It is a common misconception that a high-quality watch needs to cost thousands of dollars. In reality, there are plenty of options on the market that can fit every budget. Of course, it’s possible to spend a shocking sum of money on watches from the biggest names in the industry, but the most affordable end of the spectrum also offers practical, expertly engineered, and beautifully styled watches. There are a lot of reputable and well-known watch manufacturers that have a great selection for under 1500.
Even though luxury watches are often used as a status symbol, it’s still possible to get a sophisticated look without breaking the bank. Many high-end brands, like Raymond Weil, Hamilton, Tissot, and Tag Heuer, offer amazing watches at fair price points. You can always find the right timepiece, whether your style is complex or minimal.
Everything from automatic watches, intricate divers, and simple dials can be found within your budget!
Best Watches Under 1500 on the Market Now
If you’re struggling to pick the right watch under $1,500, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Whether you want to add a budget-friendly option to your collection of watches or you’re buying your first watch, there are a lot of watches under ,500 for you to choose from!
1. TAG Heuer Men’s Stainless Steel Watch
The TAG Heuer Men’s Stainless Steel Watch has a stainless-steel bracelet, which doesn’t feel bulky at all on the hand. It features a 3-row design that gives flexibility to the watch and makes it easy to adjust and move freely. The smooth finish makes it impossible to irritate the skin or leave any marks or abrasions.
Moreover, this watch is quite lightweight, which means you won’t experience any discomfort while you’re wearing it. The case is also made out of stainless steel, and the chances of tarnish, color fade, rust, and corrosion having an effect on the watch are very unlikely.
The watch scores pretty high when it comes to appealing looks. The sapphire crystal is protected by the raised edge and the unidirectional black bezel and black dial blend nicely with the brushed steel.
The watch uses quartz movement. As you probably know by now, quartz watches are highly praised when it comes to accuracy and precision. What this means is that this timepiece will only lose a couple of seconds during a whole month. Besides its precision for time, you also get a window in the watch where the date is shown, and it’s located at the clock marker for 3 o’clock.
Pros
- High performance and reliable
- Scratch-resistant
- Luminescent hour markers and hands
- Easy-grip screw-down crown
- Quartz movement allows precision
Cons
- Isn’t suitable for scuba diving or other underwater activities
2. Longines Hydroconquest Automatic Blue Dial Mens Watch
The dial of this watch has good symmetry and balance with polar Arabic numerals. In addition, the window for the date doesn’t disturb the balance, instead it blends in with the numerals. There is a clear distinction between the hour and minute hands and, even though the design might not look as simple at first glance, you can tell the time very easily.
Moreover, when it comes to the appearance of the watch, the crown guard is too large and that the bezel is a bit difficult to get a hold of with smooth polished edges at 12 and 6 o’clock and shallow teeth. The clasp of the bracelet is pretty solid, and it includes wording and logos etched in it.
The accuracy of the watch and the movement are amazing. Overall, the watch features a unique design, an accurate automatic movement, a non-reflective sapphire crystal, and top-notch legibility.
Pros
- Bezel is aligned and precise
- Bracelet is in nice proportion with the case
- Fantastic accuracy
- Unique design
- Hand-winding goes smoothly
Cons
- Bezel might be hard to grip
- Crown guard is too large
3. Raymond Weil Maestro Automatic Blue Dial Men’s Watch
Your everyday look at the hospital can be improved with this navy-blue leather strap watch that adds a touch of sophistication. The watch features a mechanical automatic winding movement that is encased in a 40 mm diameter case. The white Roman numerals of the watch are a perfect combination with its refined contemporary hands.
The PVD case comes in an elegant rose tone and a screw-down crown that has the signature RW monogram on it. The strap is made out of genuine leather and uses white stitches. At 3 o’clock, you have a window for the date that blends in perfectly with the watch. It can be worn with a sharp suit if you’re going for a more formal look or you can wear it as a statement piece.
The Raymond Weil Maestro Automatic Blue Dial Men’s Watch is water resistant up to 164 feet, so you can swim on the surface with it. However, the watch should not be used for diving, snorkeling, and other deep or intense water sports.
Pros
- Water resistant up to 164 feet
- Genuine leather strap
- Amazing design
- Uses mechanical automatic winding movement
Cons
- Not suited for most underwater sports
4. Men’s Bulova Precisionist Diamond Gold-Tone Stainless Steel Watch
This watch is powered by the unmatched Precisionist quartz movement by Bulova, making this watch a perfect blend of function and form, with an emphasis on sophistication, accuracy, and precision. Quartz movement watches are very accurate and, besides replacing their batteries every once in a while, they require minimal maintenance.
Watch enthusiasts love this watch because it looks amazing as a result of the yellow gold-tone case. The case has a screw-down crown protector and is made out of gold-tone stainless steel with a waterproof screw-down back and a gunmetal bezel.
The band matches with the case since it’s also made out of gold-tone stainless steel. Besides the date feature included in the watch, the Bulova Precisionist Watch is also water resistant up to 1000 feet!
Pros
- Expensive look and feel
- Very comfortable to wear
- Extremely accurate due to quartz movement
- Water resistant up to 1000 feet
- 3 year warranty
Cons
- Only available in one color
5. Tissot Unisex T-Touch Connect Quartz Watch
Most people won’t be able to notice the electronic display when they first see it. This hybrid smartwatch features basic activity-tracking details, weather information, a MIP screen for displaying a notification, a ceramic bezel, and a titanium case.
With this watch, you can run a timer, have a perpetual calendar, see the temperature outdoors, have a compass, and measure your steps. All of the aforementioned features can be accessed by using two pusher buttons and a crown located on the side of the case.
In terms of the screen, we mentioned that it uses MIP (Memory in Pixel) and it conserves energy by refreshing only when necessary. Moreover, you can also adapt the brightness on the screen as you wish. Setting up the watch is a hassle-free process, as it doesn’t take long before your watch is up and running.
One of the biggest advantages to this watch is the fact that it draws power from the light around you. The battery life is measured in months instead of days, and solar power can keep the watch charged for as long as 6 months. This watch will outlast smartwatches both in longevity and battery life, and it has a robust design that will surely be liked by traditional watch fans!
Pros
- Solid build
- Attractive design
- Long battery life
- Includes brightness settings
Cons
- Might feel clunky to some
- Limited notification support
Different Watch Types
Different types of watches are suitable for different occasions, which is why you need to be able to differentiate watches from one another.
The Dress Watch
When thinking of a dress watch, think of a lack of decorations, a simple face, and roman numerals. Typically, a dress watch can go unnoticed under the cuff of the wearer due to the fact that it’s very thin. Moreover, it usually features a leather strap. Not to mention, a dress watch is usually made from precious metals.
The Diving Watch
Just as the name suggests, a diving watch is made for divers that want to explore the depths of the ocean. However, the reality is that a lot of diver watches never get in contact with water.
Many people decide to go for a diving watch thanks to its punchy unidirectional bezel, luminous hands and dials, and rugged construction, which all make up a really good-looking and practical watch.
The Field Watch
The original field watch was expected to perform under the pressure of combat, which is why it was used in both world wars. The key features of a field watch include a clear and easy-to-read dial, decent waterproof rating, and ruggedness. Modern versions of the watch have a military aesthetic and are heavily inspired by the designs in the past.
The Racing Watch
In order to measure distance displaced within a time frame, the racing watch includes a tachymeter. These watches are similar to the instruments present on a racing car and, as you would expect, they have pretty busy dials.
The Pilot Watch
Aviation pilots need certain things from a watch just as divers. In the past, computers were extremely limited or nonexistent, so something that became a support tool for pilots was pilot watches.
Pilot watches support their onboard equipment and help them time events. Pilot watches usually have bigger crowns and are generally bigger since they are expected to be worn under gloves.
Things to Consider When Buying a Watch
In this section, we will look at some of the factors you need to keep in mind when you’re buying a watch.
Material
Most watches are typically made out of metal, ceramic, stainless steel, steel, and titanium. The most commonly used material for watches nowadays is stainless steel. Stainless steel is safe to use if you have more sensitive skin, and the material is resistant to rust.
On the other hand, ceramic watches are amazingly heat resistant and scratch resistant. However, ceramic watches are a bit more fragile, which is why watches that use ceramic are armored with materials that are tougher such as stainless steel.
Strap and Band
The most loved type of strap is a leather watch strap. Even though they look the best, leather straps tend to wear down as time passes. You can damage your leather strap while you sweat in the summer, so if you’re looking for something that you can wear in the heat, you might need to switch it up with a nylon strap.
Another strap that many watch lovers prefer is the metal strap since it gives a robust and superior look to your business attire. Besides the fact that the material is quite durable, the metal strap works hard to make you stand out. Typically, watches made with titanium come at a higher price as a result that this material is stronger than steel but lighter in weight.
Water Resistance
Most watches come with a bit of water resistance, so you don’t have to worry about wearing your watch while you’re washing your hands or if you accidentally spill some water on it. However, many watches are either suitable for swimming and diving or splashproof. Remember to always read the fine print before purchasing a watch.
Budget
Before you go shopping for a watch, one thing you should definitely consider is your budget. You should decide how much you’re willing to spend on a watch. Watches have enormous differences in price thanks to the amount of hand-craftsmanship, the technology they feature, and the materials they’re made out of.
Decide on a budget and make sure that you stay as close to your budget when you go to the store or buy online!
Watch Movement
Another consideration you should keep in mind is the watch movement since this is essentially the core of the watch. The oldest movement that uses cogs and springs to move the watch is known as a mechanical watch. However, a drawback to a mechanical watch is that you need to regularly wind them, which can be pretty inconvenient for some people. Unless the watch is self-winding, in which case wrist movements power it.
A self-winding or automatic watch is a watch that uses the movement of its wearer to produce energy to operate the watch. The most common type of watch is one with quartz movement. Quartz watches come at affordable prices and they are very accurate. These watches use a battery to function, which usually has a lifespan of 1 to 3 years.
Features
What kind of features do you need? The purpose you’re buying the watch for will determine what kind of features you should look for.
Do you need an alarm to wake you up in the morning? Do you need a watch that comes with a stopwatch? How bright do you want the dial to be during the night? Will you be using the watch while racing, diving, or during other types of sports? In case you use the watch for diving, how much water resistance are you looking for?
It is easy to get most of these features in one watch, since there are plenty of multifunctional watches available on the market. However, you need to decide what you’re looking for in a watch in terms of features.
Personal Style
One thing you shouldn’t forget about when choosing a watch is your personal taste and style. You need to pick a watch that you personally like, not because someone else is pushing you to pick a certain model.
Think about the colors you like wearing. Do you feel better when there’s a bold dash of color in your outfit or do you feel more comfortable wearing neutral colors such as silver, white, and black? Watches nowadays come in many beautiful colors that range from green, blue, red, and everything in between.
Weight
The last thing we want to mention is the weight of the watch. While some watches will feel like a brick on your hand, others will barely feel like they’re on your wrist. Make sure that you find a watch that feels comfortable to wear. Keep in mind that leather straps are lighter than metal straps.
Final Thoughts
As watch collectors, hobbyists, and enthusiasts, we are often exposed to an endless number of watches, whether it is from our social circles, social media, or the internet in general. There are a lot of watches to discover and sort through almost daily, and it can feel very overwhelming at times.
With this guide, we wanted to inform and educate you about some of the best high-quality watches that you can find on the market today for under 1500!
