If you are someone looking for the best budget automatic watch, look no further. This guide will provide a few of the top watches to consider and also help you understand what is required from one in order that it can work well with your lifestyle.
The Best Budget Automatic Watches (For Everyone)
nia - The Black Watch Edition
The "affordable automatic watches for ladies" is a watch that has been in the market for many years. It's affordable, it's automatic and it comes with a lot of features.
In This Article...
The Cheapest Automatic Watches
Many people believed that automatic timepieces would eventually become obsolete when quartz watches began to dominate the market in the 1970s. Or, at the very least, disregarded the possibility that automatic watches might become competitive with quartz watches by becoming too expensive.
But nowadays, automatic watches have significantly decreased in price and can often compete with their quartz counterparts thanks to firms like Seiko paving the way.
If you want to purchase an automatic (also known as mechanical) watch and explore the real world of watchmaking, I'm going to show you quite a number of the affordable watch alternatives you have accessible in this article.
1. Initial Seiko 5 SNK795
- Classic stainless steel bracelet watch with exhibition back...
- 37 mm stainless steel case with Hardlex dial window
- Automatic self-wind movement with analog display
- Stainless steel bracelet with fold-over clasp
- This model has minimal water resistance rating (30m). It should...
High-end, reasonably priced automatic timepieces came to the forefront when Seiko debuted their Seiko 5 line to the globe. With its straightforward and fashionable dial that also functions as a day/date indicator, this SNK series is one of their great masterpieces.
With an automatic movement, the crown at 4 to 5 o'clock, and sufficient water resistance to prevent harm, it has all the distinguishing features of the Seiko 5 line (30m).
Although this Seiko automatic watch is at the beginning level, it offers every feature a fine watch could have.
- Automatic Japanese Movement
- Crystal Hardlex
- 3 o'clock day/date function
- Case and band made of stainless steel
- 30m of water resistance (100ft)
- Size of case: 38 x 11 mm
2. SNK803, SNK805, and SNK807 from Seiko
- Military-inspired timepiece featuring green dial, luminous...
- Automatic movement with analog display; Hardlex crystal
- Features green nylon strap with buckle closure. When setting the...
- Water resistant to 30 m (99 ft): In general, withstands splashes...
The SNK803 and its siblings are a popular model of Seiko's field watches and another illustration of a really inexpensive automatic watch.
It is a far less formal watch than the one above and is more of a daily carry kind. The casing is substantial, brushed, and clearly lugged. Many of the marks you would anticipate on a field watch are present on the face, including large minute markers all around the dial, an up arrow at 12 o'clock, and legible white on black markings for easy reading. It also features a very flimsy nylon strap that many people decide to change since they find it to be uncomfortable. But hey, at this price, what do you expect?
The color options for this model range from black, blue, and green to a softer cream. Some of them are on the list below.
- Automatic Japanese Movement
- Crystal Hardlex
- 3 o'clock day/date function
- Case and band made of stainless steel
- 30m of water resistance (100ft)
- Size of case: 38 x 11 mm
3. II Orient Mako
- Mineral Crystal.Power Reserve:Approximately 40 hours.
- 120-Click Unidirectional Bezel
- Case Diameter: 41mm.Power Reserve:Approximately 40 hours.
- Movement:Orient Cal.F6922 Automatic, Hand-winding, Hacking...
- Water Resistant 200m (660ft): in General, Suitable for...
It may not come as a big surprise that Orient, a Seiko-owned company, also made very inexpensive automatic timepieces.
One of the most well-liked diving watches for people on a budget is their Mako, and when you look at what is included, it's easy to see why. The Orient caliber F6922 is one of the exclusive automated movements that Orient produces. It includes hacking and hand-winding in addition to being automatic, which is something you seldom ever see in affordable automatic watches.
Additionally, it has a 200m water resistance rating, making it suitable for diving. They take this seriously, as seen by the caseback and crown that screw down. Other diving-related features include a 120-click unidirectional bezel for timing your dive and a tapered crown guard to prevent unintentional adjustments.
Overall, this is a well-known, acclaimed, and iconic automatic diving watch that is cherished by many. It is available in a variety of hues, and the Orient and the Ray are siblings that you may wish to compare in this article I prepared.
- Automatic Japanese (Orient caliber F6922)
- Crystal Mineral
- 3 o'clock day/date function
- Case and band made of stainless steel with folder-over safety
- 200-meter water resistance (660ft)
- Size of case: 41 x 13 mm
4. Men’s Invicta 8926 Pro Diver
- Stainless steel case 40mm diameter x 14mm thick; Exhibition case...
- NH35A Japanese Automatic movement, 24 jewel; Assembled in...
- Stainless steel band, 205mm L x 20mm W; Band is adjustable by...
- Mineral crystal; Screw-down crown; Unidirectional stainless steel...
Additionally known for their affordability, Invicta has a sizable Pro Diver selection. Finding those with an automatic movement is the only difficult part since most of them are quartz.
This specific model has many similarities with the Mako above and several distinguishing qualities with the classic Rolex Submariner. Huge crown guard, clean, black dial, hour markers with large lumed pips, Mercedes hour hand.
I am also surprised Invicta has managed to get 200m water resistance with this cheap automatic watch, which means you can really take it in the water for a prolonged amount of time. And somehow, they have sourced a Automatic Swiss movement to make this baby tick!
- Automatic Swiss movement
- Crystal Mineral
- 3 o'clock date function
- Case and band made of stainless steel with folder-over and safety
- 200-meter water resistance (660ft)
- Size of case: 40 x 13 mm
5. Bulova Dress Watch Automatic
- Discover the Precisionist Collection, the world’s most advanced...
- 3 Hand, High Performance Quartz, Calendar
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Mineral Crystal
- 30M Water Resistant and 3 Year Limited Warranty
Bulova also manufactures high-quality timepieces at affordable costs, many of which are automated. One of their more straightforward models, this one makes a wonderful dress watch.
The clean black dial with slim, rectangular hour markers and hands is all about subtlety. As is the narrow day/date window, which is still easy to read, without standing out. The rest of the watch is all about the stainless steel, which is everywhere from the case to the jubilee band. And Bulova have included a Automatic Swiss movement, which is a bargain at this price point.
If Bulova's offerings appeal to you, you may explore their whole catalog here.
- Automatic Swiss movement
- Crystal Mineral
- 3 o'clock day/date function
- Case and band made of stainless steel
- 30m of water resistance (100ft)
- Size of case: 42 x 11 mm
6. Seiko Dive Automatic SKX009
- Double-sided automatic lift (magic lever); Power reserve 41 hours
- Stainless steel housing; Textile strap with pin buckle; Hardlex;...
- 100m waterproof; unidirectional rotating bezel; Day of the week...
- 43 x 13 mm
- 4R36
It would not be appropriate to disregard Seiko's SKX line of watches in this essay. Although it is not a cheap mechanical watch, it is attractive and undoubtedly inexpensive. It's also one of their best-selling watches. more so if you like the diving appearance.
This watch, like the Mako and Pro Divers above, is very similar to the Rolex Submariner, with the exception that Seiko moved the crown to a safer location at 4-5 o'clock. I think it's clever, particularly for divers.
The Pepsi SKX007, which may be more well-known, and this black variant are the only two colors offered for the whole SKX line. Here, a comparison is seen. Depending on your demands, there are also rubber bands or stainless steel bands.
The sole drawback to this watch compared to its rivals is that Seiko's movement does not support hand-winding or hacking.
- Automatic Japanese
- Crystal Hardlex
- Rubber band and stainless steel case (steel also available)
- 3 o'clock day/date function
- 200-meter water resistance (660ft)
- Size of case: 42 x 14 mm
The "cheapest automatic watches" is a blog post that discusses the most affordable automatic watches. The author of this article, has found the best options for an affordable watch.
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