Thinking of stylish watches to complement your outfit but on a tight budget? Of course, there are a variety of timepieces out there that can both complement a trendy outfit and cater to budgetary needs. Being on a budget does not mean one cannot afford a stylish watch. There are watches that boast intricately and elegantly designed timepieces fitted with a matching leather or even metal strap that are relatively accessible compared to high-tiered luxury timepieces.
This list will look into eight affordable, at the same time, stylish designer watches for men. The list includes brands with quite a reputation, such as Timex, Hamilton, Citizen, and the Orient Watch.
1. Orient Star: Mechanical Contemporary Watch – Metal Strap
The Orient Star: Mechanical Contemporary Watch – Metal Strap is part of Orient’s Orient Star Collection, featuring a variety of watches with Classical, Contemporary, and Sports Designs. The Mechanical Contemporary Watch boasts exquisite craftsmanship with keen attention to detail.
The 39.33mm watch is designed with sapphire crystal and anti-reflective coating, increasing visibility and allowing one to appreciate the features etched onto the dial. The timepiece supports water-resistance of 100 meters and is fitted with a metal strap, making the watch seem like an expensive luxury item while being affordable.
2. Orient Mako II Automatic Stainless Steel Diving Watch
Another excellent affordable yet stylish watch by Orient is the Mako II Automatic Stainless Steel Diving Watch. While other cheaper timepieces would fail to deliver, the Orient Mako II will make your $150 worth it. With its first version released in 2004, the flagship model was effective in pulling in the demand for a more affordable diving watch, which led to a huge success for Orient.
After some constructive criticism and feedback were taken in, the company was able to design a new and improved Orient Mako II, which features a 41.5mm case with a royal blue dial. The timepiece has an aesthetic stainless steel case with a deep blue bezel and notched edges on its sides fitted with a metal three-link bracelet that is easy to calibrate and wraps around the wrist quite comfortably.
As a diver watch, it offers a 200m water resistance, which allows it to withstand some water activities from taking a shower to scuba diving. There are some cons to the Mako II, such as not being able to withstand a 500m professional dive, but for a watch less than $200? This is definitely worth it!
3. Timex Marlin Hand-Wound 34mm Leather Strap Watch
A standard for any gentleman, the Timex Marlin Hand-Wound 34mm Leather Strap Watch is a reissue of the 1960s hand-wound watch coupled with a sleek design. When Timex released the watch in 2017, it caused quite a stir in the community as it was the first time since 1982 that Timex decided to release another mechanical timepiece. It has a round, stainless steel 34mm case with a silver-tone dial nestled in the casing, which is covered by a domed crystal.
The 34mm timepiece is quite small by today’s standards, but the design emanates a nostalgic vibe as it pays tribute to older watches. The timepiece is then fitted with a black leather strap giving it the classic look and is also water-resistant for up to 30m.
4. Hamilton Khaki King Automatic Watch
Well-known for its military design watches as it has quite an amount of experience in supplying watches to the United States Army during WWII, Hamilton offers a timepiece that won’t need you to pay over $500. The Hamilton Khaki Field King offers a 40mm timepiece, which isn’t too big or too small with an elegant color combination of black, white, and silver with a resilient sapphire crystal to cover the top.
The timepiece is also coupled with a leather strap, true to its military aesthetic. At the same time, it’s also quite comfortable to wear on your wrist throughout the day. If there’s only one con with this watch: it’s the not-so-impressive 50m water resistance. But then again, Hamilton didn’t make this watch to be a diver.
5. Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver
The Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver makes you think of timepieces that you would usually see on hikes, outings, joggings, or even on casual days. The timepiece boasts a 43mm case diameter made of stainless steel with a beautiful silver sheen. It also has an aluminum bezel, which incorporates an accurate 60-click mechanism.
The dial is deep blue, covered with an AR-coated mineral crystal, which fits well with the idea of the watch being a dive watch. The timepiece comes with a comfortable polyurethane strap, which features no-decompression limits. Being a dive watch, the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver has a 200m water resistance, which is good enough at least for most water activities, from taking a shower to scuba diving.
6. Orient RA-AC0H Pilot Style Watch
Another impressive watch by Orient, the RA-AC0H Pilot Style Watch is quite different from the other two Orient watches on this list. The design of the RA-AC0H Pilot Style Watch would resemble historic aviator designs during the World War II era, which was also quite popular with bomber pilots. The timepiece features include a stainless steel case, which is approximately 43mm in diameter.
Nestled at the center of the case is a black dial covered by a mineral crystal. It also features a leather strap, which is reminiscent of old military-style watches, as well as a 100m water resistance.
Final Thoughts
The watches mentioned above are only some of the pieces that you could choose from if you are on a huge budget, but would still want to have a timepiece that fits your style. We have chosen different brands and models to help you decide on a watch, but definitely, you could still check out other models from the brands mentioned above, such as Orient, Hamilton, Citizen, and Timex. If you want to check out more stylish and sturdy but affordable watches, visit WatchShopping.com today!