8 Best Watches Under $100

foreign [Music] inflation's become a buzzword this year but there's no denying its impact on nearly every sector of our economy and as a result finding a great watch under a hundred dollars proves No Easy Task but luckily there are a few remaining survivors left unscathed as the dust has begun to settle in this guide we'll go back to the basics to explore a curated selection of our favorite watches that you can still manage to procure under a hundred dollars maybe you're looking for the perfect gift or maybe you're just looking for yourself whatever the case may be our job is to provide you with a detailed overview as to what you can expect when you begin your own search if this is your first stop along the way but before we dive in we do want to reiterate that there's absolutely no shame searching for a watch with only a Benjamin to spend at the end of the day a five thousand dollar watch and a hundred dollar watch both till the time every man deserves a great watch and some of the most archetypal references carry budget price tags holding special places in the hearts of experts and enthusiasts alike so without further Ado let's dive in and take a tour of our favorite picks for a great watch under a hundred dollars Casio and quartz movements go together like well you can pick your poison for just under 25 the Casio world time is a phenomenal example before we get into specifics let's get you caught up about Casio themselves the year was 1969 when Seiko rattled the watchmaking world with the first commercial quartz wristwatch the Seiko Quartz Astron 35sq hot on their heels fellow Japanese brand Cassio followed suit debuting similar low-cost quartz references aimed at taking on the mechanical Swiss watchmaking industry head first largely dismissive Swiss Heritage watchmakers continue their mechanical Pursuits in the decades to follow continuing to enjoy their effective Monopoly but by 1980 Court's powered movements were overtaking the horological world and couldn't be ignored we imagine headlines everywhere in Switzerland read the quartz crisis for how dire the situation became for old school watchmakers alright maybe not everywhere but this digital Revolution did see some Swiss Brands to their eventual demise which certainly made the watch World pay attention since then Casio along with other Japanese watchmaking brands have dominated the Court's watch Market consistently offering low-cost watches with specifications and charm even experts can get behind the Casio World Time proves the perfect example as the most affordable and equally well respected timepieced on our list you can currently pick this guy up for just 25 often with sales even further seeking it to blow twenty dollars let's take a closer look like most casios the 39.5 millimeter World Time absolutely packs in features with a dial display full of many digital screens for each major function punctuated by black Framing and you'll also quickly notice that this quartz powered watch features a 10-year battery life rating for decades-long maintenance-free operation dimensionally as we said it Sports a 39.5 millimeter case with a 12 millimeter thickness with a water resistance of 100 meters or 330 feet apart from the dial which we'll get into in just a moment the four highly polished silver tone pushers definitely give the world time a retro futuristic appearance that lands somewhere in the vicinity of a chronograph and although the world time does have start stop functions it's also not branded as a chronograph even though the digital nature of the watch is definitely optimal for precise timing applications anyways we digress on the right side the World Time Sports 2 pushers one roughly at the two o'clock position for a backlight and one just below around the four o'clock position that reads as search and controls access to any secondary time zones on the left hand side two other symmetrically laid out pushes at the 10 and 7 for switching through various modes to adjust the settings as necessary now we've established that the world time isn't necessarily a chronograph despite its timing capabilities but as the name suggests the watch could certainly be a digital equivalent of a GMT as it provides the ability to quickly cycle through 31 time zones mirrored on a quirky digital world map across 48 cities the map's unique charm only further adds to all the love this watch gets and is really a defining visual feature of the world time just below you have the largest section of the dial display that shows the day date and time and just north in the upper left hand corner a digital dial layout for timing framed by a traditional 60-minute chapter ring with small white apply numerals every five minutes and Tiny indices for each minute in between so if you've been looking for a watch well under a hundred dollars packed with charm that will last a virtual Lifetime with very little maintenance the world time is undeniably your best bet founded nearly 170 years ago in the United States Timex has been manufacturing watches for nearly two centuries aimed at the Everyman hell-bent on making quality watches anyone can afford none better represents their model than the Timex Expedition Scout 40 millimeter and iconic and wildly accessible quartz-powered field watch you can pick up for around forty dollars virtually anywhere don't take our word for it this particular reference has over 15 000 reviews online with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. as a prime Contender for Casio both brands have carved out a special place for themselves in the horology world for entirely different reasons this absolute staple pick does have a few quirks as well as a few much loved defining features so let's dive in the cases as the name suggests 40 millimeters in diameter with a 49 millimeter log to log and a 10 millimeter thickness shaping up to be a well-proportioned and comfortable size for most wrists are aware here with a measurement just shy of 8 inches for context in order to keep prices from inflating Timex has turned to Brass for the expedition's Mac case instead of a more expensive stainless steel as you may have expected as a coated unit for all around daily wear you'll hardly notice this construction cue due to the coating itself the Scout also uses a push-pull crown for adjusting the three-hander and affords a very modest 50 meters of water resistance under mineral crystal Timex builds in a very classically styled field watch inspired dial with an outer ring of indices followed by two 24-hour rings and Arabic numerals logotex of the 12 and dial tags for the Indiglo Loom technology built into the entire dial Background by pushing the crown you activate an electroluminescent panel that acts as a backlight for etched Edge illumination instead of using loomed indices or numerals as is typical for a field watch doing so before its bright legibility across the whole surface of the dial and the intensity stays consistent no matter how many times the dial is pressed unlike traditional applied Loom that Fades over time rounding out its distinctive dial features each colorway of the Timex Expedition Scout of which there are a few Sports a contrasting seconds hand of differing bolt accent colors and sports an iconic Arrow shape and a simple white day cut out at the three o'clock position also keep in mind that at this price point quality control can be a little iffy so if you experience any accidental hand movement when trying to push in the crown after a date or time adjustment just know that's par for the course and has been reported at its heart the Timex petition Scout like many other watches around this price point uses a quartz powered movement now it's tried and true battery power is a no fuss solution for anyone who wants an Uber low maintenance watch but the Expedition Scout does have one minor drawback it's incredibly noisy so much so that you can clearly hear this three-hander tick away on your nightstand when you're dozing off to sleep if you're sensitive to sound this is probably not the sub 100 EDC reference for you so keep this in mind a genuine leather or NATO strap ships standard with the Timex Expedition Scout 40 millimeter and they look pretty sharp for what you pay offering almost 10 adjustment slots in a simple Brass Buckle that matches the case finishing however if you'd like to switch things up the Scout builds in a very standard 20 millimeter lug width alright yes we did double down on Timex references but in the interest of full transparency they've been one of the only trusted Brands to keep many of their iconic watches at a sub 100 price point even considering the recent inflation spikes that saw many other manufacturers consistently raised their prices yes we're looking at you Seiko the time next weekend their 40 millimeter is another watch you can often find at your local retailer like Target for example who regularly stocked the Weekender like the Expedition Scout and a variety of case dial and strap options not only does this bode well for folks new to the game looking for their first timepiece or seasoned vets revisiting an accessible much-loved reference from their past but it speaks to the Brand Power and business model Timex has worked tirelessly to create the demand remains whether or not they raise their prices or keep them the same as the name suggests the Weekender Sports a 40 millimeter case that may be best summed up as an expedition Scout refined and elevated for a night out on the town to be more specific the Weekender keeps much of the field watch Style Style with the concentric rings of Arabic numerals and clean indices around the periphery but jobs for a rounded and mirror polished brass case with two sets of more elegant wire lugs over the Expedition Scouts thickered fairly standard set in addition to the 40 millimeter case diameter it has a thin height of nine millimeters and a set of wire lugs that extend about the same distance out as the Scout at approximately 49 millimeters lug to Lug all said and done if you're looking to spend under a hundred dollars we'd Hazard a guess that aesthetic considerations are probably going to take precedence over maximizing the best possible internal specs since as we mentioned many references under a hundred dollars will be quartz powered anyway so with that being said internally the Timex Weekender 40 millimeter keeps the construction of the Expedition Scout with a loud quartz powered movement that gets the job done but won't win any awards for accurate or quiet time keeping where the Weekender 40 millimeter outpaces the Expedition Scout by a slim margin would be the strap pairing options by utilizing a mirror polish on the case you have the option of adjusting this classically styled reference up with a shinier leather band that wouldn't otherwise play so well with the Expedition Scouts more rugged matte finish case that being said you can certainly dress it down as well with its default NATO foreign keeping in the quartz vein if you've been looking for a dive inspired watch or a watch with true diver styling cues we'd understand if you've looked near and far for a decent pick under 100 and have come up empty finding one is no small feat however Casio provides one of the only dive watches under 100 that could even earn you a nod from the experts quartz power aside the Casio mdv-106-1av yes Casio loves technical names you can refer to it simply as the Casio Duro for short screams dive watch from the moment you take it out of the box from the rotating timing bezel to the trio of circular rectangular and triangular loomed indices to the sharp angular hands and jet black dial background the Casio Darrow embodies all the trademarks of a classic diver at a mere 50 price point starting with the case the Casio Duro uses a hefty 44.2 millimeter case diameter with a 48 millimeter lug to Lug and a 12.1 millimeter thickness as with most divers due to the thick bezels the dial itself will measure and consequently appear a bit smaller than the 44.2 millimeter case would have you believe also thanks to the shorter lug to look in proportion to the diameter we feel it wears a bit closer to 42 millimeters on the wrist one thing's for certain for a 50 diver Casio sure paid attention to the details for example the stainless steel case Sports two levels of finishing that's no more evident than on the lugs themselves a brushed finish for the top of the lugs and a high polish that extends along the side of the case and around the bezel the Casio Duro affords a generous 200 meters of water resistance and builds in the screw down Crown protected and framed by a set of crown guards and on top Casio builds in a functional unidirectional resin timing bezel ours is monotone but Casio also provides other duotone options like a Pepsi bezel with blue and red and another a black and blue under mineral glass Casio keeps the dial composition extremely classic and we go so far as to say that it aligns most closely to the Rolex Submariner which has really set the Benchmark for diver styling since it's Advent that is to say that the Casio Duro uses a jet black dial bubbly circular indices punctuated by inverted triangles and rectangles at the Cardinal hours a thin chapter ring for minutes and seconds large Loom inset hands a simple day cut out at the three o'clock position a red tip second sand and a bit of personalization with the Marlin logo just above the six powering the diver Casio sticks with their Trident true a Japanese quartz powered movement That's rated for up to three years of use so the Duro is both inexpensive and Incredibly easy to maintain and by easy it's virtually maintenance free like other sub 100 references you can in good faith hold its time keeping to any high standard but the Casio duros quartz caliber should only lose or gain about 20 seconds per month last but not least keeping dive styling through and through the diver also ships with a standard wavy riveted rubber strap and a 22 millimeter lug width in case you'd like to switch it up all right we went for the Casio hair trick but how could you not with so many sub 100 references begging for a spot on this list that having given way to inflationary pressure this guide almost certainly could have been entirely Casio had we not had some self-control but we managed to rein it in and limit ourselves to three although a few sit above our qualifier the Casio G-Shock DW 5600bb-1 is a fully blacked out sub 100 take on the traditional and super popular squared off original DW 5600 if you already have a blacked out set of EDC especially gear a bit more tactical and are in the market for a sub 100 watch to match this version of the G-Shock will certainly fit the bill at a current listing price of 83 dollars G-Shock is a name that could live independently of its actual brand name the Casio G-Shock since its release in adoption into the horological Lexicon it's proven incredibly successful now with dozens of iterations and we could have picked many so keep this in mind when you're looking at G-Shock specifically there are many different colors shapes and dial designs many offered with budget price tags at or around 100 starting with the case the the DW 5600bb-1 keeps the same case profile materials and size of the traditional DW 5600 like the 42.8 millimeter case diameter the 48.9 millimeter log to log and the 13.4 millimeter thickness with the same 2x2 silver tone pushers on the right and left side to control the digital dial features and the standard screw down stainless steel case pack this incredibly tough looking blacked out version also protects against water up to 200 meters so practical utility is also a major selling point and is another Trend across the G-Shock lineup as a whole they're pieces that can stand up to incredible amounts of abuse and look the part doing so of course the blacked out digital dial is the most notable deviation from the original but the convenient functions are all the same like the included stopwatch countdown timer and alarm features all controlled via the case's inlaid pushers and with corresponding vertically laid out text on the black bezel frame the little dial readout is also fairly straightforward and keeps the same right align placement of the time on the bottom and the day and date just above with an inverted black and white color scheme on the wrist the rugged and Ultra stealthy DW 5600bb-1 wears as what you'd expect if you've ever dawned a G-Shock incredibly comfortable true to size and lightweight because of its soft resin composite material the ribbed resin strap also lets the wrist breathe much like a diver strap and is secured with a simple Casio branded silver accent buckle like the Casio Duro molded after the Rolex Submariner the Seiko snxf05 won a many Seiko 5 references may also ring a few Bells with only a quick glance any guesses you'd be correct if you said the Rolex datejust as this Seiko 5 serves up many similar design cues before we dive in Seiko not to be confused with grand Seiko like its other contemporaries have situated themselves within the same budget-friendly territory Timex has the Expedition line Casio has the G-Shock and Seiko has the 5 series The 5 series is made up of dozens of different references across the field dress Sports and diver subcategories but today we're looking at one that stayed around a hundred dollars for quite some time as most of the other 5 Series have elevated well past our qualifying threshold The snxf05 Falls comfortably within the sports and or dress category as it most closely resembles the Rolex digest which relics themselves categorized as part of their classic collection and who many consider a dress watch in the context of other notable Rolex references let's start with the case the Seiko snx f05 uses is a shape that most similarly aligns with rolex's oyster style cases and profile at 37 millimeters in diameter with a 42 millimeter lug to Lug and a 12 millimeter thickness the snx f05 will certainly be comfortable for most wearers and although it's considered a dress watch within the Seiko 5 lineup there's plenty to love here for everyday use as address watch the main case on fixed bezel uses a high polish that's only interrupted near the lugs where the integrated end link which supports a brush finish meets the case itself as a Sleek integration Seiko even integrated the push-pull crown found at the four o'clock into the case and slightly behind the bottom right lug to minimize its appearance otherwise overall thin proportions and smooth edges give the snx f05's case a markedly Dressed Up Appearance however we think the dial here goes a long way to balance out that dimension of the case under a scratch resistant hardlex Crystal seiko's own the dial character is unique in almost a little retro while it's not exactly three-dimensional the graphite dial background texture overlaid onto an off-white base gives this Seiko 5 and almost 90s flare it kind of feels like a sheet of graph paper since it Sports similar faded and repetitive 90-degree intersecting lines that cut behind the applied elements of the dial you get similar thin indices as the datejust but instead of a chapter ring Seiko uses a series of loom dots as the outermost dial element that gives this reference some decent low light utility as well the dial also utilizes a retro Seiko 5 logo a day and date window cut out at the three o'clock and a pair of loom inset hands the analog dial of the Seiko 5 snx f05 is powered with the Seiko s726 automatic caliber that's widely found in seiko's entry level 5 series watches affording low maintenance if you're looking to rep this 5 series as a go anywhere do anything watch it's also worth pointing out that the s726 eventually did get replaced by the current 4r36 caliber which also allows for hacking and hand winding but you can still get this Uber popular movement service should you run into any issues for under a hundred dollars the three link stainless steel bracelet is all around really comfortable on the wrist allows for adjustments and micro adjustments and comes with a no-nonsense push class for easy on easy off wear for each unique dial character we'd recommend the Seiko 5 snx f05 for anyone who loves the styling of the iconic datejust who may be looking for a more accessible yet classy everyday watch with a little more character than the traditional dress variant Dieter ROMs Bauhaus minimalism you may hear each of these referred to in any conversation about Braun the famous German consumer electronics firm in case you can't connect the dots here's a quick overview before we highlight the Braun watch a minimalistic sub 100 reference that embodies everything great about the company in 1955 almost 35 years after its start Braun onboarded designer Dieter ROMs the father of modern minimalism who quickly streamlined their design language under his own personal philosophy of less but better or what folks like to refer to today as simply minimalism fast forward and Brawn as it stands today as a consumer electronics brand owes their success in no small part to his work in lasting Vision The Braun watch reference bn0024 is a beautiful encapsulation of his influence from the monochromatic color palette to the absolutely stark white dial this is just one of Bronze Watch offerings but it stands as one of the only under 100 that maintains a simple classic presentation feel free to check out their others should you have a bit more to spend starting with the case the Braun watch uses a very low profile fully satinized 38 eight millimeter stainless steel case that's very similar in nature to bronze original wall clocks which is to say almost the void of a frame entirely letting the dial character stand at the Forefront it also measures at just 8.5 millimeters thick so it'll sit extremely flush on the wrist in terms of utility the brown watch certainly prioritizes aesthetic over hardwiring specs since it just features a push-pull crown that only affords about 50 meters of water resistance that would be fine for short bouts of submergent but certainly nothing substantial on the 180 The Braun watch features the same period styling as the rest of the reference with a simple matte frame surrounding a high polished and vertically brushed branded case bag even though each construction element of the watch lives and breathes minimalism chances are if you are already intrinsically drawn to the Braun watch with a quick glance your focus is probably on the dial design which Harkens back to bronze mid-century wall clocks that feature an extremely sparse and Timeless design a set against an off-white background and under a plane of mineral glass the thin black indices and applied Arabic numerals for the 12-hour markers are laid on completely flat with a pair of thin rectangular hour and minute hands that match the indices themselves just above the six the bronwatch dial builds in a 60-second sub-dial that Sports a bright yellow hand this is typical across their entire product catalog as they often employ single bright accent colors to break up the they're largely monochromatic black and white color schemes inside the simple three-handers powered by a Japanese quartz movement that will allow no fuss wear for years before needing a battery switch and will also prove reliable in terms of accurate time keeping rounding off our overview bronze supplies the watch with an extremely plush leather strap for the sub 100 price point with a smooth fine grain finish and rectangular adjustment slots matching the buccal Hardware this watch does Sport a standard 20 millimeter lug width and allows for swaps but let's be honest here with each element of the watch thoroughly considered and backed up by iconic design history we really feel that you should leave this strap on the watch to wear as is all in all the Braun watch is a fantastic choice for someone who may be in a design field or who appreciates simple and Timeless execution we also maintain that it could be a top tier Choice as a dress watch that builds in a little bit more character than something a bit more standard might afford our last watch picked under 100 is for all the field watch fans the Bertucci a1s the field watch space is undoubtedly one of the most popular and recognizable designs in watchmaking alongside the diver and this has only been sustained since their practical wartime applications due in no small part to Brands like Timex who have appropriated the style for civilian products Bertucci has a very short history compared to other iconic field watch brands like Timex and Hamilton who have been making these types of watches for military applications for many decades they've only been around since 2003 but have quickly made a name for themselves by offering attractive and traditional field watches with solid specifications for an affordable price for example the a1s field watch although not backed up by the same direct military Heritage as Hamilton sits right around 100 while the famous khaki field will almost certainly run close to five times that amount to keep costs low they've designed and assembled in the USA with foreign components and serve as more rugged budget-friendly field watch options over Timex as Bertucci tends to build with better materials and design more true to form beginning with the case the a1s field watch uses a small 36 millimeter case diameter with a chunky 10.8 millimeter thickness and sports a lug to Lug measurement of 44.8 millimeters on the wrist the dial will wear a bit smaller but the longer lug to Lug does extend over the wrist a decent amount which is typical for a field watch you can see this with the Hamilton khaki field for example that maintains similar case proportions smaller diameter larger load to look the hyper durable patented unibody stainless steel case also features full brushing a screw down Crown offset at the four o'clock position that protects against water up to 100 meters and allows for full wrist mobility and a screw down case back on the 180. the a1s protects the dial with a scratch resistant r-type mineral crystal Which is far less durable than Sapphire with a hardness rating of about half but for the price considering the a1s floats around 100 a mineral crystal is par for the course compared to more costly Sapphire and still does a moderate job protecting against scuffs and scrapes and since it is a bit softer you'll find buffing away any light abrasions relatively easy or you can always opt to swap pop it out completely as this is not cost prohibited the dial itself is laid out in a very traditional field watch style from the large applied 12-hour Arabic numerals to the smaller concentric ring of 24-hour numerals to the thin indices punctuated by circular Loom dots all the way down to the tapered shape of the hands themselves which are inlaid with thin strips of loom dubbed by Bertucci as Swiss super luminous material akin to something like super luminova the loom on the a1s style operates by exposure versus timex's push button style into glow which doesn't drain the battery and is rated to last for hours of visibility after decent light exposure although timex's Indiglo feature is certainly unique it does only last as long as you are able to physically push the crown which can be inconvenient rounding out the dial as a great accent the a1s uses a full red finish seconds hand with a small strip of loom near the tip and a shield shaped counterbalance that distinctly pops against the rich jet black dial background inside the Bertucci a1s uses a Japanese quartz movement like most of the others on this list and is officially rated to keep the watch powered for 4 years between battery swap like the others not much to report on here other than to reiterate the maintenance-free convenience a quartz movement bakes in a great NATO strap is a Hallmark of a great field watch the Bertucci a1s provides a premium b-type heavy duty nylon webbing strap with bolstered stitching at Key stress points and a solid stainless steel buckle and dual keeper Loops so all said and done the Bertucci a1s is a great alternative to the Timex Expedition Scout and bakes in a bit more character at the same time foreign [Music]

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Keywords: Watch Reviews, Affordable Watches, Cheap Watches, Mens Watches, Cheap Mens Watches, Mens Watches Under $100, Affordable Mens Watches, Best Cheap Watch, Best Affordable Watch, Casio, Timex, G-SHOCK, Seiko, Seiko 5, Timex Weekender, Casio World Time, Timex Expedition Scout, Casio Duro, Braun, Bertucci, Bertucci Field Watch, Braun Watch

Id: q6jjQYb3NLI

Length: 24min 8sec (1448 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 29 2023