It’s not always easy to find the perfect watch for men, especially at a price that doesn’t break the bank.
Not every guy wants to spend a bunch of money on a smartwatch just to get emails delivered to their watch. Some guys just want a reliable watch that looks good and works great.
So let’s say you’re looking for affordable men’s watches under $100, and you want to be sure you get one that works well and looks good. What other factors should you consider when looking at watches under $100?
Let’s take a look.
Best Men’s Watches Under 100
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6Casio EF527D-1AV Edifice Men's Watch
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1. Seiko SNE039 Men's Watch
The Seiko name stands behind this solar-powered watch designed in the classic style. It has quartz movement and an analog display, with a date window at 3 o’clock. The day/date calendar is in English and Spanish.
The case and band are both stainless steel, and the band is composed of links with a push-button clasp. The look is that of a dress watch, with a black watch face.
The watch is water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters).
It also features Seiko’s Eco-Drive movement, which means it doesn’t need a battery or a charger. It’s powered by all types of light, and has a long power reserve. . Solar cell with high performance electricity generation. Energy-efficient movement with a long power reserve.
Easy to read with LumiBrite hands.
Specifications
Pros
- Seiko is known for making great watches.
- Eco-drive technology means you don’t have to change the battery or charge the watch.
- Looks great with a dressy stainless steel case and band.
Cons
- Classic analog style isn’t for everybody.
- Not as many features as a digital watch.
Why We Chose This
If you’re looking for a classic looking watch backed by a well-known watch manufacturer, this is it. The stylish analog look comes from a stainless steel watch and band with a black watch face. It’s water resistant enough that you don’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain. And the Eco-Drive technology means you never have to change a battery or charge the watch.2. Invicta Pro Diver 8928OB Men's Watch
This analog watch has a unique design, with a 23k gold-plated stainless steel case, black watch face and blue dial/bezel, and a gold and stainless steel tone bracelet. The blue dial is designed to make it easy to read the watch, even in low light conditions.
The hands and markers are luminous and there is a magnified date window at 3 o’clock.
It’s rated as water resistant to 660 feet (200 meters), which is suitable for water sports but not recommended for scuba diving.
It also has an automatic (self-winding) mechanism, which does not operate on batteries. Instead, it’s wound by the movement of your wrist as you wear it, known as kinetic energy.
Specifications
Pros
- Unique styling, with gold and silver tones on the band, a black watch face and a blue dial/bezel.
- Blue dial makes it easy to read in any kind of light.
- Powered by kinetic or self-winding technology, so it doesn’t need a battery, a charge, or to be wound.
Cons
- Doesn’t have the bells and whistles of a digital or smartwatch.
- The multitude of colors on the watch may be too much for some.
Why We Chose This
The unique look of this watch will draw your eye, with the different colors that add to its appeal. The blue dial is also colored for a reason, as it helps for viewing the watch in low light conditions. The self-winding technology is a bonus, and this watch is suitable for water sports with a water resistance to 660 feet.3. Seiko SNK805 Men's Watch
This is a sporty looking watch with a bit of a military look. That comes from the green nylon strap and the green watch face. The functions are luminous and it has a day/date window at 3 o’clock.
With the Seiko name standing behind it, it also features automatic movement, so it does not require battery changes because it’s powered automatically by the movement of your arm.
It’s water resistant to just 99 feet (30 meters), so it’s ok to splash it but it’s not intended for swimming.
Specifications
Pros
- It’s a Seiko, a legendary watch company.
- Powered by the movement of your arm, so it doesn’t require battery changes.
- The green nylon strap offers a sporty or military look for those who want something other than a traditional dress watch.
Cons
- Doesn’t have as many functions as other analogs or some digital watches.
- Only water resistant to 99 feet, so not recommended for swimming or water sports.
Why We Chose This
The military or sporty look of this watch is great for those who don’t want a traditional dress watch. Instead, you’ll get the quality of a Seiko watch with the unique look of a green watch face and green band. It’s also an automatic watch, powered by the wearer’s movement, so there’s no need to change batteries or plug it in to charge.4. Casio A168WG-9 Men's Watch
If you want to wear a digital watch that looks like it’s from the era when digital first hit the scene, this vintage Casio is for you. It has a daily alarm, an hourly time signal and an automatic calendar, along with a 1/100 second digital stopwatch.
The look screams vintage, with a gold tone case and band, and a square readout face with retro markings.
It’s water resistant and has an electro-luminescence backlight. The battery is rated to last 7 years.
Specifications
Pros
- Designed to look like the first digital watches, making it ideal for those who love the retro look.
- The functionality is there too, with an alarm, an automatic calendar, an hourly time signal, and a stopwatch, as well as a backlight.
- The battery life is good for up to 7 years.
Cons
- This watch is not meant for those who want a lot of functionality in their timepiece.
- Be sure the wearer loves the vintage look and style.
Why We Chose This
This is a truly unique look, and you likely won’t have to worry about somebody else having the same watch as you. Designed in a vintage style to look like digital watches did when they first came on the scene, it has a gold tone and a square readout window, with a digital display and a stopwatch, alarm, calendar and an hourly signal. Perfect for those who love the retro look.5. NIXON Base Tide A1104 Men's Watch
Nixon is known as a brand with a young, sporty style, and the Base Tide watch is true to that tradition. The Base Tide is rubber with a silicone band that has different color choices; the Rasta features the colors of the Jamaican flag – red yellow and black.
A digital clock face also shows future tide times and has a simplified LCD look making it easy to read underwater. It’s rated to be water resistant to 330 feet (100meters). It also displays the date, and has a chronograph timer, once again easy to find in and out of the water.
Specifications
Pros
- Designed for an ocean lifestyle, with fun colors and durable design.
- The digital clock face is a simplified LCD, so it’s easy to read underwater.
- It’s rated to be water resistant to 330 feet.
Cons
- More features than some other watches but still not a lot of advanced functionality.
- The water resistance may not be enough for those spending a lot of time doing intense water sports.
Why We Chose This
A cool Nixon design and fun colors make the Base Tide Rasta a great choice for those who want an ocean-inspired style. The water resistance is enough for some water sports, and the simplified LCD makes it easy to read the functions underwater. It will also display future tide times for those who follow the surf.6. Casio EF527D-1AV Edifice Men's Watch
This silver tone analog watch has a black watch face with many functions. It has a sliding inner bezel, silver-toned hour markers and hands, three chronograph sub-dials (featuring 12-hour, 60-minute and 60-second displays) and a date display window at 3 o’clock.
It features quartz movement and a stainless steel three-link band with a fold-over push-button clasp that has a safety to keep it in place.
There are also pushers on both sides of the case for easy use, and on the right-hand side there is a protected screw-down crown. It’s water resistant up to 330 feet (100 meters).
Specifications
Pros
- Stylish analog watch with a chunky design and dressy stainless steel case and band.
- Water resistant to 330 feet.
- Several functions on the watch face including 12-hour, 60-minute and 60-second chronograph displays.
Cons
- There are a lot of different displays on the watch face, which may be too busy for some people.
- Added functionality for an analog watch but doesn’t have all the features available on digital watches or smartwatches.
Why We Chose This
The classic design is backed by Casio’s watchmaking ability. Stainless steel case and band have a chunky look, perfect for the man who wants a stylish, dressy look. It also features additional functionality with several chronograph sub-dials and it’s water resistant to 330 feet.Men's Watch Under 100 Buying Guide
Analog, Digital or Smart?
It’s difficult to find a good Smartwatch at a low price. After all, they usually come with GPS, wi-fi capability, bluetooth and many other bells and whistles. Smartwatches often have the ability to pair with your smartphone so you can get emails, text messages and even take pictures with your watch. But good watches under $100 don’t usually offer this kind of functionality.
That leaves the choice of analog or digital watches under $100. An analog watch will often have some additional functions, like chronograph displays, or a date display.
A digital watch usually has even more added functionality. An alarm, a stopwatch, and a calendar are just some of the added features on digital watches.
The look of an analog watch tends to be more classic and dressier; a digital is more modern looking, sporty, and occasionally the functions are something the wearer needs. Beyond that, the choice between analog and digital is one of personal preference.
Leather vs Metal Watch Strap
Another factor to consider is the watch strap or band.
The classic analog watch often comes with a stainless steel band, or a variation on stainless steel like a silver and gold combination band.
There may be a preference for a leather strap. On a digital watch, or for a sports oriented user, a silicone band might be best.
Basic vs. Advanced Features
Good watches under $100 won’t necessarily have all the features of a smartwatch, but you’ll still have to decide what features you really want in your watch.
Is it enough to have a quality analog watch with a date display window? Or would you prefer to have a watch with more functionality, like an analog watch with chronograph displays like a 60-second display. Then digital watches often increase the amount of features offered.
The number of functions will be part of the decision when you’re choosing among affordable men watches under $100.
Now that you know the considerations, let’s look at our top picks for watches under $100.
