The watch is truly a product that is made for everyone, even if you don’t have the budget for a Rolex.
This buying guide is going to look at watches in the £0-100 range that you can’t go wrong with. They all share affordability but are best suited for different uses and people, which means that you will find at least 1 watch on this list that is perfect for you.
Watch Buying Guide: £0 to £100
Seiko 5 Gents Automatic
Who it’s for: Someone looking for a sophisticated look from an everyday watch. Perfect for business and most casual settings.
Price: £69+
Type: Automatic
Options: The Seiko 5 Gents series comes in a variety of colors. You can pick a gold or stainless steel strap, as well as a black, blue, or stainless steel dial (see options here).
The Seiko 5 series is just as well-known and well-liked as its series 4 predecessor. They have a reputation for being affordable, but reliable, and providing a beautiful look for that low cost. Seiko is one of the most popular watch brands and a leading Japanese company that is known for their manufacturing quality and watch durability.
The classic analog display is easy to read, and also features the month and day of the year. Most wearers find this watch very comfortable, with a weight that is “just right”. If you were eyeing the gold version of the Seiko 5 Gents, you might be worried that it’ll fade quickly and look cheap. While some gold watches do have this problem, this watch, in particular, does not. It does a good job keeping its integrity and looking great without being too flashy.
Casio G-Shock Chronograph Alarm
Who it’s for: The adventurer looking for a rugged watch that will be reliable in all situations.
Price: £85
Type: Quartz Battery
Options: Black or red highlights on face and dial.
Many people use their mobile phones these days to keep track of time. One argument in favor of phones is that they many apps that you can download as needed. But they aren’t always high quality and are often inconvenient to access since they are all over the place. This watch, the Casio G-Shock Chronograph Alarm, contains just about every feature you could ever ask for in a watch — all in one convenient place on your wrist. It has:
- an LED illuminating face
- ability to switch between times of major global cities
- a velocity indicator to track your travel speed
- a stopwatch and timer
- space for 5 separate alarms
On top of those great features, the build quality is really top notch for this price level. The Chronograph is water resistant to up to 200 meter, which makes it a great watch for divers and swimmers. In addition, it features shock resistance to ensure that it lasts for as long as possible.
Compared to the other watches in this guide, the G-Shock is a big watch, with a thickness of just under 17mm (for reference, the Seiko 5 is 12 mm thick). While it’s not the most elegant watch, it does have a cool look, almost as if it could be a watch for a spy. Like most Casio watches, the Chronograph is very robust and stands up to wear and tear like a champ.
Rotary Gents Vintage
Who it’s for: Someone seeking a classic, elegant watch for everyday use.
Price: £80
Type: Quartz Battery
Options: Can also be found with a gold vintage case.
Does this watch look familiar? That might be because it appeared on the wrist of Benedict Cumberbatch on BBC Sherlock! Besides that, let’s go over the other great reasons why this watch was included in this buying guide.
From an aesthetics point of view, this watch is brilliant. It has white steel plating, mineral crystal glass, and a traditional easy-to-read face. If you’re looking for a simple watch that isn’t very flashy, this is your answer.
If you have a minute, take a look at some of the higher-end vintage watches. The Rotary Gents Vintage watch looks very similar, at a much smaller price tag.
One somewhat surprising feature of this watch is that it is water resistant to up to 100 meters. While it’s not exactly a typical swimming watch, it’s nice to have the assurance that it will be fine if it does get a bit wet.
Rotary is an extremely established watch manufacturing company that was started in 1895. They first became widely known in the 1940’s when Rotary became the official British Army watch supplier. Rotary is unique in that it is hugely popular in Britain, but not so much in North America or around the world. They typically stick to the basics of watchmaking and do them well.
Citizen BM8240-11A
Who it’s for: Travelers or anyone looking for a simple, long-lasting watch.
Price: £76+
Type: Solar Powered
Options: Men’s and women’s.
This white dial watch has a simple black leather strap and is a very light watch — great if you don’t like bulk (9mm thick). It features a very clean dial design, complete with day and month. In addition, the stainless steel case helps contribute to an overall elegant look.
This Citizen watch is very simple to use, you’ll set it in about five minutes and likely never have to fiddle with it again. It can be worn in both business and casual environments but is also very functional. A quick glance is all that’s needed to tell the time due to the dial design.
Citizen is famous for their Eco-Drive technology, which powers their entire modern watch line. It is solar-powered, which means you will never need to worry about replacing a battery. As long as the watch gets a normal amount of sun exposure, you’ll have a reliable watch that works for years.
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