If you’re a true watch enthusiast, you would understand that not every watch in your collection needs to cost a couple of thousand bucks. Most often, one of your favorite and most-worn watches in the collection costs only a few hundred dollars. Or even less!

Of course, saving up for that precious Patek Philippe or Rolex is always gonna be on the agenda. We all have our dream watches. However, you don’t need to burn a hole in our wallet for everyday, trusty watches.

Contrary to what some people say, not every cheap watch is ‘cheap’. You just have to know what you need and where to look. Aside from being functional and stylish, a good watch should also be durable.

However, the question remains… can you really get a good-quality watch at a cheap price? Well, no matter your taste in watches — whether you’re a minimalist, a classic, or a complex watch lover, you can always find a good-quality watch for your budget.

With this guide, you can even get one for less than $100!

The Dos & Don’ts of Buying Watches Under $100

Lower your expectations. Although there are quality yet affordable watches out there, know that most of the time, you get what you pay for.

Although there are quality yet affordable watches out there, know that most of the time, you get what you pay for. Don’t buy a gold-plated watch. Not only do they look cheap and obviously fake, but the color will also fade over a short period of time.

Not only do they look cheap and obviously fake, but the color will also fade over a short period of time. Do some extensive research before making your purchase. Granted $100 is not much, but there’s immense satisfaction in finding a good watch for that price.

Granted $100 is not much, but there’s immense satisfaction in finding a good watch for that price. Do not buy an imitation watch. If you can’t afford your dream watch just yet, don’t get a knock-off and pretend it’s the real thing. It’s just plain tacky. And if you want to take your watch-collecting hobby seriously, this is not a good way to start.

If you can’t afford your dream watch just yet, don’t get a knock-off and pretend it’s the real thing. It’s just plain tacky. And if you want to take your watch-collecting hobby seriously, this is not a good way to start. Get a second-hand item instead . There’s nothing wrong with owning a used watch. And if you’re still bent on owning a brand new one, do save up for it.

. There’s nothing wrong with owning a used watch. And if you’re still bent on owning a brand new one, do save up for it. Buy an authentic watch. Choose a brand that has its own identity and integrity and doesn’t try to fool you into thinking that it is some well-known brand.

Choose a brand that has its own identity and integrity and doesn’t try to fool you into thinking that it is some well-known brand. Don’t be quick to judge. Just because it’s not mechanical or Swiss-made doesn’t mean it’s inferior. Watches with Japanese quartz movement are some of the most accurate time-telling devices around.

Just because it’s not mechanical or Swiss-made doesn’t mean it’s inferior. Watches with Japanese quartz movement are some of the most accurate time-telling devices around. Enjoy the watch to the fullest. It’s all there is to it.

BEST AFFORDABLE WATCHES FOR MEN

Automatic (Mechanical Self-Winding) Watches Under $100 Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB 40mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Automatic movement

Black dial

Luminous hands and markers

Date function

Unidirectional bezel

Stainless steel link bracelet with fold-over clasp

Screw-down crown

Exhibition caseback

Water-resistant up to 200 meters Check latest price Orient Howard FAC05006B0 41mm stainless steel case

Mineral crystal

Japanese automatic movement

Black leather strap

Black dial with pinstripe detailing

White, glossy hands

Arabic numeral hour markers

Date function

Water-resistant up to 50 meters Check latest price Vostok Komandirskie 650541 42mm stainless steel case

Automatic movement

31-hour power reserve

Black dial

Luminous hands and hour markers

Central second hand

Date function

Graduated rotated bezel

Stainless steel bracelet

Water-resistant up to 200 meters Check latest price Akribos XXIV AK1018SSBR 44mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Automatic movement

White skeleton dial

Dauphine style hands

Silver hour markers

Beveled bezel

Brown matte leather strap

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE

Dive Watches Under $100 Invicta Pro Diver 26972 40mm two-tone stainless steel case

Flame fusion crystal

Quartz movement

Blue dial

Push/pull crown

Two tone stainless steel bracelet with deployment clasp

Unidirectional bezel

Date function

Water-resistant up to 200 meters Check latest price Casio Duro MDV106-1AV 200M 44mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Japanese quartz movement

Black resin band

Date function

Black dial

Luminous markers and hour hand

Unidirectional bezel

Anti-reverse bezel

Water-resistant up to 200 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Stuhrling Original Aquadiver Regatta 42mmm stainless steel case

Swiss quartz movement

Krysterna crystal

Screw-down crown

Black dial

Unidirectional bezel

Luminous hands

Date function

Stainless steel bracelet

Water-resistant up to 200 meters Check latest price Reginald Dive Watch 40mm stainless steel case

Synthetic sapphire crystal

Japanese quartz movement

Black dial

Luminous hands and markers

Date function

Second time zone

Unidirectional bezel

Stainless steel bracelet

Water-resistant up to 300 meters Check latest price

Dress Watches Under $100 Stuhrling Original 3997Z 40mm case

Krysterna crystal

Japanese quartz movement

Black, minimalist dial

Ultra-slim (7mm)

Date function

Brown leather strap

Water-resistant up to 50 meters Check latest price Orient Symphony ER27008W 41mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Japanese automatic movement

White dial

Dauphine hands and classic indexes

Brown leather strap

Date function

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Bulova Classic Collection 96B104 37mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Japanese quartz movement

Minimalist white dial

Stick indexes

Date function

Black, croc-textured calfskin band with buckle closure

Water-resistant up to 30 meters Check latest price Skagen Signatur SKW6419 40mm titanium case

Quartz movement

Mineral glass

White dial

Ultra-slim (5mm)

Pull/push crown

Black leather strap

Water-resistant up to 30 meters Check latest price

Mechanical (Hand-Wound) Watches Under $100 Akribos XXIV Mechanical AK802SSB 46mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Mechanical hand-winding movement

Silver skeleton dial

Roman numeral markers

Beveled bezel

Black alligator-embossed style strap

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Invicta Mechanical 23533 42mm stainless steel case

Mechanical hand-wound movement

Synthetic sapphire crystal

Silver skeleton dial

Black, thin hands

Roman numeral hour markers

Croc-embossed leather strap with buckle closure

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Vostok Komandirskie 431744 39mm plated brass case

Mechanical hand-winding movement

Acrylic glass

Black dial

Luminous hands

Luminous Arabic hour markers

Date function

Multi-color nylon band

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Sewor D848 Mechanical Skeleton 41mm case

Mechanical hand-winding movement

Yellow gold-tone skeleton dial

Roman numerals

Ultra-slim (8mm)

Dark brown genuine leather strap CHECK LATEST PRICE

Chronograph Watches Under $100 Timex Weekender Chronograph TW2R63200 40mm brass case

Mineral glass

Quartz movement

Blue dial

Date function

Luminous hands

Arabic numerals

24-hour military time

30-minute chronograph (1/20th second)

Adjustable brown genuine leather

Adjustable brown genuine leather Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Casio Edifice EF527D-1AV Chronograph 45.5 mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Quartz movement

Black dial

Silver hands and hour indexes

1/20-second chronograph function

Rotating slide rule inner bezel

Time, speed, fuel calculation

Stainless steel strap with fold-over push-button clasp

Stainless steel strap with fold-over push-button clasp Water-resistant up to 100 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Seiko Chronograph SKS421 44mm stainless steel case

Hardlex crystal

Japanese quartz movement

Black dial

Silver hands and indexes

Date function

Chronograph

Stainless steel case bracelet

Water-resistant up to 100 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Victorinox Swiss Army Chrono 241500 41mm stainless steel case

Sapphire crystal

Swiss quartz movement

White dial

Luminescent hands

Applied Arabic numerals

Chronograph

Date function

Stainless steel bracelet with push-button deployant safety clasp

Water-resistant up to 100 meters

2-year warranty CHECK LATEST PRICE

TOP AFFORDABLE WATCHES FOR WOMEN

Automatic (Mechanical Self-Winding) Watches Under $100 Orient 3 Star Day-Date FNQ1X003X 26mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Automatic self-winding movement

Brownish dial

Yellow gold-tone hands and hour markers

Date function

Screw-down caseback

Stainless steel bracelet with fold over deployment clasp

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Burei Skeleton SL-15006-P01AY 35mm stainless steel case

Sapphire crystal

Japanese MIYOTA automatic movement

White-silver skeleton dial

Silver hands

Gem-studded hour markers

Gem-studded lugs

White leather strap

Water-resistant up to 50 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Seiko 5 Automatic SYMK15K1 26mm stainless steel case

Hardlex crystal

Automatic self-winding movement

Navy blue dial

Silver, luminescent hands and indexes

Date function

24-hour power reserve

Water-resistant up to 10 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Akribos XXIV Skeleton AKR431RG 32mm stainless steel case

Krysterna crystal

Automatic self-winding movement

Gold-tone skeleton dial

Black hour, minute and seconds hands

Beige leather strap

Water-resistant up to 50 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE

Quartz Watches Under $100 Seiko SUP304 26mm stainless steel gold-tone case (rectangle)

Hardlex crystal

Japanese quartz movement

White dial

Black Roman numeral indexes

Hour and minute hands

Black leather strap

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Citizen Eco-Drive FE6140-03A 34mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Eco-drive quartz movement

White dial

Rose gold-tone hands and hour markers

Date function

Blush-pink leather strap

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Stuhrling Original 3927.1 32mm stainless steel case

Krysterna crystal

Quartz movement

Pink mother-of-pearl dial

Mixed crystal and stick hour markers

Stainless steel braided mesh bracelet

2-year international warranty

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Swatch Originals Rostfrei SUOK707B 41mm semi-transparent plastic case

Mineral glass

Quartz movement

Rose gold-tone dial

Rose gold-tone luminescent hands

Black mixed Arabic numerals and stick hour markers

Date function

Rose gold-tone stainless steel bracelet

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE

Dress Watches Under $100 Timex Cavatina T21912 18mm gold-tone brass case (oval)

Mineral glass

Quartz movement

White dial

Arabic numerals

Black and rose gold-tone hands

Adjustable black genuine leather CHECK LATEST PRICE Bulova 98V02 Bracelet 23mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Quartz movement

White mother-of-pearl dial

Yellow gold-tone hands

Yellow gold-tone Arabic numerals

Two-tone stainless steel bracelet

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Casio LTP1254D-1A Bracelet 22mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Quartz movement

Black dial

Silver hands

Silver-tone numeral and baton hour markers

Stainless steel bracelet with fold-over-clasp closure CHECK LATEST PRICE Seiko Solar Tressia SUP185 Go Red 18mm stainless steel case (rectangle)

Solar quartz movement

Hardlex crystal

White dial

Silver-tone hands

No markers

Go Red ‘heart’ logo

Stainless steel bracelet with white ceramic inserts and set with diamonds

Fixed silver-tone bezel set with diamonds

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE

Best Sports Watches Under $100 Timex Ironman TW5M19700 33mm resin case

Acrylic crystal

Quartz movement

Digital display with 24-hour military time mode

Indiglo light-up watch dial

100-hour chronograph with 10-lap memory

24-hour countdown timer

Customizable alarm

Dual time zones

Day, date & month functions

Purple resin band

Water-resistant up to 100 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Casio Baby-G Shock BGA110-7B 40mm resin case

Mineral glass

Quartz movement

White, easy-to-read dial with 3 sub-dials

1/100 second stopwatch

Silver-tone Arabic numerals

Luminous hands

12/24-hour formats

World Time (29 time zones)

5 independent daily alarms

Full auto-calendar

White resin band with buckle closure

Water-resistant up to 100 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Fossil Sports Smartwatch FTW6053 41mm aluminum case (ultra-lightweight)

Powered with wear OS by Google

Work with iPhone and Android phones

Heart rate and activity tracking using Google fit

Built-in GPS for distance tracking

Google assistant

Receive smartphone notifications and app Alerts

Manage calendar and music

Touchscreen functionality

Alarm and calendar alerts

Multiple time zones

Wireless syncing

Smart battery mode

Interchangeable silicone band

Water-resistant up to 50 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Armitron Digital Chronograph 45/7034 25mm resin case (oval)

Acrylic crystal

Quartz movement

Single zone LCD display

Day &date function

Chronograph

Alarm

Second time zone

Black resin band with buckle closure

Water-resistant up to 100 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE

Stainless Steel Watches Under $100 Citizen Eco-Drive EW3140-51E 26mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Eco-drive light-powered quartz movement

Black dial

Silver hands and indexes

Day & date function

Stainless steel bracelet with fold-over clasp

Water-resistant up to 100 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Fossil Serena AM4141 28mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Japanese quartz movement

Mother-of-pearl dial

White and silver hands

Crystal-studded hour markers and indexes

Date function

Fluted crown

Stainless steel link bracelet with fold-over-clasp closure

Water-resistant up to 100 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Timex Easy Reader T2H371 25mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Quartz movement

White dial

Full Arabic numerals

Black hour and minute hands, silver seconds hand

Date function

Silver-tone stainless steel expansion bracelet (7.5-inch wrist)

Water-resistant up to 30 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE Casio LTP1215A-7ACR 27mm stainless steel case

Mineral glass

Japanese quartz movement

White dial

Luminous hands

Arabic numerals mixed with stick index hour markers

Date function

Stainless steel bracelet with fold-over clasp

Water-resistant up to 50 meters CHECK LATEST PRICE

How Brands Manage to Sell Affordable Watches

Most often, watches are expensive. So when we see one that is sold cheap, our first thoughts would be: ‘there must be something wrong with it’. However, there are quality watches out there that don’t demand a hefty price. Yet these watches function just as good, if not better than your regular expensive watch.

Bur first, let us manage your expectations. You don’t purchase a $100 watch and expect a $10,000-quality timepiece. Remember, what you’re after is a practical yet affordable watch.

Below are some of the reasons you enjoy a good-quality watch without denting your wallets.

Craftsmanship

Materials

One of the reasons watch manufacturers are able to sell their watches at such affordable prices is because these watches are mass-produced. Unlike a luxury watch, which is handcrafted by watchmakers who have years and years of experience, affordable watches are manufactured in bulk by machines. This doesn’t mean, however, you can’t get a good-quality, machine-made watch.

To keep production cost to a minimum, affordable watches are made of affordable materials. The protective glass or crystal, for example, is often made of mineral glass, as opposed to sapphire crystal used by high-end watches, which are often scratch-proof. The strap could be made of fabricated leather, and so on. But this doesn’t mean these watches don’t last long. In fact, some of these affordable watches can last even longer than your expensive timepieces.

Movement

Marketing Philosophy

Affordable watches often run on quartz movements. This is understandable as quartz movements are cheaper and easier to manufacture compared to mechanical movements. Note, however, that some of the most affordable quartz watches can give you accurate time. More so than a mechanical watch could. But not all affordable watches are powered by a quartz movement. Some brands, such as Orient and Invicta, manufacture mechanical watches and sold at a lower cost.

Most brands that manufacture affordable watches rely on fair marketing philosophy and sometimes word of mouth to sell their products. Because they don’t depend on celebrity endorsers to promote their products, they don’t need to mark up their pricing. Hence, you get these watches at a cheaper price.

Complications

Except for the day and date functions, few affordable watches feature complications. This is understandable given that watch complications usually take time, skill and technology to accomplish. Hence, it’s often the expensive watches that feature them. So if you’re looking for complications in your affordable watches, you’ll only most likely to get one with a date function.

The Satisfaction of Owning Affordable Quality Watches

No matter the price, with the right model, you can get the style, functionality, and longevity that you look for in a watch. But what is appealing about affordable watches is that they don’t come with the customary worry that goes with owning expensive stuff.

You don’t worry about scratching it — you wear it and you forget about it. Since it only costs you this little, you don’t worry about losing it — you can always buy a new one. You don’t worry about dropping it, bumping it, accidentally splashing it with water. In short, you fully enjoy the experience of owning and wearing it.

These, my friends, are just some of the joys of owning quality yet affordable watches. But don’t just take our words for it. Go and experience it yourselves.

Best Online Stores for Watches Under $100

There are so many online stores that sell watches. However, finding ones that won’t scam you and would sell quality watches under $100 is not easy. To help you simplify your search, we have rounded up the following online stores that sell quality watches under $100.

Of course, it is all up to you do all the research and make all the necessary precautions to ensure that what you’re buying is authentic and value for money!

Founded in 1995 by Jeff Bezos amazon.com is now a trillion-dollar company that does not only e-commerce, but also cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. Amazon has two types of sellers: Amazon itself and third-party sellers. When buying watches from Amazon, make sure to buy from Amazon itself. Look for products that say: “ships from and sold by amazon.com”, which means Amazon is the seller.

watchshopping.com is one of the online watch sellers that offers a variety of watches, with prices ranging from $100 to $10,000. Headquartered in the US, this trusted watch marketplace offers a wide selection of brands — from luxury to the affordable. To keep their prices fair, they directly source the watches from manufacturers around the globe. This keeps the costs down, at the same time, it ensures the authenticity of the products.

eBay.com is the world’s biggest online marketplace where people buy, sell, auction, and trade almost anything. Watches, of course, come in a variety of sizes, kinds and prices. So when on the lookout for affordable watches under $100 and rare finds, eBay is a good place to go as you have many options. But because these are all third-party sellers, sometimes you cannot guarantee the quality and authenticity of the products. So take your time to do some research about the product and the seller before buying.

Best Affordable Watch Brands (Under $100)

We’re not gonna lie, it’s difficult to get quality watches for under $100. It takes a lot of research, comparing specs and prices, and reading up reviews on the brands and models.

Well, we want to make your life easier. So, we’ve listed down some of the best watch brands that offer good, quality watches that cost less than $100.

Swiss Watch Brands In 1989, Victorinox started manufacturing its own watches and first sold them in the US. The watches received amazing reviews that the sales eventually went global. Their watches are made from lightweight titanium, making them equally tough and stylish. Although its price range can go up to thousands, some of their collections, such as the Maverick and Garrison, offer models that are priced under $100. Founded in 1983 by Nicolas Hayek, Swatch was developed as the Swiss’ answer to — and the one that saved it from — the “quartz crisis” in the 1970s. With only 51-parts, Swatch watches evoke a youthful and happy vibe available in a variety of affordable price options. Known for its revolutionary concepts and being true to its heritage, Swatch is one of the most famous watch brands in the world today. It may be hard to imagine getting a Swiss-made watch for under $100. But watch brands like Invicta believes that everyone can get high-quality watches at affordable prices. Founded in 1837 by Raphael Picard in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Invicta has been around for over a century. Crafted with utmost quality and attention to details, Invicta watches exemplify versatility and affordability.

Japanese Watch Brands Established in Tokyo, Japan, in 1881, Seiko is one of the few watch companies that design and develop their own watch movements. This is one of the reasons it can afford to manufacture and sell watches at such low prices. And because of this, too, Seiko watches are guaranteed high-quality. In face, the Seiko models under $100 are some of the most accurate watches you can ever own. Owned by Seiko Epson, Orient has roots dating back to 1901. In 2009, it became Epson’s functional subsidiary. Eventually, in 2017, it became fully integrated into the company. Orient produces some of the most affordable yet highly technical mechanical watches. So to answer your question: yes, you can get a quality mechanical watch for under $100! An authority in electronics, Casio was first known for its calculators before it started manufacturing quartz watches. Founded in 1946 by Tadio Kashio, Casio was among the first companies to create quartz watches. Its G-Shock watches revolutionized the watch industry. Another of its products, the Casio F-91W, priced at $20, is considered one of the most reliable timekeepers ever.