Buying guide · under €300
The best men’s watches under €300
At €300 you can have an automatic movement, a sapphire crystal or 200 metres of water resistance. Rarely all three at once. This selection says what each watch does well, what it sacrifices, and where to pay the least for it.
The short answer
Which watch to choose
The best choice
Citizen Tsuyosa 37: automatic, sapphire crystal and integrated bracelet.
The best equipped for the price
Casio Edifice EFK-110D: automatic, sapphire and 100 m.
For swimming
Citizen Promaster Dive: solar, sapphire, water resistant to 200 m.
The smallest budget
Seiko 5 SNXS77 for an automatic, G-Shock GA-2100 for an indestructible watch.
Ranking
The ranking at a glance
- Movement : Automatic Citizen 8210
- Diameter : 37 mm
- Crystal : Sapphire
- Movement : Automatic
- Diameter : 38 mm
- Thickness : 11.8 mm
- Movement : Eco-Drive E118, solar
- Diameter : 40.6 mm
- Thickness : 11.7 mm
- Movement : Automatic, designed by Orient
- Diameter : 40.5 mm
- Crystal : Domed mineral
- Movement : Automatic Seiko 7S26
- Diameter : 37 mm
- Crystal : Mineral Hardlex
- Movement : Eco-Drive E111, solar
- Diameter : 38 mm
- Thickness : 10 mm
- Movement : Quartz, calibre 5611
- Diameter : 45.4 mm
- Thickness : 11.8 mm
- Movement : Quartz
- Diameter : 38 mm
- Thickness : 9.5 mm
- Movement : Quartz, chronograph
- Diameter : 40 mm
- Thickness : 13 mm
Selection
The 9 watches, one by one
- 01
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best choice
Citizen Tsuyosa 37
The most complete watch in this selection. It combines an automatic movement made by Citizen, a sapphire crystal and a steel bracelet integrated into the case, in a 37 mm size that suits almost every wrist.
- Movement
- Automatic Citizen 8210
- Diameter
- 37 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 50 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a single watch for the office and the weekend.
The real flaw
The seconds hand does not stop when you set the time, and the bracelet cannot be swapped for another.
- 02
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best equipped for the price
Casio Edifice Automatic EFK-110D
Casio is known for digital watches, but this Edifice ticks the whole spec sheet for under €250: automatic movement, sapphire crystal, solid steel case and bracelet, and 100 m of water resistance, enough for swimming.
- Movement
- Automatic
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Thickness
- 11.8 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
Who it is for
Anyone who compares spec sheets before buying.
The real flaw
The retailer does not state the calibre, and the brand lacks the watchmaking image of Seiko or Citizen.
- 03
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best diver
Citizen Promaster Dive BN0266
A real dive watch, water resistant to 200 m, with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Its Eco-Drive movement recharges from light: no battery to change, so no reason to open the case.
- Movement
- Eco-Drive E118, solar
- Diameter
- 40.6 mm
- Thickness
- 11.7 mm
- Crystal
- Anti-reflective sapphire
- Water resistance
- 200 m
Who it is for
Anyone who swims, dives or wants a watch they never have to spare.
The real flaw
It comes on a polyurethane strap, not steel.
- 04
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best dress watch
Orient Bambino
Domed dial, domed crystal, slim case: the Bambino looks like a watch three times its price. Its automatic movement is designed by Orient, can be wound by hand and stops when you set the time.
- Movement
- Automatic, designed by Orient
- Diameter
- 40.5 mm
- Crystal
- Domed mineral
- Water resistance
- 30 m
Who it is for
Anyone looking for a first automatic to wear with a shirt.
The real flaw
The crystal is mineral, and 30 m of water resistance stops at rain.
- 05
Photos: Tempus Shop
The cheapest automatic
Seiko 5 SNXS77
For the price of a quartz watch you get a Seiko automatic movement, a blue sunburst dial, day and date, and a steel bracelet. The 37 mm case is discreet and comfortable.
- Movement
- Automatic Seiko 7S26
- Diameter
- 37 mm
- Crystal
- Mineral Hardlex
- Water resistance
- 30 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wants to discover automatics without going over €200.
The real flaw
The 7S26 calibre cannot be wound by hand and its seconds hand does not stop during setting.
- 06
Photos: Tempus Shop
The easiest to live with
Citizen Eco-Drive BM7620
A sober three-hander that recharges from natural or artificial light. It stays on time with no winding and no battery change, in a slim 10 mm case.
- Movement
- Eco-Drive E111, solar
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Thickness
- 10 mm
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a reliable watch and to forget about it.
The real flaw
A tame design, without the charm of a mechanical seconds hand.
- 07
Photos: Tempus Shop
The toughest
Casio G-Shock GA-2100
A carbon-fibre-reinforced resin case, 200 m of water resistance and both hands and a digital display, for under €100. Despite its 45 mm, it is slim for a G-Shock.
- Movement
- Quartz, calibre 5611
- Diameter
- 45.4 mm
- Thickness
- 11.8 mm
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Water resistance
- 200 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a watch for sport, manual work or travel.
The real flaw
The crystal is mineral, and the small digital display is hard to read.
- 08
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best retro style
Timex Q Reissue 38
The reissue of a 1970s Timex quartz watch, with its rotating bezel and period steel bracelet. At 38 mm across and 9.5 mm thick, it wears like a vintage watch.
- Movement
- Quartz
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Thickness
- 9.5 mm
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Water resistance
- 50 m
Who it is for
Anyone who buys a style first.
The real flaw
The acrylic crystal scratches easily, although it can be polished.
- 09
Photos: Tempus Shop
The chronograph
Timex Marlin Chronograph
The look of a 1960s chronograph, tachymeter scale included, for the price of a quartz watch. Accurate and maintenance-free.
- Movement
- Quartz, chronograph
- Diameter
- 40 mm
- Thickness
- 13 mm
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a trouble-free chronograph.
The real flaw
A quartz movement in a watch that evokes mechanics, and 13 mm of thickness.
Comparison
The 9 watches side by side
| Model | Movement | Diameter | Crystal | Water resistance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizen Tsuyosa 37 | Automatic Citizen 8210 | 37 mm | Sapphire | 50 m | €299 |
| Casio Edifice Automatic EFK-110D | Automatic | 38 mm | Sapphire | 100 m | €243 |
| Citizen Promaster Dive BN0266 | Eco-Drive E118, solar | 40.6 mm | Anti-reflective sapphire | 200 m | €299 |
| Orient Bambino | Automatic, designed by Orient | 40.5 mm | Domed mineral | 30 m | €295 |
| Seiko 5 SNXS77 | Automatic Seiko 7S26 | 37 mm | Mineral Hardlex | 30 m | €175.20 |
| Citizen Eco-Drive BM7620 | Eco-Drive E111, solar | 38 mm | – | – | €189 |
| Casio G-Shock GA-2100 | Quartz, calibre 5611 | 45.4 mm | Mineral | 200 m | €99.90 |
| Timex Q Reissue 38 | Quartz | 38 mm | Acrylic | 50 m | €189 |
| Timex Marlin Chronograph | Quartz, chronograph | 40 mm | – | – | €199 |
Method
How to choose at this price
Automatic, quartz or solar?
An automatic winds on the wrist and appeals for its mechanics, but stops if you do not wear it for two days. Quartz is more accurate and cheaper. Solar adds the absence of battery changes.
The crystal: sapphire, mineral or acrylic
Sapphire is the most scratch-resistant. Mineral, the norm at this price, scratches sooner. Acrylic scratches even more, but can be polished.
Water resistance, without getting it wrong
30 m protects against rain. 50 m allows careful swimming. You need 100 m to swim without thinking about it, and 200 m to dive.
Diameter
Between 36 and 40 mm, a watch suits most wrists. Above 42 mm, it is better to try it on or measure your wrist.
Questions
The short answers
What is the best men’s watch under €300?
The Citizen Tsuyosa 37 is our first choice: it combines an automatic movement, a sapphire crystal and an integrated bracelet, which no other watch in the selection does at this price.
Can you get an automatic watch under €300?
Yes. The Seiko 5 SNXS77 starts at around €175, the Casio Edifice EFK-110D at around €245, and the Orient Bambino and Citizen Tsuyosa sit just under €300.
Which watch under €300 has a sapphire crystal?
In this selection: the Citizen Tsuyosa 37, the Casio Edifice Automatic EFK-110D and the Citizen Promaster Dive.
Which watch under €300 for swimming?
The Citizen Promaster Dive and the G-Shock GA-2100 are water resistant to 200 m. The Casio Edifice EFK-110D, water resistant to 100 m, is also fine for swimming.
Should you prefer a Japanese brand at this price?
Seiko, Citizen, Orient and Casio make their own movements, which explains their value for money. A brand like Timex is chosen more for its design.
Further reading