Best Affordable Swiss Watches & Watch Brands

Written by Ryan F. Miller
| Last Updated on February 1, 2024

Swiss-made watches are synonymous with quality, history, and luxury.

Famous Swiss watch brands, such as Omega and Rolex, are well-known for their hefty price tags.

But I’m here to tell you: There ARE affordable Swiss watch brands!

Below, you’ll find the best affordable Swiss watch brands. You can expect reliable timepieces made with the best materials—without costing an arm and a leg.

Best Overall

Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Watch

Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X.

Best Value

Hamilton Khaki Field Dial Watch

Hamilton Khaki Field Dial

Best Budget

Certina DS Action Diver Blue Dial Watch

Certina DS Action Diver Blue Dial

1. Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Watch

Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Watch
  • Case Diameter: 43 mm
  • Case Thickness: 13.58 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Sapphire
  • Movement: Analog Swiss Quartz Movement
  • Water Resistance: 200 m/660 ft

About the Brand

You might be surprised to find Victorinox on the list of affordable Swiss watch brands. After all, they’re well-known for their Swiss army knives.

However, Victorinox has been in the Swiss watch industry since 1989. They also have high-quality travel gear, cutlery, and apparel in their product line.

Since then, Victorinox has manufactured various collections ranging from luxury watches to durable dive watches. Their notable collections include the Maverick, Airboss, Alliance, and I.N.O.X.

Victorinox watches are known for their EXTREME DURABILITY. In fact, each watch undergoes over 100 quality control tests.

The secret lies behind the materials they use. Their watches are made with sapphire crystal, stainless steel, and titanium- or carbon-finished surfaces.

About the Swiss Watch

The Swiss Army I.N.O.X. is the only Swiss-made watch that went through 130 extreme resistance tests.

It survived being driven over by a 64-ton tank and 2 hours in the washing machine!

As such, it’s built to be nearly bullet-proof.

It has a minimalist and timeless look, thanks to the stainless steel material. The steel is also hypoallergenic and vibration-resistant, great for users who are allergic to alloy metals.

This watch features a scratch-resistant, triple-coated, and anti-reflective sapphire crystal. It’s powered by an analog quartz movement.

Who Would Love It

What’s excellent about this watch is its versatility. The classic appearance is suitable for dressing up or down.

Plus, you can also bring it outside the city—to the mountains or the beach. It can handle up to 200 meters underneath the water, making it a great companion for explorers.

2. Hamilton Khaki Field Dial Watch

Hamilton Khaki Field Dial Watch
  • Case Diameter: 38 mm
  • Case Thickness: 11 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Sapphire
  • Movement: Swiss Automatic Movement
  • Water Resistance: 100 m/330 ft

About the Brand

Founded in 1892, Hamilton used to be an American watch company based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Hamilton went through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Eventually, in 1974, Hamilton became part of the global watch brand, Swatch.

Today, their headquarters are in Bienne, Switzerland. They continue to produce affordable watches of Swiss-made quality.

Hamilton’s history traces back to being the official supplier to the US Armed Forces. As such, their watches consist of military-style and sports watches that focus on function.

This Swiss watch brand has a few notable collections. This includes the Khaki lines (Aviation, Field, and Navy), Jazzmaster, and Ventura.

Interestingly, these Swiss watches were featured in several Hollywood movies. This includes The Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar, and Men in Black 3. In total, Hamilton watches are in more than 400 movies!

Hamilton watches use both quartz and automatic ETA movements. They offer a wide range of looks—sporty, classy, and retro—so it’s a Swiss watch brand that has something for everyone.

About the Swiss Watch

The Hamilton Khaki Field is one of the best Swiss watches you can get for under $500.

The Khaki Field is an automatic 38mm watch. It uses a three-hand movement that boasts a power reserve of over 80 hours.

It features a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal dial window in a stainless steel case. The brown leather band is made with durable calfskin that will look better as it ages.

Who Would Love It

The military-inspired look is stylish enough to be worn every day or for special occasions.

For the adventurer, you’ll be glad to know this watch is water-resistant up to 100 meters (330 feet). This means it will be suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not scuba diving.

Fun fact: Chris Evans wore its sister model(H70555533) in the 2012 film, The Avengers.

3. Certina DS Action Diver Automatic Watch

Certina DS Action Diver Blue Dial Watch
  • Case Diameter: 43 mm
  • Case Thickness: 6 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Sapphire
  • Movement: Powermatic 80Automatic Movement
  • Water Resistance: 300 m/1,000 ft

About the Brand

Certina is a luxury watch manufacturer headquartered in Le Locle, Switzerland. It was founded in 1888 by brothers Adolf and Alfred Kurth.

It might be a lesser-known Swiss brand for those in the United States. But it’s a pretty well-known name in Europe.

This Swiss company started small with only 3 employees. They grew each year, and by 1972, they had over 900 employees and were producing 600,000 watches each year.

Certina was also the first company to produce a digital watch in 1936. At that time, watches used rotating disks with numbers to display the time.

In 1983, the Swatch Group acquired Certina. Since then, they’ve continually produced high-quality timepieces at mid-range prices.

But until today, Certina is pretty low-key when it comes to marketing. Instead, they focus on partnering with motoring companies and athletes.

As such, Certina is famous for its precise and durable sports watches. This includes the Aqua and Sports collections. In particular, famous heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali wore the DS DiaMaster.

Today, Certina is expanding its presence in motor rallying. However, they also have great affordable dress watches, including the Urban and Heritage collections.

About the Swiss Watch

This dive watch is part of the DS line, which stands for ‘Double Security‘. This is because a highly reinforced case suspends the watch movement.

The DS Action features a 316L stainless steel case and band. The glass is made with a durable sapphire crystal with anti-reflection treatment.

Who Would Love It

I would recommend this watch for activity enthusiasts. Primarily, this is a dive watch that is water-resistant up to 300 meters (1,000 ft) with a Powermatic 80 movement.

The design is the right balance between sporty and classy. The blue dial with silver hands will serve as a stylish companion for any occasion.

4. TAG Heuer Formula 1 Watch

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Watch
  • Case Diameter: 41 mm
  • Case Thickness: 12 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Synthetic Sapphire
  • Movement: Swiss Quartz Movement
  • Water Resistance: 200 m/660 ft

About the Brand

TAG Heuer is a luxury watch manufacturer founded in 1860. In the past, they’ve produced eyewear and mobile phones. But now they focus on making high-quality timepieces.

In 1887, TAG Heuer perfected the chronograph. They introduced a patent that improves the “oscillating pinion”.

This way, a push-button was all you need to start and stop the chronograph. To this day, TAG Heuer’s chronographs are still one of the best in the business.

During the 20th century, there was a greater demand for precise timing due to industrial development. In particular, the sports industry needed accuracy for setting proper world records.

That’s where TAG Heuer came in, particularly in the racing circuit. TAG Heuer introduced the first dashboard watch, called the Autavia, that was used on race cars.

TAG Heuer was also the first watch brand to reach outer space (worn by John Glenn).

You can find a lot of celebrities endorsing the brand, including Brad Bitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Maria Sharapova.

About the Swiss Watch

Admittedly, TAG Heuer watches are on the expensive side. However, think about it this way: This Formula 1 watch is 1/5th of the starting price of a Rolex.

The Formula 1 has a rugged look but it’s also classy enough to pass as a dress watch. Their collection mostly consists of quartz watches, but there are automatic ones too.

It’s built with durable stainless steel and water-resistant up to 200 meters. It’s the only series with the brand’s white, red, and green shield.

It features 2 sub-dials with an alarm display, a screw-down crown, and a fold-over clasp. This particular model uses the Swiss Quartz movement.

Who Would Love It

If you’re dipping your toes into luxury Swiss watches, this Formula 1 watch is a great start. It may be expensive, but it will be a timeless classic.

5. Swatch Irony Quartz Movement Blue Dial Watch

Swatch Irony Quartz Movement Blue Dial Watch
  • Case Diameter: 43 mm
  • Case Thickness: 13 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Plexiglass
  • Movement: SwissQuartz Movement
  • Water Resistance: 30 m/100 ft

About the Brand

A lot of watch enthusiasts dismiss Swatch watches because they’re “too cheap”. But you’ll be surprised to know their watches are actually Swiss-made.

Founded in 1983, Swatch is pretty new to the watch industry. But even with the short history, Swatch has made a lot of strides over the years.

The first thing to know about this brand is they responded to the “quartz crisis” that took place in the 1970s and ’80s.

During this era, Japanese manufacturers started producing affordable watches featuring new electric technology. This strained the Swiss watch brands that still produced mechanical watches.

That’s why you’ll see most Swatch watches are colorful and vibrant. It also uses mostly plastic and silicone straps as its material choice.

The brand name Swatch is actually a combination of the words “second watch”– intended to be casual, fun, and disposable timepieces.

Instead of other brands listed here, Swatch’s competitors are actually Casio, Fossil, and Timex.

However, despite being an affordable Swiss watchmaker, Swatch timepieces are RELIABLE and ACCURATE.

The price range of Swatch watches starts at $50 for quartz movements and $200 for automatic movements. As such, it’s one of the most affordable Swiss watch brands on this list.

About the Swiss Watch

The Irony collection is one of the few Swatch watches that feature a metal case.

Design-wise, the Swatch Irony Watch doesn’t look inferior to any other watches on this list. At the first glance, I was actually surprised that it was made by Swatch!

This watch features a Swiss quartz movement with a chronograph, 3 sub-dials, a tachymeter, and a day/date function.

Also, the sun-brushed blue dial with silver and white prints makes it look timeless.

Who Would Love It

With a water resistance of up to 30 meters, it’s suitable for anyone who’s always on the go.

6. Alpina Alpiner 4 Stainless Steel Automatic Watch

Alpina Alpiner 4 Stainless Steel Automatic Watch
  • Case Diameter: 44.5 mm
  • Case Thickness: 13 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Sapphire
  • Movement: Swiss Automatic Movement
  • Water Resistance: 100 m/330 ft

About the Brand

Alpina is a Swiss brand founded in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser. He united all independent Swiss watchmakers and called them the Alpinists.

Shortly after that, Alpina started manufacturing their in-house chronometers and calibers. The company GREW FAST.

In 1920, they had more than 2,000 outlets worldwide. And at the end of World War I, they became a producer and supplier of military pilot watches.

In 1938, Hauser developed the “Alpina 4” to target engineers, athletes, and adventurers. He insisted that a sports watch needed these 4 characteristics: anti-shock, anti-magnetic, water-resistant, and stainless steel.

Needless to say, the Alpina 4 became a LEGEND among sports watches. And even today, Alpina watches are famous for their durability.

Alpina, just like many Swiss watch brands, struggled during the so-called “quartz crisis”. However, in 2002, they bounced back after competitor Frédérique Constant acquired them.

Most recently, they launched the Horological Smartwatch in 2015. It is a hybrid watch that tracks sleep and sends call and message notifications.

Other notable collections include the Startimer, Seastrong, Comtesse, and Alpiner. All of their watches are built with durability, style, and quality in mind.

About the Swiss Watch

The Alpiner takes its inspiration from the outdoors. Interestingly, it is one of the few watches that feature a classy leather strap instead of a metal band.

It uses an automatic GMT movement with anti-shock and anti-magnetic properties. The case size is 44.5 mm x 13 mm, which is on the larger end but will fit MOST men’s wrists.

The most striking feature is the glacier blue dial with luminous indexes. It has a date function on the 3 o’clock position and has large Arabic numbers etched into the metal case.

Who Would Love It

It’s a Swiss watch that you can wear every day. But also bring outdoors whether it’s a hike or a swim as it has a water-resistance level of up to 100 meters.

7. Raymond Weil Tango Analog-Quartz Dive Watch

Raymond Weil Tango Analog-Quartz Watch
  • Case Diameter: 40.5 mm
  • Case Thickness: 10 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Synthetic Sapphire
  • Movement: Swiss Quartz Movement
  • Water Resistance: 300 m/984 ft

About the Brand

In 1976, Raymond Weil started his own watchmaking company. It started small; Weil sold his watches in a foldout bridge table in a stall in Geneva, Switzerland.

As a family company, Raymond Weil is a brand that is alive with traditional heritage and values. This includes customer satisfaction and commitment to high quality.

Raymond Weil watches are world-famous for their attention to detail. All of their watches undergo 350 rigorous checks to provide high-quality timepieces.

Many of their collections drew inspiration from music and musicians. For instance, their notable collections include the Amadeus, Fantasia, and Toccata.

Because of this, you’ll see that every design was planned with precision and art in mind. They have skeleton watches that allow you to see all the details of the timepieces.

One of the distinct characteristics is that you can see the mechanical movement of the watch at the 6 o’clock position of the front dial.

About the Swiss Watch

The Tango is an internationally acclaimed timepiece for its design. It features a signature bezel with 6 decorative screws.

And let’s not forget its sophisticated shade of blue, highlighted with silver Roman numeral markers. Coupled with the date function at the 3 o’clock direction, it’s an aesthetic and functional watch indeed.

Who Would Love It

This watch is equipped with an analog quartz movement and a sapphire crystal surface. The appearance is both classic and modern, making it suitable for everyday or occasional wear.

But at the same time, it’s great as a dive watch with its water-resistance reaching up to 300 meters. You can use it for swimming, diving, and snorkeling.

8. Tissot Chrono XL Watch

Tissot Chrono XL Stainless Steel Watch
  • Case Diameter: 45 mm
  • Case Thickness: 11 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Synthetic Sapphire
  • Movement: SwissQuartz Movement
  • Water Resistance: 100 m/330 ft

About the Brand

Tissot is one of the oldest Swiss brands that’s been around since 1853. It was established by a father-son duo, Charles-Félicien Tissot, and his son, Charles-Émile Tissot.

Tissot first started out with gold pocket watches in Le Locle, Switzerland. They first expanded to the US, and then to Russia.

Their expansion to Russia was possible thanks to Charles Tissot, the third generation from the family. He started his own family there with a Russian wife.

In 1930, Tissot joined forces with competitor Omega. They formed the SSIH (Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère). To this day, collectors are still looking for Tissot-Omega watches.

Then in 1998, Tissot was acquired by the Swatch Group (known as SMH back then). This helped the company bounce back from the so-called “quartz crisis” and continue its innovation.

That’s why, just a year later, they introduced the first tactile watch, called the T-Touch. Later on, T-Touch Expert Solar became the first solar-powered watch.

Other notable collections include the Visodate, Seastar 1000, Supersport Chrono, and Couturier.

Tissot is a brand that merges elegance, affordability, and reliability. In fact, they are the Official Timekeeper in many sports events, including the FIBA and Fencing World Championships.

About the Swiss Watch

True to its name, the Chrono XL has a large case size of 45 mm x 11 mm. It makes reading time easier and more legible.

The straps are available in high-quality steel, leather, or fabric. The dial is also available in different colors.

There’s a sophisticated blue dial with luminous white markers. But there’s also a mint-green or beige dial, which feels a bit more old-school.

As part of the T-Sport watch collection, the Chrono XL is water-resistant up to 100 meters. It also features a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

Who Would Love It

What’s great about this Swiss-made watch is that it has a lot of variations. So it has something for everyone—whether you’re aiming for dressy, sporty, or casual.

9. Oris Aquis Automatic Dive Watch

Oris Aquis Automatic Dive Watch
  • Case Diameter: 43.5 mm
  • Case Thickness: 13 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Sapphire
  • Movement: SwissAutomatic Movement
  • Water Resistance: 300 m/984 ft

About the Brand

Oris was established in 1904 in the small town of Hölstein, Switzerland. They first started manufacturing pocket watches.

One of their achievements is their signature pilot’s watch called the Big Crown. Introduced in 1938, the oversized crown helped pilots adjust their watches while wearing gloves.

Oris was also awarded multiple times due to their accuracy. This includes their accurate pin-lever movement award and the full chronometer certification.

Though they have faced several setbacks (including a near-closure), Oris continues to produce accurate timepieces with the finest materials.

The company focuses on 4 industries: Diving, Culture, Aviation, and Motor Sports.

About the Swiss Watch

The price tag for the Oris Aquis falls on the higher-end, but for good reason.

You can configure this watch according to your preferences. You can choose from different bands (such as rubber or steel) and colors (green, blue, black, red).

It features a date function at the 6 o’clock position and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Plus, a large 43.5 mm case for better legibility even underwater.

Who Would Love It

The Oris Aquis is a highly functional dive watch but it doesn’t compromise on style. It’s water-resistant up to 300 meters and uses Swiss automatic movement.

10. Longines Sport Collection HydroConquest Watch

Longines Sport Collection HydroConquest Watch
  • Case Diameter: 39 mm
  • Case Thickness: 11.8 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Sapphire
  • Movement: Swiss Automatic Movement
  • Water Resistance: 300 m/ 1,000 ft

About the Brand

Founded in 1832, Longines is one of the oldest Swiss watch brands in the industry. The founder Auguste Agassiz, was the brother of the well-known biologist/geologist Louis Agassiz.

The brand name Longines originates from ‘Les Longines’ (which stands for ‘long meadows’). This was the term that referred to St. Imier, where the factory was located.

In 1867, Longines introduced the first in-house movement called the 20A. The award-winning 20A is a 20-line caliber built with an anchor escapement and set using a pendant crown.

Then in 1878, they developed their first chronograph movement called the 20H. Its quality and precision allowed Longines to gain its fame in equestrian sports.

Finally, in 1983, Longines became a subsidiary to SMH, after merging with SSIH (which comprised of Tissot and Omega). SMH, later on, became the Swatch Group.

About the Swiss Watch

The Longines HydroConquest is a collection of fashionable dive watches.

The watch has a 9 mm polished steel case and can handle up to 300 meters of water resistance. It also has a power reserve of up to 72 hours.

It features a screw-down crown, ceramic bezel, and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. All of these combined make it a high-quality, timeless watch.

This band is available either in steel or rubber strap. What makes it most remarkable is the variety of colors: matte green, sunray blue, and classic black.

Who Would Love It

This watch is often compared to the Omega Seamaster and Rolex Submariner (but a lot cheaper!).

11. Wenger SeaForce Watch

Wenger SeaForce Watch
  • Case Diameter: 43 mm
  • Case Thickness: 12 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Mineral
  • Movement: Swiss Quartz Movement
  • Water Resistance: 200 m/660 ft

About the Brand

Founded in 1893, Wenger actually started out as one of the two Swiss army knife manufacturers. In the early years, they also produced spoons and forks.

In 1988, Wenger started producing Swiss-made watches, a year before Victorinox did. Their connection didn’t stop there as Victorinox acquired the company in 2005.

Wenger’s knives got integrated into Victorinox. With this, it allowed Wenger to focus on producing Swiss-made watches and travel gear.

Though Wenger watches are priced lower than Victorinox, they still offer reliable and high-quality timepieces. Most of their styles are sporty and classic.

The classic collections include Urban, City, and Avenue. The sporty collections are Roadster and SeaForce.

About the Swiss Watch

The SeaForce is water-resistant up to 200 meters to endure the harsh environment of the sea. It’s protected by a crown that’s screwed down so it won’t accidentally open up while you’re underwater.

The band comes in various colors and straps: steel, leather, or silicone strap. Some models have a 12-hour chronograph function.

Who Would Love It

The Wenger SeaForce is a versatile watch that can be used for both water sports or everyday casual wear.

This makes it a truly versatile, reliable, and affordable Swiss watch. And the best part? It’s under $200!

12. Breitling Chronomat Colt Automatic 44 Watch

Breitling Chronomat Colt Automatic 44 Black Dial Watch
  • Case Diameter: 44 mm
  • Case Thickness: 11.25 mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Crystal: Sapphire
  • Movement: SwissAutomatic Movement
  • Water Resistance: 200 m/ 660 ft

About the Brand

Breitling is famous for making accurate pilot watches. That’s because the founder, Léon Breitling, was a skilled watchmaker interested in making chronographs.

This made Breitling focus their watches on chronographs. For instance, one of their best watches is the Breitling Navitimer.

The Navitimer, which is a combination of Navigation and Timer, was advanced for its time (in the 1950s). It incorporated a navigational computer to help pilots plan out their flights.

Another notable collection is the Chronomat line. It’s the first-ever chronograph that introduced the self-winding chronometer movement.

Today, Breitling partners with other industries, such as automobile, aviation, and entertainment. For example, their partnership with Bentley traces back to 2002.

About the Swiss Watch

The watch features a rugged and sturdy design with a volcano black dial with a silver/beige strap. It also includes a COSC-certified self-winding automatic chronometer movement.

The case is enclosed in high-quality steel and protected by glare-proof sapphire crystal. It’s also water-resistant up to 200 meters, making it suitable for light water activities such as swimming.

Not to mention, it has 38 hours of power reserve and luminescent hands, and hour markers. Though on the sportier side, it can also be used in everyday, casual wear.

Who Would Love It

The Breitling Chronomat Colt isn’t the most affordable Swiss-made watch.

However, it’s a good starting point if you’re slowly making your way up to brands like Rolex and Omega.

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it: Our top 12 picks for affordable Swiss watch brands.

Of course, there are many more affordable Swiss watch brands not mentioned in this list.

But I believe these are the best Swiss-made watches that will give you plenty of information to consider for your next purchase.

Happy shopping!

Looking for other cheap brands? See: Best Affordable Watch Brands.

Recommendation:

Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X.

★★★★★

Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X. Watch
About Ryan F. Miller

For years I’ve been buying and selling watches as a hobby, which led me to the decision of starting Watch for Tomorrow. I write a lot of the content, and I enjoy doing it. The most important aspect for me is the guidance of buying watches as well as avoiding bad ones. There are many bad watches out there, that are just too expensive. Hopefully, I can help you find your dream watch!