The best watches under $500, from sturdy stocking dailies to retro throwbacks
Borna BošnjakWhether it’s to celebrate a promotion, graduation, or a “just because”, there’s never a bad time to buy a new watch. Now, mind you – that is not financial advice, merely the musings of us watch nerds. To make your life easier, we pulled the best watches of the year from our NOW Magazine Issue 10 Buying Guide, just for you – but we’ve also left our picks from previous buying guides, as they didn’t get any worse since. You can find our favourite picks under US$1,000, under US$5,000, under US$10,000, and under US$50,000, so you can be sure that the perfect watch for your special someone is somewhere in there, regardless of budget, or who that special someone is.
Casio Ring Watch CRW-001
Though this guide usually focuses on wristwatches, there’s nothing that says we can’t deviate from the norm, especially to include something like the Casio Ring Watch. Shaped like a tiny G-Shock, this is a fully functional watch, with an LED display and even a little light that can work as a subtle alarm. These sold out wherever they were released, so be quick if you want to snap one up. Price: US$120
Mr Jones Watches Mispoes!
If you want a watch that shows time in the most whimsical way possible, go straight to Mr Jones. The Mispoes! depicts an orange kitty chasing a mouse around the dial, the name coming from a Dutch phrase used to tease when someone misses a Hail Mary bin shot. As the minute-showing mouse races around, the kitty lazily stretches its paws to show the hours. Price: US$280
Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz
Hamilton’s king of budget enthusiast watches just got even more affordable. The Khaki Field Quartz simplifies the dial and slims the case down all the way to 7.3mm, while retaining a respectable, swimmable water-resistance rating. At 33mm in diameter, it’s also faithful to the size of Hamilton’s watches from the 1940s, offering a smaller alternative to those with smaller wrists. For everyone else, a standard 38mm is available too. Price: US$395, available from the T+T Shop
Vario Versa
The Vario Versa is an awesome, affordable way to get a flippable watch, managing a slim, dressy experience despite sporting two movements to tell time across two dials. The latest Versa combines its Art Deco main dial with a black mother of pearl reverse, adding a quirky edge to a watch that democratises a coveted format in an uncomplicated, clever way, ticking boxes when it comes to aesthetics and useability. Price: US$428
Seiko 5 Sports SRPL05 Heritage Design Re-Creation
Seiko 5s are often the darlings of vintage collectors, simply for the variety of their designs and accompanying budget-friendliness. But if you don’t want to worry about a vintage watch, Seiko has you covered with its re-releases like the SRPL05, referencing the fan-favourite 1960s 5126-8090 Kamen Rider with a faithful re-creation. Alongside the dial, Seiko has made the case and flat-link bracelet match the original’s in both size and style. Price: US$450
And a few more from previous NOW Magazine issues, because why not?
Casio G-Shock GA-2300 Series
A G-Shock is many things, but it’s no strap monster, often needing aftermarket adapter sets. Well, Casio clearly thought it was time to change that. The new GA-2300 sports regular, albeit quite wide, 24mm lugs that facilitate easy strap changes, even featuring drilled lug holes to make swaps even easier. The overall look is reminiscent of the CasiOak, with a more symmetrical ana-digi layout and a curious, cross-shaped resin case. Price: US$200
Hz Watches HZ.01
What are the necessary attributes for any go anywhere do anything (GADA) watch? Melbourne-based Hz Watches think they’ve got the idea down-pat. The HZ.01 is a 38.5mm, titanium watch with a sapphire crystal, and Swiss quartz movement, for way less than a MoonSwatch. Those are pretty compelling specs in any situation, but especially so considering the idea comes from a fellow watch enthusiast simply looking to fill a gap in his personal collection. Price: US$230
Orient Bambino 38 Small Seconds
If you visit any watch forum and ask about an entry-level dress watch, chances are that you’ll be buying an Orient Bambino. Long-revered for its styling and accessible price, the Bambino gained a small seconds indicator this year, and retained the 38mm case that was a hit with enthusiasts. And that’s without even mentioning that you get an in-house movement for under US$300, if that’s something that matters to you. Price: US$290
Erebus Origin 38
Who better to start an Australian microbrand than someone who’s made it their career to review them? The Origin 38 was created by Jody Musgrove of Just One More Watch, combining all of the elements that he believes make a great, affordable, everyday-capable diver. That means an ultra-legible dial with many colour variations, a high quality, H-link bracelet with a toolless micro-adjust system, and a workhorse movement like the Seiko that powers it. Price: US$299
Swatch x Omega MoonSwatch Mission to the Moonphase Full Moon
We’ve all read the rumours, but Snoopy has finally made his way onto a MoonSwatch dial. This time around though, it’s not just another new colourway or a new central seconds hand pattern, as Swatch is introducing a brand new complication. In a nod to many Omega Speedmaster models that took inspiration from NASA’s Silver Snoopy Award, the beagle takes a snooze on a crescent moon of the moonphase complication. Price: US$310
Boldr Supply Co. Venture Blue Fuel
Singaporean microbrand Boldr Supply Co. make a serious claim for the best-value watches around. The Venture Blue Fuel is a titanium field watch powered by a Seiko automatic movement, with incredible lume and great attention to detail. Boldr even colour-match the date wheel to the blue dial, something we rarely see on watches many times the price. Lightweight and sturdy, this entire package is a steal at its price point. Price: US$339, available from the T+T Shop
Baltic HMS 003
Just like its chronograph sibling, the new Baltic HMS 003 stands out with its subtly revised design and affordable price point. Distilling it down to just that, however, is a disservice to its well-finished case and intricate dial, and even more so to the carefully executed design. To those with a smaller wrist wishing for a modern watch that feels and wears like a vintage one – this it it, folks. Price: €360 (~US$380)
Casio G-Shock Master of G-Land Mudman
Every G-Shock is tough, but the Master of G Mudman may just be the toughest of them all. Equipped with a dual-layer LCD, a whole host of sensors providing altitude, direction, temperature, barometric pressure data, and solar charging, the only thing that may detract from the appeal of the Mudman is its gargantuan size. Having said that, the Mudman mole is engraved on the caseback, making it a cute must-have. Price: US$380
Autodromo Group C Digital Sport Chronograph
If you’re looking for the perfect watch for the motorsport enthusiast, look no further than Autodromo. At risk of sounding like a sales pitch, the brand has truly captured the hearts of racing fans with every release, including the digital Group C. Taking inspiration from iconic racing liveries of the Group C endurance era and the cars that took part, like the insanely fast Sauber C9 and dominating Porsche 962. Price: US$475 (on sale at the time of writing for US$399)
Casio Casiotron 50th Anniversary Revival
You could argue that Casio has transcended simply being an important watch manufacturer, to somewhat of a cultural icon. And this is where it all started in 1974 – the Casiotron. Well, not quite this, but Casio did its best to recapture its very first release and all of its defining features of the Casiotron to celebrate 50 years of the brand, including the revolutionary calendar function, but adding Bluetooth pairing and radio signal calibration functionality. Price: US$500