A watch is more than just a way to keep time in our day to day activities. After all, the phones we all carry with us allow us the means to accurately check in on all the relevant information we’d get with a watch. A good men’s watch serves as a fashion statement and a way to easily check on the time in situations where we can’t readily carry our mobile devices.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a small fortune to find cool men’s watches. There are countless watches available at affordable rates, but separating the wheat from the chaff can be a daunting task. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the nicest men’s watches available for $200 or less.
- The 12 Best Men’s Watches Under $200
- Invicta Men’s 8926OB Pro Diver Watch
- Orient Men’s ‘Ray II Automatic Watch
- Timex Men’s Expedition Field Watch
- Seiko Men’s SNK809 Seiko 5
- Nixon Time Teller Stainless Steel
- Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Watch
- Fossil JR1401 Men’s Nate Casual Watch
- Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Watch
- MVMT Chrono Watches
- Casio Men’s Edifice EF527D-1AV
- Victorinox Swiss Army Men’s VICT26012.CB
- Skagen 233XLTTM Grenen Quartz Titanium
- Best Men’s Watches under $200 Buyer’s Guide
- Types of Men’s Watches
- Advanced Features
- Conclusion
The 12 Best Men’s Watches Under $200
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Invicta Men’s 8926OB Pro Diver Watch
The look of this Invicta 8926OB is clearly inspired by the popular Rolex Submariner, and while you obviously won’t get the same level of quality or performance you’d find in that multi-thousand dollar popular men’s watch, the Invicta Pro Diver is a timepiece well worth the sub-100 dollar price tag. A combination of a quality stainless steel frame and consistent Japanese auto movement mean that you can count on this watch to stay a part of your everyday apparel for years to come.
And while the handsome and classic design of this Invicta watch will look good with both business and casual clothing, it also doubles as an effective diving watch. You can count on this watch to continue working consistently at depths of up to 200 meters.
| Model | Invitus 8926OB |
| Water Resistant | to 200 m |
Pros
- Crafted out of sturdy and high-quality stainless steel
- Offers water resistance at depths of up to 200 meters
- Versatile look makes it appropriate for diving, business, or casual style
- Sports a classy design that resembles the handsome Rolex Submariner
Cons
Orient Men’s ‘Ray II Automatic Watch
When people who know watches want to suggest a good starter timepiece for those just getting into collecting, the Orient Ray II consistently tops the list. While Orient may not have the popular recognition that global brands like Timex and Rolex do, the Japanese company has been turning out high-quality low- to mid-range watches that are respected by enthusiasts since 1950. The face is unique and eye catching with its reflective burst pattern, dark ocean blue backing, and distinct notches.
It also includes a beveled and chromed date window that stands out distinctly and can be adjusted to read in either English or Spanish. The strong design of the face also make it refreshingly easy to see while underwater. And while the Ray II comes with a simple but smart stainless steel bracelet, you can easily swap it out for any number of durable leather bands.
| Model | Orient Ray II |
| Water Resistant | to 200 m |
Pros
- A reliable and accurate watch right out of the box
- Hacking and hand-winding movement is top notch
- 120-click unidirectional diving bezel achieves a greater level of precision
- Design looks good on the street but is designed to be clear even in dark waters
Cons
Timex Men’s Expedition Field Watch
The complex design of chronograph watches may make them seem like timepieces only reserved for consumers with an exceptional amount of luxury income, but the Timex Expedition offers a quality chronograph for significantly under a hundred bucks. The black case and rugged leather band combine to create a military style watch that looks like it’s built for the outdoors, but it has the craftsmanship to match. The W-91 movement of the chronograph produces accuracy within a range of a second a day.
While that doesn’t make it the best chronograph in the field, it’s no slouch either. And in addition to the ninety second timer, the chronograph also includes a display for the day and date. Adding another layer of versatility is a water resistance at depths of up to 100 meters. You can’t expect it to work as a diving watch, but it should be perfectly reasonable while swimming and snorkeling.
| Model | Expedition |
| Water Resistant | to 100 m |
Pros
- Chronograph is accurate to a discrepancy of a second a day
- Made from scratch resistant mineral glass
- Packs in both a chronograph and decent water resistance
- Battery life can last up to ten years
Cons
Seiko Men’s SNK809 Seiko 5
The Seiko 5 has been one of the most popular men’s Seiko watches around for years, and it didn’t earn its popularity on price alone. This isn’t the most unique men’s watch in terms of design, but it’s potentially the most accurate automatic watch you’ll find in this price range. But despite its simple look, the matte stainless steel finish looks like what you’d expect from a luxury brand and reduces the threat of scratches and blemishes. The day/date frame can be set to either English or Spanish language, and the night time visibility present is incredibly solid.
Enhancing visibility is the presence of a red tip on the second hand. One of the best features of the Seiko 5 is also one that seems innocuous at first. By moving the crown to the four o’clock position, it prevents the watch from digging uncomfortably into your hand.
| Model | Seiko 5 |
| Water Resistant | to 100 m |
Pros
- A suitable choice for swimming and snorkeling
- Great night time visibility complemented by the red-tipped second hand
- Repositioning of the crown is a genius and comfortable decision
- Doesn’t require a battery to function
Cons
Nixon Time Teller Stainless Steel
All of the most stylish men’s watches aren’t unaffordable. The Nixon Time Teller is a sleek and beautiful piece of work. The minimalist design and simple Nixon logo makes for an affordable choice that looks great in business meetings. Best of all, with Nixon watches you can configure it, so matches your unique style. Over thirty variants are available ranging from a sleek black matte to muted patterned face.
It’s also highly resistant to scratches, and its modest water resistance means it can be worn in the pool or at the beach without risk of anything going wrong. This medium sized watch will fit most wrists comfortably, and the band is adjustable to suit a variety of different wearers.
| Model | Time Teller |
| Water Resistant | to 100 m |
Pros
- Sports a stylish look that stands apart from most competitors on the market
- Can be worn at water depths of up to 100 meters
- Band is adjustable and fits comfortably
- Sturdy build ensures it will last you for a long time
Cons
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Promaster Watch
The Promaster watches made by Citizen are acclaimed by divers the world over, and their Eco-Drive doesn’t sacrifice the high quality of craftsmanship for the sake of a modest price tag. The biggest distinguishing factor on this diving watch is the inclusion of Eco-Drive technology: an advancement that allows the entire watch to be powered by solar energy without the need for a battery whatsoever. Complementing the watch’s durability at suitable diving depths are the large and luminescent hands that offer a great level of visibility even in pitch black waters.
The bezel is unidirectional and difficult to move when underwater, a smart choice made for the sake of safety. This greatly reduces the risk of it getting turned by accident. The bezel also gives off a loud and concrete click with each turn, a nice audio cue that helps you measure half minute movements without having to look down.
| Model | Eco-Drive Promaster |
| Water Resistant | to 200 m |
Pros
- Eco-Drive technology is a wonderful alternative to more traditional batteries
- Water resistance strong enough to accommodate scuba divers
- Bezel design is intuitive and built with underwater safety in mind
- Luminescent numbers and hands serve as a strong light source
Cons
Fossil JR1401 Men’s Nate Casual Watch
The JR1401’s design will stand out in a crowd. The textured black matte finish is unconventional but doesn’t sacrifice usability for the sake of style. It’s also a great contrast to the more traditional black band. A chronograph is available in the form of three separate dials, and this watch’s water resistance makes it good to wear in shallow waters. The chronograph may be the biggest selling point of this affordable watch, but it also includes a date window and the ability to convert time into a 24 hour military format.
The Nate also offers a scratch resistant window so you won’t have to worry about unnecessary damage even if it gets banged around. The case is one the larger side, but it still manages to be fairly lightweight.
| Model | Nate |
| Water Resistant | to 50 m |
Pros
- Matte black face provides an interesting alternative to more traditional watches
- Chronograph functionality is supported by three small dials
- Supports both a 12 hour and 24 hour format
- Dedicated window for reading the date
Cons
Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Watch
The second Citizen watch on our list also utilizes Eco-Drive technology to circumvent the limitations of traditional lithium batteries, but it clocks in at a significantly lower cost than the Promaster. Mostly this comes from the removal of features that are made in the interest of divers, so those who don’t intend to wear their watch regularly underwater (and at meaningful depths) can safely invest in this watch at no great loss.
This piece earns a position as one of the most popular men’s watches due to its retro design. Inspiration was taken from transatlantic pilot watches from the 1950s, and that’s reflected in everything from the sturdy leather band to the dense face. Markers offer you to track your time in both a 24 hour and 12 hour format, and a date window is also built in.
| Model | Eco-Drive |
| Water Resistant | to 100 m |
Pros
- A stand-out design that evokes the retro style of the 1950s
- Dial features gray and luminous hands for increased nighttime performance
- Case made from silver-tone stainless steel
- Classic day/date functionality
Cons
MVMT Chrono Watches
There aren’t any classy men’s watches under 200 that are quite like MVMT’s Chrono watch. Numbers on the face are shuttled in favor of a more minimalist design that makes use of bright blue hands and slimmed down tick marks on an otherwise black surface. This is a beautiful watch from MVMT, and the minimal approach to design doesn’t reduce readability on either the main face or the three chronograph dials. These three smaller dials give you the functionality of a 24 hour clock, and both 30 second and 60 second timers.
While this watch can stay submerged at depths of 50 meters, don’t expect this to serve as an alternative to a real diving watch. But its stunning good looks are suitable for both business and casual use.
| Model | Chrono |
| Water Resistant | to 50 m |
Pros
- A truly stand-out design that evokes cool Los Angeles style
- Three chronograph dials offer two separate timers and a 24 hour watch
- Comes with a full two year guarantee from the manufacturer
- Hardened mineral glass face protects against dents and scratches
Cons
Casio Men’s Edifice EF527D-1AV
Casio’s most prominent reputation in the timepiece community is for creating watches that offer a great amount of value at a reasonable price. The Edifice is one of the top men’s watches in their catalog. If you aren’t an ardent phone collector, the huge variety of numbers crowding its face may be overwhelming, but you can get your bearings pretty quickly, and they lend a significant amount of versatility to this piece.
One of the biggest features of this Casio timepiece is the slide rule scale which allows you to accomplish division and multiplication as well as make distance and time calculations without the need for a more complicated tool. It can also be used to make currency conversions or accomplish a number of different tasks. A date window and 1/20 second chronograph function are also built in.
| Model | Edifice |
| Water Resistant | to 100 m |
Pros
- Fold over button clasp is built with safety in mind
- Slide rule scale can accomplish an impressive number of different calculations
- Water resistant at depths of up to 100 meters
- Chronograph can track time at up to 1/20 of a second
Cons
Victorinox Swiss Army Men’s VICT26012.CB
Swiss Army watches are known throughout the world for their incredibly high level of performance in large part due to the over hundred quality tests they’re subjected to. With the VICT26012.CB, you can get the quality and elegance of a Swiss Army watch for roughly a hundred dollars. This particular model is built around the notion that simpler is sometimes better, making it a far cry from something like the Edifice. Instead, you’ll find a basic dial with Arabic numbers that can track time in twelve or twenty-four hour blocks of time.
The Swiss Army logo features prominently but is not obtrusive, and a simple date window occupies the left side of the face. If you’re looking something that’s functional but not complicated with unnecessary features, this is the choice for you.
| Model | Swiss Army |
| Water Resistant | to 100 m |
Pros
- Water resistance makes it an appropriate choice for snorkeling or swimming
- A durable watch that undergoes Victorinox’s exhaustive quality testing process
- Includes a window for date tracking
- A stripped down and elegant design that’s not overcrowded
Cons
Skagen 233XLTTM Grenen Quartz Titanium
The Grenen is another stylish men’s watch that offers a distinct and notable design at a reasonable price point. The simple notches and art deco styled Arabic numbers allow the design itself to take center stage. This may be the most elegantly simplistic watch on our list, and the attractive gray and white face is complemented by a solid titanium case and bracelet.
It’s a versatile look that will work equally well whether you’re dressed up or dressed down. The silver tone hands and markers suit the overall look of the watch, but their luminous quality makes them visible even at night or underwater.
| Model | Grenen |
| Water Resistant | to 30 m |
Pros
- A stylish choice that splits the difference between casual and professional
- Titanium frame and bracelet is sturdy and lasting
- Fold over clasp enclosure is built with safety in mind
- Date calendar occupies the six o’clock place
Cons
Best Men’s Watches under $200 Buyer’s Guide
Types of Men’s Watches
We’ve cast our net wide with our list of men’s watches under 200 dollars in an attempt to cover as many different functions and styles as possible, but novices might not be aware of the different options available. Here are the four most popular styles for men.
- Dress Watches: Designed to coordinate well in the office or boardroom, dress watches are typically subdued and understated. And while conventional wisdom would suggest that quality dress watches are reserved for the wealthy, that’s not always the case. Dress watches typically sacrifice functionality for style. While they may offer a basic feature like a date window, that’s about the most you can expect. They usually offer only limited water resistance at best. Roman numerals and leather straps are typical.
- Minimalist Watches: Similar but distinct from dress watches, minimalist watches are also design-first pieces that are limited in terms of functionality. But whereas dress watches tend to emphasize classic design sensibilities, minimalist watches are hyper-modern in design. Numbers are either absent or subdued, and the fact that they traditionally use quartz movement means you can get a great watch at a great price.
- Aviation Watches: If you’ve ever seen the complex, dense (and perhaps befuddling) array of numbers that constitute a slide rule, you were probably looking at an aviation watch. The inclusion of a slide rule allowed pilots from decades earlier to accomplish the sort of necessary and complicated calculations for their craft. But the huge number of tasks a slide rule can accomplish makes aviation watches a versatile choice for plenty of wearers.
- Diving Watches: The most important feature of a diving watch is naturally their ability to be immersed in water. If you intend to go diving with a watch, you need it to have a water resistance at a depth of at least 200 meters. Most diving watches come with luminescent functionality so that you can easily read the face in the dark, and a unidirectional bezel is a necessity because it allows you to easily tell how long you’ve been underwater.
Advanced Features
A number of the watches on our list are designed to do more than just tell time, but none of them come with everything you could want built in. This quick rundown will let you know what to look for when shopping for a watch.
- Chronographs: A good watch will track time accurately, but athletes and divers need a level of precision they won’t find with a traditional watch. Chronographs are smaller dials on the face that serve as incredibly accurate stopwatches.
- Eco-Drive: Available only on Citizen watches, Eco-Drive substitutes a traditional battery for a solar powered alternative. That means you can count on it to accurately keep time over years without having to trade out your battery.
- Unidirectional Bezels: A unidirectional bezel serves essentially as a second time keeper that wraps around the face of the watch. All you have to do is twist the bezel into place at which point you can track how long you’ve been underwater. Unidirectional bezels track times in 60 minute intervals, and they can only be adjusted counterclockwise to prevent mistakes while diving.
Conclusion
It’s true that you get what you pay for, but that’s only half the equation. Two hundred dollars is a perfectly reasonable price to pay for the expectation of a long-lasting and versatile watch, but that doesn’t mean all your options are created equally. Fortunately, you can count on all of the watches on our list to stand the test of value. Browse our list of best men’s watches under 200, and be confident in the knowledge that any one you pick is going to be a winner.
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