttons, large numbers that are easy to read also for someone with a vision impairment, and it is one of the best watches for men that want a solid hour-watch without paying outrageous prices.
The nice design makes this a great watch for daily use, and it also comes in red for those who want a more eye-catching timepiece. It is shock-resistant and has daily alarm features and auto date display, it has quartz movement and the band is made of durable resin.
Pros:
+ Large digital display
+ Red and black color options
+ Easy to read digital numbers
+ For all-day wear
Why We Like It – You won’t believe the low price of this automatic watch, and the quality and look of it makes it one of the best men’s watches under $100.
3. Fossil Men’s Chronograph Quartz Watch
When you are looking for a watch under a certain price, you still want to make sure you get good value for your money. With these cheap men’s watches – you will forget how little you paid, thanks to the large clock window, the stainless steel round case and dial, the color options and the automatic movement, so that you can enjoy a wristwatch you haven’t paid a month’s salary for.
Get it in black or any other color that you think would go with your style, choose if you want a blue dial, a white dial or something else, and be ready to tell the hour with pride every time someone stops you to ask. Not only will it look great, but Fossil is a watchmaking brand you can count on for quality!
Pros:
+ Analog watch display
+ Leather band or stainless steel
+ 44 mm diameter case
+ Classy roman numerals
Why We Like It – Choose between a stainless steel bracelet and a leather strap, and enjoy the benefits of the perfect budget watch for fashion-forward men that won’t cost you a cent over $100.
4. Casio Men’s G-Shock Quartz
Looking at this stunning mechanical watch – you would never guess it is under $100. It is anything but a minimalist watch with its shock-resistant resin case, water-resistant features, the super illuminator LED light, quartz movement and five years of battery life, and instead it is the kind of product you notice the moment someone walks in with it on their wrist.
This Casio G-Shock has a combined analog and digital display, with hour markers, minute hands, a window that shows date, day and month and several other features. Wear it when you go to work when at the gym or for any other occasion you can think of, and impress those around you with a unique timepiece that – despite what one might think – falls within your strict budget. If you are unsure of whether you want a mechanical or a digital watch – this gives you the absolute best of both.
Pros:
+ Practical hand shift feature
+ World time and countdown timer
+ Super illuminator LED light
+ 12/24 hour formats
Why We Like It – The gold and black variety is stunning in how luxurious it looks, and it is the perfect combination of mechanical and digital. Got more to spend? See these top watches under $200.
5. Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size Watch
A black wristwatch-like the Timex Ironman is an automatically powered clock made with durable resin, that is likely to hold up nicely for years. It is designed for water resistance down to 100 meters, has a mineral crystal window for you to not only read the time easily but also to not have to worry about scratches and small dents. It has a 38 mm diameter case with an oval watch dial, the band is also made of adjustable resin, to fit all wrists.
You can get it in black, blue, gray and other colors, either on the watch case itself or the band, and it also has 30-lap memory, three alarms for both weekends and weekdays, Indiglo Light-Up watch dial, and more, and you can use it to check your email, your shopping list, any incoming calls and messages and more.
Pros:
+ Three daily alarms
+ Black resin 38 mm case
+ 30-lap memory
+ 100-meter water resistance
Why We Like It – There are so many different designs to choose from, and it is a wristwatch with the perfect diameter for both women and men.
6. Casio Men’s Solar Sport Combination Watch
You get up to five daily alarms with this digital clock watch, so that you can keep track of everything you need to do. It also has a stopwatch, date window at the bottom where you can choose between displaying the days in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian and French, and the white details create the perfect contrast with the black case and the black resin band.
The digital numbers are easy to read and the watch is powered automatically with batteries that last up to 10 months. It is also water-resistant, and it can be put underwater without anything happening to it. This product is often seen in Amazon advertising and watches reviews, which is no surprise considering all the features you get for under $100.
Pros:
+ Great for sports and physical activities
+ With white and black watch face
+ 10 months of battery life
+ LED light with convenient afterglow
Why We Like It – Strap on the black resin band and enjoy this large-diameter Swiss watch with all its features! It is affordable, but with all that is needed to use it both as a sports watch and an everyday timepiece.
7. Timex Unisex Expedition Classic Watch
Get this Swiss sports to watch in black, red, blue, plum, with a pink stripe and more, and discover what a great product you can get for under than $100. It has split and lap times, date and day calendar, a 33 mm diameter resin case, water-resistance, and many additional features, and you can set up weekday and weekend alarms, and each alarm can be programmed to have a 5-minute backup alarm for if you fail to hear it the first time.
The clock band is adjustable, making these the best watches men can find, regardless of what your wrist size is. If a leather strap or a minimalist watch with a stainless steel bracelet isn’t what you had in mind when you started your search, then this sportier version with a Nylon band might be a more suitable alternative.
Pros:
+ Lap and split times
+ Thick Nylon band
+ With hook and loop closure
+ Alarms with a reminder
Why We Like It – This diver watch is one of the best watches under the price of $100, thanks to smart features like water resistance, some of the best alarm features with optional reminders and other practical sports modes.
8. Michael Kors Slim Runway Women’s Stainless Steel Watch
A luxurious stainless steel Swiss watch with excellent water resistance, quartz movement, a 42 mm case with a round watch dial, beautiful luminous hands that show the hour, minute and second, gold details and much more. It is available in colors like black, blue, rose gold and silver, and you can choose if you want a stainless steel bracelet or a leather band/leather strap, as that drastically changes the way the watch will look on your wrist, even though the dial is the same on all different products.
These are possibly the best watches for someone who wants a product that looks expensive, despite costing under $100. A $100 watch does not have to look cheap, and the Michael Kors Slim Runway watch is a perfect example of that.
Pros:
+ Multiple striking color options
+ Convenient 165 ft water resistance
+ With leather strap or stainless steel bracelet
+ Simple, classy and comfortable to wear
Why We Like It – The exchangeable strap means that you can choose between a stainless steel bracelet and a leather strap, and you can change it later on if you want to make your watch feel new again.
Watches Under $100 Buyers Guide
Being on a budget and trying to find a cheap watch under 100 USD could seem like a difficult task, and perhaps you think it means you will have to settle with something that looks cheap? This isn’t the case, and just because a product is affordable, there is no reason why you shouldn’t get all the features you’ve been wanting, and to have access to the best watches for the price you are able (and willing) to pay.
There are plenty of inexpensive products out there, just waiting for you to find them, and this review and buyers guide will hopefully make it easier for you to find what you are looking for. Knowing your budget is the first step towards finding the best watches and timepieces out there, and now that you know you want something under $100 – it is time to start having a look at other features too!
Stainless Steel vs. Leather Strap
Some simply prefer a leather band, while others would rather go with Nylon, resin or stainless steel. There are quite a few different straps to choose from, and it is a good idea to figure out what you want before you start your search. A stainless steel bracelet looks classy and expensive, even though it could easily be found on a watch for under $100!
It makes the watch a little heavier, so that is something to be aware of if you plan to wear it daily. A leather band, on the other hand, looks great, is lightweight and soundless while you wear it, but it can be a little more difficult to clean after long-term use.
There is no way to pinpoint one type of strap as being better than the other, as they are all different, and you can usually find all kinds of straps also on watches for $100 or less. If you like feeling the cold weight of a luxurious stainless steel bracelet – go with that, and if you rather have a softer type strap that doesn’t slide around, then leather or nylon is most likely the right choice for you.
Digital Watches vs. Analog Watches
There are both digital and analog watches that will fall within the price range you have in mind, and there are even a few that combine the two! A digital watch is great for those who plan to do sports while wearing it, as they tend to have start- and stopwatches, time that you can easily tell also while moving around, and some of the best digital watches will also have alarm functions and more to make your workouts and exercise routines both easier and more effective.
An analog watch does have its special charm though, and many still prefer a simple and stylish watch with Arabic numerals or Roman numerals. While calendars are more common on digital watches, there are also several analog watches that have a date window right there on the dial, so choose what you think will best serve you when telling time.
Water Resistance
Cheap watches can be water-resistant too, and if you are not sure why you would need a water-resistant watch – here it comes! There are so many things that can happen when you are wearing your watch; perhaps you are washing dishes and accidentally go too close to the running water, you might jump in the shower with your watch on in a moment of distraction, or what if you get caught in the rain while out for a run or a walk? A water-resistant watch won’t be affected by this, so look for these features also when shopping for budget products.
Additional Features
Other features to look for depends on what you plan to use the watch for. Athletes and those looking for a sports watch tend to need more features than those who are only looking to tell time, but keep in mind that the more features a watch has – the more expensive it tends to be.
What is the best inexpensive watch?
The best watch would be one that fits your budget, without looking or feeling cheap. There are plenty of models that have everything you look for, without costing you a monthly salary.
What are good cheap watch brands?
What is interesting is that many watch brands have both cheaper options and more pricey versions, but brands worth looking at are Timex, Casio, and Michael Kors, especially if you want quality and class at a good price.
Conclusion
Just because you don’t want to spend up to $500 or even more on a watch, it doesn’t mean you can’t find quality options that will look great on you, and work excellent for what you want to get out of it. A smaller budget should never mean you have to settle for less, and this review will hopefully help you find your dream watch, at a price you consider reasonable. There is a watch out there for everyone and one that will allow you to tell time with style.
Expert Tip
If you want to find a cheap watch, consider looking for a more classic type product with less functions, but don’t settle for anything less than what you want and need. There are excellent options out there.
Did You Know
While many people still wear wristwatches to tell time, it is becoming increasingly common for others to wear them simply as a fashion statement and as part of an outfit.
