Getting a beater watch is something every time-conscious individual should have.
Have you considered looking for cheap military watches in 2024 to do the job?
You’ll welcome the thought of it once you understand what this kind of timepiece has to offer.
Why Get a Military Watch?
Most military time watches have a no-nonsense design that let go of aesthetics and focus on practicality and on providing time in the most reliable way.
Many of those who fancy the utilitarian approach of these military mechanical watches look for something more than just what the face value provides.
Vintage military watches hold a special place in a collector’s treasure box.
These watches have a deeper connection to history compared to modern timepieces.
Their value extends past the aesthetics, the movement, and the materials used to build the accessory, and for this reason, military time watches that are decades old fetch a high price in the market.
However, you don’t have to spend a lot just to get your own military watch.
There are vintage ones you can still obtain for less than $500.
And if you don’t mind about history and you just want a beater watch you can take anywhere you want, modern reproductions and digital alternatives provide a cheaper option to get a military time watch.
Top Affordable Military Watches
You don’t have to spend so much on obtaining vintage military watches as well as modern ones.
Here’s a list of the cheapest military watches you can find in the market.
Gosasa S-Shock Multifunction Military Watch
The 56mm S-Shock from Gosasa has analog hands and digital displays.
It has a resin case, an acrylic crystal, a rubber strap, and a quartz movement.
Functions offered by the watch include an AM/PM indicator, an alarm, a full calendar feature, and a dual-time feature.
If you’re looking for cheap military watches, you’ll find no other timepiece more affordable than the Gosasa S-Shock.
Pros:
- Very inexpensive
- Multiple functions available, despite its price
- Water resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Skeletonized hands are difficult to see
- It’s not that easy to program
- Strap is cheap and uncomfortable to wear
- Thick and large
SMAEL Digital Military Watch
The 51mm SMAEL Digital Military Watch has a case made of a mix of resin and stainless steel.
It also features an alarm function, a calendar function, a stopwatch, a 12/24-hour option, a backlight function, a desert camouflage bracelet, and a Japanese quartz movement.
If you’re in a tight budget and you’re looking for cheap military watches, this timepiece from SMAEL should be on the top of your list.
Pros:
- Shock resistant
- Dirt-cheap, making it incredibly affordable
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- It’s thick and bulky
- No timer function
- Hard to program
- The display isn’t as good as a G-Shock
JEDIR Men’s Quartz Chronograph Wrist Watch
The 37mm JEDIR Chronograph watch has a metal case, a stainless steel bezel, a mineral crystal, an army green canvas strap, Arabic numeral minute and hour markers, a date aperture, a 1/10th-second subdial, a 60-second chronograph subdial, luminescent hands and markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
When speaking of cheap military watches, the JEDIR Chronograph is the best of them.
Pros:
- Amazingly affordable price
- Design looks similar to that of more expensive brands
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- It’s challenging to change the date
- Strap is stiff and feels cheap
- Feels too light on the wrist
Casio G-Shock DW-9052 Watch
The 47mm G-Shock DW-9052 has a resin case, a mineral crystal, a resin band, and a Japanese quartz movement.
This digital military time watch features a countdown timer, a stopwatch, an alarm function, a full calendar function, a 12/24-hour format option, and a backlight.
Pros:
- Durable and shock resistant
- Affordable military watch
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Cheap band
- It’s quite thick
- Gets scratched easily
Burei Chronograph Sports Watch
The 41mm Burei Chronograph has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant mineral crystal, a stainless steel bracelet, a date aperture, a 24-hour subdial, a 60-second subdial, a 60-minute subdial, luminescent hands, and a Japanese quartz movement.
Pros:
- Elegant look that makes it suitable as a dress watch
- Affordable price
- Water resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Band quality feels cheap
- Slight deformities on some minor details
- Date window is a bit small
- Weak lume brightness
Vostok Komandirskie K-35 Russian Military Watch
The manufacturer of the K-35 is the official supplier of the Defense Department of the Soviet Union.
This is a must-have for collectors of the best military watches.
The 42mm K-35 has a stainless steel case, a NATO strap, a bidirectional rotating bezel, a white dial with a 24-hour scale, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a 2431B self-winding movement.
Pros:
- Unique 24-hour dial
- Shock resistant
- Power reserve of at least 30 hours
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- 24-hour dial takes time to get used to
- Instructions included in the package are hard to understand
- Cheap strap
Citizen AT0200-05E Eco-Drive Chronograph
The 39mm AT0200-05E has a mineral crystal, a canvas strap, a date window, chronograph subdials with 60-minute, 1-second, and 24-hour measurements, luminescent hands and markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
It runs on Eco-Drive technology which means you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries anymore.
The color combination of the AT0200-05E is reminiscent of vintage military watches.
Pros:
- Great lume brightness
- Legible watch face
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- You can hear the ticking sound of the hands
- Small date window
- Stiff strap
Tauchmeister T0265 XL Military Watch
The 52mm Tauchmeister T0265 XL has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire crystal, a unidirectional rotating bezel with minute markers, a polyurethane band, a date aperture, luminescent hands and markers, and a Miyota 2115 quartz movement.
For its price, quality, and features, the Tauchmeister T0265 XL is one of the best military watches in this list.
Pros:
- Legible watch face
- Excellent lume brightness
- Heavy duty military watch
- Water resistant up to 1,000m
Cons:
- It’s thick, large, and heavy
- Bezel has a bit of play
- The actual watch face is only 34mm even though the watch measures 52mm wide
Bulova A17A and the Bulova MIL-W-3818A
The Bulova A17A and the MIL-W-3818A are two of the most sought-after vintage military watches collectors look for.
They were used in the Vietnam War and are the last pieces Bulova made for the military.
Both these vintage military watches are quite a find and will surely add value to your collection.
Both the A17A and the MIL-W-3818A have nearly identical features except for their movement.
The 32mm watches both have a stainless steel case, an acrylic crystal, a screw-down case back, a NATO strap, a black dial with 12/24-hour scales, and radium-filled hands and markers.
The MIL-W-3818A military mechanical watch runs on a 10BNCH manual-winding movement.
Pros:
- Sweeping seconds hand
- Accurate timekeeping feature
- Good lume brightness
Cons:
- Oversized crown
- Small dial
- A bit hard to find nowadays
Casio G-Shock GW9400 Rangeman
The mm GW9400 Rangeman is a solar-powered military time watch with multiple displays.
It has a stainless steel case, a mineral crystal, and a Japanese quartz movement.
This is one of the best military watches for its range of features.
It has a digital compass, a thermometer, a barometer, a sunrise/sunset indicator, a time stamp, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, daily alarms, and an Mb6 atomic timekeeping mechanism.
Pros:
- Sturdy and shock resistant
- Multi-functional military watch
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Inaccurate temperature measurements
- Illumination comes only from one side of the watch
- Inaudible alarm sound
G-Shock GG-1000-1A5CR Military Watch
The 56mm GG-1000-1A5CR has a resin case, a mineral crystal, a stainless steel bezel, luminescent hands, a led backlight, and a quartz movement.
The digital and analog combo of this military time watch offers a daily alarm, a countdown timer, a 12/24-hour format option, a full calendar function, a stopwatch, a thermometer, a digital compass, and a world time function.
Pros:
- Mud resistant and shock resistant
- Rugged look fully compliments the solid build of the watch
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Offers a lot of functions for its affordable price
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Negative display makes it hard to read under certain light conditions
- Inaudible alarm sound
- Inaccurate thermometer reading
Seiko Prospex SNE441 Diver’s Solar Watch
The 44mm Prospex SNE441 has a stainless steel case, a Hardlex crystal, a unidirectional rotating bezel with minute markers and a luminous pip, a screw down crown, a silicone rubber strap, a magnified date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a Japanese V157 solar quartz movement.
Among military time watches, the Prospex SNE441 exhibits the best functionality and reliability for its price range.
Pros:
- Excellent lume brightness
- Affordable price
- Legible watch face
- Power reserve of up to 10 months
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Buckle and clasp feels cheap as they rattle when you move
- Hand movements don’t align with the minute markers
- It’s a bit heavy to wear
GPW German Military Watch
The 42.5mm GPW Military Watch has a titanium case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a screw-in crown, a unidirectional rotating bezel with hour markers in Arabic numerals, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a 24-jewel automatic movement.
Pros:
- Shock resistant and EMP resistant
- Very legible watch face
- Lightweight but sturdy
- Water resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- It’s hard to adjust the crown to set the date
- Gains time every day
- Water resistance rating is not written on the watch
Victorinox Swiss Army Maverick
The 43mm Victorinox Maverick has a stainless steel case, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a stainless steel band, a unidirectional bezel with a 60-minute marker and a luminous pip, a blue dial with 12 and 24-hour markers, a date aperture, luminescent hands, and a Japanese quartz movement.
Pros:
- Classic look makes it suitable as a dress watch
- Affordable price for its quality and build
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Slightly inaccurate hand movements
- Clasp and band is difficult to adjust
- It’s a bit thick and heavy
Garmin Instinct
The Garmin Instinct is one of the best military watches with a digital, scratch-resistant display.
It features a built-in GPS mechanism, a 3-axis compass, a barometric altimeter, a heart rate monitor, smart notifications, and a calendar function.
It’s preloaded with various sports profiles which you can use to record your fitness progress.
Pros:
- Battery life of up to 14 days
- Shock resistant
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- It’s humongous and thick
- It’s a bit heavy to wear
- Strap may not be comfortable to wear
Victorinox Swiss Army Men’s 241377 Infantry Vintage Mechanical Watch
The 44mm Infantry 241377 is a tribute to vintage military watches by featuring a style similar to those of older watches.
It has a stainless steel case, a leather strap, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a small seconds subdial, hour markers with 12-hour and 24-hour measurements, luminescent hands and markers, and a Swiss manual-winding movement.
Pros:
- Okay lume brightness
- Legible watch face
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Crown is hard to grip
- No date aperture
- Watch needs to be winded every 6 hours
Suunto Traverse Alpha
The 50mm Traverse Alpha is a military time watch that helps map the outdoors with ease.
It has passed military standards with flying colors so you can rest assured of its quality and reliability
The Traverse Alpha has a case made of reinforced glass fiber composite, a knurled bezel, a mineral crystal, and a nylon textile strap.
It features a vibration alert, a built-in flashlight, a GPS/GLONASS navigation system, a moonphase calendar, a sunrise/sunset alert, an automatic shot detection, a barometric pressure graph, and topographic maps.
It’s Bluetooth-enabled to allow easier connection with iOS and Android devices.
Pros:
- Multi-functional military watch
- Legible digital display
- Durable build
- Power reserve of up to 14 days
- Water resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- GPS acquisition can be slow at times
- Temperature and barometric readings can be unreliable
- The strap smells after repeated exposure to water
Benrus DTU-2A/P Military Watch
The 34mm Benrus DTU-2A/P has a parkerized steel case, a domed acrylic crystal, 12 and 24-hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and a 17-jewel DR2 F2 manual-winding movement.
Pros:
- Legible watch face
- Power reserve of up to 46 hours
- Splash resistant
Cons:
- Acrylic crystal easily sustains damage
- Expensive for its simple features
- Small dial
Hamilton Mil-W-46374D Type 1
Previous Mil-W models were inaccurate by more or less 1 minute per day.
This led to the development of the Type 1 model which has a more accurate timekeeping mechanism.
The 34mm Mil-W-46374D has a stainless steel case that’s been parkerized, an acrylic crystal, a 12/24-hour scale in Arabic numerals, and a plain black dial with tritium-filled hands and markers. This military mechanical watch runs on a 17-jewel ETA 2801-2 hand-winding movement.
A more modern version of this vintage military watch is the Hamilton Khaki Field.
Pros:
- Legible watch face
- Accurate hand movements
- Splash resistant
Cons:
- Dial is a bit small
- Acrylic glass gets scratched easily
- Expensive for its simple features
Marathon WW194018 JSAR Military Diver’s Watch
The 46mm WW194018 JSAR (Jumbo Search and Rescue) has a stainless steel case, a synthetic sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a date aperture, 12/24-hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and a 3-jewel ETA F07 quartz movement.
This military time watch has been built according to government specs.
Pros:
- Serious tool watch with a sturdy build
- Excellent lume brightness
- Legible watch face, thanks to the chunky hands
- Water resistant up to 300m
Cons:
- Date window is hard to read
- Large crown
- It’s huge and heavy
Conclusion
Military time watches provide you with a reliable accessory that can take the beating of everyday use.
They’re built with practicality and purpose in mind, shaving off the components installed for aesthetics more than for function.
If you’re looking for a tool watch you can bring anywhere you want, consider getting any of the cheap military watches we’ve listed here.
