Affordable, Stylish, High Quality Watches

According to some historians, the first proper wristwatch was gifted to a queen, so these timepieces were always more than simply utilitarian. Now, they can be not only status symbols but beautifully wrought pieces of jewelry. We’ve all seen watches that sell for tens of thousands of dollars, even though in the end they do what watches have done for a little over two centuries. That is, they tell you what time it is. These watches may find their way to the wrists of the mucky mucks, but you can also have a swanky watch for no more than a couple of hundred bucks and in many cases less than that. Here are a few to choose from.

1. Seiko 5 SNK809

If you’re looking for elegant simplicity, you can’t beat this watch. It has an immaculate stainless steel case, an analog display and a lovely band of black canvas. One fun fact about this watch is that you need to swing it from side to side for about half a minute to get it going. It’s possible to have this timepiece for under $100.

2. Orient Bambino

Available for under $150, versions of this watch come in colors from peach to sky blue to rust red to pine green. Some of these versions also have dials that seem just a bit convex, giving them a pillowy look. Most bands are made of leather, but there are versions with bracelets of stainless steel.

3. Timex Marlin

There are different versions of the Marlin from the iconic Timex company. Some are automatic, and others need to be hand-wound. Some are sleek chronograph tachymeters while at least one shows you the phases of the moon. The one with Snoopy and Woodstock (Snoopy’s hands point to the hour and minute) sells for under $200.

4. Citizen’s Eco-Drive BM8180-03E

Light, including light from the sun, powers this stunning timepiece, so you don’t need to worry about batteries. It has a comfortable nylon strap, a stainless steel case with a mineral crystal that resists shattering and shows you the day and date. It can be yours for under $150.

5. Casio Edifice EFV-100

An object of robust beauty, this watch made mostly of gleaming stainless steel sports three hands, including a jaunty hour hand shaped like an arrow. You can even wear it to 328 feet underwater. Better yet, it can be yours for around $100.

6. Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB

Offered by one of the oldest watch companies in the world, this timepiece can be had for under $100. The look of this stainless steel watch is both powerful and lustrous, and you’ll appreciate the reliable and ultra-precise Japanese movement.

7. Bulova Classic 96B104

The clean look and quartz movement of this watch makes it an all around favorite. Its hour, minute and second hands are fine as needles as they move around the dial, and the black leather strap adds sophistication. Still, you can buy this beauty for around $120.

8. Tissot Everytime

This is a line of watches that you can purchase for $150 to $200. This watch line also has men’s and women’s versions. Some have stainless steel bands coated with PVD applied yellow gold. Dials come in colors from a moony silver to ingot gold to black to malachite green.

9. MVMT Classic Line

If the name of this watch company made you think of “movement,” you’re right. This company’s movement refers to both what makes up the watch and its founder’s ambitions. Though this company was founded only in 2013, its watches have both a classic look and 44 millimeter dials that make them stand out. You can own one of these watches for under $200.

10. Vostok Amphibia

“Amphibia” makes you think of a creature that lives on both land and in water. Appropriately, the Vostok Amphibia is a diver’s watch, developed in Russia for the Soviet military. Its bezel rotates to let you know when you started your dive, and the dial and hands light up so you can read them in the sunless ocean depths. Still, you can buy this sought-after watch for between $80 and $100.

11. Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield

You’ll love the unfussy looks of this famous watch. It comes in a number of styles, including those with cases made of stainless steel with PVD added rose gold. The strap is sumptuous Italian leather in black or brown. Despite this classiness, you can find these watches for under $150.

12. Swatch Skin Irony

Swatch watches were made to be inexpensive while not giving up quality. This watch is what happened when the Swatch Irony and the Swatch Skin had a baby. The Skin part comes because the watch is wafer thin, and the irony is because it has a metal case, where traditional Swatches were made of plastic. You can still get this watch for under $150.

13. Hamilton’s Khaki Field Quartz

This is one of those watches consulted by field commanders, probably British, as they counted down the seconds to the next big battle. This watch looks rugged enough to tolerate anything, yet it’s classy enough to wear to your wedding. A discounted Khaki Field Quartz watch from Hamilton will set you back between $200 and $250.

14. Lorus by Seiko

Seiko is another old and revered watch company whose very name means “exquisite” in Japanese. The Lorus line offers watches and chronographs that range from those with a military look to fun pastel children's watches made of plastic and silicone. You can easily have a Lorus for under $100.

15. Skagen Ancher

Inspired by a Danish art colony and one of its most prolific painters, these watches come in many irresistible styles. There are watches with stainless steel bracelets whose square dials sport rounded corners, watches with perfectly round dials with leather straps and multifunction watches with straps of steel mesh. There’s one under $150 just right for you.