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Whether your interest in watches was sparked by a particular piece of history, a particular film, or the horological one-upmanship taking place in NBA tunnels around the country, you will eventually find yourself wondering how they work.
With respect to high-end timepieces, the solution is almost always an automatic mechanism. You don't need a degree from MIT to understand the fundamental principles behind automatic watches, even if discussing the minute gears, springs, and other components of a watch quickly descends into advanced levels of nerdery. Although it is not necessary to understand the inner workings of your watch to appreciate it, you will find some interesting technology.
Compared to the battery-powered up watches, an automatic watch tends to have a more expensive price. That is one of the reasons why the newcomer people hesitate to purchase it. But don’t be worried! In this best affordable automatic watches article, we will provide you with a number of automatic watches at affordable prices. Let’s get into it!
Here are the 12 Best Affordable Automatic Watches in 2023
Affordable doesn't mean that it has low quality. This list offers you with 12 best watches that are both affordable and great quality.
1. Seiko Men's SNK795
When Seiko presented the world with their Seiko 5 series, they revolutionized the watch industry by bringing high-quality, cost-effective automated timepieces to the forefront. This SNK collection is one of the brand's genuine masterpieces; the dial is understated but very chic, and it also displays the day and the date.
It features an automatic movement, the crown is located between 4-5 o'clock, and it has sufficient water resistance to prevent any harm from occurring. These are all characteristics of the Seiko 5 series (30m).
Even though it is Seiko's automatic watch for beginners, it has all of the desirable qualities of a high-end timepiece and is thus an excellent buy.
2. Bulova Men’s Watch
Bulova is known for producing high-quality timepieces that are sold at rates that are affordable, and a large number of its watches have automatic movement. This specific model is one of their simpler ones in terms of style, which makes it an excellent option for a dress watch.
The uncluttered black dial with its thin, rectangular hour markings and hands exudes a sense of understated sophistication. The small day/date window, which is nonetheless simple to see despite its size, is another advantageous feature. The remainder of the watch is composed entirely of stainless steel, which can be found in the jubilee band, the case, and everything in between. In addition, Bulova has integrated a Swiss automatic movement, which is an incredible value considering the price point.
3. Seiko Men’s SNK805
On this list, you'll find more than one Seiko watch represented. Seiko is well-known for producing a wide variety of high-quality but reasonably priced automatic timepieces. Because it is a member of the Seiko 5 series, which is known for its reasonable prices, it undoubtedly is. However, you would never guess that the item on this list with the lowest price is the one you are looking at.
This is most likely due to the meticulous attention to detail that went into the creation of this design, which features sword hands that are uncomplicated yet striking and are likely the most accurate hand set that has ever been made available. Have a huge Arabic numerals in 5 minutes intervals. Indicators for the hours are located in the central portion of the dial. Everything functions quite well in terms of the overall design.
And this is no fluke: this is a genuine pilot watch, complete with a dial that is extremely legible and a case that doesn't mess around... has a modest water resistance of thirty meters. Even though 37 millimeters is not a very large measurement, I would still count it as a benefit. The majority of pilot watches have a case diameter of 42 millimeters or more. Due to its little size, this one is suitable for wrists with a diameter of up to 7.5 inches.
The movement does not have the ability to be hand-wound or hacked, and you will probably want to replace the strap with something that is more sturdy – for example, a strap made of leather. It can't be denied, however, that the value proposition of this watch is over the sky, considering how stylish it is and how much of a cool factor it has.
4. Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB
Because the Invicta Pro Diver is an inexpensive tribute to the Rolex Submariner, this design may seem familiar to you. The reason for this is because the Invicta Pro Diver has the same design. You won't get the same quality as the Submariner, that much is certain. For instance, the price of this watch is just one one hundredth of the cost of the genuine one after all. However, as someone who has tried both in the metal, I can promise you that you will get at least 80 percent of the fun out of it!
You may not like the logo that is etched on the side of the case, but truly, this diving watch is the best there is, with: water resistance of up to 200 meters (and a screw down crown). a properly aligned bezel with 120 clicks (this feature is not usually included on more budget-friendly diving watches). A Seiko movement that uses both hacking and manual winding. Now, in order to deliver such a great value at such an affordable price, they had to take some corners, such as utilizing a bracelet that rattled or lume that wasn't up to grade.
But I'm not going to let this deter me from making a purchase since the overall build quality and price point are so impressive. Now, before you take my word for it, check out the hundreds (!!!) of reviews on the internet that have a score of four stars or above. It is, in fact, of such high quality.
There's something thrilling about looking amazing while spending so little money on a piece of clothing... Once you wrap it over your wrist, you'll immediately understand what I'm talking about.
5. Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Watch
The Hamilton Khaki Field watch often appears, as it should, in top ten lists of best values in timepieces. The firm has now introduced lightweight titanium choices in addition to the military appearance that is now quite popular in the world of luxury watches (not that the military aesthetic ever truly goes out of style). This stealthy piece with a coating of black PVD (a process in which a solid material is vaporized in a heated vacuum then bound to a surface) measures 42 millimeters in diameter and houses an automatic movement that boasts an impressive 80-hour power reserve. PVD is a process in which a solid material is vaporized in a heated vacuum then bound to a surface. The straightforward design of the dial ensures that it will never seem old, while the durable canvas band and water resistance of 100 meters make this a watch that is suitable for both casual and formal settings.
6. Citizen Men’s Analogue Automatic Watch
What's next in this best affordable automatic watches recommendation list? Why, those watches from Citizen, of course. They are the next major watchmaker to come out of Japan, but you'll have to look around to discover many mechanical alternatives from them (despite the fact that they own Miyota, one of the biggest makers of mechanical movements). This Citizen watch is an older model, similar to the Seiko 5 SNK that were discussed before. Although it is possible that you will need to do some searching on the internet in order to locate it, the watch has a fantastic look and is an excellent value for the money.
7. Timex Marlin Automatic California Dial
The well-liked Marlin line from Timex is available in a few different iterations, but a fan favorite is the model that comes with a design element that is cherished by vintage watch enthusiasts. This feature is the so-called "California dial," which has half of the dial written in Roman numerals and the other half written in Arabic numerals. In addition to its intriguing face, the watch is equipped with a Miyota 8215 automatic movement, which can be seen via the watch's transparent glass case back.
8. Vostok Amphibian Automatic Mens Watch
Moving on to something totally different, our next item is a diving watch from Russia. It doesn't matter what you call it—funky, quirky, or even profoundly weird—you can't call it dull. Because of the illustration that can be seen on the dial, this particular Vostok Amphibia 710059 is fondly referred to as the "Scuba Dude."
The strikingly gorgeous turquoise color of this dial stands out to me as the watch's most distinctive characteristic; it is a hue that is nearly never seen on diving watches. Even while it does not have the appearance of a traditional diver watch, that does not indicate that it is not a diver watch. In fact, it has characteristics such as water resistance of 200 meters, a crown that can be screwed down and has a safety and shock-absorbing mechanism when it is unscrewed.
It's possible that these characteristics don't impress you very much, but keep in mind that the price of this watch is less than one hundred dollars, which is a very reasonable price when you consider the military history of this item. It goes without saying that at such a cheap price, it does not have flawless qualities; for example, the finishing is not the best and the bezel may be turned in any way.
But if you're seeking for something that's not only unique but also rather durable (the service interval for the movement is roughly 10 years), then this Vostok Amphibia can be the watch for you!
9. Victorinox Men’s Alliance Watch
The Victorinox 'Alliance' Swiss Automatic Watch is an elegant, contemporary, and cutting-edge timepiece due to its automatic movement that was manufactured in Switzerland. The dial, which has a dusty dark gray color, is aligned nicely with a steely silver bracelet. Other characteristics include a screw-in and see-through case back, military time, self-winding movement, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a polished stainless steel case that measures 40 millimeters in diameter, and date functionality. In addition to this, it does not make any noise, thus it won't disturb you with any ticking sounds.
10. Orient Men’s ‘Mako II’
Among the many budget dive watches now on the market, the Orient Mako II is widely considered to be one of the finest of its kind. It has a power reserve of 40 hours, a face made of mineral crystal, a 120-click bezel, and is water resistant to a depth of 200 meters. The caliber is an updated version of the F6922. Its case has a brushed steel finish and a dial that is 41.5 millimeters in diameter, preserving the sleek but masculine style of the original Mako I model. However, the Mako II is more than simply an useful watch; it is also an adaptable timepiece that can be worn in a variety of settings, from the deck of a boat to a business meeting.
11. Seiko Divers Automatic Watch
It would be unethical of me to disregard Seiko's SKX line of watches in this piece for whatever reason. Although it is not quite a bargain for a mechanical watch, the price is reasonable and it is rather attractive. Additionally, it is one of their most well-liked watches as well. Especially if you want to get the appearance of a diver.
This watch, along with the Mako and Pro Divers watches discussed above, is strikingly evocative of the Rolex Submariner. However, unlike Rolex, Seiko has moved the crown to a more secure location between 4-5 o'clock on the watch. If you ask me, I'd say that's smart, particularly for swimmers and dives.
The whole SKX line is available in two colorways, the first being this black iteration, and the second being the maybe more well-known Pepsi SKX007. A comparison may be shown in this section. Rubber bands and bands made of stainless steel are also available; the material you choose will depend on your requirements.
12. Swatch Sistem51
The Sistem51 is famous for being the world's first mechanical watch to be created entirely by automated assembly. Even the movement parts are made of plastic, and the watch has an automatic mechanism that can be seen through the case back's transparency. This watch may be seen as more of a toy or novelty mechanical watch; yet, it is one that has attracted the interest of watch collectors and pulled at the heartstrings of individuals who grew up with plastic Swatch watches in the 1980s. There is a wide variety of dial and strap combinations available, just as with previous Swatch collections.
There you have it, the 12 best affordable automatic watches in 2023 that you can consider to purchase. Collecting an automatic watch might be an interesting experience for a novice collector. Thus, you can start by owning the affordable ones so you can decide in which brand and type of automatic watch that you most liked.
For accessing more informative and interesting articles about timepieces, you can visit our page here. See you in another great piece of ours!
