More than just a simple accessory, you can think of a watch as an investment that must last everyday use.
For your first purchase, the first thing that comes to mind might be a luxury watch, but that will cost you thousands of dollars.
The good thing is that you don’t have to spend too much to get a premium-quality timepiece you can use daily.
We’ve listed the best watches under $1,000 you can easily buy online.
These watch brands are for those looking for affordable timepieces that don’t skimp on quality and design.
Whether you’re into smartwatches or timepieces for diving, casual, or formal occasions, we’re confident you’ll like at least one of the timepieces on the list.
The Best Men’s Watches Under $1,000
Here are the best watches under $1,000 you won’t regret buying.
Invicta Men’s 8926OB Pro Diver
The 40mm 8926OB Pro Diver has a stainless steel case and bracelet, a mineral crystal, a corrugated, unidirectional rotating bezel with a luminous pip, an exhibition case back, a magnified date window, a screw-down crown, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre NH35A automatic movement.
For its quality, design, and functionality, the 8926OB Pro Diver is simply one of the best watches under $1,000.
Pros:
- It looks like it’s made by a luxury watch brand despite its extremely affordable price
- Sturdy build
- Date is easy to read
- Legible watch face
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Oversized crown
- Bezel has little play in it
- It’s thick and heavy
Price: $100
AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane AV-4011
The 42mm Hawker Hurricane has a stainless steel case, a mineral crystal, an inner tachymeter bezel, a date aperture, large Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and a Japanese quartz movement.
It also has 3 chronograph subdials with 1/10th-second, 60-second, and 60-minute counters.
Pros:
- Fairly-priced for its quality and features
- Handsome look with a military-inspired design
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Cheap strap quality
- Seconds hand doesn’t land exactly in line with the dial markings
- Sometimes, the hands on the chronograph subdials don’t reset back to zero
Price: $210
Mako USA II
The 41.5mm Mako USA II has a stainless steel case and band, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a 120-click, unidirectional rotating bezel, a screw-down crown, a day-date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre F6922 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Hackable movement
- Power reserve of up to 40 hours
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Oversized crown
- A bit thick and heavy
- It’s quite large
Price: $315 to $450
Seiko Presage SARY055
The 41mm Presage SARY055 has a stainless steel case and band, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, a day-date display, a silver dial with blue hands, and a Seiko calibre 4R36 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Gorgeous polished finish
- Legible watch face
- Classy dress watch
- Hackable movement
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Gains/losses several seconds a day
- No lume on hands
- Flimsy bracelet
Price: $330
Bulova Moonwatch Pilot Chronograph 96B251
The 45mm Moonwatch Chronograph has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an inner tachymeter bezel, a leather strap with tang clasp, a solid case back, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a quartz movement.
It has 3 chronograph subdials with 1/10th-second, 60-second, and 60-minute counters.
Pros:
- Elegant look that looks like it’s made by a luxury watch brand
- Subtle crown pushers go well with the overall theme of the watch
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Water-resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Cheap strap quality
- Small date window
- It’s large and it’s not suitable for those with thin wrists
Price: $370 to $675
Alpina Startimer Pilot Big Date Chronograph AL-372B4S6B
The 44mm Startimer Big Date Chronograph has a stainless steel case and bracelet, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a matte black dial, a large double window date display, a screw-in crown, large Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and an AL-372 quartz movement.
The Startimer Big Date Chronograph is one of the best watches under $1,000 that has 3 chronograph subdials with 1/10th-second, 60-second, and 30-minute counters.
Pros:
- Great lume brightness
- Good size for a chronograph watch
- Durable build
- Battery life of up to 48 months
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Date window can be confusing to read
- Thick and heavy
- Oversized crown and pushers
Price: $375 to $995
Laco Aachen Type B Dial 861690
The 42mm Type B Dial has a design reminiscent of WWII German pilot watches.
It has a brushed stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, an exhibition case back, a leather strap, large Arabic numeral minute markers, luminescent hands and markers, and a Laco 21 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Classic, military-inspired design
- Precise movement
- Excellent lume brightness
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- A bit expensive for its basic features
- Thick and heavy
- Cheap strap quality
Price: $400
Hamilton Khaki Pilot Chronograph
The 44mm Khaki Pilot Chronograph has a stainless steel case and band, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a date window, Arabic numeral minute markers, luminescent hands and markers, and an ETA 251.274 quartz movement.
It has 3 chronograph subdials with 1/10th-second, 60-second, and 30-minute counters.
Pros:
- Sporty look
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Available in different dial colors
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Small date window
- Expensive for a quartz timepiece
- Oversized crown
Price: $500 to $950
Hamilton Intra-matic Auto H38455751
The 38mm Intra-matic Auto has a stainless steel case and bezel, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a leather strap, a silver dial, a date window, black hands and markers, and an ETA 2892-2 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Elegant design best paired with dress wear
- Minimalistic design makes the watch face highly legible
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Power reserve of up to 42 hours
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No seconds hand
- No lume on hands
- Gains/losses several seconds a day
Price: $525 to $845
Citizen Promaster Aqualand
The 46mm Promaster Aqualand has a silver-tone stainless steel case, a mineral crystal, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a polyurethane strap, a power reserve indicator, a rapid ascent alarm, a date display, an auto-start dive mode, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre J250 movement.
For its blue-red color scheme, some users dub the Promaster Aqualand as a Pepsi dive watch with a more affordable price tag.
Pros:
- Solar-powered timepiece
- Good lume brightness
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Large, thick, and bulky
- Crowns are too large
- Cluttered look may not be that appealing to some users
Price: $550 to $700
Casio G-Shock G-Steel GST-B100XA-1AJF
The 54mm G-Steel has a stainless steel case, a carbon fiber bezel, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a polyurethane band, a date window, a day subdial, a LED light with afterglow effect, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, an alarm function, a battery level indicator, a power-saving mode, a dual time feature, and a Japanese quartz movement.
Pros:
- Multi-functional timepiece
- Available in other color variants
- Shock-resistant designed for rugged use
- Solar-powered movement
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- It’s large and bulky
- Not for those who have thin wrists
- Stiff strap
Price: $600
Tissot Heritage Visodate T019.430.16.031.01
The 40mm Visodate has a stainless steel case, a domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a cowhide leather strap with butterfly clasp, a see-through case back, a day-date display, silver-tone hands and markers, and an ETA 2836-2 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Clean watch face that’s highly legible
- Classy look that looks expensive
- Power reserve of up to 38 hours
- Water-resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Time can be hard to read at certain angles
- Crown can be hard to grip
Price: $610
MK II Cruxible Type A-11
The 39mm Cruxible has a stainless steel case, a double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the interior part, a leather strap, a screw-down crown, large Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and an automatic movement.
Pros:
- No-nonsense military design
- Sturdy build that can withstand rugged use
- Legible watch face
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- No date window
- A bit expensive for its basic features
- Oversized crown
Price: $650
Baume & Mercier Classima Blue Dial MOA10324
The 40mm Classima Blue Dial has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a leather strap, a sunray dial, a date window, Roman numeral hour markers, and a Swiss quartz movement.
For its design, features, and price, the Classima Blue Dial is one of the best men’s watches under $1,000 that can be paired with dress wear.
Pros:
- Elegant and classy look
- Slim and lightweight
- Legible watch face
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No seconds hand or subdial
- No lume on hands
- Expensive for a quartz movement
Price: $700 to $990
Longines HydroConquest L38404566
The 44mm HydroConquest L38404566 has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a stainless steel band, a date window, large Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre L157 quartz movement.
Pros:
- Solid dive watch
- Bezel has no play
- Superb lume brightness
- Water-resistant up to 300m
Cons:
- Expensive for a quartz watch
- It’s a bit heavy
- Oversized crown
Price: $700 to $1,000
Apple Watch Series 4
The Apple Watch Series 4 is a smartwatch that’s available in 44mm and 40mm rectangular case sizes.
The model has a digital crown with haptic feedback, a 64-bit dual-core processor, a 16GB built-in capacity, and a case made of a combination of ceramic and sapphire crystal.
For health-conscious individuals, the Apple Watch Series 4 might be one of the best men’s watches under $1,000 that they can buy as it offers a plethora of features.
It has an electrical heart sensor, a 2nd-generation optical heart sensor, a fall detector, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a speaker, an ambient light sensor, a microphone, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Pros:
- Crystal clear display
- Features are easy to navigate
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can last up to 18 hours
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- It’s expensive
- Short battery life
- Feels too delicate
Price: $750
Shinola Runwell Chrono
The 41mm Runwell Chrono has a stainless steel case with gold PVD coating, a double-domed sapphire crystal, a cattail leather strap, a date aperture, gold-tone subdials, large Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands, and an Argonite 5021 movement.
Pros:
- Gorgeous, classic look
- Looks expensive like it was made by a luxury watch brand
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Large crown
- It’s thick
- Date window is hard to distinguish
Price: $800
Mido Ocean Star
The 42.5mm Ocean Star has a titanium case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a rubber strap, a day-date display, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 80 automatic movement.
It’s available in a variety of dial and strap color combinations.
Pros:
- Highly legible watch face
- Sturdy and lightweight
- Power reserve of up to 80 hours
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Crown is a bit thin and slippery
- Curved lugs might not work for everybody
- Design might be too plain to some users
Price: $850 to $1,000
Movado Heritage Calendoplan Chronograph
The 45mm Calendoplan Chronograph has an ion-plated stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a leather strap with buckle closure, a date window, a 30-second subdial, a 60-minute subdial, luminescent hands and hour markers, and a Swiss quartz movement.
Pros:
- Available in a variety of different strap and dial color combinations
- Legible watch face
- Water-resistant up to 30m
Cons:
- Oversized crown and pushers
- Cheap strap quality
- Large and heavy
Price: $850
Archimede Pilot 42H Bronze . S. LS
The 42mm 42H Bronze has a brushed bronze case and crown, a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a see-through case back with mineral crystal, a leather strap with bronze rivets, large Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Legible watch face
- Great lume brightness
- Bronze develops a nice patina as it ages
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- Expensive for its basic features
- Large crown
Price: $890
Luminox Atacama Field Automatic 1900
The 44mm Atacama Field 1900 has a stainless steel case and bracelet, a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a screw-down crown, a day-date display, luminescent hands and markers, and a Swiss automatic movement.
Pros:
- Unparalleled lume brightness
- Power reserve of up to 40 hours
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Color scheme looks too bland
- Oversized crown
- It’s thick and heavy
Price: $890 to $1,500
Seiko Prospex SBDC051
The 42.5mm Prospex SBDC051 has a stainless steel case, band, and bezel, a curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a unidirectional rotating bezel with a luminous pip, a screw-down crown, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 6R15 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Has magnetic resistance
- Excellent lume brightness
- Legible watch face
- Power reserve of up to 50 hours
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- It’s quite heavy and thick
- Bezel has little play
- Oversized crown
Price: $890
Raymond Weil Freelancer Automatic 2760-SB1-20001
The 42.5mm Freelancer Automatic has a black PVD stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a unidirectional rotating bezel covered in black PVD, a rubber strap, a date display, luminescent hands and markers, and a Swiss automatic movement.
Pros:
- Highly legible watch face
- Bezel has no play
- Power reserve of up to 38 hours
- Water-resistant up to 300m
Cons:
- Strap feels stiff
- A bit thick and heavy
- Crown has no guard
Price: $900 to $2,000
Tissot Ballade Powermatic 80
The 41mm Ballade Powermatic 80 has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a see-through case back, a black leather strap with butterfly clasp, a date window, silver-tone hands and hour markers, and a Swiss automatic movement.
Pros:
- Available in other color variations
- Classy dress watch with a legible watch face
- Power reserve of up to 80 hours
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No lume on hands
- Expensive for its basic features
- Low strap quality
Price: $925
TAG Heuer Formula 1
The 43mm Formula 1 has a stainless steel case, a titanium tachymeter bezel covered with black carbide, perforated rubber strap, a date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a Swiss quartz movement.
This is one of the best watches under $1,000 that has chronograph subdials with 1/10th-second, 60-second, and 30-minute counters.
Pros:
- Accurate hand and chronograph movements
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Flimsy strap quality
- Dirt accumulates on the perforations on the strap
- Expensive for a quartz chronograph
Price: $940 to $1,100
Christopher Ward C60 Trident Titanium Pro 600 #1
The 43mm C60 Trident Titanium Pro has a titanium grade II case, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel, a handcrafted leather strap, a screw-down crown, a matte black dial, luminescent hands and markers, and a Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement.
With its high water resistance rating and sturdy build, this is the perfect dive watch for divers.
Pros:
- Hackable movement
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Shock-resistant build
- Power reserve of up to 38 hours
- Water-resistant up to 600m
Cons:
- Oversized crown
- Small date window
- Stealthy black color scheme might make the watch face hard to read under certain light conditions
Price: $950
Stowa ‘Antea back to bauhaus’
The Antea back to bauhaus is available in 3 different case sizes: 35.5mm, 36.5mm, and 39mm.
The two bigger sizes have an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement while the smallest one has a Peseux 7001 hand-winding movement.
All these have a stainless steel case, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a skeleton case back, a small seconds subdial, and a white dial with Arabic numeral hour markers.
If you’re looking for a minimalist dress watch, these models are some of the best watches under $1,000 with automatic movement.
Pros:
- Minimalistic style makes the watch face easy to read
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- No date window
- No lume on hands
- Crown is a bit large
Price: $950
Autodromo Group B Series 2
The 39mm Group B Series 2 has a case made of both stainless steel and titanium, an integrated stainless steel band, a sapphire crystal, Arabic numeral minute markers on the inner bezel, luminescent hands and markers, and a 24-jewel Miyota 9015 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Thin and lightweight
- Legible watch face
- Hackable movement
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- Integrated band makes replacing the strap impossible
- Crown can be hard to grip
- No date window
Price: $975
Junghans Max Bill
The 38mm Max Bill has a polished stainless steel case, a convex plexiglass crystal with SICRALAN coating, a calfskin leather strap, Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands, and an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement.
Pros:
- Highly-legible watch face
- Thin and lightweight
- Power reserve of up to 38 hours
- Splash-resistant
Cons:
- No date display
- Crystal may get scratched easily
- Expensive for its basic features
Price: $995
Victorinox I.N.O.X. Carbon Limited Edition
The 43mm INOX Carbon has a space-tested carbon case, a triple-coated, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a paracord strap dyed in yellow, a screw-in case back, an end-of-life indicator, a date window, large Arabic numeral hour markers, luminescent hands and markers, and an analog quartz movement.
Pros:
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
- Sturdy build meant for rugged use
- Water-resistant up to 200m
Cons:
- Hard to find as it’s limited to 1,200 pieces
- Date window is confusing to read
- Color scheme might be too vibrant for some users
Price: $995
Montblanc Summit 2
The 42mm Summit 2 is a smartwatch with a 1.2-inch circular full AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100, 1GB of memory, 8GB of storage, and a Wear OS by Google.
Aside from displaying the time, it also has a heart rate sensor, a microphone, an altimeter, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an ambient light function, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Pros:
- Fast performance
- Great screen quality
- It’s packed with features
- Water-resistant up to 50m
Cons:
- It’s a bit heavy and thick
- Oversized crown
- Short battery life
Price: $1,000
Conclusion
You don’t have to look for a luxury watch to get a decent and reliable timepiece.
Numerous watch brands sell affordable timepieces that offer the same – sometimes even better – functionality than those found on more expensive models.
We’ve listed the best men’s watches under $1,000 and they all exhibit quality craftsmanship and distinctive style.
You’ll love every one of them and the best thing is that you don’t have to break the bank to get one.
