<p><strong><a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g43878773/best-watches-under-200/” target=”_blank”>Best Watches Under $200</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g44087139/best-watches-under-100/” target=”_blank”>Best Watches Under $100</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/technology-gear/g41900434/best-sport-watches/” target=”_blank”>Best Sport Watches</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g43101341/black-watches-for-men/” target=”_blank”>Best Black Watches</a> | <strong><a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/technology-gear/g42635678/best-solar-watches/” target=”_blank”>Best Solar Watches</a></strong></strong></p><h2 class=”body-h2″>What to Look for</h2><h3 class=”body-h3″><strong>Case Diameter</strong></h3><p><strong></strong>How can you tell if a watch you find online will fit your wrist? All you need is the case diameter and a ruler with a cm scale—remember that there are 10 mm in 1 cm because the metric system is easy. Place the ruler flat on top of your wrist perpendicular to your arm. This will give you an approximate idea of how much room a watch case will take up on your wrist.</p><p>For reference, men’s watches range anywhere from 34mm to 45mm and up. Most <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g43032025/mens-dress-watches/” target=”_blank”>dress watches</a> run in the 36mm to 42mm range, while <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/a22655710/best-dive-watches/” target=”_blank”>dive watches</a> and chronographs run from 40mm to 45mm.</p><h3 class=”body-h3″><strong>Movement</strong></h3><p><strong></strong>What’s under the hood? Movement refers to the power used to operate watches. </p><p><strong>Quartz:</strong> Battery or solar energy is used to power a tiny quartz crystal that vibrates at a constant frequency. This frequency is translated into seconds to maintain a consistently accurate watch. Being the smallest and simplest type of watch movement makes them by far the most affordable. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Automatic:</strong> A mechanical movement that winds itself with the motion of your body. As the most technically complicated variety, <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g43838945/best-automatic-watches/” target=”_blank”>automatic watches</a> are usually the most expensive. You will never need to buy a battery, but you will have to get the watch serviced every few years, kind of like a car engine.<br></p><p><strong>Mechanical/Hand Winding:</strong> A mechanical movement that has to wound by hand to keep ticking. This is done by turning the crown. Hand winding movements were all but extinct until making a comeback in recent years thanks to a tactile affinity among horology fans.</p><p><strong>Mecha-quartz:</strong> This new hybrid movement has become popular among micro-brands making chronographs. It combines elements of a quartz and automatic movement. Generally, the main time runs on automatic while the other complications use the quartz power.</p><ul></ul>” />
Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?
When searching for a watch to keep on your wrist day in and day out, it pays to stick to the classics. Citizen did just that, drawing inspiration from vintage Japanese—an angular case edge, the crown at 4:00—and Swiss—the narrow, squared off hands and indices design. What resulted was a watch for all occasions that is both automatic and water resistant.
Read more: Best Stainless Steel Watches
| Movement | Automatic |
|---|---|
| Case size | 40 mm |
Take a look at the history of field watches and one name boldly stands out: Hamilton’s Khaki Field Watch. With rugged good looks, well proven durability, and a dependable movement, this timepiece has secured a place in menswear infamy. There is no date or day window, just the time with inset 24 hour “military time” markers, an indication of the watch’s military heritage.
Read more: Best Outdoor Watches
| Movement | Hand wound |
|---|---|
| Case size | 38 mm |
Part dive watch, part dress watch, the SRPG05 from Seiko is a timepiece for all occasions. Considering it will compliment absolutely anything you wear, there is no reason to ever take it off. Well maybe to sleep, if that gets uncomfortable for you.
| Movement | Automatic |
|---|---|
| Case size | 40 mm |
Dive watches are built to play in and explore the ocean. Shinola took things a step further by building a watch to help protect the ocean. The case and strap of The Sea Creatures watch are made from ocean-bound plastic, which means it looks great on your wrist, and is easier on the environment.
Read more: Best Waterproof Watches
| Movement | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 40 mm |
Resembling a bathroom scale more than a wristwatch, this Breda is certainly a change up. Think of it more as a piece of jewelry that tells time than a typical timepiece. The Pulse Tandem offers an easy way to freshen up your work and social vibe.
Read more: Best Gold Watches
| Movement | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 26 mm |
No watch brand does elegant design at a friendlier price than Orient. The Bambino provides a simple and sleek look usually associated with luxury dress watches. A faux-croc leather band puts a little extra icing on the cake.
Read more: Best Luxury Watches
| Movement | Hand wound |
|---|---|
| Case size | 38 mm |
Call it minimalist or modernist, either way Nordgreen makes a beautiful, simple watch. Not only does the face have just enough detail to tell time, the case is almost impossibly thin, leaving the tiniest impression on your wrist. However, you can spice things up with 4 case colors, 8 face colors, and over a dozen strap options.
| Movement | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 36mm or 40 mm |
A digital analog watch face is just plain cool. This modest little Casio is action packed with features like a calendar, a stop-watch, an alarm, auto- daylight savings, and 31 time zones. It is ideal for travelers who don’t want the distractions of a smartwatch.
Read more: Best Digital Watches
| Movment | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 34 mm |
California dials were popular for a minute in the 1960s, then pretty much disappeared. Defined by featuring roman numerals on the top half of the face and Arabic numerals on the bottom half, Timex recently resurrected the design for the Marlin line. It has a mid-century vibe that also feels timeless.
| Movement | Automatic |
|---|---|
| Case size | 40 mm |
Kuoe is a new Japanese micro-brand that sticks to pre-WWII design principles. The Old Smith looks like your grandfather’s watch that has been passed down for generations, but with all the benefits of being brand new.
| Movement | Hand wound |
|---|---|
| Case size | 35 mm |
Chronographs had their golden era in the 1970s. All the best examples from that period look like the instrument panels of race cars. There in lies the impossibly cool appeal of vintage chronos. Vaer nailed the retro automotive vibe and has five different secondary straps to really customize your look.
| Movement | Mecha-quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 42 mm |
Canada isn’t exactly know for its rich watch making heritage, but there is one exception: Marathon. Few companies combine rugged durability and heritage aesthetics quite as well. Take the Navigator, a ticket originally designed for pilots and parachuters, but also has a business casual style.
| Movement | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 41 mm |
You may notice that a seconds hand is conspicuously absent here. This Swatch is designed more for artistic expression than accurate time keeping. While the colors and design are bold, the package is an understated 34 mm.
| Movement | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 34 mm |
Everyone knowns G-Shock as the quintessential old-school smart watch. This includes a digital face in most cases, but not all. The analog-digital combination of the Black and Rust series provides the best of both worlds. You get all the G-Shock performance with a more traditional look.
Luminox Navy Seal Foundation Exclusive Sea Series
Luminox Navy Seal Foundation Exclusive Sea Series
Now 35% Off
Looking to spend most of your time in and around water? Need a watch that can take a beating? Is high night time visibility crucial? If you answered yes to all of three, then this is the watch for you.
| Movement | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 45 mm |
Leave it to Timex to build a chronograph this good looking for just over $200. A nearly-all steel finish really makes the three colored inset dials pop. Even the bracelet sticks to the 1970s racing-inspired design.
| Movement | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 41 mm |
Bulova gives you a little peek under the hood with a movement window on the face. The rectangular case is a quintessential dress watch design, reminiscent of the 1940s, and is timelessly cool. You can wear the Sutton with a tuxedo just as easily as with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
| Movement | Automatic |
|---|---|
| Case size | 33 mm |
Citizen categorizes this Promaster Dive as a women’s watch, but we argue that it works as a compact men’s dive watch as well. At 37 mm, the case size fits smaller men’s wrist, and you can have a dive watch’s performance without a chunky wrist-eating case.
| Movement | Solar Quart |
|---|---|
| Case size | 37 mm |
Minimal? Maybe, but the 45.5 case with a lume painted face will still make a statement. MVMT made a splash with its first move into dive watches. This bad boy is built for play, more suited for vacation than the office.
| Movement | Automatic |
|---|---|
| Case size | 45.5 |
Two-tone watches went out of fashion for a long time, but they recently made a triumphant return, and we’re here for it. Invicta totally nailed the look here, at a ridiculously affordable price no less. The blue face and bezel really pull the two-tone concept together.
| Movement | Quartz |
|---|---|
| Case size | 43 mm |
Contributing Commerce Style Writer
Brad is a contributing style commerce editor. After a decade working for menswear brands including J.Crew and Ralph Lauren, Brad switched from selling fashion to writing about it. His words have appeared in Huckberry, Heddels, and The Manual.
Deputy Editor, Commerce
As Men’s Health’s Deputy Editor, Commerce, Christian Gollayan oversees all shopping content on menshealth.com. He relocated back to New York by way of Portland, where he was the Associate Managing Editor at TheManual.com. Christian’s work has also been featured in InStyle, Food & Wine, the New York Post, and Tatler Asia.
Watch Next
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Comments are closed.