Let’s face it: watches can be really expensive. Nowadays, it can be so hard to get a high-quality watch from a reputable brand without spending a life’s fortune. But no need to worry, my friend. After I have spent hours and hours researching and looking at watches, I have found the best affordable alternative brands for those who have a strict budget or don’t have the means to get a more expensive timepiece.
My pick for the best affordable luxury watch brand is Seiko (link to eBay). They offer exquisite timepieces under $300 that are reliable, fashionable, and well crafted. Also, Seiko offers a large variety of timepieces that can cater to all of your needs, and you can build a diversified watch collection with this brand alone. And if you’re ready to upgrade your watch to a more expensive timepiece, Seiko offers higher-end watches called the Grand Seiko that are crafted with the utmost expertise.
What Makes A Watch Brand A Good Affordable Alternative?
Great affordable watch brands need to strike the balance between quality and reasonable price. Most watch brands fail to reach this balance: they either have a fairly reasonable price, but miss the mark on the quality of their craftsmanship, or they are extremely well-crafted but charge way too much for what they make.
Amazing cheaper watch brands allow you to have the benefits of a fantastic watch without breaking the bank. After hours of looking at different watch brands on the market, I have found the best alternative watch brands for those looking to buy great watches on a stricter budget.
The Best Affordable Watch Brands
- Seiko – Seiko (link to eBay) is my pick for the best affordable watch brand. The Japanese brand offers a plethora of watches ranging from sports watches all the way to dress watches, and they have the best value for the amount of detail they put in their timepieces. All of your watch needs can be satisfied by this one brand alone, and they also offer their highly repsected Grand Seiko if you’re ever ready to upgrade. I couldn’t recommend them enough.
- Tissot – In my opinion, if you’re looking for the best Swiss affordable watch brand, Tissot would be my first option. They are an innovative watch brand that has highly rated movements and design.
- Longines – One of the most underrated Swiss brands, Longines produces high-quality timepieces for a relatively low cost. They are known for their reliability and ultra-thin, sleek look.
- Hamilton – If you’re looking for a reliable and durable watch that you can wear everyday, I would recommend looking into Hamilton. They are a well respected brand in the Swatch group, and they offer high quality watches for under $500.
- Casio – The Casio brand is one of the most iconic, innovative, and affordable watch brands in existence. They are one of the first companies to ever use quartz movements in their timepieces, which has influenced many watch brands and makes them highly respected.
- Orient – Another Japanese watch brand, Orient bases their watch designs off of some of the best watch brands in the world like Rolex, and they exhibit quality craftsmanship for the timpieces they offer. I would recommend Orient if you’re looking for an under valued Japanese watch brand with cheap prices.
- Citizen – This Japanese watch brand is innovative and versatile. They’re known for their “Eco-Drive” function, which poweres their timepiece with solar energy: an awesome brand to consider in my opinion.
- Timex – If you’re looking for a classic and high quality United States watch brand, then Timex is the best choice. They offer a wide range of timepieces for affordable prices.
- G-Shock – One of the most iconic watches ever made by Casio, G-Shock offers a various range of timepieces. G-Shock watches are known for their durability and sporty unique design, and they have been worn by plenty of celebrities such as Eminem. You can even find some G-Shocks under $50.
- Bulova – A US watch brand, Bulova offers excellent timepieces for an affordable price. They’re known for their high-performance quartz movements, which provides a clean swoop of the seconds hand similar to automatic watches. Their innoations and history make them a special watch brand, and I recommend them.
Watch Maintenence and Servicing Sources
While deciding which watch to buy is important, keeping your watch in the best condition possible is equally, if not more, important. I have written several articles that discuss how to keep your watch looking the best it can be. Here are some links to these helpful blog posts that I made just for you, just click on the text to see the article: