Do you think a good watch can never be affordable?
If you do, then think again…
Because in this blog post we’ll give you the lowdown on the BEST affordable watch brands around today.
This is our ultimate top 10 guide to the watchmakers who make the best quality watches, that get respect, and are (most importantly) cheap!
We include crowd favorites from top affordable Japanese brands, such as Seiko and G-SHOCK.
But we’ve also got many other cool inexpensive brands from around the globe too.
Best Affordable Watch Brands
1. Casio
The king of affordable watch brands is Casio.
Casio is a Japanese brand best known for their tough, digital watches.
You can easily find an excellent digital Casio watch for an extremely inexpensive price. One of their most famous, and cheapest, digital watch is the Casio F91-W.
Released in 1989, this watch is still in production today.
Another legendary, and tough, Casio watch is the Casio DW5600E-1V. This watch achieved a Guinness World Record in 2017. When a truck drove over it and it survived.
Not only do Casio make durable watches, they like to make retro watches too.
We love the Casio Vintage collection. These digital watches are a real blast from the past. They look like watches from the 1970s and 1980s.
Casio even still produce their super cool calculator watches. Check out our review of the best calculator watches from Casio today.
G-SHOCK
One of Casio’s best known watch collections is their G-SHOCK range.
Today, G-SHOCK is basically its own watch brand.
G-SHOCK dominates the sports watch scene. Thanks to their tough and chunky sports watches.
Not all of G-SHOCK watches are in the affordable price range. However, G-Shock still have plenty of inexpensive watches to choose from.
G-SHOCK is a favorite among those who need a tough watch for work or play. Those in the military or construction workers, firefighters, along with surfers. All love these watches because of their excellent shock resistance!
But one word of warning. Be careful choosing a G-SHOCK watch if you have a slim wrist. These watches are often huge.
Read our guide to the best G-SHOCK watches for slim wrists. Before you buy a G-SHOCK.
2. Seiko
Seiko is a watchmaker that almost everyone has heard of. Another top Japanese brand.
Seiko offer a BIG selection of affordable watches.
They’re famous for their budget friendly watches. However, we’ve noticed that Seiko watch prices are on the rise. Especially for discontinued Seiko ranges like the Seiko Sarb, or the beloved Seiko SKX divers.
One of Seiko’s most affordable collections is their Seiko 5 range.
The 5 in this series stands for the 5 features every Seiko 5 watch will have. These features are:
- Automatic movement
- Day-date display (placed at the 3 o’clock position)
- Water resistance
- Recessed crown (placed at the 4 o’clock position)
- Durable case and bracelet
Check out our best picks from the Seiko 5 collection here!
Seiko also have many dive watches for every budget. You can search the Seiko Prospex collection for many affordable divers from this brand.
We love their Seiko Samurai collection. While not the most affordable. But a great find if you want to purchase a dive watch that will last.
Want to learn more about Seiko dive collections…?
Then read the review of our favorite Seiko diver collections.
3. Bulova
Bulova is such an underrated watch brand. That’s also a affordable watch brand.
This watchmaker has been around since 1875. Started in New York by Joseph Bulova. They’re an innovative brand who like to keep their watches affordable and high quality.
This watch brand has even made it into space!
The Bulova Lunar Pilot was used on the Apollo 15 mission to the moon. The watch was worn by Commander David Scott on the surface of the moon.
This very watch was sold at a watch auction for a staggering $1.625 million dollars in 2015.
However, luckily for us today we can get the Lunar Bulova Chronograph for a tiny fraction of that price.
Today, this watch is one of the world’s best affordable chronographs you can buy.
We think this Bulova chronograh is one of the best affordable chronographs you can get.
4. Victorinox
If you’re after an affordable watch brand that makes tough watches. Then Swiss watch brand Victorinox is for you.
They have a range of affordable watches that can withstand 10 meter drops, deep freezes, and being rolled over by a 8-ton tank!
As we saw in the video above.
The watch range that can handle this level of torture is Victorinox’s I.N.O.X. range.
This is a Swiss made watch range that is built to last.
You can get these hard as nails watches for a really great price. They are well worth it, since they are tough and are Swiss made too.
Their field watches are also great value for money too.
If you’re a fan of Swiss watches, but are on a strict budget. Then take the time to read our guide to affordable Swiss made watches.
5. Hamilton
Hamilton is a historic American watchmaker. Still offering some great timepieces.
With the brand offering a range of affordable timepieces.
Their field watches haven’t changed much, looks wise, since World War 2. They’re like a slice of history and are fairly affordable.
With a choice of the more affordable quartz movement, or the mechanical movement.
This watch brand is proud of its military heritage. As they were a big watchmaker during the war.
Check out the rest of the Hamilton collections below…
6. Orient
Orient is another affordable Japanese brand. They’re actually a sister brand of the watchmaker, Seiko.
It’s easy to find a great watch from this brand for a really affordable price.
They’re dress watches are some of the brand’s most affordable timepieces. With a great selection on offer.
The Orient Bambino is one of our all time favorite inexpensive mechanical dress watches.
Find out why in our review of the Bambino.
Orient are also known for their very affordable dive watches. We just adore their Kamasu diver collection.
These watches not only come with 200m (660ft) of water resistance. They’ve even got a sapphire crystal too!
7. Tissot
Tissot is an affordable Swiss watch brand that has some really high quality timepieces.
Around since 1853, this brand has been innovating since then.
They’re a watch brand that have been involved in many sports partnerships. Like the NBA, Tour De France, and the Guinness Six Nations.
So it’s no surprise that their watches are known for being durable and can withstand some action.
Tissot have a brilliant selection of sports watches. Including cool Swiss made sports smartwatches.
Tissot also make some great dive watches too.
The Tissot Seastar range is a firm favorite among watch enthusiasts. While these aren’t the most inexpensive divers. They do come with a sapphire crystal for excellent scratch resistance.
Plus they come in a range of gorgeous dial colors.
We are big, big fans of Tissot watches here at Which Watch Next.
So if you want to learn more. Then check out our review of the Tissot brand, and see if you like them as much as we do.
8. Citizen
Citizen is a Japanese brand that is very affordable and innovative.
They’re best known for their Eco-Drive technology. Which powers their Eco-Drive watches from light, including artificial light.
Citizen have so many great solar powered watches to choose from. Just look out for the Eco-Drive label on the dial!
Check out how this works in the short video below.
You can find a high quality dive watch for a great price. Like their Eco-Drive Promaster dive watch.
This dive watch is powered by light, thanks to Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology.
This means the watch never needs a new battery. It will simply recharge its battery from a light source.
It’s an excellent for a dive watch. As you never need to open the caseback ensuring your dive watch stays sealed tight.
There are plenty of tough dive watches to choose from with Citizen.
9. Timex
Another great affordable watch brand is Timex.
While Timex is still considered an American watch brand. Timex watches are now produced outside the US.
Timex produce a wide range of watch types. From sports watches, digital watches and more.
Check out our review of the best watches from Timex.
One of the best affordable dress watches from them is the Timex Marlin. Which is a reissue of their famous 1960s dress watch.
Timex also offer a wide range of great triathlon watches.
Their Iron Man watches are inexpensive, and ideal for those in search for a durable, budget-friendly sports watch.
10. Swatch
Swatch is an affordable Swiss made watch brand, known for their quirky, plastic timepieces.
Swatch was the brand that is seen to have saved the Swiss watchmaking industry during the 70s and 80s.
This watch brand is still super affordable.
You can easily find a really stand out timepiece too. Like their fun Jellyfish watch.
This is a skeleton watch, giving you a look inside the watch into its quartz movement. This watch is huge at 47mm, and sure to get you noticed.
But Swatc have many more understated watches. Like their Twice Again collection. Which is still super affordable.
Swatch also has a really affordable watch brand for kids called Flik-Flak.
Discover more of the best kids watch brands in our guide.
Want MORE Affordable Watches?
There are so many high quality, yet affordable, watches to choose from these top 10 brands. We are spoiled for choice.
Need more brands…?
Then click here to read our guide to the best Swiss watch brands that are actually affordable!
