Best Affordable Watch Brands You Need to Know

Written by Paul Morrison
| Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Watches have been around for so long, they’ve formed part of our fashion. We can hardly imagine completing our outfit without them.

Today, we’ll review the best affordable watches out there, coming from different watch brands.

At the end of this review, we want to make sure we give you only the best watches for the best price point. You won’t regret it.

What are you waiting for? Let’s get straight to the review!

Here are the Top 7 Best Affordable Watch Brands

  • Casio
  • Seiko
  • Timex
  • Orient
  • Tissot
  • Citizen
  • Skagen
Casio Logo

Casio – Best Overall

Casio, a watch brand everyone in the world is familiar with. Casio has stood the test of time and remains one of the best watch brands regardless of price point.

They’ve rolled out superb watches, and their G-Shock series has charmed the attention of many people.

Undeniably, the G-Shock series has made its round on the internet for being one of the best all-around watches that’s solar-powered.

Now, this Japanese brand had its fair share of humble beginnings. Who knew that this electronics company would branch into the world of watches?

And the world sure is happy with even the electronics manufactured by Casio.

Casio sells the all too familiar calculators every student touches, their digital cameras, and even digital watches. Casio has it all.

Pros

  • A watch brand popular all over the world
  • Makes some of the best timepieces
  • Each model comes with a reasonable price range
  • Great value for money

Should You Get A Casio?

If you want the best timepieces out there that won’t break the bank, Casio watches are our number one choice. They offered a wide selection of watches which we’re sure you’ll enjoy choosing from!

Do you want a dress watch or fashion watch? No problem because Casio’s got it for you. Looking for digital watches? Casio has it!

Let’s not forget, the G-Shock series will get a run for your money. For the price, the G-Shock series is always a great addition to your collection.

Seiko Logo

Seiko – Best Value for Money

Another Japanese brand on this list is Seiko, which is known worldwide for having the best value for money for their watches. Now, this Japanese company certainly has a rich history to it.

Since 1881, Seiko has made its mark by producing a wide selection of watches for people. And nearly every model they roll out comes at a pretty decent price point. Each product is a sweet deal!

If you’re looking for an affordable and beautiful timepiece, Seiko is a great option.

The designs of their watch look just right, perfect for all sorts of events! They even manufacture some of the best dive watches out there for the price!

If you want to get your money’s worth, we highly recommend you check out their Seiko 5 line. The line has a wide range of watches that can satisfy your needs.

The durability of Seiko watches is reasonably decent. It won’t break down on the slight touch and should last you a good decade. Considering its price point, we say you’ve got yourself a winner.

But if you’re willing to spend a little extra, Seiko has some higher-end models for you to choose from. They’re a lot more durable and come with a ton of features.

Pros

  • Seiko timepieces are available anywhere
  • One of the most reliable Japanese watch brands today
  • The perfect addition to your watch collection
  • Wide range of design and features

Should You Get A Seiko?

Seiko watches never go out of style. It’s one of those timepieces you can buy once and wear a lifetime! And that’s a great money saver in the long run.

If you’re a practical man who wants a high-end accessory that won’t break your bank, this Japanese watch brand is a great go-to company. And we guarantee that Seiko won’t let you down.

For its price tag and incredible designs, what more can you ask for? Brands like Seiko form part of the foundation of the watch industry.

Timex-Company-Logo

Timex – Best Budget Pick

Timex is a watch brand that’s known all over the world. For many years, they’ve rolled out some pretty decent watches for a fairly reasonable price point.

Which is why when it comes to finding the best affordable watch brands, expect this brand to be on the list.

Besides being of the most affordable watch brands, Timex is known for its durable and simple designs.

Even for the price, you can expect Timex to be highly durable. You can wear any model from this brand, and it can withstand anything you throw at it.

Finally, one of the many reasons we love Timex watches is their simple and classy designs.

Each model Timex rolls out has an appeal to it, which we think can rival even that of Patek Philippe. It’s that beautiful!

Pros

  • A fashion watch brand that can meet your style
  • Many styles and designs to choose from
  • Has some of the best affordable timepieces out there
  • A company known around the world and in the watch industry

Should You Get A Timex?

If you want some of the best fashion watches out there, this brand is a perfect choice. With such a wide range of selections, you won’t have difficulty finding a dress watch, everyday accessory, and more!

For us, Timex checks all the lists we’re looking for in a watch. It comes with reasonably decent water resistance, and the materials are durable. What more can you ask for?

Brands like Timex make a good name in the watch industry. You won’t regret choosing this brand.

Orient_Watch_Logo_220px

Orient – Most Affordable Diving

Another Japanese brand on this list is Orient. Do note that Orient comes from the same Seiko family, so you’re sure you’ll get your money’s worth with this one.

Orient came a little later than Seiko, sometime around the 1950s. Nevertheless, despite being a late entrant, Orient has rolled out some of the best seller watches in the market.

Thanks to their unique and beautiful looking watches and their reliable movements, Orient is becoming a top pick for many.

To date, the Orient Bambino line is one of the most popular selections from the brand.

Each model comes with an excellent classic design, sporting a pretty decent quality and durability! It looks great on the wrist, and it’s one of those watches you can wear to a fancy event.

Pros

  • Classic looking designs
  • Quality products for the price tag
  • Perfect everyday and dress watch
  • Comes from the same Seiko company

Should You Get An Orient?

Yes! Like us, many people find that brands like Orient, Seiko, and Casio make an excellent choice compared to other Swiss watch brands. Why?

Well, one of the main reasons has to do with the price. Japanese brands, such as Orient, are highly affordable. Plus, each design looks perfect in any look. You won’t be disappointed buying it.

If you’re looking for a timeless looking timepiece, we highly recommend Orient.

Tissot logo

Tissot – Most Affordable Luxury Brand

Tissot is a Swiss brand which we’re sure you’ve heard of.

It’s a subsidiary of the Swatch Group, along with brands like Hamilton. Not exactly in the category of affordability, but more on the high-end Swiss watches in the market.

But compared to all other Swiss watches out there, Tissot is probably one of the low-cost Swiss brands you can get. And if you’re willing to spend a little extra for it, we highly recommend that you go for it.

For many years, Tissot is known for its classic looking watches coming in an all too familiar stainless case. It gives the whole thing a lovely classic and modern look everyone loves.

And because of the excellent reputation it has built through the years, a lot of collectors trust this Swiss brand.

Tissot even managed to survive the quartz crisis, which caused the end of other Swiss watch brands.

Although Tissot isn’t necessarily affordable, we nevertheless put this Swiss brand on this list for being the most affordable luxury brand in the market.

Each product produced comes with high quality and durable construction.

Pros

  • One of the most affordable luxury brand
  • Swiss made
  • Beautiful and classy finish
  • Perfect dress accessory

Should You Get A Tissot?

If you’re serious about starting your very own watch collection, Tissot is a great starting point.

It comes from a reliable Swiss brand and is part of the Swatch Group of companies, so quality is guaranteed.

Yes, this Swiss watch comes with a bigger price tag, but trust us when we say it’s worth it. You’re practically paying for the quality of this Swiss timepiece!

citizen_logo-ecodrive

Citizen – Best in Accuracy & Solar-Power

Citizen is another one of the best watch brands today. It’s a watch brand known for their innovations in the watch industry, that’s a sure game-changer for a lot of watch brands.

Now, Citizen watches are known for their Eco-Drive technology, which you can find in many of their watches. And what exactly is the Eco-Drive technology?

Well, this means that it uses solar power on this quartz watch. It has a lot of advantages, especially for people always on the go.

You don’t have to think about changing the batteries anymore. You can even find a great selection of water-resistance watches from Citizen, that can rival with big named brands!

Overall, Citizen sports perfect looking watches you don’t want to miss out on.

The case usually sports a stainless steel material, with a smooth and pleasant finish. And the straps are a choice between leather or stainless steel.

If you’d ask us if you’re a fan of sports watches, we highly recommend getting an all stainless finish. Brands like Citizen make a great timepiece you’d want to look at every day.

Pros

  • Strong build quality
  • Comes with a warranty
  • Great craftsmanship
  • Highly durable and affordable

Should You Get A Citizen?

We recommend Citizen watches to all the men out there who want to look great regardless of the occasion.

It’s no secret the Citizen watches look stunning in every angle, thanks to their excellent and polished finish.

One thing is for sure, though when you get a Citizen watch, it’ll never go out of style. Regardless of the design you choose, you’re sure it will age as gracefully as you.

And if you’re looking for other kinds of watches, we’re more than happy to say Citizen has them. They’ve got pilot watches, dress watches, and many others to choose from.

skagen_logo

Skagen – Best Minimalist Fashion

Skagen is an American brand that offers a lot of accessories. They’ve got bags, jewelry, and even watches. Rest assured all those look very stunning.

Skagen watches look pretty distinct because of their simple and minimal face, and their titanium mesh straps and case.

We love the mesh straps because it’s unlike everything we’ve seen on other watches. You’ll need to check it out for yourself.

But if you want a simple looking leather strap, Skagen has a wide range of selection for you to enjoy.

Pros

  • Simple and minimal looking design
  • Perfect for people with small wrists
  • Durable titanium case
  • Perfect everyday watch

Should You Get A Skagen?

If you want a watch you can wear regardless of the occasion, Skagen watches are the best choice.

It has a simple-looking appearance that won’t stand out too much. If at all, Skagen watches are fashion watches meant to complement your style.

Buyer’s Guide for Affordable Watches

Buying a watch is no easy task, even if you’re looking for an affordable option! There’s a ton of factors to consider, to make sure you get your money’s worth.

If you don’t know what these factors are, you’re in luck! We’ve listed down all the essential considerations you should make before making that big purchase.

At the end of the day, it’ll be a lot easier for you to narrow down your search! Plus, you won’t regret your decision.

Brand

For many people, the brand is always an essential factor. And to some, it’s the first thing they look for.

After all, it’s a big indication of whether the watch company is excellent and reliable at manufacturing watches. You’ve got Swiss, American, German, and other brands out there.

One thing you need to learn about choosing a brand is that each has its design, look, and even feel. Every company possesses the same personality, and their line of watches might even look the same.

Now, remember that the brand is more than just the name of the company. It communicates all sorts of things and offers, such as the lifestyle it’s for, the status, and even fashion choice.

That said, we highly recommend asking yourself what you want the most out of your watch.

If you’re a practical person and want a reliable watch that can last you decades, we recommend going for a relatively higher-priced timepiece.

There’s a ton of brands out there that offers a wide range selection of quality watches, which we’re sure you love!

The plus side of choosing from those brands is that they use high-quality materials to make sure their watch is long-lasting. So much so, you can even pass it from one generation to another!

But if you’re someone who’s trying to work with a budget, choosing an affordable watch should be enough. They’re also highly durable and come with decent functions, among others.

Materials

Each component in a watch is made of different materials, which have its advantages. In this section, we will discuss the materials on each watch part: case and case back, crystal, and strap.

Case and Caseback

The case and case back of a watch are crucial. Most watches today come with either a stainless case, titanium, among others.

In general, the stainless steel case is the most common type out there and is one of the best sellers. You’ll get great value for money, and quality is never a question.

But if you’re willing to spend a little extra, getting a watch that uses titanium, gold, ceramic, among others, is always a good idea.

These materials are highly scratch-resistant and durable. Sure it’s a little expensive than stainless steel, but it’s worth it in the long run.

Crystal

The component responsible for protecting the watch face is the crystal, which is made of different materials. You’ve got acrylic, mineral crystal glass, sapphire crystal, among others.

Of all those we’ve mentioned, we find acrylic to be the most inferior of the bunch. Sure it’s a lot cheaper, but the quality isn’t always guaranteed.

Acrylic tends to break and scratch way faster, which should be a red flag for you.

Mineral crystal glass is right in the middle in terms of quality. It comes with excellent value for money, durable, and scratch-resistant.

You can find an affordable watch which uses this kind of material, so you’ve got nothing to worry about.

Now, if you want to go all the way and find the best for your watch collection, go for a sapphire crystal glass window. It’s the creme of the crop and the cherry on the icing.

Sapphire crystal glass is the most high-quality material you can find today, and it’s even scratch-resistant.

You can wear the watch for decades, and you won’t regret it. Although sapphire crystal glass tends to be pricey, it’s an investment worth buying.

Bracelet, Band, or Straps

Finally, we’re down to the strap of your watch. If you’ve noticed, watches come with different strap types. Way back in time, watchmakers used to use leather straps or stainless material.

But today, you can get so many options. You can even mix and max the straps to match your style! You’ve got rubber, nylon, NATO, and so much more strap types to choose from.

And the beauty of having this option is you can bring so much life to your watch. You can transform its design to match your style and event!

Features

In the early days, watches could only tell the time. The most advanced feature it could ever have back then was a day/date window.

But today, there’s so much more your watch can do. Gone are the days where watches only sport the basic features. Now, watches come in all sorts of features you can dare to imagine.

You’ve got watches that can tell dual time zone, moon phase, and among others! You can even connect some watches to your phone and get instant notifications! It’s that advanced.

No matter how advanced your watch is, you’d want to make sure that it won’t be too complicated for you to use. How can you enjoy the watch if you don’t know how to use it?

Remember, before buying a feature-packed watch, make sure you get to know how to operate it and navigate your way to the settings.

And if you think you won’t be a fan of those types of watches, we recommend sticking with a classic watch.

Despite all the features out there, there’s still a lot of brands that make simple watches. And sometimes these are the classic timepieces you don’t want to miss out on.

Movement

Movement plays a vital role in powering a watch. It’s the main reason why watches function, which is why choosing the proper movement is essential.

For some people, the first thing they’ll look at is how the watches are powered.

In general, there are two types of watch movements: mechanical and quartz. Let’s get to know each of them.

Mechanical watches typically include a manual and an automatic watch. This means that those types of watches are entirely made up of mechanical parts to power it.

For many years, a lot of watch masters and collectors prefer mechanical watches because of their classic and traditional appearance. Plus, a lot of watchmakers have mastered making mechanical watches!

Watches that sport automatic movements are put on a pedestal because of the craftsmanship and expertise involved in crafting it.

On the other hand, quartz movement watches are considered to be the most accurate and affordable type out there. It has zero to no maintenance, which is a good thing for a lot of people.

The only thing you’ll ever have to worry about quartz movement watches is its power source. You’ll need to replace batteries when the time comes, and that’s all!

Style

One of the perks of choosing watches is sorting through all the beautiful designs and styles out there.

Through the years, watch styles and designs have evolved so much and practically covers all our imaginations.

Undeniably, sorting through those styles could be challenging. There are different watch designs, materials, shapes, and styles to choose from. How would you choose?

For us, it’s always best to try the watches out on your wrist and get a feel of it. Does it look great, and is it comfortable?

As much as possible, you want to make sure you answer those two questions in the affirmative.

Because besides looking good, your watch should also make you feel good.

Conclusion

There you have it, folks! We’ve listed some of the best and most affordable brands to get your watches. You’ve got many options to choose from!

Rest assured, all the brands we’ve listed here manufactures quality and great looking watches to enjoy.

Let us know in the comment section below which brands, companies, and timepieces you enjoyed! We’d love to hear from you.

Feel free to share this review with your friends and family. Who knows? You might just help them find the perfect company to get their watches from.

About Paul Morrison

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!