We canvassed watches from the big players and the microbrand scene to bring you the most well-priced timepieces of 2019.
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This roundup is part of This Year in Gear, a look back at the year’s most notable releases. To stay on top of all the latest product news, subscribe to our daily Dispatch newsletter.
Price: $268
From: amazon.com
The famed affordable, mechanical watch has been reimagined in four different dial colors in the form of a “Super Compressor”-style diver with 100m of water resistance.
Price: $298
From: humism.com
By utilizing an automatic movement in concert with two to three rotating discs, Humism Watches founder David Sze has created the effect of a dynamic, “blooming” piece of artwork that lives on the wrist.
Price: $495
From: timex.com
With the exception of their Swiss-made quartz movements, the American Documents Series watches see Timex using domestically produced parts, from crown tubes to packaging.
Price: $1,485
From: christopherward.com
Christopher Ward’s new C1 Grand Malvern Worldtimer is well-positioned in the “affordable world timer” camp at less than $1,500, despite featuring a complication that often renders watches that house them quite expensive.
The Centric Lightwell Chronograph
This rugged, general-purpose watch combines highly-durable materials with low-maintenance, solar-powered movements from Seiko. The Lightwell Chronograph from Centric Instruments is constantly charging under natural and artificial light so it never needs a new battery. It’s also outfitted with 100 meters of water resistance and a high-contrast dial with luminous markers, making it a versatile and utilitarian choice for your wrist. Learn More: Here
Price: $549
From: mercer.com
New Jersey-based Mercer Watches delivers an enamel-dialed beauty available in black or white for well under $1,000, something difficult to achieve even in today’s diverse microbrand landscape.
Price: $495+
From: collinswatch.com
The Hyperion is a military/aviator-style timepiece with a 40mm case, 100m of water resistance, a sapphire crystal, Super-LumiNova lume and the Swiss-made Sellita SW200 movement, available in several finishes for between $500-$600.
Price: $890+
From: mido.com
With three gorgeous dial choices, a pulsometer scale and quality leather straps, the Multifort Patrimony is a value-packed contemporary take on the best of mid-20th century watchmaking.
Price: $235+
From: orientwatchusa.com
The Orient Kano (“water god”) is everything fans love about Orient’s current dive watches, updated with a handsome design featuring mixed polished and matte finishes for a more refined feel.
Price: $225+
From: jackmasonbrand.com
The Day-Date is a sleek, dressy departure for tool watch manufacturer Jack Mason — available in both quartz and automatic versions in 40mm case, it’s an affordable complement to a night out or a day in the office.
Price: $1,060
From: verowatch.com
The Vero Century is available in three different dial colors and two different sizes, but keeps the ornamentation to a minimum. Distinctly colorful and powered by a Swiss automatic movement, it’s a fun watch without a hint of pretension.
Price: $795+
From: alpinawatches.com
Alpina’s latest addition to its Alpiner collection is the most affordable yet, and is perfectly at home in the outdoors or at the office. With multiple dials to choose from and 100m of water resistance, it’s the perfect everyday watch.
Price: $1,200+
From: tockr.com
The Skytrain, from Texan watchmaker Tockr, offers a sporty but straightforward design with some personality provided by details like a crosshair dial and seconds hand tipped with the shape of an airplane.
Price: $95+
From: mvmtwatches.com
Water resistant to 100m, these affordable field watches promise durability with stainless steel cases (and different color coatings depending on the model) and Miyota quartz movements.
Price: $162
From: nigelcabourn.com
Timex teamed up with British designer Nigel Cabourn on this soccer-inspired watch, which features the first 45 minutes of the dial done up in a cool red/orange in reference to a 45 minute-long half of a soccer match.
Price: $990+
From: mido.com
The modern Commander balances retro and modern, dressy and sporty, as well as luxury and relative affordability, but most important is that it is recognizable as a distinct entry in Mido’s greater watch offerings.
Price: $34+
From: casio.com
The new Casio Classic A700W series of retro-inspired watches offer functionality and nostalgia at unbeatable prices and feature LED lights, daily alarms and stopwatches.
Price: ~$1,180+
From: anordain.com
With a beautiful enamel dial made in-house in the grand feu style and a modern Swiss automatic movement, the Model 2 from anOrdain is a sporty take on an ancient technique.
Price: $99
From: gshock.com
Casio’s new GA140 line of G-Shock watches feature the brand’s signature bold designs, tough cases and practical tech, but with a new 1990s design theme. A more playful take on a serious tactical watch used by professionals in the military.
Price: $1,499
From: store.gearpatrol.com
Available in “Pepsi,” “Coke” and “Batman” variants, these GMT watches retail for $1,499 and are limited to 100 pieces each. If you love the GMT Master look but can’t quite justify the price, we suggest you look here.
Price: $316
From: citizenwatch.com
Citizen’s take on its beloved Promaster Nighthawk, featuring a 44mm steel case and powered by the brand’s Eco-Drive quartz technology, is a sleek, modern mix of military-inspired pilot’s watch and world time complication.
Price: $185+
From: nanouniverse.com
Reprising a simple model from the 1990s, Seiko again taunts international fans with the domestic-only reissue of a stylish, affordable, military-inspired watch called the SUS.
Price: $360+
From: citizenasialimited.com
Following the release of some Promaster automatic divers specifically for Europe, Citizen has announced another regional release focused on South East Asia with six solid new Promaster watches.
Price: $150
From: swatch.com
With 25 different models to choose from in the Bau Swatch Collection, there’s a Bauhaus-inspired watch for everyone. But the automatic Sistem 51 version, dubbed the Sistem Bau, is by far the coolest the coolest.
Price: $300
From: casio.com
Casio Edifice offers tons of practical features and a great value, and the newest model has the latest tech (world time, alarms, stopwatches, Bluetooth) in a case that’s only 8.9mm thick.
Price: $249+
From: timex.com
The new Waterbury Automatic Collection features 21-jewel automatic movements, date windows and 40mm or 42mm steel cases. Best of all, they come in multiple dial colors and strap/bracelet options, all for well under $300.
Price: $99+
From: sshock.com
The new Casio G-Shock Neo Tokyo series watches (including fully digital and ana-digi models) reference a dark, futuristic anime vision of Tokyo with neon highlights from the 1980s.
Price: $395
From: shinola.com
High-grade 43mm resin cases with 50m of water resistance make the Detrola lightweight and durable but also offer nearly endless color options — and many of the new models are intensely vibrant.
Price: $275+
From: jackmasonbrand.com
The Jack Mason Camber racing chronograph, which features a 42mm steel case with a sapphire crystal, a 22mm lug width and 100m of water resistance, is available in several different configurations and starts at just $275.
Price: $200
From: protrek.com
The newest Pro Trek, which offers a lot of the same features and toughness as its brother-brand, G-Shock, but with more of a focus on pragmatic functionality, is the PRT-B50 series, and it introduces an accelerometer and smartphone connectivity.
Price: $700
From: noduswatches.com
The new Duality from California-based brand Nodus is a modern take on the Super Compressor-style of dive watches. In two versions with monochromatic black or white dials, it’s affordably priced at $700 and offers a unique feature in its dial construction.
Price: $375
From: macys.com
The Citizen Promaster line is known for its rugged watches that are packed with tech and yet remain affordable. In a special, limited edition for Macy’s, the Japanese brand has introduced a new Promaster Marine dive watch that features Eco-Drive light-charging technology, a GMT function, and a Super Titanium case.
Price: ~$1,380
From: seikowatches.com
Seiko’s newest model in its elegant Presage line serves up a calming green dial in enamel, powered by automatic movement and featuring the 6R35 automatic movement and 100m of water resistance in a 40.5mm case.
Price: $110
From: gshock.com
Part of the über-popular DW5600 model range, these new G-Shock colors feature matching cases and jelly-style bands, and well as negative LCD displays in matching shades.
Price: $277
From: macys.com
The new Bulova x Macy’s American Clipper, a limited-edition collaboration piece with vintage-inspired looks, featured a 39mm case and an automatic movement, and has a pretty approachable price.
Price: $375
From: brew-watches.com
Brew Watches’ new Mastergraph features a hybrid of mechanical feel and quartz functionality as well as a triple register chronograph and 38mm cushion case, all for just $375.
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