Best Affordable Watch Brands

Best Affordable Watch Brands For Every Day Use

A watch is an accessory that proves to be more than just a decorative part of your outfit.

You might wear it as a statement or simply strap it on because you want to keep track of the time.

Whatever your reason is for wearing one, you don’t have to spend much to get a reliable timepiece.

There’s a myriad of watch brands available today.

Most of them can also be found online and you can have all the information you need to find more about them.

This can be tedious, though, and info overload may just confuse instead of help you.

You don’t have to look at each one and review what other people have to say about them.

We’ll save you the trouble of looking into different sources with the help of our list of the best affordable watch brands in the market.

Amazing Watch Brands For Your Collection

Here’s an exhaustive list of the most affordable watch brands you can find in the market.

The list is arranged according to price to make ie from the brand which offers the cheapest watch up to the most expensive one for those on a budget.

Timex

Timex has been around since 1854 under the name of Waterbury Clock Co.

It only became known as Timex after World War II when the majority of its stake was bought by one Thomas Olsen.

From then, the company rapidly expanded their market by offering timepieces with classic looking designs at an affordable price.

If you’re looking for an office watch you can wear every day, you can try their Weekender and Fairfield models.

For the more adventurous type, there’s the Expedition series which features sporty-looking timepieces.

Timex also has sophisticated chronograph watches like the Flyback Chronograph.

Strengths:

  • Very affordable prices
  • Has a wide variety of great designs
  • Good beater watch you can wear anywhere without worry

Weaknesses:

  • Lume doesn’t last long
  • Mineral crystal isn’t scratch-resistant
  • Splash-resistant only
  • Drop them too often and you have to buy another piece

Victorinox

Victorinox was established in 1884 in Switzerland and is renowned for manufacturing Swiss army knives.

They entered the watchmaking business in the late 1980s and in the early 2000s acquired the Swiss Army Brands, Inc.

to further strengthen their presence in the watch industry.

Their first models were inexpensive and built to endure rugged use.

They later ventured into making fashion watches with diamond accents and specialized timepieces equipped with mechanical movements and chronograph features.

Victorinox is widely appreciated for their affordable timepieces and stylish designs.

Some of their most popular models are the Infantry, the Divemaster, and the Maverick.

Also, one of the most affordable watches in the market belongs to their I.N.O.X collection.

Strengths:

  • Very affordable models with stylish designs
  • Watches are scratch-resistant and built for rugged use
  • Trendy designs suitable for any type of fashion
  • ETA movement provides precision

Weaknesses:

  • Straps aren’t really high-quality, especially the leather and rubber ones
  • Watches on the cheaper end of the spectrum sometimes have inaccurate movements
  • Some of their models are somewhat heavy to wear

Swatch

Swatch is probably the most popular watch brand you’ll encounter.

They came into the picture in 1983 in response to the quartz crisis and the growing competition coming from Japanese watchmakers.

Swatch, which is short for “second watch”, was designed to capture the entry-level market by introducing affordable watches to the point that they’re disposable.

Using economical materials on the movement, casing, and other parts didn’t bother them at all.

In fact this is their weapon against flourishing competitors since this allowed Swatch to focus on the aesthetics.

The colorful, bubbly, eccentric, and bold designs of Swatch watches have captured the attention of millions and turned the tables over boring and expensive precision timepieces from the East.

The most popular fashion watches from Swatch belong to the Irony, Skin, and Originals lines.

In 2013, they released their Sistem51 models which features a mechanical movement made from ARCAP.

Strengths:

  • You’ll drown with the myriad of designs Swatch watches offer
  • They’re dirt-cheap and readily available almost everywhere
  • Unique, eye-catching styles suitable for any kind of fashion

Weaknesses:

  • Well, they’re disposable so don’t expect them to be durable
  • Most watches have no lume on hands, and if they do, they’re not that great
  • Inaccurate movements

Mondaine

Established in 1951, Mondaine watches were inspired by the clocks found in the Swiss Railway Station which have unique hand movements when compared to ordinary wall clocks at that time.

Signifying this inspiration is the red seconds hand that has been the brand signature of the company.

The company is focused on developing functional watches that are reliable, affordable, and easy to repair.

Mondaine’s most popular models are the SBB, Evo, and Helvetica series.

Strengths:

  • Cool hand designs similar to the wall clocks found on Swiss rail stations
  • The polished body makes the watches look expensive
  • Excellent readability

Weaknesses:

  • Strap feels flimsy
  • The second’s hand is not aligned with the dial markers when moving
  • Hands have no lume

Seiko

Seiko started in the 1890s under the name Seikosha.

They used to build high-quality wall clocks before they ventured into making pocket watches.

They released their first wristwatches around the 1920s, and from then, they quickly gained popularity around the world for having affordable but highly reliable products.

Some of their iconic timepieces include the Grand Seiko, the Seiko Chronograph, and the Seiko Quartz with LCD display.

Seiko has been producing a wide array of watches for different purposes.

The Seiko Professional Diver’s, for one, is the best watch with a 600m water resistance rating.

Seiko also has produced tons of digital, chronograph, kinetic, and solar watches to date.

Strengths:

  • Affordable watches
  • Solid build and highly-durable
  • A wide variety of designs
  • Accurate movements
  • Most of them are water resistant

Weaknesses:

  • Lume brightness is not their strong suit
  • Some of their watches have flimsy rubber straps
  • Many of the watch crystals are not scratch-resistant

Stuhrling

Stuhrling’s roots date back to the 1800s during the watchmaking era when famous names like LeCoultre, Breguet, and Philippe were making waves in the industry.

The tight competition among watchmakers resulted in Stuhrling fading into the background, resurfacing only in the late 1990s with new models and movements.

Today, the brand is popular for producing stylish watches that are affordable and functional.

Stuhrling has a wide range of classic, chronograph, and skeleton watches.

Their most popular models include the Aquadiver, the Emperor’s Grandeur, the Aviator, and the Symphony series.

Strengths:

  • Design and features are on par with more expensive watches
  • Unique designs you won’t see in any other timepiece within the same price range
  • Very affordable prices
  • They have inexpensive tourbillon watches which usually cost thousands of dollars from other brands
  • Straps are easily replaceable
  • They’re typically water resistant

Weaknesses:

  • Not as durable as you might expect
  • Free shipping for warranty claims is only available in the United States
  • Movements, especially those seen on the lower price range, are often inaccurate

TOKYObay

TOKYObay started manufacturing watches in 1991.

It was founded by two designers: one originating from Tokyo, while the other from the San Francisco Bay Area.

They believed that by mixing their different influences they can create unique watches.

The result shows in their sleek-looking casual watches with matching trendy straps.

Their most popular models are the Mason, Grant, and Track.

They’re available in a variety of fancy straps that will surely suit anyone’s taste.

Strengths:

  • Very affordable watches with stylish designs
  • Legible watch faces
  • Wide selection of colors, shapes, and styles to choose from

Weaknesses:

  • Most of them are splash resistant up to 30m only
  • Expect that they won’t last long
  • No lume on hands

Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger is a company that manufactures apparel, fragrances, and accessories.

Under an exclusive licensing agreement with Movado, the company has been able to release casual watches that fit their branding and complement the other products they offer.

Strengths:

  • Their casual watches have bold designs unique to their branding
  • Very affordable pricing
  • Stylish and fancy models that will surely complete any casual outfit

Weaknesses:

  • Their fashion watches aren’t built for everyday use
  • Weak lume brightness that also doesn’t last long
  • Cheap strap quality

Invicta

Invicta is a Latin word that translates to ‘invincible’.

The brand has been around since the 1830s and was established in Switzerland by Raphael Picard.

With the competition in the watchmaking industry getting tougher and the emergence of the quartz crisis, the company was almost put out of business.

However, they made a comeback, bringing with them high-quality watches that are very affordable to the general public.

Their most prominent creation is the Pro Diver series which is a homage to the Rolex Submariner.

They also have chronograph watches made for those who need precision timing features.

Most of their designs have a sporty look so this might be the brand for you if you’re into sports and outdoor activities.

Strengths:

  • They look a lot like Rolex watches
  • They have stylish designs and are very affordable
  • High water resistance rating

Weaknesses:

  • Many people who don’t know much about watches will think you’re wearing a fake Rolex
  • They’re not as durable as watches from other brands in the same price range
  • Window crystals are not scratch-resistant

Casio

Casio was founded in 1946 and was originally manufacturing calculators before they ventured into the watchmaking business.

Starting with the release of their first digital quartz watch in 1974, Casio had a winning streak for the next few years, establishing their presence as one of the most reliable watchmakers from Japan.

Going head-to-head with giants like Seiko and Citizen at that time, though, resulted in a slump in their sales which only recovered when they introduced their G-Shock line of watches.

G-Shock is what comes to mind when people think about Casio watches.

Their developments in the use of solar technology and radio synchronization reinforced their reputation as one of the leading watchmakers today.

Their Pro Trek series feature some of the watches you can find, so might as well consider them in your choices.

Strengths:

  • They have elegant dress watches and durable sports watches
  • Tough build that can withstand everyday use both indoors and outdoors
  • Solar-powered watches have excellent battery life
  • Very affordable models despite having several features on them

Weaknesses:

  • Mediocre lume/backlight brightness
  • Rubber straps feel cheap
  • The negative display on digital watches are hard to read
  • G-Shock watches are usually bulky

Movado

Movado started making watches back in 1881.

In the 1980s, they were acquired by the North American Watch Corporation.

The Movado Group is now manufacturing watches for licensed brands like Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, and Lacoste aside from their own Movado line.

Movado is well known for its Museum Watch collection.

This watch has nothing on the dial except for a single icon at the 12 o’clock position symbolizing the sun.

The minimalistic design was awarded by the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1960.

Other prominent watches Movado is known for belong to the Esperanza, Stratus, Amorosa, Aleena, and Pilot collections.

Strengths:

  • Watches have a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
  • Classy, minimalist designs
  • Slim and lightweight
  • Long battery life

Weaknesses:

  • Most models are splash resistant up to 30m only
  • No lume on hands
  • Leather straps are not that durable

Orient

Orient is one of the biggest watchmakers in Japan and used to be part of the “Big Three” companies alongside Citizen and Seiko.

Orient is probably one of the few (if not the only one) watchmakers who produce their own movement and still quality timepieces at an affordable price.

To this day, Orient focuses on developing mechanical watches, refining and perfecting their craft in this niche.

Orient manufactures a variety of watches suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

They have sports watches for diving under the Mako and Mako XL collection, and upscale dress timepieces under the Bambino and Star series.

Strengths:

  • A wide variety of sporty and classic designs
  • Great power reserve on the automatic watches
  • Very affordable and easy to obtain
  • Their dress watches are really elegant to look at
  • Splash resistant at the least

Weaknesses:

  • Bezel of their sports watches tend to have play after using for quite some time
  • Lume doesn’t last long
  • Some of their sports watches look like rip-offs of Rolex and Omega timepieces

Rotary

Rotary was founded by Moise Dreyfuss in 1895 in Switzerland.

Back then, their biggest market was Britain that they even became the official supplier of watches to the British Army during the war.

In 2014, they were acquired by Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group Limited which is a wholly owned Chinese company.

Today, their watches are manufactured in Switzerland where their main office is located and sources other parts from Japan and China.

Rotary watches are known to possess what they call the “Dolphin Standard” which refers to being water resistant.

One of their prized creations is the Revelation series which features a reversible, two-faced watch with completely independent movements, allowing the wearer to switch between two time zones.

They also have one of the best time pieces offered at a very affordable price.

Strengths:

  • Very affordable prices
  • A wide range of designs that will suit any fashion style
  • Theirs watches basically have good quality and durability

Weaknesses:

  • Splash resistance of up to 30m only
  • Chronograph functions are hard to tinker with
  • They’re having problems maintaining a good image ever since they’ve been acquired by another group

Guess

Guess is a company that manufactures a range of apparel and accessories since its establishment in 1981.

They started offering designer watches in 1984 through their partnership with Callanen International which specializes in creating low-cost timepieces.

As a developer of fashion watches, Guess focuses more on the aesthetic nature of their products more than the components inside them.

Despite this fact, the brand offers chronograph watches that require more precise movement than the usual.

Strengths:

  • No doubt about the overall trendy vibe of their watches
  • Decent quality for their price range
  • Water resistant up to 50m

Weaknesses:

  • Counterfeits are everywhere, so be careful when buying one
  • Weak lume brightness
  • They might not be able to withstand everyday use

Alpina

Alpina began as a union among fellow independent watchmakers who are having a hard time sourcing the parts for their watches.

After quite some time, they started developing chronometers and calibers of their own.

Their innovative movements were even used by Rolex and other high-end watch manufacturers.

During the war, they supplied chronometers to the German Navy and military pilots.

Some of their most prominent series are the Startimer and several homages to the Omega and Rolex watches.

Recently, they released the Alpiner X which is a smartwatch that can be connected to a smartphone for improved access to a variety of features.

Strengths:

  • Stylish designs which you can mistake for more expensive timepieces
  • Solid build that can handle daily use
  • Comfortable to wear
  • Most of the watches use synthetic sapphire cystals
  • Most of them are water resistant
  • Great watch movement

Weaknesses:

  • Lume isn’t that strong and doesn’t last long
  • Difficult to adjust the bands by yourself
  • Some of their designs seem to be derived from luxury watches

Daniel Wellington

Daniel Wellington is a watch company founded by Filip Tysander in 2011 and is based in Sweden.

Their watches are manufactured in China but they’re all designed in Sweden.

The Miyota quartz movements are sourced from Japan.

Just this 2017, the company was hailed as the fastest growing company in Europe for making more than $200 million in revenue, just a few years after its establishment.

The brand’s watch designs center on minimalism and precision.

Their watches have thin hands, slits for hour markers, and a plain dial color.

Strengths:

  • Easily changeable straps
  • Elegant designs suitable as a dress watch
  • Thin and lightweight
  • Straps are surprisingly heavy-duty

Weaknesses:

  • No lume on hands
  • Limited watch styles
  • Although they’re affordable, you can get better watches within the same price range

Fossil

The Fossil Group started in 1984 as a fashion design company.

Their main product is fashion watches emphasizing on the vintage Americana vibe.

They acquired several watch companies throughout the years including Zodiac Watches, Skagen Designs, and Misfit.

The company is known for producing collectible watches which are based on pop culture icons and films like Superman, Elvis Presley, Star Wars, and The Matrix.

The Haywood and Wakefield series are some of their most popular models.

In terms of price, Fossil offers some of the great pieces on the market.

Strengths:

  • A wide range of trendy designs suitable for any occasion
  • Affordable price range
  • Functional and easy to operate
  • Water resistant watches

Weaknesses:

  • Lume doesn’t last long
  • Flimsy leather straps
  • Loses/gains time every day

Nordgreen

Nordgreen was founded in 2017 in Denmark and was the brainchild of Pascar Sivam and Vasilij Brandt.

Their aim was to produce minimalist watches while making an impact on society at the same time.

With this purpose, they collaborated with renowned watch designer Jakob Wagner who came up with 3 timepieces that became the flagship models of Nordgreen.

A portion of the profits they make for each watch sold is donated to non-profit causes in Africa, Latin America, and India.

The 3 watches they promote come under the names Infinity, Philosopher, and Native.

All of them sport minimalist designs and different strap styles.

Strengths:

  • Stylish and classy
  • Excellent craftsmanship make the watches look more expensive than they really are
  • Very affordable models
  • Thin and lightweight

Weaknesses:

  • No lume on hands
  • Splash resistant up to 30m only
  • Small date window on the Philosopher model

MVMT

The company was started by two 19-year old guys who had the guts to leave college and start their entrepreneurial career as watchmakers.

In 2013, they raised around $300,000 through a crowdfunding campaign which translated into $60 million after three years.

Targeting the millennial consumers and young professionals, their watches have minimalist designs suitable for everyday use.

They also have affordable sporty-looking chronograph watches and dress watches that will surely fit your style.

Strengths:

  • Available in a wide variety of straps and dial colors
  • Minimalistic designs make it easy to read the time
  • They look like luxury watches despite having incredibly affordable prices
  • They have excellent customer support and free worldwide shipping
  • Slim and lightweight
  • Most have water resistance up to 50m

Weaknesses:

  • No lume on hands
  • Leather straps are not high-quality
  • Straps, especially the leather ones, easily deteriorate after getting wet a number of times

Skagen

Skagen Denmark was founded in 1989 by Henrik and Charlotte Jorst.

By sourcing their supply of parts from a watch manufacturer in Hong Kong and designing their own watches, they were able to rapidly grow their business into a $30-million company in just a matter of 6 years.

Soon, they were providing watches for clients across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Noticing the popularity and quality of their watches, the Fossil Group decided to buy the company in 2012, making Skagen a wholly-owned subsidiary of the former.

Their most popular models include the Skagen Hybrid Smartwatch, the Skagen Jorn, and the Skagen Hagen.

Strengths:

  • Thin and lightweight
  • Very affordable watch for daily use
  • Unique, minimalistic designs that are fashionable
  • You can find them almost anywhere

Weaknesses:

  • Crystal tends to crack because of its thinness
  • Feels cheap because of its weight
  • Quality control issues have become more prevalent now that they’re under a mass-producing company like Fossil

Triwa

TRIWA, which stands for ‘transforming the industry of watches’, was founded in 2007 by four people who want to create affordable timepieces that have fashionable designs.

Instead of putting their attention on materials that make watches ultra-expensive, they focused on the functionality and trendiness of the watches.

Their watches have minimalist designs that give you the basic features of what an everyday watch should give: the current time and date.

Their bestsellers come from their Falken, Klinga, and Nevil collections.

Strengths:

  • Clean and trendy designs suited for office and formal wear
  • Thin and lightweight
  • Water resistance of at least 50m

Weaknesses:

  • Lume isn’t that bright and doesn’t last long
  • Cheap bracelet quality
  • Don’t expect them to be as durable as premium watches from renowned brands

Calvin Klein

The brand was named after the US-based fashion designer Calvin Klein.

With the help from The Swatch Group, the company came to life in 1997 and started manufacturing fashion watches that have contemporary designs.

Over 200 models have been produced by the company to date, including chronographs, skeletons, and automatics.

Their designs are known for having a minimalist and classy impression.

Strengths:

  • Fashionable designs that can be worn on any occasion
  • Exhibition case back on most of the watches
  • Watches have a polished stainless steel case and scratch-resistant sapphire crystals
  • Water resistant up to 50m

Weaknesses:

  • Lume doesn’t last long
  • Some of the models are unjustifiably expensive
  • Weak lume brightness

Tissot

Tissot was established in 1853 in Le Locle, Switzerland and is a known manufacturer of premium watches distributed in over 160 countries worldwide.

They were the first to manufacture watches made of plastic, wood, and stone.

The brand is also a trusted timekeeper of several sports associations like FIBA, WNBA, and MotoGP.

Tissot’s bestselling models are under the Chrono, Le Locle, T-Sport, Carson, V8, and Heritage collections.

The most prominent figures who wear Tissot watches are Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Angelina Jolie.

Strengths:

  • Watches have a long battery life
  • Stylish designs suitable for any kind of occasion
  • Multi-functional and reliable quality
  • They have hybrid sports watches
  • They use ETA movements for accurate timekeeping

Weaknesses:

  • You have to be wary of counterfeits
  • The lifespan of quartz watches seem to last an average of 3 years only
  • LCD screen on their digital watches can be hard to see

Citizen

Citizen began in 1918 as a manufacturer of pocket watches.

Production was halted during World War II and resumed only after it under the leadership of the new company president, Eiichi Yamada.

By aggressively expanding their market overseas and focusing on improving the technology of their watches, Citizen quickly became one of the most innovative watchmakers in the world.

The company also pioneered the production of solar-powered watches.

Their Eco-Drive watches, which make efficient use of solar energy, remain one of the most popular timepieces to date.

Strengths:

  • Their solar-powered watches are really incredible
  • Wide array of designs and functions made for specific uses
  • Accurate timekeeping features
  • Durable and scratch-resistant
  • Highly-functional features
  • High water resistance

Weaknesses:

  • Lume doesn’t last long
  • Might be challenging to adjust the date and time on some of the watch models
  • You need professional help when adjusting the links on their stainless steel bracelets

Nixon

Nixon is an American watchmaking company that started in 1997 and is currently based in California.

Their target is the younger generation of consumers which is why their designs have contemporary styles and are based on pop culture icons.

They sell both digital and analog watches featuring either Swiss or Japanese movements.

Their bestsellers include some chronograph watches but most belong to the Time Teller and Corporal series.

Star Wars-inspired watches are also some of the bestselling timepieces from the brand.

Strengths:

  • They have designs suited to any budget range
  • Trendy watch styles
  • Time is fairly easy to read despite being heavily designed
  • Most of their watches are water resistant up to 100m

Weaknesses:

  • Don’t expect them to last longer than 3 years
  • Somewhat overpriced for a quartz timepiece
  • No lume on most watches
  • Bands fit only the average wrist size

Tsovet

Tsovet is fairly new in the industry, having started only in 2008 under the guidance of one David Bonaventura.

Their designs emphasize a vintage look and feature the most basic functions to create impressive designs that are clutter-free.

Tsovet manufactures watches with minimalist designs and also those with chronograph features.

Strengths:

  • Simple design fit for casual and formal wear
  • You might mistake them for a more expensive brand because of their elegance and quality
  • Water resistant of at least 50m

Weaknesses:

  • Cheap quality straps
  • Watches don’t keep time well
  • No lume on some of the watches
  • Limited design choices

Hamilton

The Hamilton Watch Company started in the 1890s in America first as a maker of pocket watches and wristwatches.

They were later bought by the Swatch Group.

Hamilton had a reputation for accuracy which is why they were hired by many railroad and airline companies.

During World War II, the company was overwhelmingly successful in providing marine chronometer to the United States Navy.

The company also had (and still have) close ties with Hollywood and several TV personalities, with their watches appearing in several films and TV series.

Hamilton’s most popular timepieces belong to the Jazzmaster and Aviation series under the Khaki Field collection which is designed for rugged use.

Strengths:

  • Lightweight and thin but durable
  • They have a variety of stylish designs
  • Extensive power reserve on automatic watches
  • Water resistant timepieces

Weaknesses:

  • Lume doesn’t last long
  • Some of the watches might look too busy
  • Cheap leather bands

Uniform Wares

Uniform Wares gained widespread attention and became one of the most popular watchmakers in Europe in just four years after it was founded in 2009.

They use Italian leather, metal mesh from Germany, and ETA movements from Switzerland to develop quality watches in the mid-range price level.

Their designs feature sleek straps and clean watch faces fit for smart casual wear.

They emphasize minimalism on their designs that even their chronographs look simple and subtle.

Their Women’s Collection comes with leather straps, while their Men’s PreciDrive collection features some of the best durable bracelets made.

Strengths:

  • Watches feature ETA movements which are highly accurate
  • Sleek design that spells elegance and luxury
  • They use multi-layered sapphire crystals which are scratch-resistant
  • Slim and lightweight
  • Water resistant up to 50m

Weaknesses:

  • No lume on hands
  • They’re chronographs are quite expensive
  • They’re not that durable compared to other watches in the same price range

Farer

The Farer brand is fairly new to the industry, having started only in 2015 in London.

Their aim is to produce watches embodying the adventurous nature of a seafarer or a wayfarer and offer them at an affordable price range.

The result is a watch that invokes the feel of the 50s and the 60s with accented color combinations and equipped with modern movements and components.

Under their automatic mechanical watches, the bestsellers are the Aqua Compressor, the Chronograph, and the GMT series.

They also have more affordable quartz watches, some of which feature a subdial and a GMT hand.

Strengths:

  • Interesting designs feature an awesome combination of vintage and playfulness
  • Lovely color combinations
  • Exhibition case back in many of their watches
  • Swiss ETA movements for better accuracy

Weaknesses:

  • Domed crystal may not be that appealing to many
  • Bronze-colored crown might be a bit off when you take the overall look of the watch
  • Their higher tier watches are a bit expensive for the features offered

Junghans

Junghans is a German watch manufacturer which started in the early 1900s.

They used to make wall clocks before moving into manufacturing wristwatches.

They introduced many ‘firsts’ in the world, including the first radio-controlled clock and wristwatch, the first quartz wristwatch, and the first solar-powered watch with a ceramic casing.

The Max Bill, Meister, and Max Bill Mega are popular for their minimalistic designs.

For chronographs, their Form and Meister Pilot are the series you should look for.

Strengths:

  • Minimalist designs that are classy and best used as a dress watch
  • Timeless, vintage look even on their chronograph models
  • Excellent craftsmanship and build
  • Keeps time really well
  • Thin and lightweight
  • Quality and value proposition make every penny you spend worth it

Weaknesses:

  • Plexiglass is used instead of sapphire crystals in some of their watches
  • Some watches don’t have lume
  • Splash resistant only

Shinola

Shinola is a company based in Detroit that produces leather goods, bicycles, clocks, and other products aside from watches.

Its goal is to develop high-end watches that can rival the quality of those from Swiss watchmakers but offer them at a lower price point.

All of their watches are assembled in the United States but many of their parts are sourced from Swiss-owned factories in China and Thailand.

Shinola’s biggest fans are former presidents Clinton and Obama.

Among the brand’s watch collections, the most popular are the Audry, the Canfield Sport, and the Vinton.

If you’re looking for an affordable but durable watch.

Strengths:

  • Well-built and durable
  • Watch designs exhibit incredible attention to detail that they’re on par with more expensive brands
  • You have an array of different shapes and styles to choose from
  • Their use of contrasting colors make reading the time easy
  • Water resistant

Weaknesses:

  • Vast majority of their watches have quartz movement
  • Case gets easily scratched
  • Price may not be justifiable when you know where the parts came from

Sinn

Sinn was founded in 1961 in Germany and is focused on creating aerial cockpit clocks and chronographs for pilots.

They’re applauded by the community for their innovations in watchmaking technology including developments in Ar-dehumidifying, diapal, water resistance, and magnetic field protection.

The exceptional performance of their products is the reason why professional users – doctors, police, firefighters, divers, and pilots – choose Sinn watches for their everyday activities.

Sinn offers a variety of watches with GMT functions, chronograph features, scale-rule dials, and high water resistance ratings for specialized uses.

If you can find the Model 244.

They also have simple yet elegant timepieces suited as dress watches.

Strengths:

  • Solid build that can withstand everyday use
  • Innovative technologies used to ensure the watch is always at its peak performance
  • Uses ETA movements for accurate timekeeping
  • The brand has a wide variety of models to choose from
  • Ultra-durable build
  • Excellent lume brightness
  • High water resistance rating

Weaknesses:

  • They’re premium watches so they’re quite expensive
  • Warranty problems might be an issue since they’re operating in Germany and doesn’t have that many offices worldwide
  • Their designs are more military-like which may not be to the taste of some users

Special Mention: Essential Luxury Watch Brands

We know that we’re here to provide you with the best affordable brands.

But the meaning of ‘affordable’ might differ from one person to another.

So to make things fair, we’ve also come up with a list of the best luxury brands you can look into.

Oris

Oris was established in 1904 in Switzerland.

They used to manufacture wristwatches and pocket watches before they shifted to making alarm clocks and pilot watches during World War II.

After the war, they were bought by the Swatch Group.

The most popular watches from Oris are those that belong to the Aquis Date, Hammerhead, Diver, and Big Crown collections.

Strengths:

  • Accurate timekeeping
  • A range of designs for outdoor and office use
  • Durable build made for everyday use
  • Many have exhibition case backs which showcase their patented red winding rotor
  • Water resistant

Weaknesses:

  • Many of their sports watches are thick and bulky
  • They’re a bit expensive compared to watches with similar features
  • They’re manufactured in limited quantities only

Omega

Omega was established in 1848 in Switzerland.

Forty years after its establishment, Omega made waves in the watchmaking industry for developing minute-repeating watches and other innovations that demonstrated what the company is capable of doing.

Their reputation grew even stronger when they became the official timekeeper for the Olympics.

They also made history when they developed a watch requested by NASA for space travel.

Omega even became more popular when their watches were used in several James Bond movies.

The most prominent collections from Omega are the Seamaster and the Speedmaster watches.

Strengths:

  • Durable and excellent resistance to scratches
  • Superb craftsmanship and attention to detail in terms of quality and design
  • Iconic timepieces that will surely catch the attention of anyone who sees them
  • Very accurate timekeeping features
  • Reliable chronograph functions
  • Excellent water resistance rating

Weaknesses:

  • They’re expensive
  • Depending on the material, they can be heavy to wear
  • Small date window on some of their watches

Panerai

Panerai started in Italy back in the 1860s with their office being a multi-functional center for watchmaking activities and exhibitions.

Soon after they created an R&D arm, they were commissioned by the Italian military to develop navigation tools suitable for the battlefield.

Panerai pioneered the use of materials that can make watches self-illuminating.

They also adopted the use of Plexiglas to develop shatter-resistant watch crystals suitable for heavy use on the battlefield.

The company’s military-like watch designs garnered public admiration when they were endorsed by Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Panerai’s most popular models belong to the Luminor and Radiomir collections.

Both have stainless steel and titanium case variants to choose from.

Strengths:

  • Clean look allows you to read the time and date in an instant
  • Unique shape and crown guard
  • Unparalleled lume brightness
  • Very tough and durable
  • Accurate hand movements
  • High water resistance rating

Weaknesses:

  • They’re really big and a bit thick
  • Leather band can be a bit stiff
  • Military design might not be suitable for everyone

Rolex

Rolex was founded in 1905 in England and has been producing prestigious mechanical watches ever since.

The company was awarded the highest distinction for movement precision which is usually given to marine chronometers.

They’re also one of the first companies to ever manufacture a water-resistant wristwatch, the Rolex Oyster, which was designed for divers and deep water activities.

The name Oyster later became a trademark of the brand and was used in many of their watches.

One of their most iconic timepieces from the brand is the Rolex Daytona.

Their most popular and often imitated watch is the Submariner model.

Other prominent collections made by Rolex are the Sea Dweller, the Air King, and the Oyster Perpetual series.

Strengths:

  • Excellent lume brightness
  • Iconic timepieces with legendary designs
  • Durable and resistant to scratches
  • Tough band and clasp
  • Many of their watches can be considered good investments because of their appreciating value
  • High water resistance rating

Weaknesses:

  • Very expensive
  • You can’t just send them anywhere for repair
  • Their watch styles look closely similar to each other

IWC

Short for the International Watch Company, IWC was established in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 1868 with the aim of providing high-quality pocket watches to the American market.

The company is renowned for making incredibly accurate movements and for introducing innovative winding mechanisms for automatic watches.

Thanks to their tradition of recordkeeping and safekeeping of spare parts, they’re the only watchmaker able to repair every watch they’ve ever made, even those they developed in the 1860s.

The most popular models from IWC are the Portuguese, the Portugieser, the Aquatimer, the Ingenieur, and the Grand Complication.

Their Ocean 2000 collection is also one of the best ultra-rugged divers.

Strengths:

  • Super accurate movement
  • Classy designs make them the top pick for dress watches
  • The brand itself embodies exclusivity and elegance
  • Even vintage watches can be repaired by the company

Weaknesses:

  • Mediocre power reserve
  • You can get better diver watches for a lower price than what IWC offers
  • Most watches are splash resistant only

A. Lange & Söhne

The A.

Lange & Söhne is a German watchmaking company established in 1845.

They’re known for producing excellent pocket watches and oversized wristwatches for the German army.

After the war, the company was nationalized and the company seized to exist for quite some time.

It was in the 1990s when it was revived by Lange’s descendant and the company resumed making mechanical watches with in-house movements.

The brand is prominent for making complicated watches featuring perpetual calendars, chronographs, split-second chronographs.

Their Lange 1, Datograph, and Saxonia collections are some of the most coveted watches today.

Strengths:

  • One-of-a-kind designs you won’t find in any other luxury watch
  • Exhibition case back on many of their watches
  • Refined look makes these watches excellent accessories for formal wear
  • Great power reserve

Weaknesses:

  • Limited number of watches produced every year, making them a little hard to obtain
  • Very expensive for a watch with typical features
  • They’re thick and heavy

Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe is a luxury watchmaker that was established in 1839 in Switzerland.

They’re one of the oldest watch manufacturers with an uninterrupted history of developing complicated mechanical timepieces and one of the most sought-after brands by celebrities and collectors.

Some of their patrons include kings, queens, nobles, renowned artists, prominent scientists, and presidents of various countries.

The most notable watch among their products is the Nautilus series.

Its design was inspired by a submarine’s window.

Patek Philippe currently holds seven of the ten most expensive watches ever made.

Strengths:

  • All their watches exhibit elegance, whether they have a modern or a classic design
  • Extremely accurate timekeeping functions
  • Reliable complications
  • Solid build with high-quality straps
  • Exclusive designs and functions not seen on any other luxury watch

Weaknesses:

  • Extremely expensive models
  • Splash resistant only on most of their watches
  • Some of their watches, because of the many complications, make reading the time a bit challenging

Conclusion

Each watch brand differs in their price, features, function, and quality.

Experts and enthusiasts will always have differing opinions based on what they experienced with a brand.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to identify which of them you’ll trust and which of them have offers that suit your taste.

Whether it’s a luxury brand or an entry-level timepiece good as a beater accessory, the important thing is that you’re satisfied with your purchase.

Our list will surely make it easier for you to choose which brand to go for.

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