When people think of watches, they usually think “Why do I need a watch, I can just look at my phone.” Those are not the kind of people who will look for luxury watches. A watch serves more than its immediate, practical purpose. It is a piece of fashion, a personal statement, and for enthusiasts, it is the material portion of a lifelong hobby.
You should not have to worry about your money just to get a nice watch. If luxury prices are out of your reach, you can still make a statement for under $500.
What Makes for a Good Watch Under $500?
The factors that dictate what makes a watch good are the same at any price. A good watch has to be dependable, maintainable, have prestige, and be useful. For watches under $500, the need for investment return or name recognition is an afterthought. What matters most is practicality. A watch is a lifetime commitment, and a lifetime quality can be achieved for far less than expected.
Of course, you don’t want a cheap watch that dies or breaks easily. That’s why $500 is a great limit for a budget. The watch will last as long as you need it, maybe for life, as long as you take good care of it. When not in use, it should be in a winder. If it doesn’t need winding, keep it in a case where it’s safe from the elements. Treat your watch well and its worth will pay off.
Cost and Utility
With $500 as a budget, the cost is going to be mostly the same for every listed watch. What matters more is the utility of the watch and what it can be used for. Not all watches are as waterproof as Dive watches, or as versatile as a GMT, or as reliable as an Automatic. What matters most is how much use you can get out of the watch for your intended purpose.
Materials and Batteries
Most watches in this price range will be using standard, high-quality materials made for durability. You aren’t likely to find diamonds and special sapphire crystals in these. You also won’t see anything fully digital or gimmicky. These watches are for the practical minded enthusiasts, people who care about watches perhaps more than their wallet can allow. The most affordable type of watch is one with a crown used to wind the springs that power the gears.
Prestige
The prestige of luxury watches comes from the brand. A Rolex is special because it’s a Rolex. Celebrities wear expensive brands, which lets you relate to them. Brands that commonly sell under $500 have a different kind of prestige. These are the watches of specialists, professionals, and members of groups with a wider audience. These create a crossing point where the watch enthusiast can cross over into other hobbies with their histories in high society.
Best GMT Watch Under $500
Citizen Nighthawk Eco-Drive Pilot Watch
The appeal of the GMT watch is being able to track two time zones on one watch face. Very handy if you happen to be traveling, like a pilot might, and want to keep track of the time from where you were to where you’re going. It’s also partially solar powered because no matter where you go in the world, the sun will be shining somewhere.
Best Automatic Watch Under $500
Tissot Gent XL Automatic
Automatic watches are something of a marvel. They’re self-powered, gaining energy from the motion of the wrist which is then stored in the springs which power the hands. The Tissot Gent XL is a perfect showcase of this style as it has a semi-transparent section on the back which shows the working gears as they move. The large, bold face with subtle non-numbered design, plus a date counter at the 3 o’clock position, give it an elegance most large-size watches can’t get.
Best EDC Watch Under $500
SWC Bunker
An everyday carry should be, above all things, comfortable. It’s a part of you, that goes everywhere with you, in all seasons of the year and through all the weather. The Bunker is lightweight and easy to look at, with large numbers across the face and it comes with interchangeable leather or nylon velcro straps. It even has a Lume so you can see it in the dark.
Best Dive Watch Under $500
Casio Duro MDV106-1A
If it’s good enough for Bill Gates then it’s good enough for everyone else. And it’s easily affordable, possibly the most so on this list, at just $70. It can reach 200 meters and, with battery power, will last up to about three years. It’s not a watch to leave for the grandkids, but it’s one you can always rely on in the water.
Best Dress Watch Under $500
Movado Stiri Watch
From a distance, the Stiri may appear like a solid gold bracelet with a sort of black inlaid face that holds an ornate set of additional golden pieces. That is what it is. The gold appearance is also real – though for under $500, it’s not solid gold. It’s PVD – Physical Vapor Deposition – which means that gold is vaporized and blasted onto another metallic medium, in this case, stainless steel. The face also has no distinct markings, just another golden button at the 12 position. Not good as a watch, but as an accessory? It’s Solid.
You might also like: Best Dress Watches under 1,000 Dollars
Best Classic Watch Under $500
Orient Bambino Sun & Moon
The secret to making a classic watch in the modern day is playing with the aesthetics of classic designs. The Orient Bambino does this with a classic, almost well-aged cream clock face and silvery numeral markers on a leather strap. Additionally, it has a weekday indicator and a daytime indicator. One of the sub-faces shows you a sun, a sky, and a moon as the time of day changes – perfect for people stuck indoors away from windows, an addition that would be absolutely beloved in the 1920s.
Best Overall Watch Under $500
Seiko 5 Sports SKX
The best watch is one that can do it all. The Seiko 5 Sports watch boasts nearly every previously mentioned feature. It looks good, it feels good to wear, it has an adjustable bevel to track different timezones, it’s waterproof up to 100 meters, and it’s automatic; if all you want is a good watch without a singular purpose attached to your decision, this is the watch to get.
How to Take Care of Your Watch
No matter what kind of watch you get, if it’s not battery-powered it will need to be wound. The longer you keep a watch the more care it needs. Missed seconds can become missed appointments over time. While the case it comes in is built to compliment the watch’s style, a watch winder case will keep it on time.
For any winding watch, if it’s not worn and used constantly it will run out of power. You aren’t moving in your sleep, and you won’t need to use your watch all the time. Even the longest power reserve can run out if a day goes by. Getting a Mozsly watch winder is the perfect way to keep your watch going for years whether you use it or not.
FAQ
1. Is $500 considered a lot or not much when it comes to watches?
It is certainly on the lower scale for what is considered luxury. However, for a long-lasting and multi-purpose watch, it is a very good amount.
2. Are watches a good investment?
Generally, watches that are bought for “investment” are far more expensive than $500.
3. Why not just get a $40 watch and replace it?
You can, and the $500 you have to spend will get you through about 12 of those watches. Or you can get one that outlasts all of them.
4. Why is there no Rolex on this list?
Rolex does not make watches under $500.
5. Do watches under $500 look as good as really expensive ones?
Aesthetics are subjective. Some people may disagree, but if it looks good to you that’s all that matters.
6. Do watches go on discount?
Some manufacturers may cut prices on occasion.
7. Can you get $500 at a major retailer?
You would be better off getting a watch directly from its manufacturer, as they can often include extras like custom cases and additional straps with your purchase.
8. Can I use one watch winder on multiple watches?
Yes, and some watch winders have space for more than one watch!
