The Twelve Best Under $500 Automatic Watches
NOTE: For a much more current list featuring Hamilton, Christopher Ward, and more, head on over this way for our post on the Best Automatic Watch Deals.
Automatic watch purists are kinda like round toe dress shoe purists. Zero tolerance. Even suggest they spend a good sum of money on a quartz based watch, and they’ll start to channel Charlton Heston from Planet of the Apes.
I kid. Mostly. But give em’ credit. Automatic watches are incredible feats of engineering and they deserve appreciation. No quivering quartz & battery needed. The movement of your wrist fuels these watches and the springs and gears take it from there. But all those parts and the assembly of such costs money. So know that some of these picks can pack a solid price tag…
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The Cheapest of the Cheap: Invicta Pro Diver Coin Edge Automatic – $76.07
Invicta mastered the, um… “tribute” look to the Rolex Submariner. The quartz version is a ridiculous $52, while the automatic, somehow, only costs $25 more. Can Invicta’s pricing and styling sometimes raise an eyebrow? Absolutely. But the Automatic Pro Diver, sold direct by Amazon no less, is tough to argue with.
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The Rubber Straps: Lacoste Navigator – $295.00
| Swatch Chrono – $370.00
Pretty expensive for a couple of rubber strap sport watches. But again, that’s the thing about automatics. They just flat out cost more. The Lacoste has a not too big skeleton window that’s placed right at 6 o’clock. The swatch, although modern in design, doesn’t look like it’s trying too hard. Free two day shipping on the Lacoste.
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The Seiko 5s: Seiko Stainless Steel Automatic – $145.76 | Seiko 5 Black Strap – $105.00
That stainless version of the benchmark Seiko 5 is a stunner. Especially for $150. Well done Overstock.com. That’s a pretty sweet deal. It’s simple enough that it could hold it’s own with almost any of these stainless steel watches that even leather band addicts would wear. Considering the J. Crew Military Timex? Consider the Seiko 5 canvas band instead.
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The Tissots: T-Sport PRC 200 – $336.60
| V8 Black Chrono – $323.00
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Watch snobs will turn their nose up at anything under $500. But for a lot of us, a $300 Tissot is as top of the line as it’s gonna get. Solid watches, both with Swiss Automatic Movements, and very different looks, but looks to spare none the less. The PRC-200 is on the smaller side at just under 40mm in diameter. Terrific cutaway date window though. The V8 Chrono is super sporty with thick white numbers and red accents on the dial. Extremely well reviewed too.
UPDATE: Looks like the V8 might not be an auto after all. See commenter Joe’s note in the comments section. Checked the official Tissot site. It’s quartz. Drat. Fooled. Nice catch Joe.
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The shockingly well kept secret: Orient Black Mako – $98.91
A lot of guys know about Orient. A lot don’t. It took one that did to clue me in. Now part of Seiko, Orient has been one of if not the biggest maker of automatics in Japan for quite awhile. And you almost never, ever see a bad word spoken about then. under $100, great looking, and comes in blue too.
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The Dramatic Armani – Meccanico Brown Strap
or Black Strap – $316.00
($395)
Over the top for a lot of us, and the pics on Amazon aren’t nearly as good as the shots on Nordstrom. But you’ll pay almost $100 if you buy through Amazon direct.
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The Classic Stunner: ESQ Black Teju Lizard Embossed – $450.00
It really only takes one different but well executed design detail to get a minimalists attention. Check out the lizard band. Not croc, but lizard. Pretty slick. Also the dial isn’t black, but instead “anthracite gray.” Sure. Looks incredible. Expensive. Especially when a similar but not quite identical quartz movement option is going for $150 less.
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Best in show: Bulova 96A111 Silver Dial – $216.95
Probably the cleanest looking, classiest of Bulova’s line. And at just over $200, it’s right in the wheelhouse when it comes to cost. It’s bigger than you’d think at 43mm, but not gargantuan. Incredible face with the two different sized windows, nice detail around the bezel, and again… the price.
So are you an Automatic Pureist? Do you lean one way in particular? Or, if it tells time and looks good on your wrist, you’re fine with whatever’s on the inside? Leave it all in the comments section below.
Feature inspired by the guys who left comments over here, saying they wouldn’t spend more than $30 on a quartz.
“these stainless steel watches” (in the Seiko section) seems to be a broken link.
I am not a watch person at all, haven’t worn one in years, but that Bulova is quite beautiful.
Way to knock the cover off the ball Dappered!
All very excellent choices, the Seiko 5 is made w/ a classic workhorse auto movement, and there are folks out their that “tricked out modified” of these that look really stunning.
Always have been a big fan of the Invicta 8926ce, really like that Bulova – I need a new “dress watch,” the Swatch Chrono is great deal for being an “auto”.
Don’t forget about the brand Android, they make some really stunning auto at a reasonable price point
+1 on the Invicta watch, I bought it from endless 2 weeks ago during a 20% off purchases of 100 sale along with the Stuhrling Original Men’s Newberry. Saved about 10 bucks. Read a handfull of negative reviews on Amazon, hoping mine fairs better than the lemons I read about.
Fixed
Can’t go wrong with Orient. I have three of them. The submariner homage they make looks great.
Hi Joe, re: the Tissot V8 Chrono. I believe this watch is a quartz, not an automatic. The product specifications say Swiss-Automatic but the product description below that says swiss quartz chronograph movement. I double checked the model number (T0394171105700) in Google and the sites I read all said quartz. I think Amazon has it wrong. Unless this is also an auto-quartz like the PRC 200?
Nice catch. Yeah, I checked the Tissot site. It says quartz.
It’s not hard to find the Seiko 5 with canvas strap for half as much on ebay.
I can confirm the V8 is quartz. I have the blue model. Nice watch though. Only downside is it scratches very easily.
That Swatch looks fantastic.
As someone in the business, Invicta watches are pure junk and I would not recommend anyone owning one. The ESQ is made by Movado, but is a lower end line and Movado has lost its quality over the years. Out of the list, I would say the Bulova, Seiko, and Tissot are the best ones quality wise. On other thing to mention. If you are looking to spend $100 retail on a watch, an automatic may not be the best idea because of the upkeep required with them over quartz movements.
The swatch on amazon for $266:
http://www.amazon.com/Swatch-Chrono-Automatic-Simply-SVGK402/dp/B002PJDJ2U
Nice find ahock. Just as a note to everyone, we try not to link to watches on Amazon that aren’t sold by Amazon, or at least fulfilled by Amazon. Sometimes (but certainly not always) those deals can get a bit sketchy… any of you had experience with this?
Some of my favorite automatic watches are from Bernhardt Watch Company (you can find it easily through a google search). These are $200+ watches from a US company; they have the quality of a watch that cost 3 times more. I have an Orient Mako, wonderful watch for the price and it looks great on its steel band and on leather. Would also love to see that swatch in person.
I’ve had an Invicta watch (actually the one described here) I got as a graduation present two years ago. It still works great, and I have no complaints.
Nice one Joe. I wasn’t sure you had read my comment on the last watch posting, but you’ve far exceeded my expectations. Thank you again!
60% of the time I see 100% of the comments. Or… something. (Glad you liked it)
Yeah, someone else who likes Bernhardt. Not a big watch company, but definitely good watches for the price.
Here are a couple more to choose from. Lots of choices if you are going up to $500
Zeno Orange Diver $499
http://www.longislandwatch.com/Zeno/Zeno-Watches_3.htm
Seiko SKX007 Diver $199
http://www.worldofwatches.com/detail.asp?bo_products_id=&bo_products_variance_id=60368&rid=bocck7eh5pc-XckTO9S9oivOcY5.ahYGBQ
Glycine Combat $312 (A bargain for a Glycine)
http://www.watchmann.com/proddetail.asp?prod=glycine3846O
Orient Limited Edition Subaru Rally Watch $240 (after 49% coupon)
http://www.orientwatchusa.com/sfd0h001b-r-85.html
Seiko Orange or Black Monster $179
http://www.longislandwatch.com/Seiko/Seiko_Watches_1.htm
I don’t think I would ever buy a ‘knock-off’ like that Invicta… an interest in watches is just one of those categories like cars where people who are into them are REALLY into them. So buying a watch that has clearly modeled itself after one of the most popular luxury watches would be like buying a Mercedes-Benz S Class with a Honda logo. The average person won’t notice or judge but car people will rip you a new one. Just buy an inexpensive original-design watch if you care about the judgment of watch snobs.
through amazon, i was just about to get a seiko 5, blue face, blue band, for like $68, but then i started reading reviews of the third-party seller, wow, not much love there; in fact, quite the opposite. i passed. it’d probably make more sense to buy from a highly rated ebay seller and get it sent from overseas; prices are about the same.
For someone that is in the business, which 3 brands would you recommend the most (under 500) for automatics. There are a lot of choices out there, especially from 250-500. Also, would your pics change if you were picking quartz vs automatic?
An automatic is fine if that’s all you wear. Quit wearing it and it runs down, then you have to reset it every time you wear it. Or get one of those gadgets that you put your watch into that slowly tilts it back and forth. No thanks.
@Rik, I bought the Seiko 5 blue face with canvas strap on ebay for $61 from a seller called premierworld last July. It came from overseas (gray market?) with no packaging, but well packed and in *perfect* condition. It’s held up perfectly since then
Nice list but I’m surprised you left out some of the nice Hamilton auto’s that go for under $500.
This Kenneth Cole model for $90 also look much more expensive:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U3YC9G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001U3YC9G&linkCode=as2&tag=thougpictuand-20