20 Best Men’s Watches Under $500.
Menswear

The 21 Best Men’s Watches Under $500

We should all aspire to owning a luxury Rolex watch, but truth be told, there are plenty of equally eye-catching watches out there, at a fraction of the Rolex's four-digit price tag. (Plus, wouldn’t it be terrifying to wear a multi-thousand dollar Rolex while traveling? You had better get it insured…) The good news is that there are lots of excellent men's watch choices out there to fit your budget and your style. We found the 21 best men's watches under $500. Some look a lot like a Rolex, while others fit a sportier or more creative aesthetic—we've also got the Apple Watch Series 5. You can buy all of the watches on our list for less than the price of a new Rolex. Some are as affordable as $20—the Rolex can wait.

 

 

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1

Fossil Minimalist Men's Watch

Minimalist Leather Strap Watch, 44mm FOSSIL.

Of all the Fossil designs, our favorite is this thin, black-on-brown minimalist men's watch. Its face has no hour numerals, but does have interval marks so that you’re never second-guessing the time. It’s one of the cleanest-looking men's watches you can buy, too, and wears universally from the workplace to a tailgate.

  • Diameter: 44mm
  • Band material: Leather
$115 at Nordstrom
2

Apple Watch Series 5 GPS

Apple Watch Series 5 GPS.

Interested in streamlining your life with a smartwatch? The Apple Watch Series 5 GPS can help. It's got a whole slew of updated features: an 18-hour battery life, it's waterproof, and it has electrical and optical heart sensors for keeping track of your health. The always-on Retina display no longer requires the flick of your wrist to check the time and the stock market. If you want your very first smartwatch or just an upgrade on your old one, the Apple 5 Note that Apple Watch Series 5 won't let you down. Note that it requires an iPhone 6s or later with iOS 13 or later. Welcome to the 21st Century. 

  • Diameter: 40 millimeter
  • Band material: Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, or ceramic
$399 at Target
3

Perry Ellis Slim Line Watch

Perry Ellis Mens Watch.

Perry Ellis’ entire Slim Line is designed for versatile lifestyles, whether you’re suited up for work or biking on the weekends. This textured navy-dial with silver bezel and band is the most sophisticated and universal of the assortment, and is also water resistant up to 100 meters. It’s also emanating some serious Rolex vibes...

  • Diameter: 42mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$107 at Amazon
4

Hugo Boss Navigator Men's Watch

HUGO BOSS Navigator Bracelet Watch.

You’ll look the boss with Hugo Boss’ gold-plated, black-dialed watch, with three chronograph subdials and a date window. It’s the kind of watch you wear to fancy dinners or business meetings, and it tells more than the time: It also tells your peers that you mean business.

  • Diameter: 44mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$425 at Saks Fifth Avenue
5

Invicta 8932 Pro Diver Collection Men's Watch

Invicta Men's 8932 Pro Diver Collection Silver-Tone Watch.

We don’t imagine that many of you will need to dive 200 meters, but this watch does have that water-resistance threshold. (Rather, just keep it on when it rains.) Other features include nighttime luminosity and a date window on the dial. It’s a universal design, suitable for most personalities, occasions, and trips—including those 600 feet under.

  • Diameter: 37.5mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$47.89 at Amazon
6

Casio Vintage Digital Men's Watch

Casio Vintage Digital Watch, 38.9mm x 35mm.

Call us traditionalists, but here’s the rare digital men's watch inclusion in this roster. Casio’s all-black, stainless steel watch is as much a statement piece as any dial-faced timepiece. Plus, it’s got all the perks of going digital: LED backlight, 1/100 second stopwatch, alarm, calendar, countdown functionality, and flash alert.

  • Diameter: 38.9mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$65 at Bloomingdale's
7

Timex MK1 Nylon Strap Watch

Timex MK1 Nylon Strap Watch, 40mm TIMEX.

Like good denim jeans, this navy men's watch from Timex pairs well with any outfit, and can be dressed up or down. Its military-style dial shows hours 1-24, and Timex’s INDIGLO technology brightens the indexed and three hands, so you can check the time at any hour of the day.

  • Diameter: 40mm
  • Band material: Nylon
$89 at Nordstrom
8

JIUSKO Speedmaster Sports Watch

JIUSKO 85LS1111 Speedmaster Series.

You need not be a NASCAR fan to wear this sleek, race-ready sports men's watch. It’s got a tachymeter bezel which allows you to measure speed and distance, plus three subdials, and is water resistant up to 100 meters. Where it for its multifunctionality, athletic compatibility, or for a simple pop of bold color.

  • Diameter: 44mm
  • Band material: Rubber
$399 at Amazon
9

Bulova Two-Tone Diamonds Men's Watch

Bulova Two-Tone Diamonds Watch, 40mm.

With eight 0.9-carat diamonds marking the time, Bulova’s water-resistant timepiece is one of the flashiest amongst our favorites. It’s bold all around, with a deep-blue face, gold detail and trim, plus a silver-and-gold stainless-steel band. This is the kind of men's watch that makes a perfect anniversary gift—and it even looks as timeless as a Rolex.

  • Diameter: 40mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$425 at Bloomingdale's
10

BUREI Men's Watch

BUREI Men’s Automatic Watch.

This big-faced men's watch wants to be seen on your wrist, and sure is pretty to look at. A mesh, stainless steel band matches its deep gray face, creating a neutral but universal palette. It’s also water resistant and has a numeral-free face with a date window.

  • Diameter: 43.5mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$169.99 at Amazon
11

Ambassador Heritage 1921 Men's Watch

Ambassador Luxury Watch for Men - Heritage 1921.

We’d like to believe that Ambassador was the watch of mapmakers and early-20th-century pilots, as it looks worldly and sophisticated. A texture Cloud-de-Paris dial emphasizes the point, and includes a date window so you never lose track. Wear it to tell time, or to tell others just how sharp and enlightened you are.

  • Diameter: 40mm
  • Band material: Leather
$199 at Amazon
12

Nixon Sentry Leather Strap Men's Watch

Nixon The Sentry Leather Strap Watch, 42mm.

This sleek, all-black watch from Nixon is straightforward in design, with the embellishment of a date and day-of-the-week window on its face. It is water resistant, and is clash resistant too, in that it pairs with any personality and outfit, while at the same time sharpening your overall look.

  • Diameter: 42mm
  • Band material: Leather
$150 at Bloomingdale's
13

Reef Tiger Rose Gold Men's Watch

Reef Tiger Luxury Dress Watch.

With a deep blue dial, plus a rose gold band and bezel, this men's watch won’t resemble anyone else’s. It’s perfect for an elevated but unique impression. It’ll simplify your life by tracking the seconds, the day of the week, and the date itself, and is water resistant with a mesh-steel strap.

  • Diameter: 40mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$258 at Amazon
14

Skagen Aaren Kulør Men's Watch

Aaren Kulør Rubber Strap Watch, 41mm SKAGEN.

While Skagen’s watch is clean and minimalist in its Scandinavian splendor, it still pulls focus thanks to its bright, bold green color. A subseconds dial tracks each minute, and gives the face some complexity, on an otherwise dialed-back design. The rubber strap matches its face in sleekness and simplicity.

  • Diameter: 41mm
  • Band material: Rubber
$95 at Nordstrom
15

Aquacy 1769 HEI Matau Dive Watch

Aquacy 1769 HEI Matau Men's Automatic 300M Black Dive Watch.

Aquacy’s 300-meter water resistance is commendable, but the best part about this watch is how sharp it looks in everyday life at sea level. Its tiered bezel and luminous dial tracks the date and even marks the seconds, and its black-on-silver design makes for a classic, can’t-fail wear for any occasion.

  • Diameter: 41mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$399 at Amazon
16

JBW Jet Setter III Diamond Wristwatch

JBW Luxury Men's Jet Setter III 1.18 ctw Diamond Wrist Watch.

This watch was made to show off. It’s plated in 18K gold and has 118 white, round-cut diamonds on its face and bezel. The dial itself is shrunk down, leaving room for two smaller dials; this allows you to set the time in two more locations (hence the ‘Jet Setter’ name).

  • Diameter: 46mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$399 at Amazon
17

LIGE Sports Men's Watch

LIGE Mens Watch.

If you don’t want to make a huge investment in a watch, but you still want the sleekness and sophistication of wearing one, then make it LIGE. This sports watch is water resistant, has a second-hand subdial, and looks as sharp as an all-black Jaguar racing through the night.

  • Diameter: 42mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$20 at Amazon
18

Versus Versace Logo Chronograph Bracelet Men's Watch

Versace Logo Chronograph Bracelet Watch, 44mm VERSUS VERSACE.

You’re sending a serious signal with this one: a snakelike Guilloche face pairs with a diamond-textured trim, which matches the watch’s rigid, stainless-steel band. You’ll look like a true watch aficionado, thanks to the triple chronograph face. Don’t be surprised if you feel like bossman Gianni Versace himself.

  • Diameter: 44mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$290 at Nordstrom
19

Tetra Torino Velocita Motor Sport Watch

Special Edition"Torino Velocita" Motor Sport Dual-Time Swiss Luminous Watch.

With a tachymeter bezel for speed and distance, dual-time subdials, and a perforated leather band, this special-edition Tetra watch has as many functions as a pit crew. It looks sleek and sporty on your wrist, however, and is water resistant up to 100 meters, to further prove its athleticism.

  • Diameter: 44mm
  • Band material: Leather
$499 at Amazon
20

Daniel Wellington Classic Canterbury

Daniel Wellington Classic Canterbury Watch, 36mm.

If your ideal summer vacation is Cape Cod or coastal Maine, then this numeral-free watch is your accessory of choice. A red-white-and-blue nylon strap feels patriotic and complements the rose-gold stainless-steel trim. So, roll your sleeves back, draw the sails, and show off this beautiful water-resistant timepiece.

  • Diameter: 36mm
  • Band material: Nylon
$179 at Bloomingdale's
21

Byron Bond Mark 3

Byron Bond Mark 3 Men’s Luxury Slim Watch.

With a mesh, stainless-steel band, Byron Bond’s sophisticated, two-toned men's watch is luxurious but simple. A deep-blue face free of numerals speaks volumes of the watch’s elegance, while the cleanliness and stateliness of this timepiece leaves no questions about your taste. Best of all is its very affordable price.

  • Diameter: 41mm
  • Band material: Stainless steel
$78 at Amazon

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