Watches Under 50

The classic version from G-Shock features the same ruggedness and durability that most users are familiar with, but it is a bit thin on features. It has the same analog and digital combination but it won’t let you tell the time in several time zones (only one) and doesn’t have some of the fancier features people seem to enjoy.

Still, if you’re not looking for anything too fancy and you want durability and reliability, this is the watch to consider. At first glance, you can see the analog two-hands quartz movement (the hour hand is lined with red while the minute hand is a light grey), the negative dial, and the hour markers. The watch features three Arabic numerals (for the 12, 3, and 9 o’clock positions) and markers for the rest.

Underneath the analog hands, on the bottom half of the face, there is a small screen that displays information in digital format. Here, you can see the date and day of the week and play with some of the other features (stopwatch, alarms, dual time zone, and others).

To change the modes and set the time, date and other settings you’ll have to use the lateral buttons, which are a bit stiff. Also, if the light is low, there is a light on the watch, but it will only stay on for a few seconds (there is no auto EL like with more advanced G-Shock versions).

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.

• Elegant, classic design
• Roman numeral hour markers
• Leather strap
• Easy to read face with textured dial

This Fossil watch is fashionable yet timeless, and the elegant style equally suits work, dress or casual wear.

The simple stainless steel case is well-proportioned and sits on a narrow leather strap, which has a suede-like texture. The white dial has a slight texture for decoration, and is clean and easy to read.

Roman numeral hour markers sit around the edge of the dial. Both the markers and the hands (hour, minute and second) are silver to complement the bezel, but none of them are luminous.

There’s a date display at the six o’clock position, though it is very small. We liked the design of this watch and its versatility for everyday use, but the strap can become marked quite easily which is one point to bear in mind.

• Timeless design
• Indiglo light-up dial
• Scratch resistant mineral glass
• Petite design ideal for smaller wrists

The classic design of this Timex watch is perfect for someone looking for a timeless and simple style. The petite and clean round case is edged in brass, held on a brown leather strap. The black numeral hour markers have a retro feel and are easy to read against the white dial.

Simple hour, minute and second stick markers in black and brass are not luminous, however this watch does feature an indiglo light-up dial.

A press of the crown illuminates the dial in low light or at night. There is a date display at the 3 o’clock position, although this is quite small.

The water resistance to 30m means this watch should cope with splashes but isn’t suitable for swimming.

Overall this is a perfect option for someone looking for a straightforward and elegant timepiece who doesn’t need an array of extra functions.

• Classic, elegant design
• Blush pink leather strap
• Whiteface with a subtle pattern is clean and easy to read
• Attractive rose gold bezel

With a blush pink leather strap and a rose gold bezel, this elegantly designed Fossil watch is a feminine style which equally suits daily or dress wear.

The analog display is very clear and easy to read, with a white dial that features a subtle pattern. There are clear Roman numeral hour markers in the same rose gold as the bezel, and these are matched by the hour and minute hands.

There’s also a second hand in plain black. A date display at the 6 o’clock position is edged in rose gold, although the actual display is a little small to read.

Whilst we really liked the blush pink strap, it does quickly show marks so you may want to apply a protector or keep it for dress use.

The watch is water resistant to 30m so not suitable for swimming.

The low profile design and soft tones of this timepiece make it an attractively-priced dress watch.

• Durable design
• Multi-function alarm
• Shock resistant
• 12- and 24-hour formats

Casio’s G Shock watches are known for their durability and this low-cost, shock resistant model is no exception.

It’s a sporty design with a retro look and a rectangular digital display.

The resin case and plastic strap are designed to withstand tough use and the watch also manages to pack in plenty of useful features.

There’s a multi-function alarm, 12- and 24-hour time formats, and an auto-calendar.

The stopwatch can measure down to 1/100 second for the first hour, beyond that (and up to 24 hours) it’s accurate to 1 second. It has elapsed and split time modes and can record first and second-place times.

The backlight helps to illuminate the digital display in low light or darkness.

We did have one criticism which is that the buttons around the bezel can be hard to press in, particularly the button on the top left – we noticed other users reported the same issue.

Water resistance to 200m means this watch should be fine for swimming and showering, though we didn’t test this out.