12 Best Watches Under $1000
- 23-jewel automatic
- 50 hour battery life
- Adjustable bevel
- Swiss quartz movement
- Sapphire glass
- Date window
- Waterproof for 200 meters
- Light-powered
- Polyurethane band
Do you want a traditional watch at an affordable price? If so, you might have some trouble finding one. High-end men’s watches can easily cost thousands of dollars. The price tends to increase as the number of special features rises, too.
Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the best watches under $1000. While you won’t find any Rolex watches on this list, you’ll find plenty of models from the leading brands, and they’re all made to standards that rival the best watches in the world. All them boast a number of features that are typically only found in watches outside of the $1000 price range, and they’re all ruggedly handsome with elegant design elements.
Once you’ve gone through our list of dive watches and luxury watches, you’ll be able to use our buyer’s guide to help you find the right one for you. It’s been designed to help you pinpoint the features that you need, and it has a few tips that will help you buy the watch that will benefit you the most.
1. Seiko SARB017 Automatic Watch
The Seiko SARB017 is a handsome and rugged watch with a fair price tag. The bezel is made from stainless steel, and it's polished to a beautiful shine. The face features golden hands and hour markers, and a visually appealing cover made from sapphire glass. The face also includes a rotating compass ring. The unit is accented by a well-crafted band that is made from calfskin leather. Besides the beautifully crafted aesthetics of the watch, users will be impressed by its 50 hour battery life, 200 meter water resistance, and it's 23-jewel automatic movement system.
The Seiko SARB017 isn't as advanced as some of the other watches on this list, but it's a great option for those who want a stylish watch, but also live an active lifestyle.
Key Features
- 23-jewel automatic
- 50 hour battery life
- Adjustable bevel
- 200 meter water resistance
- Aesthetically pleasing
2. TAG Heuer Formula 1 Stainless Steel Watch
As one of the more expensive models on this list, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 has a number of features that set it apart from the less expensive options.
The entire watch is crafted from beautifully polished stainless steel, and it mixes traditional design elements with a touch of modern charm. The 41 millimeter watch case utilizes the finest sapphire glass to provide an anti-glare viewing window. Its luminous hands are powered by a Swiss quartz movement system, and they move along a traditional analog face. The face contains a compass ring, and it has a date window replacing the 3 o'clock spot. The Formula 1 is waterproof up to 200 meters, and it features a link-style band made from stainless steel.
The price tag might scare off some potential buyers, but the Formula 1 is a watch that will last a lifetime or more. It's rugged, stylish, and accurate.
Key Features
- Swiss quartz movement
- Sapphire glass
- Date window
- Stainless steel construction
- Waterproof
3. Citizen Promaster Professional Diver Watch
The Citizen Promaster is one of the least expensive options on this list, but that doesn't make it a lower quality watch. It provides a couple of unique features, and it has a modern look.
The stainless steel bezel is polished to perfection, and it surrounds a dark blue face. The hands and hour markers are made from a luminous steel, and they move along an analog clock face. One of the truly unique features of this watch is its power system. It doesn't require a battery of any kind. The Citizen Promaster is powered by light, and users have praised the system for its reliability. Between the light-powered system and the Japanese quartz movement system, the Citizen Promaster can provide an accurate measurement of time without needing any maintenance. To round off the Citizen Promaster's list of features, it features a polyurethane band that matches the dark blue face, and it's waterproof up to 200 meters.
This is a great budget watch for people who want a dependable watch, but don't have the money for the more costly steel models.
Key Features
- Waterproof for 200 meters
- Light-powered
- Polyurethane band
- Inexpensive
- Japanese quartz movement
4. Victorinox Swiss ‘I.N.O.X.’ Casual Watch
Victorinox is a world renown brand, and they're one of the leading names in the watch industry. This particular model is aimed at casual watch owners, but it offers the same quality and guarantee that their higher priced models do.
The I.N.O.X. is traditional in appearance, and it's constructed from stainless steel. The highly-polished bezel surrounds a triple-coated sapphire glass window, and an analog face shines through with stunning clarity. The hands and hour markers are luminous, and they're expertly crafted to be visually appealing. Unlike other watches on this list, this Swiss watch isn't just waterproof. It has been engineered to withstand the toughest beatings. Victorinox claims that it can withstand being ran over by a tank, and it'll easily survive minor mishaps that happen during the course of your day. If you've used a Victorinox pocket knife, you won't be surprised to hear that the I.N.O.X. comes complete with a few unique features. Since the watch is designed for diving, Victorinox has included a detachable jelly fish bumper, and it has a detachable magnifying glass built-in.
This watch is a truly rugged time piece with a traditional design, and it has a couple of unique features that are perfect for snorkelers and divers. The price is extremely fair, and Victorinox stands by their products. Like all of their watches, they provide a 3-year manufacturer's warranty with the I.N.O.X.
Key Features
- Durable
- Waterproof for 200 meters
- Detachable tools
- 3-year warranty
- Stainless steel construction
5. Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph Watch
Bulova's Lunar Pilot skips most of the fancy features that other watches focus on, and perfects the features that make it a good watch. It's also one of the lower-priced watches on this list.
This Bulova watch isn't the first of its kind. It's an upgraded version of the same Bulova watch that David R. Scott wore during the first lunar landing. It features the same iconic design, but it has included some modern features for improved accuracy and reliability. The watch features extremely luminous hands and hour markers, a chronograph built into the face, and anti-reflective sapphire glass. The face is black, and it's accented by stainless steel markings. The band is made from black leather, and it features a stainless steel clasp. Most of the upgrades are minor, but the Lunar Pilot does include one feature that will make owners of the previous version want to upgrade. It utilizes Bulova's patented UHC movement system. The UHC movement system allows it to maintain a frequency of 262kHz, and that allows it to measure time more accurately than most watches.
The Bulova Lunar Pilot isn't cheap, but it's not expensive, either. There are plenty of high-end features pack into it for its price, and it's perfect for people who want something that is rich in history.
Key Features
- UHC movement system
- Highly luminous
- Stainless steel
- Rich history
- Water resistant for 100 meters
6. SEIKO SARB065 MECHANICAL Watch
Seiko has made a name for themselves by selling timepieces from Japan. Their watches are known for being highly accurate, stunningly beautiful, and rugged enough to last a lifetime.
This particular model utilizes an automatic Japanese quartz system to measure time. The case, hands, and face details are made from a highly polished stainless steel, and the band is made from black leather. The band is secured by a deployment clasp. Instead of using the popular sapphire crystal glass that other companies use, Seiko watches have chosen to use their own Hardlex crystal for the viewing window. The face features an analog design, Guilloche dial, and a date window. While the watch is self-winding, it also features a manual winding system. This allows you to set the watch to the exact time that you want it at.
Key Features
- Mechanical
- Hardlex viewing window
- Guilloche dial
- Waterproof for 50 meters
- Automatic or manual winding
7. Tissot Mens Le Locle Powermatic 80
This Swiss-made timepiece is an elegant classic. It doesn't have the fanciest features, but it's perfect for people who want a truly handsome watch at an affordable price.
The Powermatic 80 is made from stainless steel, and the case uses scratch resistant sapphire glass to protect the watch's elegantly designed face. The Powermatic replaces traditional hour markers with Roman numerals, and it features a stunningly beautiful Guilloche dial. The face also features a date window, and it has minute markers lining the outside of the clock face. The band is made from stainless steel, and it features seven links. If it's too large, you can easily have a link removed. It's not very waterproof, though. It's only rated to resist depths of 30 meters or less. That's enough for walking in the rain or showering, but you won't want to go diving with this watch. That's not a major drawback, though. This watch is clearly made to complement formal attires.
There isn't much more to say about the Powermatic 80. It doesn't have a lot of features, but it has everything that a good watch should, and it's one of the best looking watches on this list.
Key Features
- Quartz movement
- Waterproof for 30 meters
- Durable
- Scratch resistant
- Swiss quality
8. Orient Men’s Polaris GMT Automatic Watch
The Orient Men's Polaris was designed to satisfy people with an adventurous spirit. Not only is it affordable, but it will look good in the office, and it'll work wonders for travel enthusiasts.
The Polaris has a 42 millimeter case made from stainless steel. The watch face is analog, and it has a separate face for GMT time measurements. Its GMT compatibility makes it ideal for people who consistently travel around the globe. The hands and hour markers are reminiscent of a traditional compass, and they're painted blue to provide contrast against the silver clock face. The face is protected by a sapphire glass crystal. The Polaris is an automatic watch, but it can also be manually wound. That gives you more control over the watch.
Key Features
- Automatic and manual
- Sapphire glass
- Modest size
- Waterproof up to 50 meters
- GMT compatible
9. Citizen Eco-Drive Atomic Timekeeping Watch
The Citizen Eco-Drive provides the same quality as the Citizen Promaster, but it comes in a more traditional package. The watch is made from stainless steel, and it has more features than most of the other watches on this list.
The Eco-Drive doesn't use a battery. It has the same light-powered internal system as the Promaster. You have to occasionally allow the watch to charge, but it doesn't require as much maintenance as other watches, and you don't have to replace anything when it dies. The Eco-Drive features an analog face with steel hands and hour markers on a black background. It's powered by a quartz movement system, and it's synchronized to an atomic clock. You can also select a time zone to automatically update the time and date via radio waves. The Eco-Drive also has a number of special features. Besides having a normal clock face, it also has a chronograph, tachometer, and a perpetual calendar.
Key Features
- Light-powered
- Atomic synchronization
- Tachometer
- Chronograph
- Radio wave update system
10. Hamilton H70555533 Khaki Field
With a traditional look and GMT compatibility, the Hamilton Khaki Field is a high-end traveler's watch. It doesn't have the most features, but it does perform well as a watch, and it's more waterproof than the last traveler's watch on this list.
The Khaki Field has a brown leather strap, stainless steel case, and sapphire crystal viewing window. The hour markers are an Arabic numerical design, and the dial is made from highly polished steel. The GMT chart is located on the outer ring of the face. The calendar window is located at the 3 o'clock position, and the watch is waterproof in depths that don't exceed 100 meters.
Key Features
- Stainless steel case
- Sapphire crystal
- GMT compatible
- Calendar
- Waterproof up to 100 meters
11. Seiko Prospex SRPC93 Diving Watch
The Seiko Prospex is a diving watch that features a traditional design with modern undertones. The case is made from 319L stainless steel, and its band is a link design that makes it easily adjustable. It features an automatic winding system, but you can wind it manually by pulling out the crown. It's waterproof up to 200 meters. So, it can easily survive snorkeling, swimming, and other aquatic activities. It's not suitable for diving, though. The 24-jewel movement system is self-winding. So, you never have to worry about having to wind it by hand. In addition to those features, the hands are coated in Lumibrite. That makes it so the hands are easily visible in low-light conditions.
This is a classically designed watch, but it offers the modern features necessary to satisfy people in the modern world. When that's combined with its traditional charm and moderate price, it's hard to pass the Prospex up.
Key Features
- Lumibrite hands
- 24-jewel movement
- Waterproof for 200 meters
- Hardlex crystal
- Self-winding
12. Victorinox Men’s 241711 Alliance
The Victorinox Alliance is more affordable than the I.N.O.X. That doesn't mean that it's cheap, though. It's made to the same high-quality standards as all other Victorinox products, and it has enough features to satisfy even the pickiest users.
The Alliance is made in Switzerland, and it lives up to the standards set by Swiss craftsmen. The case and bracelet are made from stainless steel, and the stainless steel hands are luminous for easy viewing in low-light conditions. The watch is powered by a Swiss quartz movement system, and it's one of the most accurate timepieces available. Victorinox has also made it a lot easier to replace the battery on the Alliance. Traditionally, a watch case requires a small pry tool to remove the case cover. The Alliance uses a much more user-friendly design. You simply unscrew the back of the case, replace the battery, and put the case back on. To round off the Alliance's basic feature list, the case is waterproof for up to 100 meters. That's enough to survive surface level aquatic activities. As with all Victorinox watches, you can take advantage of a 3-year warranty if anything goes wrong with the watch.
Key Features
- Swiss quality
- Swiss quartz movement
- Luminous dial
- Waterproof for 100 meters
- 3-year warranty
Best Watches Under $1000 Buyer’s Guide
Buying a high-end watch isn’t an easy process for most people. It isn’t common for people to have enough expendable income to randomly buy a $600 watch. However, it is achievable, and it’s something that can provide a timeless addition to any man’s daily attire.
In the next few sections, we’ll go through the key points of buying a high-end watch. With these tips, you’ll be able to find a watch that suits your needs, and you’ll be able to stick to your budget.
What Features Do You Need?
It’s easy to think that you need the most complex watch possible, but that’s simply not true. The amount of features that a watch has either raises the price, or it lowers the quality. In most cases, you can probably get away with a watch that simply tells time accurately.
That doesn’t mean that you should completely overlook special features that enhance your watch’s capabilities. If you live in an area that is prone to heavy downpours, then you need something that is waterproof. If you work in an environment that might cause your watch to get crushed, you need something that can withstand a lot of force. A lot of the options on our list fit both of those categories.
It’s also worth noting that most of the special features that watches have are geared towards people who live active lifestyles. If you live a very active lifestyle, you should consider buying a more advanced watch. The features that define a more advance watch are things such as chronographs, tachometers, and GMT tracking. Some cheap watches feature versions of these features, but they rarely work as expected. You should be ready to spend a little more for these features when you look at real watches.
Choosing the Right Strap
You might not consider a watch’s strap to be little more than an aesthetic addition. However, it’s much more than that. You need to ensure that you can comfortably wear a watch before you commit to buying it.
High-end watches tend to be designed for comfort, but each person is different. You should take some time to see how different materials feel on your wrist. Some people might like stainless steel link bracelets. Other people might prefer leather straps. This factor comes down to personal preference, but it’s one that you should consider.
Battery Life
If you feel comfortable changing a watch battery frequently, you won’t have to worry about this too much. However, it’s still something that you should consider. You need to look at the average battery life that a watch has. If the watch has a short battery life, you’ll have to crack it open a lot more frequently, and that also adds to the overall maintenance cost of your watch. If you do it wrong, it might even damage your watch’s case.
There are some watches that completely bypass the need to care about battery life. Both of the Citizen watches we reviewed are powered by light. That produces its own challenges, but it’s great for people who don’t want to open their watch up very often.
Accuracy
A timepiece isn’t worth much if it doesn’t accurately measure time. Swiss quartz is one of the most famous systems for maintaining an accurate measurement of time, but you can find equally well-performing watches that use Japanese quartz and other systems. All you have to do is make sure that the movement system is high-quality. Your watch’s ability to keep time is its main feature. You should make sure that it does it well.
Budget
Budget plays a big part in any major purchase. Considering good watches can cost hundreds of dollars, we’d consider a high-end watch to be a major purchase. It’s easy to spend more than your budget allows when you’re just randomly scrolling through online stores. We suggest that you remain within your budget, though. A nice watch should be a purchase that makes you feel good about yourself. It shouldn’t be one that leaves you starving for three weeks.
Conclusion
As a way to wrap this guide up, we’d like to recap all of the points that you should look at before buying a watch. We would like to mention that the Victorinox I.N.O.X. fits all of these requirements perfectly for most people.
Budget: Make sure you can afford it without starving.
- Accuracy: Your watch should tell time accurately.
- Battery Life: You don’t want your watch to die when you need it most.
- Strap: You should be able to wear it comfortably.
- Features: Don’t pay extra features that you don’t need, but pay the right price for features that will make your life easier.
If you do all of those things, you should find the right watch for you in no time. We hope this guide has been helpful, and we hope that you find the perfect timepiece sometime soon.