For some people, a watch is more than an instrument for telling time. It’s also a fashion accessory, and a statement. While smartwatches are favored by some, others like to have a nice dress watch, especially for special occasions.
However, some people also associate stylish and classic dress watches with high prices, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
You can find nice watches under $200, ones that are good quality, nice looking and serve as a fashion accessory for the wearer while still accurately telling time. The best affordable dress watches will fit the bill for those who want their watch to match the occasion, their wardrobe or their personal style.
Choosing a lower priced watch also lets you figure out what you like in a timepiece, allowing you to invest in a smartwatch if you really want one, but also letting you have that stylish dress watch for special occasions, for the office, for a job interview or important meeting, or for a romantic dinner engagement or family gathering.
So what should you look for in an affordable dress watch? Let’s take a look.
Best Men’s Dress Watches Under 200
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2Bulova Men's Straps - 96B104 Dress Watch
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1. Orient Bambino Version 2 Men's Dress Watch
This classic looking watch has a light colored, pale beige watchface (described as a “sunburst” color) and blue hands that display the hour, minute and second. It has Roman numerals and second markers around the dial. There’s also a date display at 3 o’clock.
It features Japanese-automatic movement and is hand-winding, with a power reserve of 40 hours. It’s water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters) which makes it OK for a brief splash of water but isn’t good for swimming or wearing in the shower.
Specifications
Pros
- A basic watch with a classic style, would look great going to work or out for dinner.
- Has what you need in a dress watch, with 3-hand display and a date display.
- Automatic movement with 40-hour power reserve.
Cons
- Orient is not as well-known as other watch brands.
- Limited water resistance.
Why We Chose This
This is just your basic dress watch that fulfills your basic needs: nice looking case, watch face and leather band; hour, minute and second hands; and automatic movement with a power reserve that should last 40 hours between windings.2. Bulova Men's Straps - 96B104 Dress Watch
Bulova is a U.S.-based watch company known for producing stylish dress watches, and this one is no exception. It has a round, white watch face with silver hands indicating hour, minute and second. There’s a date display at 3’clock and the number indicators are simple marks. It has Japanese quartz movement.
The case is stainless steel and the band is a croc-textured black calfskin with a buckle closure.
It’s water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters) so it can handle a bit of water but should not be worn swimming or in the shower.
Specifications
Pros
- A really nice looking, slim watch.
- Minimalist design with marks in place of numbers.
- Very dressy with the silver, white and black color combination.
Cons
- A very basic watch, without even numbers for markers.
- Minimal resistance to water.
Why We Chose This
It carries the Bulova name, known to produce quality watches, and features a stylish design. The watch face has a minimalist look, the silver, white and black combination of the case and band looks great, and its slim design will take you from the office to a black-tie event.3. Timex Weekender Men's Dress Watch
Timex is a popular watch brand, and this version has a somewhat casual look, making Weekender an appropriate name. It’s billed as a unisex watch appropriate for men and women.
It has a brass case with a brown leather strap. The watch face is a deep blue color, and there is a date display at 4 o’clock.
The watch strap is adjustable and can also be easily changed with Timex’s interchangeable slip-thru straps, available in fabric and leather straps.
It has Arabic numerals and secondary 24-hour military time in a slightly smaller size than the main numbers. There are 3 chronograph markers, 30 minutes down to 1/20th of a second.The entire dial can be illuminated with Timex’s electroluminescent technology known as INDIGLO.
It’s water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters), so it’s ok to splash it but you should not wear it in the shower or to swim.
Specifications
Pros
- Some extra functionality with the chronograph displays.
- The watch strap can be changed easily with the interchangeable bands available from Timex.
- Backlit with the Timex INDIGLO technology.
- Billed as a unisex watch.
Cons
- The busy watch face may be too much for some.
- A more casual watch that may not be dressy enough for some consumers.
Why We Chose This
Along with the Timex name, you get the INDIGLO backlight technology and the easily interchangeable bands with this Weekender watch. It has a casual style, with a brass case, deep blue watch face and brown leather strap. There are 3 chronograph displays to give you a bit more functionality, numbers for both 12-hour and 24-hour reading, and a date display.4. Citizen Men's BM8180-03E Dress Watch
With a slim and discrete design, this Citizen watch can be integrated into both casual and office scenarios. The stainless steel case and mineral crystal lens give a note of class and style, while the nylon strap talks about durability even in tough conditions.
The black analog dial features a date window (in the 3 o’clock position) and a three-hand movement with a red sweeping second-hand. The face has Arabic numeral for hour markers and an outer ring for minutes. The entire mechanism is powered by a Japanese quartz movement that charges from natural or indoor light due to Eco-Drive technology (Citizen’s proprietary). This means you won’t ever have to replace the battery on this watch!
Lastly, the watch is resistant to water (up to 330ft depth), has a textured crown for easy gripping, and luminosity for better view under low-light conditions.
Specifications
Pros
- Slim & elegant design
- Japanese quartz movement powered by Eco-Drive technology
- Durable strap
- Easy to read face
- Luminosity for low-light conditions
Cons
- The strap is stiff and looks low-quality
- Doesn’t have 24h time
Why We Chose This
If you’re looking for a great paramedic watch that’s not too bulky or too flashy, this Citizen timepiece may be the right choice. It has a slim profile but the face is still easy to read and it has good scratch and water resistance. In addition, it runs on natural and artificial light, which means you don’t have to worry about batteries!Best Women’s Dress Watches Under 200
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1. Michael Kors Women's Parker Dress Watch Silver-Tone
The Parker was, without a shadow of a doubt, created to attract everyone’s attention! The silver-toned link stainless steel strap and case are nicely highlighted and illuminated by the petite rhinestones inset in the bezel and dial. In addition, the watch features an oversized MK logo at the center of the dial without any other embellishments on the face!
As such, every time you move your hand, the rhinestones and the silver tones of this watch will sparkle, putting you in the spotlight.
Given the minimalist face and the three-hand quartz movement, it is quite clear that this is a fashion watch. Still, it is comfortable to wear as the bracelet features a fold-over clasp with double push-button safety. It’s also resistant to water (around 330ft), but if you want it looking sharp, it’s best to stay away from humid areas. It would look out of place in a gym or on a hike anyways.
Specifications
Pros
- A chic design that catches everyone’s eye
- Ideal for formal and elegant outfits
- High attention to details
- Glamorous and minimalistic face
- Comfortable stainless steel strap
Cons
- A bit difficult to read (no hour markers)
- It’s a bit heavy
2. Gosasa Women's 'Phoenix Collection Dress Watch
Gosasa is a brand known for its beautiful, yet affordable timepieces. Their designs are perfect as a gift, due to the fancy packaging, and are reliable and easy to wear.
This extremely eye-catching model is part of their special Phoenix collection, which is why it has a golden Phoenix wrapped around the dial. The design on the dial is very intricate and the attention to detail (considering the price) is astonishing. Furthermore, if you look closely, through the long feathers in the tail, you can see parts of the mechanism!
To add to the exquisiteness of the watch, the black fixed dial is adorned with twelve diamond stones, as hour markers. The time is indicated by a self-winding automatic three-hands movement in the same tone as the background. However, the intricacy of the dial and the golden tone of the hands make it a bit difficult to tell the time from the first glance. The eye is immediately attracted by the design of the Phoenix and the hands sort of fade into the background.
The entire ensemble is completed by the 316 stainless steel gold-plated case and gold-plated two-tone stainless steel bracelet band.
As such, we consider this amazing design as more of a jewelry timepiece. It looks amazing on your wrist and attracts all the eyes on you. However, it’s such a strong piece that it may not work well with a more casual outfit and other accessories.
Specifications
Pros
- Astonishing design with powerful visuals
- Gold-plated stainless steel case & bracelet
- An automatic movement
- Polished finish
- Fixed bezel with diamonds as hour markers
Cons
- The background design is distracting
- No luminous hands
Why We Chose This
If you’re looking for an impressive gift, this Gosasa model may be just the right one. It’s affordable and it can be a bit flashy, but it definitely attracts attention. And, even though the power reserve is a bit small, it’s easy to use the crown and set the time. Overall, this is a wonderful jewelry timepiece that will brighten your day!Dress Watches Under 200
Design & Style
If you’re looking for cheap dress watches, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style.
Even an affordable dress watch usually has a very classic style: an analog display; a watch face with minimal markings, maybe even marks instead of numbers; and occasionally a date display but not much else. A clean, elegant look is what sets apart many dress watches.
The design is also usually classic, with a thin case and often a leather band, although sometimes a stainless steel band can be found on nice watches under $200.
A stainless steel case will ensure long life and durability, while still looking good. You can wear most of these affordable dress watches for more than a special occasion. They’re usually tough enough to take you on an outdoor adventure, although most are not water resistant enough for any extreme sports.
Brand
You might think cheap dress watches are only made by cheap brands or knock-offs with names you don’t recognize. But some of the best affordable dress watches are made by reputable watch companies, including Citizen, Timex and Bulova.
You won’t get a Rolex at this price point, but you don’t have to sacrifice quality when choosing an affordable dress watch.
Now that you know what to look for, let’s review our best dress watches under $200.