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It is hard not to be tempted by those gorgeous luxury watches you see sitting there behind glass screens in the store, and those worn by celebrities on TV. There is something about a good watch that screams class and impeccable personal style, but then you look at the price tags and you are forced to realize that perhaps your classic dream watch wasn’t meant to be yours after all. The good news is that a beautiful quality watch does not necessarily need to be expensive, and there are some stunning budget watches available out there!
You might prefer mechanical movement watches, chronograph watches, a diver watch or hybrid Smart Watches, and it is important to get a watch you will feel proud wearing. For this reason, here is a list of a variety of watches you won’t believe will cost you less than $200.
View The Best Watches Under $200 Below
1. Timex Unisex Weekender 38mm Watch
This men’s dress strap watch has Japanese quartz movements, long-lasting battery, 24-hour military time, a nylon strap that comes in a variety of different colors, large watch dial and much more – it is an affordable watch under $100 that looks like it deserves a much higher price on Amazon than what it currently has!
It has water-resistance down to 30 meters, meaning you can relax if you accidentally spill water on it or hop in the shower without taking it off, but you may want to refrain from swimming with it. Pick the strap color that you think will go best with your personal style, and start enjoying the many benefits of these minimalistic watches.
Pros:
+ 38mm silver-tone brass case
+ Large watch dial with Arabic numerals
+ Durable nylon watch band
+ 24-hour military time
Why We Like It – If you want a watch for everyday carry, these buckle clasp watches for women and men has that perfect combination of function, design, and affordability.
2. Invicta Men’s 8928OB Watch
Consider this Japanese automatic stainless steel watch with exclusive gold tones and a blue dial, because surprisingly enough – it is more affordable than it looks! It is one of those men’s watches you can use for any occasion; with a screw-down crown, fold-over clasp on a stainless steel bracelet, 44mm and 23k gold-plated case with automatic movements and watch winder, and this watch brand puts all effort into providing you with an affordable watch that has it all.
Date display at 3 o’clock, luminous markers and hands, and water-resistance down to 660ft makes it an all-around watch that looks exclusive and pricey. The watch has a very professional look to it and will work perfectly in a work setting and for important meetings.
Pros:
+ Durable Fold-over clasp
+ 23k gold-plated round case
+ With a screw-down crown
+ Date window at 3 o’clock
Why We Like It – Forget leather straps and simple sports watches, and say hello to these automatic watches with luminous hourly markers and a gold and steel bracelet! The ultimate luxury watch that won’t cost you over $200.
3. Fossil Men’s Chronograph Quartz Watch
There are so many options to choose from when opting for these dress watches! Get it with black dial, white dial, a leather watch with brown leather or black leather, easy-to-read Arabic numerals or Roman numerals, and find the one you like best without having to pay a fortune! One thing they all have in common is that they feature three separate watch dials – ideal for keeping track of hours, minutes and seconds, and these watches also have a stopwatch feature, quartz movements, and mineral crystal window that won’t scratch.
A fun feature is that you can get this watch and exchange, for example, the leather band for any of the other Fossil straps, making it possible to update your watch from time to time with something new.
Pros:
+ Non-scratch mineral crystal window
+ Exchangeable watch straps
+ Mineralized crystal window
+ Three separate watch dials
Why We Like It – There are so many choices when you opt to get this versatile watch, not only thanks to the different color options but also because you can easily change the watch strap.
4. Casio Men’s G-Shock Quartz Watch
A men’s digital watch with mineral glass display, time zones, date window and more – the Casio GShock watch is a simple yet complete budget watch you can’t say no to! It is available in blue, red, black, grey, white and black and gold, and they all have a uniqueness about them that will make you want one of each.
The 52.8mm case is the ultimate size for someone with larger wrists or that simply want a watch that they can show off due to its impressive size. This Casio is similar in design to the Casio Edifice, but slightly bigger, and you get that dream sports watch at a price you won’t feel bad about paying.
Everyone deserves a quality watch, and it shouldn’t have to be a question of the size of your wallet. The battery lasts up to five years, it has quartz movements, five alarms per day and a hand-shift feature, and it is an overall great watch for any occasion.
Pros:
+ 52.8mm resin case
+ 5-year lasting battery
+ Large round case and dial
+ Available in multiple colors
Why We Like It – The long-lasting battery means you won’t have to worry about changing it too soon, and when it is time – changing the batteries is easy and cheap!
5. Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size Watch
This product has so many watch features that you may never use all of them! You can set three daily alarms, either on the weekends or on the weekdays, Indiglo backlight, an acrylic lens, a great power reserve, and mineral crystal glass window and much more! You also get 24-hour countdown time, memory for 30 laps and a 100-hour chronograph, which is a lot more than what you can usually expect to find in an affordable pro diver dive watch. The 18mm resin strap is durable and easy to clean, and it can be adjusted to fit both slim wrists and up to 8-inch wrists.
Pros:
+ 100-hour chronograph
+ Acrylic lens and Indiglo backlight
+ With 30-lap memory
+ 18mm water-resistant resin strap
Why We Like It – Here we have digital automatic black quartz watches with all the features you need, and it compares well to many more expensive options.
6. Casio Men’s Solar Sport Combination Watch
There is a day and date display at the bottom of the watch dial, where you can choose to have the day displayed in English, Spanish, Italian, German, French and Portuguese! It has two countdown timers, five daily reminders and alarms, a fully automatic calendar and 10 months of uninterrupted battery life on a single charge.
You get the best of both worlds as it has analog hands and a digital date window, and it is solar-powered, something that saves you the trouble of having to change batteries or charge the watch frequently.
Pros:
+ Power saving function
+ Solar power chargeable
+ World time with 48 cities
+ Digital and analog display
Why We Like It – The ultimate sports automatic watch for someone who wants the best, but who is trying to stick to a budget, and the best thing here is that it charges on solar power, making it one of the few quality solar watches available at this price.
7. Michael Kors Women’s Parker Gold-Tone Watch
If luxury is what you want, a lower budget shouldn’t stop you from getting the watch of your dreams. Michael Kors has this analog quartz gold watch with three large subdials, glitz bezel, date window, a stainless steel bracelet (brushed) with a push clasp and beautiful crystal details, and it comes in a few different tones such as rose gold, silver, and regular gold.
This is a brand that just breathes luxury and the perfect example that luxury isn’t just about the price. It is a gorgeous watch that stands out among a hundred others, with Japanese quartz movements for highly accurate time-telling.
Pros:
+ Brushed stainless steel bracelet
+ 39mm case with crystals
+ Large date window and glitz bezel
+ Fold-over clasp closure
Why We Like It – A stunning watch for women that looks anything but cheap, and it has crystals added to the case and dial for an additional feeling of luxury. Looking to spend less? There are some awesome watches under 100 bucks.
8. Timex Unisex Expedition Classic Watch
The Timex Marlin Expedition Scout watch is a classic and simple field watch perfect for outdoor activities! It has a 16mm nylon strap that sits comfortably on your wrist, while also being easy to remove, replace and wash. The resin case has an acrylic lens and measures 33mm – not too big, and not too small, which makes this minimalist wallet watch a suitable alternative both for those with wide wrists and slim wrists.
The watch dial has Indiglo light-up, you can set up to three daily alarms (weekdays and weekends), the digital display is light grey and easy to read and there is also a calendar showing date and day, 24-hour Military time, two time zones, 100-hour chronograph and much more.
Pros:
+ 100-hour chronograph and two timezones
+ 16mm durable nylon wristband
+ Suitable for slim and wide wrists
+ With three daily alarms
Why We Like It – This looks like a simple watch at first glance, but it will quickly surprise you with functions like world time and reliable alarms.
9. Casio Men’s FT500WVB-5BV
With a genuine leather watch like this, you can’t possibly go wrong! The brown leather strap is combined with durable nylon, and it goes perfectly with a nicer outfit or a suit, but also with the casual clothes you wear around the house or when having a quick coffee with friends.
The strap has hook-and-look closure, making it quick and easy to put the watch on and to take it off, and it has 3 years of battery life, an inner dial with 24-hour time, Arabic numerals, water-resistant features, and quartz movement, and there is a convenient date window at 3 o’clock. Just a quick look at this watch will be enough to fall in love with it, and especially if you want a unique looking watch with that appealing vintage vibe to it.
Pros:
+ Analog display and quartz movement
+ Nylon strap with leather details
+ Rugged vintage look
+ Three years of battery life
Why We Like It – A shiny and new watch isn’t for everyone, and if you want a new watch but one that still has that rugged look – this vintage-style timepiece will be right up your alley.
10. Michael Kors Slim Runway Women’s Stainless Steel Watch
These stunning watches come in colors like black, blue, brown, red, gold, tan, rose gold, and silver, and they will sit there on your wrist like a beautiful addition to your outfit. The Roman numerals have them looking classy and timeless, and each watch has a dial that suits the case and the bracelet in color and tone.
The 44mm case sits around a dial covered with sapphire crystal glass – a material known for being very resistant to scratches, and the watch has a double push-button fold-over clasp to ensure that it’ll stay on safely also after hours of use and during physical activities. It is waterproof enough to be worn also when doing recreational swimming or when showering, but should not be used for more extensive underwater activities like diving and/or snorkeling.
Pros:
+ Scratch-resistant mineral dial window
+ Exclusive design with Roman numerals
+ Double push-button for extra safety
+ Multiple gorgeous color options
Why We Like It – This watch is under $200, yet it looks like it would sell for a much higher price, and it has a timeless design with Roman numerals which you won’t get tired of.
Watches Under 200 Buyers Guide
You should be able to look down on your watch when someone asks for the time, and feel proud of the timepiece you are wearing! To achieve this, it actually isn’t necessary to spend a month’s salary or to pay hundreds of dollars, and that is what we are going to show you here.
There is a common misconception that has people believe that for a watch to be good – it needs to be expensive and that anything else is comparable to one of those poor quality toy watches you got for Christmas as a kid. This, luckily, is incorrect, and there are numerous premium watches you can get for under $200, and that still looks and feel luxurious.
Now that we have established that there are affordable watches out there so that you can get to feel proud of the watch you are wearing also if you are on a budget, the next question is how to find them! This review includes quality watch suggestions for both men and women, but also a few valuable tips for what to look for (and what to avoid) when shopping for a watch.
Deciding Why You Want a Watch
This may seem irrelevant at first, but knowing why you want a watch will help you narrow down the options, to eventually find the ideal watch for you. What will the watch be used for? And when will you be using your watch? Some people want a wristwatch as part of their outfit only, and here the look of the watch becomes more important than its functions. If this is you, then you can easily pick the watch you like the look of the most, without having to worry about much else.
If, on the other hand, you need a watch to help you tell time, you need to consider in what situations you will want to tell time. For those who are active and into sports, then perhaps a sports watch with a durable Nato strap would be the best choice, and preferably also one that is shockproof and water-resistant, to avoid the watch getting damaged in the case of an unexpected weather change or a fall. A leather strap watch might not be ideal for an athlete, as you could end up sweating when working out, and leather is difficult to clean.
You also want to consider if you want a watch that goes with a more casual style, or if your watch will mostly be worn for business meetings, fancy events and with suits or a nice dress, as this could mean you should opt for a dress watch.
Why Size Matters
The size of the case and the width of the strap are both two very important things to consider, as it will directly affect how the watch feels on your wrist, and how it will look on you when you are wearing it. An oversized watch will simply not look right, and you run the risk of having it look like the watch doesn’t belong to you – as if you would have borrowed it from someone, and that is definitely a mistake to avoid.
The best way to do this is to measure your wrist and to read through the product description properly. There are plenty of guides and recommendations for how large the case should be in comparison to your wrist-width, and the same goes for the strap. This is especially important if you plan to buy a watch online, as you won’t be able to try it on before you make your purchase.
Choosing the right size is equally important if you buy a Daniel Wellington watch, an Orient Bambino or another Orient Bambino version, a Paul Smith watch, a Seiko 7s36 or some types of military watches, as neither will look their best unless they fit you right.
Color vs. Classic
It is a known fact that men’s watches tend to be more discretely colored, while women’s watches will often come with more color options to choose from. The question is – does color matter? Here you will also need to consider what you intend to use the watch for, as a colorful watch may not be appropriate in some professional and social situations, depending on the nature of it and on the circumstances. If you want a watch you can wear for any occasion – choose a more discrete color like black, silver, gold or rose gold, as these tend to be timeless and fine to use with any outfit.
A colorful watch might also be a bit of a risk if you want to save money, as you can easily get a little tired of a brightly colored watch after a while! It would be like wearing the same colored nail polish or the same colored tie every day, which could lead to you having to buy multiple watches. When you are on a budget, having to purchase multiple watches would defeat the whole point of shopping for under $200.
Will people notice that my watch was less than $200?
Many watches look a lot more expensive than they are, and unless you cross paths with a watch enthusiast, it is unlikely that someone will know what your watch is worth simply by looking at it.
Is a digital watch or an analog watch better?
This is highly individual, as some simply prefer one over the other, and this is one of the questions you should ask yourself before starting your search.
Conclusion
There we have it! It is possible to find a watch within the budget of $200, and it is quite easy to find a watch that lives up to your standards, even if you don’t have thousands of dollars to spend. This is great news for those who love the idea of a classy timepiece instead of just using your cellphone to tell time, but who doesn’t quite have the funds to pay for a three thousand dollar watch (or you might simply not want to spend much money on a watch).
Knowing what type of watch you want to find is essential when it comes to finding your perfect watch match, so start there, by considering the above buyers guide for watches under $200.
Expert Tip
A higher price doesn’t usually mean more features, and affordable and expensive watches will often offer pretty much the same functions.
Did You Know
Many of the best watch brands will also make watches in lower price ranges, and this rarely means a decline in quality, despite the lower price.