Buying guide · under €500
The best men’s watches under €500
Between €300 and €500, sapphire crystal becomes the rule and the first Swiss watches appear, with quartz movements. For a well-equipped automatic, Japanese and German brands keep the advantage. Here is what each watch brings, and what it leaves out.
The short answer
Which watch to choose
The best choice
Tissot PRX 40: Swiss, sapphire crystal, water resistant to 100 m, integrated bracelet.
The best automatic
Orient Kamasu: in-house movement, sapphire, 200 m.
The lightest
Citizen Super Titanium: automatic, titanium, sapphire, 100 m.
For the style
Hamilton Khaki Field for the military spirit, Laco Augsburg for aviation.
Ranking
The ranking at a glance
- Movement : Quartz
- Diameter : 40 mm
- Thickness : 10.4 mm
- Movement : Automatic, designed by Orient
- Diameter : 41.8 mm
- Crystal : Sapphire
- Movement : Quartz, calibre F06.105
- Diameter : 38 mm
- Thickness : 8.3 mm
- Movement : Automatic
- Diameter : 40 mm
- Thickness : 11 mm
- Movement : Automatic Laco 2S (based on Miyota 82S0)
- Diameter : 39 mm
- Thickness : 11.6 mm
- Movement : Quartz VH31
- Diameter : 39 mm
- Thickness : 13.2 mm
- Movement : Automatic Miyota 8215
- Diameter : 40 mm
- Thickness : 12 mm
- Movement : Automatic Miyota 8N24
- Diameter : 40 mm
Selection
The 8 watches, one by one
- 01
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best choice
Tissot PRX 40 Quartz
A Swiss watch with a 1970s design, a steel bracelet integrated into the case, a sapphire crystal and 100 m of water resistance. At 10.4 mm thick, it slips under a cuff.
- Movement
- Quartz
- Diameter
- 40 mm
- Thickness
- 10.4 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a versatile Swiss watch without going over €400.
The real flaw
It is quartz: the automatic version costs considerably more.
- 02
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best automatic
Orient Kamasu
Orient’s best-equipped diver: an automatic movement designed by the brand, hand winding, sapphire crystal, rotating bezel and 200 m of water resistance.
- Movement
- Automatic, designed by Orient
- Diameter
- 41.8 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 200 m
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a single watch for everything, swimming included.
The real flaw
The steel bracelet is not up to the standard of the case.
- 03
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best field watch
Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz 38
The heir to the watches issued to the US Army, in a very slim 38 mm case: 8.3 mm thick. Legible dial, sapphire crystal, and two straps, NATO and leather.
- Movement
- Quartz, calibre F06.105
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Thickness
- 8.3 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 50 m
Who it is for
Anyone looking for a simple, legible watch that sits light on the wrist.
The real flaw
Quartz, and water resistance limited to 50 m.
- 04
Photos: Tempus Shop
The lightest
Citizen Super Titanium NJ0180
Case and bracelet in titanium, so far lighter than steel. With an automatic movement, a sapphire crystal and 100 m of water resistance, the spec sheet is complete.
- Movement
- Automatic
- Diameter
- 40 mm
- Thickness
- 11 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
Who it is for
Anyone who finds steel watches too heavy.
The real flaw
The retailer does not state the calibre.
- 05
Photos: Tempus Shop
The best pilot’s watch
Laco Augsburg Blaue Stunde 39
Laco was already making pilot’s watches in Germany in the 1940s. This one revives that dial, with an automatic movement, a sapphire crystal and a 39 mm matt steel case.
- Movement
- Automatic Laco 2S (based on Miyota 82S0)
- Diameter
- 39 mm
- Thickness
- 11.6 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 50 m
Who it is for
Anyone who likes highly legible dials and watches with a history.
The real flaw
Water resistant to only 50 m, and supplied on a nylon strap.
- 06
Photos: Tempus Shop
The French one
Lip Nautic 3
A neo-vintage diver assembled in Besançon, with a sapphire crystal. Its VH31 quartz moves the seconds hand in small, close steps, much like a mechanical watch.
- Movement
- Quartz VH31
- Diameter
- 39 mm
- Thickness
- 13.2 mm
- Crystal
- Sapphire
Who it is for
Anyone set on buying a French watch.
The real flaw
A quartz watch at nearly €350, when Japanese brands offer automatics.
- 07
Photos: Tempus Shop
The German dress watch
Zeppelin LZ129 Hindenburg
A dial inspired by airship cockpit instruments, a 40 mm case and a Japanese Miyota automatic movement. It is the cheapest automatic dress watch in this selection.
- Movement
- Automatic Miyota 8215
- Diameter
- 40 mm
- Thickness
- 12 mm
- Crystal
- Mineral K1
- Water resistance
- 50 m
Who it is for
Anyone looking for an automatic dress watch on leather.
The real flaw
A mineral crystal, and 50 m of water resistance.
- 08
Photos: Tempus Shop
To see the mechanics
Lip Himalaya Skeleton
Lip’s historic model in an open-dial version that shows its skeletonised Miyota automatic movement.
- Movement
- Automatic Miyota 8N24
- Diameter
- 40 mm
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a French dress watch with a history.
The real flaw
More than €400 for a mass-produced Japanese movement.
Comparison
The 8 watches side by side
| Model | Movement | Diameter | Crystal | Water resistance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tissot PRX 40 Quartz | Quartz | 40 mm | Sapphire | 100 m | €395 |
| Orient Kamasu | Automatic, designed by Orient | 41.8 mm | Sapphire | 200 m | €399 |
| Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz 38 | Quartz, calibre F06.105 | 38 mm | Sapphire | 50 m | €440 |
| Citizen Super Titanium NJ0180 | Automatic | 40 mm | Sapphire | 100 m | €429 |
| Laco Augsburg Blaue Stunde 39 | Automatic Laco 2S (based on Miyota 82S0) | 39 mm | Sapphire | 50 m | €390 |
| Lip Nautic 3 | Quartz VH31 | 39 mm | Sapphire | – | €349 |
| Zeppelin LZ129 Hindenburg | Automatic Miyota 8215 | 40 mm | Mineral K1 | 50 m | €319 |
| Lip Himalaya Skeleton | Automatic Miyota 8N24 | 40 mm | – | – | €429 |
Method
How to choose at this price
Swiss quartz or Japanese automatic?
At this price Swiss brands mostly offer quartz, well finished and maintenance-free. Japanese and German brands offer an automatic movement for the same money. It is first a matter of taste.
Sapphire becomes the norm
Above €300, a mineral crystal is a compromise you should know about before buying. Six of the eight watches in this selection have a sapphire crystal.
Water resistance, without getting it wrong
50 m allows careful swimming. You need 100 m to swim without thinking about it, and 200 m to dive.
Steel or titanium
Titanium is lighter and does not cause allergies. It marks a little more easily than steel, unless surface-treated.
Questions
The short answers
What is the best men’s watch under €500?
The quartz Tissot PRX 40 is our first choice for its versatility: sapphire crystal, 100 m of water resistance and an integrated bracelet. For an automatic, the Orient Kamasu is the best equipped.
Can you get a Swiss watch under €500?
Yes, with quartz. The Tissot PRX 40 and the Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz 38 are both under €450.
Which automatic watch under €500?
The Orient Kamasu, the Citizen Super Titanium, the Laco Augsburg, the Zeppelin LZ129 Hindenburg and the Lip Himalaya Skeleton are all automatic.
Which titanium watch under €500?
The Citizen Super Titanium NJ0180: titanium case and bracelet, automatic movement and sapphire crystal.
Is it better to spend €300 or €500?
At €300 you already find excellent automatics. Going up to €500 mainly brings sapphire crystal almost everywhere, titanium, and access to Swiss brands.
Further reading