Top 10 Best Automatic Watches for Men

Written by Ryan Miller
| Last Updated on August 17, 2021

Watches make the best fashion pieces to complete your look. Not to mention, they’re also highly functional.

If you want to spice things up with your style, consider getting a watch to match your whole ensemble. You have no idea how big of a difference it makes.

Today, we will be reviewing some of the best automatic watches for men. And boy we’ve got the best watches waiting for you.

Best Overall

Tissot gentleman black dial

Tissot Gentleman Black Dial

Best Value

LUMINOX DEEP DIVE 1521

Luminox Deep Dive

Best Budget

Orient Men 2nd generation

Orient 2nd Gen Bambino

Here Are the Top 10 Best Automatic Watches

  1. Tissot Gentleman Automatic Black Dial Men’s Watch 
  2. Luminox Deep Dive Swiss Automatic Watch
  3. Orient 2nd Generation Bambino Version Watch
  4. Technomarine Manta Automatic Watch
  5. Bulova Men’s Automatic Casual Watch
  6. Seiko 5 Sports Men’s Analogue Automatic Watch
  7. Tag Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 5 
  8. Hamilton Khaki King
  9. Seiko Men Prospex Automatic Diver Watch 
  10. Tissot PRS 516 Automatic Watch

1. Tissot Gentleman Automatic Black Dial

Best Overall

Tissot gentleman black dial

Tissot offers a wide selection of watches for you to feast your eyes on. From the time of its inception up to the present date, they’ve lived up to their name of having the best watches in town.

Their black dial automatic watch is just one of the many things we love from them.

The moment you take this baby out of the box, your eyes are sure in for a treat because of how elegant and sophisticated this looks.

Make no mistake that this watch is flashy. If any, it looks pretty simple! But a closer look at this beauty proves to be otherwise.

This watch features a stainless-steel case, with a nice touch of rose-gold. While the dial has a simple black color, the rose-gold makes a great accent.

In terms of features, consider this automatic watch to be a bit basic. It has your usual date window, located at the three o’clock position of the watch. And finally, this watch is water-resistant for up to 100 meters.

We love how durable this is, thanks to its scratch-resistant case. This is further complemented by the nice brown leather strap, that’s sure to pop on your wrist.

Overall, this makes a great everyday and dress watch. So you can easily match it to your style with no problem.

Pros

  • Great value for money and craftsmanship
  • Great power reserve
  • High-quality stainless steel material
  • Simple and elegant

Specifications

  • Model Number T0984073605201
  • Case Diameter 44mm
  • Weight 3.04oz
  • Water-resistance 100m

2. Luminox Deep Dive Swiss Automatic

Best Value

LUMINOX DEEP DIVE 1521

There’s also a variety of automatic watches out there that doubles as a dive watch. A great example is the Luminox Deep Dive 1521.

You can submerge it to great depths without damaging the internal movement and external appearance of the watch.

The Luminox Deep Dive is a steel watch that uses a corrosion-resistant material. More importantly, it is water-resistant for up to 500 meters, which is significantly more than the average!

If you think that’s impressive, there’s more you need to know.

This automatic watch sports a sapphire crystal, measuring 3mm thick. More than that, there’s also the 200m water-resistant design and screw-down crown to keep the Luminox Deep Dive watertight.

Finally, the Luminox Deep sports a patented locking device, which doubles as a crown protector. With all those features going on, we don’t see any more reason why you can’t bring the Luminox Deep Dive with you underwater.

When it comes to the face of the Luminox Deep Dive, safe to say it’s very readable. Thanks to the Luminox Light Technology and Super Luminova features, you can easily tell the time regardless of where you are.

We’re telling you, the Super Luminova coating and light technology comes in handy if you’re out in the dark open waters.

If you love going on extreme diving excursions, the Luminox Deep Dive is certainly a great companion. You don’t have to be worried about damaging it, thanks to its durable construction.

Pros

  • Durable sapphire crystal and corrosion-resistant steel watch
  • Super Luminova coating
  • Secure screw-down crown feature
  • Great power reserve

Specifications

  • Model Number 1521
  • Case Diameter 44mm
  • Power Reserve 40 hours
  • Water Resistance 500m

3. Orient 2nd Generation Bambino Version Watch

Best Budget Pick

Orient Men 2nd generation

If you want to have an automatic watch that won’t break your bank, then the Orient 2nd Generation Bambino watch is for you.

Orient remains to be a highly-respected watchmaker based in Japan that’s making its way in the international playing field.

Back in the days, they were better known as the Yoshida Watch Shop. But since then, the company has branched to be known as the Orient.

It’s one of the best watches out there that don’t come with a big price tag. If at all, it sells for a really low price. For such a beautiful and elegant piece such as this, the Bambino is a steal.

Out of the box, you’ll notice that this Bambino Version looks very simple. Some might even say it’s a bit basic compared to how other Orient watches look.

Nevertheless, we find the Orient to be pretty stunning by itself. It also sports the essential features you’d normally look for in an automatic watch.

It has the standard date window at the three o’clock mark and is water-resistant for up to 30 meters. Not bad at all for an everyday watch.

We love that this new and improved Bambino version retained its domed dial and crystal look, found on the original.

The only big change we noticed in this version is that the new F6274 movement provides a more accurate reading.

Pros

  • Simple and elegant design
  • Affordable price tag
  • Accurate movement and good power reserve
  • Automatic hand-winding movement

Specifications

  • Model Number: FAC00002W0
  • Case Diameter 40mm
  • Weight 8oz
  • Water-resistance 30m

4. Technomarine Manta Automatic Watch

Technomarine Manta

Compared to the rest of the watches on this list, Technomarine is a relatively new brand. Not a lot of people are familiar with this brand just yet, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthy to be on this list.

The Manta Automatic stainless-steel watch is certainly getting a lot of attention, especially because of its affordable price range.

This automatic watch sports a stainless steel casing and a flame-fusion crystal that keeps the whole thing shatter and scratch proof. The charcoal dial looks unique, with its silver luminous markers as accents.

You might think that the charcoal and silver color combination might be hard to read, but we thought otherwise. The watch was incredibly easy to read even under low-light conditions.

The date display fits well with the aesthetic and almost looks seamless. You’d hardly notice it at your first glance.

But what makes the Manta stand out for us is its high water resistance rating, measuring 300 meters. That can easily beat all the other high-end watch brands we’ve named in this list!

That said, the Manta is one of the best automatic watches for men in its price range. You don’t have to spend a fortune!

Pros

  • High water resistance rating
  • Ideal automatic watch for water activities
  • Stainless steel material and flame-fusion crystal for durability
  • Very affordable

Specifications

  • Model Number TM-215094
  • Case Diameter 48mm
  • Weight 13.92 oz
  • Water-resistance 300m

5. Bulova Men’s Automatic Casual

Bulova 98A177 Men's Classic Automatic Watch

Bulova is one of those names who’s been in the industry for a very long time. How long you might ask? For over 100 years.

Since 1875 and until now, Bulova continues its legacy of creating the best timepieces that are perfect for any generation. And their Automatic Casual timepiece is no exception to their craftsmanship.

If you’d compare this Bulova model to their other models, you’d notice it looks a little sporty because of its matte-black silicone strap.

The stainless-steel case material looks pretty nice, with nice gold-tone accents to make it pop. Inside, both the dial and inner dial ring sports a black color, for a nice and sleek appearance.

But what makes the design of this stand out is its skeleton background. You can see through the dial and its inner movement! Awesome!

We’re pretty impressed with how durable and scratch-resistant the display is, thanks to its sapphire glass. It helps promote its lifespan, fit for generations to come.

The watch comes with other core features, and a little bit more. You can enjoy a 40-hour power reserve and a water resistance of up to 100m.

Through the years, Bulova has proven itself to be the best go-to brand for high-quality and high-end timepieces. That being said, this comes at an expensive price point.

But remember, it’s practically an investment! Rest assured, it will make a good addition to your watch collection.

Pros

  • Sporty but elegant look
  • 40-hour power reserve for the automatic movement
  • Skeleton watch
  • Durable stainless steel material

Specifications

  • Model Number 98A177
  • Case Diameter 46mm
  • Weight 14.4oz
  • Water Resistance 100m
  • Power Reserve 40 hours

6. Seiko 5 Sports Men’s Analogue Automatic

Seiko SRPD55K1

You can never go wrong when you choose a Seiko watch. Their watches always sport that familiar Seiko design, so you know there’s always something good in store for you.

This Seiko watch is part of the new and improved Seiko 5 watches. But, it still holds a lot of design similarities with the older Seiko 5 variants.

This Seiko 5 Sports model has a nice stainless-steel finish for everything, giving it a nice and premium feel and look.

The hands sport that all too familiar luminous feature, so you can still tell the time even under low-light conditions.

It also sports the standard day window, located on the three o-clock markers, unidirectional rotating bezel, and is water-resistant for up to 330 feet!

We love how versatile this Seiko 5 model looks like. You can wear it every day, whether you’re out for a casual or formal event. It’s an all-in-one timepiece!

Pros

  • Double-sided automatic lift
  • All stainless steel materials
  • Hand-winding and good power reserve
  • Unidirectional rotating bezel

Specifications

  • Model Number SRPD55K1
  • Case Diameter 42mm
  • Weight 5.9oz
  • Water Resistance 100m

7. Tag Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 5

TAG HEUER FORMULA-1 CALIBRE 5

It’s no secret that Tag Heuer is among the brands at the top of the list when it comes to watches. This is why it doesn’t come as a surprise anymore that their Formula 1 Caliber 5 made it to this list.

Consider this automatic watch to be a definite eye-catcher. The straps look very sporty, with their punctured design, and the size looks well regardless of wrist size.

Now, the case of the Caliber 5is made of durable titanium material, featuring sapphire crystal to make this bad boy nearly indestructible and scratch-resistant. This will last you centuries!

It makes use of Swiss automatic movement to power this beautiful timepiece for you.

Safe to say, the Formula 1 Caliber 5 was meant for the outdoors. It’s water-resistant for up to 660-feet, which is probably one of the highest you’ll find for automatic watches.

If you’re always out on an adventure, going for a quick swim, or off to a leisurely kayak, this Tag Heuer Caliber 5 can easily be your best friend.

Although it measures a high water resistance, we won’t call the Formula 1 a diving watch. It may not be the best diving watch for serious underwater excursions.

The only thing you might need to be concerned about is the price tag of the Caliber 5. It’s not the most affordable option out there, so it’s not for anyone trying to stick to a budget.

Nevertheless, when you do end up buying the Formula 1 Calibre 5, believe that all you’ve spent is worth it. The Caliber 5 is practically an investment you won’t regret.

Pros

  • Features a date window and unique perforated strap
  • Synthetic sapphire crystal dial window
  • Swiss automatic movement on an analog display
  • Very water-resistant

Specifications

  • Model Number WAZ2115.FT8023
  • Case Diameter 41mm
  • Water Resistance 200m

8. Hamilton Khaki King

HAMILTON KHAKI FIELD KING

If you’re familiar with Hamilton’s military-style watches, then you’ll find the design of the Hamilton Khaki King a little similar.

The design of the Khaki King is a combination of the formal and casual and military design, making it a great field watch.

Safe to say, the design combinations fare well. You can enjoy wearing it as a daily watch, without looking out of place.

It has a stylish looking leather strap, and the stainless steel case gives it a sleek and clean appearance. Safe to say, it’ll look good on any wrist. And we certainly mean that because the Khaki King is, after all, a unisex timepiece.

The face sports clear and easy to read numbers, making the whole dial window easy on the eyes.

It’s pretty elegant if you ask us, and is very simple. It doesn’t have any other fancy things which could easily make the design too much.

We love that the day/date display of the Khaki King is on the twelve o’clock part of this timepiece. It doesn’t make the whole thing look crowded, which looks great.

Everything we love about the face of the  Khaki King is protected by a durable sapphire mineral class, adding an extra layer of protection.

The hour and minute hands sport a luminescence feature. Although we find it a bit lacking, especially if you compare it to other luxury dive watches in the market.

Pros

  • Great all-around field watch
  • Scratch-resistant sapphire glass face and durable stainless steel housing
  • Bold day/date display
  • Automatic self-winding movement

Specifications

  • Model Number H64455533 
  • Case Diameter 40mm
  • Water Resistance 50m

9. Seiko Men’s Prospex Automatic Diver Watch

Seiko Padi special

The Seiko Men Prospex Padi Special Edition is one of those dive watches you don’t want to miss out on. This automatic timepiece hails only from the best watch brands, Seiko.

We’ve said it before, Seiko knows what they’re doing when it comes to watches.

This is even true when it comes to diving watches. For years, they’ve perfected their diving watches, so much that they’ve become the global standard.

In general, this special edition Prospex model looks very loud. It’s big and bulky and screams extra with its blue dial.

Whenever you’re wearing this, expect it to turn a lot of heads because it does stick out like a sore thumb.

For its size, you might think it feels uncomfortable and heavy on the wrist. This is why it might come as a surprise to you that it’s quite the opposite.

This automatic watch feels very comfortable to wear and didn’t bother us too much.

Because this is a diving watch, expect the design to adapt to conditions once underwater. One of the noticeable examples is the accordion-style strap.

The straps come pretty handy, whether you’re wearing them on your wrist or top of your diving suit.

It will feel comfortable on the wrist regardless of what you’re wearing and what activity you’re about to do.

Pros

  • Durable and solid construction
  • Awesome features meant for professional drivers
  • Comfortable straps
  • Relatively affordable price point

Specifications

  • Model Number SRPA83
  • Case Diameter 50mm
  • Weight 1.1lbs
  • Water-resistance 200m

10. Tissot PRS 516 Automatic Watch

TISSOT PRS 516 POWERMATIC 80 SS

Finally, the last automatic watch in this list is no other than the Swiss-made brand. The PRS 516 features a Powermatic 80 automatic movement, making this Swiss-made baby a powerhouse.

Now, we’re impressed with this Swiss-made timepiece because of how extremely high functioning it is. But what can you expect from a Swiss brand that’s been doing this for so long? Only perfection of course.

We did notice that the PRS 516 has a lighter design and construction, compared to all other Tissot automatic watches. Truth be told, we’re loving it.

It only weighs 8oz, which is way less than your typical Swiss-made timepiece.

Design-wise, it features a practical, simple look, including a day/date window against a black dial.

This sums up the features of this Swiss watch. So in a sense, it’s a bit lacking for us in terms of features. We wished there was more.

Nonetheless, it’s still a functional timekeeper that looks incredibly elegant and stylish.

Pros

  • Comes from a high-end Swiss brand
  • Lighter than most automatic watches
  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Powerful movement

Specifications

  • Model Number T1004301105100
  • Case Diameter 42mm
  • Weight 6.88 oz
  • Water-resistance 100m

Buyer’s Guide

Buying timepieces is pretty challenging because you’ve got a ton of factors to think of. But sometimes, you don’t know what factors these are, to begin with.

And when you leave these things out, you end up buying the wrong thing and end up wasting your money.

We don’t want that to happen to you ever. This is why we’ve come up with a guide to help you find the features you need in finding the best watch.

Budget

Whether you like it or not, budget plays an important role in your decision-making process. Watches can either be cheap or expensive, depending on what you’re looking at.

You can probably get a $10 watch or splurge on a $100,000 watch. It’s up to you.

Before you head out to buy your preferred choice, how much are you willing to spend? Most of the time, your budget sets the tone when it comes to finding the right timepiece for you.

Are you willing to spend on a luxury watch that’s sure to last you centuries? Or are you okay with a basic watch that’s pretty cheap but very flimsy?

You’ll also need to consider whether you’re looking for specific features on a watch. Can you connect it to your phone? Or do you just want a stand-alone watch?

Ask yourself these questions, for you to more or less manage your expectations when it’s finally time to decide what to buy.

If you’re set on a budget, feel free to read our articles on the best automatic watches under 500 dollars or the best automatic watches under 200 dollars.

Material

The beauty of watches is that they come in all sorts of materials. Some come in a stainless steel case, titanium, and more! Or you could get a plastic watch, or even a wooden watch that’s pretty unique.

In general, the material depends entirely on the look you’re going for. Whatever it is, we highly recommend you make sure it comes with great quality.

For example, you want a leather watch. Make sure that it uses authentic leather! Or perhaps you want a stainless steel case. Is it scratch-resistant?

It’s things like those that’ll matter once you’re wearing and enjoying your watch.

As much as possible, you’d want to stick with durable material. You won’t have to worry about your watch getting damaged any time soon!

Movement

Movement refers to the technical aspect of things when we speak of watches.

Today, a lot of high-quality watches make use of quartz movement. But that doesn’t mean automatic movement and mechanical watches aren’t any better!

Mechanical watches could either be self or hand winding watches. The beauty of self-winding watches is that you don’t have to do anything to power them.

Your wrist movement is enough to get the watch up and running.

But whenever you’re not wearing your mechanical watches, the movement tends to stop. And when it does, you have to manually wind it and set it to the proper time.

The beauty of mechanical watches is it features hours of power reserve. The number varies depending on the brand, so we suggest watching out for a big power reserve.

Quartz watches on the other hand are pretty common. You can find quartz watches nearly everywhere!

They’re pretty convenient to have around because it’s battery-powered. You don’t need to wind it ever so often whenever you’re not using it.

Brand

Some people are pretty brand conscious when it comes to their watch. Some prefer luxury watches because of the brand attached to them. While others are okay with lesser-known companies.

If you’re willing to pay extra, why not go for a brand you know will last a century. This could be like Seiko, Tag Heuer, and more, who are known to make watches that can last a century.

For us, we don’t mind spending a little extra on the big names. Why? Well, because we know we’ll never be wrong picking them. We’re sure that they know what they’re doing!

Features

Back in the days, watches didn’t have a lot of features. It could just tell the time! The most features it came with were having a light function, day/date indicator, and maybe even a stopwatch.

Today, a lot of watches come with many features you didn’t think you needed. You’ve got watches that have a dual-time function, high water resistance ratings, can connect to your phone, and more!

What features are you looking for in a watch? You can easily answer this once you’ve figured out how you plan to use it during the day.

Conclusion

Now that you know the different automatic watches out there, it’s finally time to make a decision and buy the perfect one for you. Which watch brand will you choose?

In this list, we made sure to give you a ton of options, which we’re sure you’ll enjoy.

We hope you enjoyed our list of some of the greatest automatic watches you need to get your hands on. Feel free to leave a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!

You can also share this list with your friends and family. Who knows, they might be looking for the same thing as you!

Recommendation:

Tissot Gentleman Black Dial

★★★★★

Tissot gentleman black dial

FAQ’s

What Is an Automatic Watch?

As its name suggests, automatic watches are automatic. It is powered by wrist movement, so continued use is ideal.

Unlike manual watches, where you need to twist the crown, you don’t have to do this with automatic timepieces.

As you move your arms, the rotor on the watch swings which sets the gears in motion. You can check this out for yourself!

What’s the Best Brand for Automatic Watches?

With a ton of big names out there, finding the best can be a challenge. Not to mention the features alone. This is especially true since every person has his/her idea of what makes up the best.

Nevertheless, there are several names we can all agree on to have the best automatic watches.

They’ve been around for so long, and have established their credibility as a good watchmaker, not just for automatic watches.

This includes Tissot from Switzerland, Seiko from Japan, Bulova from New York, and more! These are just some of the brands you know have some of the best watches.

If you’re buying a watch for the first time, then you ought to check those out. Choosing them will never be a mistake because their timepieces are always made with great quality.

However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore lesser-known brands out there. You’d be surprised that there are several automatic watches for men coming from less-known brands that are just as good.

If you have the time, we highly recommend getting to know the newer companies. They offer the same high-quality products, at a pretty affordable price point.

About Ryan 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!