The Best Watches Under $1000 That We’ve Ever Reviewed

When I first began my collection, I primarily focused on finding the best watches under $1000 – and I did so for good reason. With how far the industry has come, consumers have more power now than before with the advent of mass production and more accurate watchmaking tools. As such, we’re in a position of being able to spend less and get so much more for our dollar.

Are all brands offering the same quality and unique offerings on a level playing field? No. The price of a watch isn’t indicative of its quality. That’s why I created this list – after years of reviewing watches the team and I want to share with you the best ones under $1000 that nail the perfect balance between design, comfort, and reliability.

We’re always working on new watch reviews. As such, this list is ever-growing and constantly undergoing updates. Please let us know your thoughts on our choices and if there are any watches you believe we should review for future inclusion here in our list.

Timex Expedition Atlantis T5K463

Timex doesn’t get a ton of credit for their digital lineup, but models like the Expedition T5K463 quietly prove how well they understand basic function and nostalgic charm just as well as any other digital watch brand. Initially, our review team expected the watch to feel like a throwaway utility watch, but we ended up simply enjoying the wearing experience more than we expected. Even at just 30 grams, the resin case feels tough enough to take some hits and with 100m of water resistance, we never felt like we had to baby it. The screen is large and easy to read straight-on, though it does weirdly disappear when viewed at an angle.

Pushing the Indiglo button took a bit more effort than our team would have preferred due to the size of the button. But when it lights up, it’s bright and evenly distributed across the screen. Another surprise for our review team was the quality of the strap. It felt clean, well built, and didn’t attract dust and grime the way other resin and rubber straps do. The quartz module is loaded with functions like a stopwatch, countdown timer, second time zone, alarms, and full calendar. It’s also obviously incredibly accurate as our team noted that after a few months it didn’t drift more than a few seconds.

Compared to older Timex digitals I’ve handled, this one feels more thought-out, less toy-like, and generally more reliable. The best place right now to purchase the Timex Expedition T5K463 is on Amazon where you can find it for under the retail price of $50. We also have a full hands-on review with unique anecdotes, insights, and photos.

Orient Mako II

Case Size:	41.5mm x 47mm x 13mm
Movement:	Orient F6922 (Mechanical Movement)
Power Reserve:	40 Hours
Accuracy:	+25/-15 seconds per day
Hand Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$220

The Mako II rethinks the iconic formula of the original Mako with some very much needed upgrades (without driving the price way up). For example, the new F6922 movement finally gives the Mako modern staples like hacking, manual wind, and tighter accuracy (our team noted it ran within +10 seconds a day), which is a relief after years of tolerating the old 46943’s quirks. Slapping a sunburst dial on a diver isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel, but in person it presents itself very well with the applied indices and polished accents.

It wears very comfortably at 41.5mm with a balanced 47mm lug to lug span, and while the mineral crystal isn’t as scratch-resistant as sapphire, it allows the brand to keep the price affordable without ruining the feel and appeal of the watch. During our hands-on testing, it was the bracelet that surprised us most. Yes, the endlinks are hollow, but the visual continuity between the bracelet and the case actually elevates the overall wearing experience. The bezel’s 120-click action feels tight, but the limited grip from the sloped edge can make it slightly awkward to operate at times. Still, what kept us coming back to the Mako II is how cohesive it feels. You could pick at each component individually, but once it’s on the wrist everything just clicks into place.

If you were looking for a similar dive watch that maybe offered more non-traditional designs and colorways, you could explore the Seiko 5 SKX series. You can also learn more about the Mako II in our hands-on review. While you can purchase it from the official Orient USA site, we suggest also exploring Amazon since the pricing there can sometimes be under $200.

Scurfa Diver One

Scurfa is one of those unique microbrands where a design prompt isn’t the starting point of making a watch. The practical function, diving usability, and comfort of the timepiece are the priority, but in that process an outstanding form-follows-function design emerges and no other model embodies that better than the Diver One Titanium. Over the course of our hands-on review, this watch was probably one of the hardest ones to take off our wrist and return – for the price, it’s truly punching far above its weight in terms of comfort, function, and reliability. It features an amazing 500m of water resistance, which means it’s on the thicker side at 14.4mm, which may seem out of proportion on paper against the 40mm diameter. However, we found the expertly contoured sides and 47mm lug-to-lug allow the watch to visually not appear too tall while also simply wearing with incredible comfort. The bezel action is crisp without being slippery, and the lume is very bright in both low- and no-light situations.

Overall legibility of the watch is strong thanks to the hour hand stopping just shy of the markers in a way that subtly opens up, and declutters the dial. Our review team felt overwhelmingly that no other strap would be a good fit for the watch other than the included 20mm rubber strap. We generally try and test other straps when we conduct reviews, but after some brief strap changes, the Scurfa rubber strap was the winner. It’s soft and comfortable but still retains the right amount of strength and elasticity to emphasize that this is a tool watch. Speaking of which, the inclusion of the quartz ETA F06.402 movement is the perfect choice for reliability, accuracy, and ease of maintenance when compared to mechanical movement counterparts. So this was a choice that we really appreciated (please note that some older models may feature the Ronda 713SM, which does not change our opinion about the movement).

Stock is always coming and going for these so we recommend keeping an eye on the Scurfa site and signing up for notifications so you can keep up to date on when the Diver One Titanium is available, which is usually priced between $300 – $400. Be sure to also read about our experience with this watch in the full, hands-on review.

Citizen Promaster Dive Eco-Drive (BN0151-09L)

Case Size:	43mm x 44mm x 12mm
Movement:	Citizen Eco-Drive E168 (Solar quartz movement)
Power Reserve:	6 Months
Accuracy:	+/- 15 seconds per month
Hand Winding	n/a
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$375

The Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver runs on the E168 solar quartz movement, stores a six-month charge, and hits ±15 seconds per month – exactly the kind of grab-and-go watch our team loves. During our review of the watch, we noticed that the 43mm case wears smaller than expected thanks to the short lugs and comfortable 11.5mm height. The 20mm lug width made swapping the stock polyurethane strap for a NATO an easy upgrade, which we recommend doing since it allows the watch to feel more like an everyday wearer.

We took it swimming, hiking, and through long office days, and the combination of 200 meters of ISO-rated water resistance and a no-fuss screw-down crown means it never felt fragile. Now, while the 60-click bezel is handy for quick time tracking, we noticed that the grip could be a bit more tactile. In person we noted that dial visibility is near perfect thanks to the anti-reflective coated mineral crystal. In low-light and darkness the BGW9 lume shines through very nicely allowing the watch retrain legibility in any lighting condition. The dial’s blue color shifts toward deep violet in the right light, adding just enough variation to keep things interesting.

If you were looking for a slightly more traditional looking diver that was perhaps smaller, the Seiko 5 SKX series or the Mako II would be great alternatives. The Citizen Promaster Dive Eco-Drive is priced at $375 on the official Citizen site, but we recommend checking Amazon as the price there can vary between $200 – $300. Check out our full hands-on review for more unique insights.

Seiko 5 GMT

The Seiko 5 GMT didn’t necessarily reinvent the iconic design formula that made the SKX an icon. Rather, it simply added an affordable, in-house Seiko GMT movement and a GMT hand to the dial – and in our team’s opinion that’s all it took to create one of the best Seiko releases ever. During the course of our hands-on testing we found the balance of the design between modern utility and vintage proportions to be quite comfortable. This is also part of the ingenious design of the original SKX case where the shape of the lugs allows the watch to wear better than the dimensions imply. In fact, we found that the 42.5mm wide and 13.6mm thick case will still sit well even on smaller wrist.

The Hardlex crystal adds a cyclops that we didn’t feel was necessary but the glossy 24-hour GMT bezel balances that out by being incredibly legible and aesthetically pleasing with how it reflects light. This is the first time Seiko offered an affordable, mechanical GMT movement (the 4R34) in the Seiko 5 line, which in and of itself is a huge triumph. Now, while there’s no jumping local hour, the 4R34 gets the job done if you’re looking to track multiple time zones. Plus, even though the crown doesn’t screw down, the movement does feature hacking and manual winding. Bracelet quality on any iteration of the SKX case has never been that great, but that’s fueled the cult appeal of the timepiece and that also allows Seiko to keep the prices low on these timepieces.

The version we reviewed had a sunburst orange dial but there are many dial variations and colorways available now. The official Seiko site is a great place to start researching models, but if you’re looking for the best deal you can usually find much better prices on Amazon. There is also our full review of the Seiko 5 GMT for more info about our experience wearing the watch.

Tissot PRX 40mm

With over 150 years of history, Tissot doesn’t need to prove anything with its heritage. Maybe that’s why when they chose to reach into the archives and reissue the PRX, they decided to simply make the watch fun (rather than taking itself too seriously). We reviewed the 40mm quartz version of the watch and immediately enjoyed how the integrated bracelet created a lug-to-lug wearing experience that was larger than the started 46.6mm – it was closer to 51.5mm. It wasn’t overwhelming but created a unique wearing experience that’s hard to match with non-integrated bracelet timepieces.

We found the lack of micro-adjustments on the bracelet to be less than ideal, but with the right amount of effort, the half-links get the job done. The case finishing is sharper than you’d expect at this price, with brushed surfaces that meet polished edges cleanly, and a sapphire crystal that sits flush without looking flat. The blue dial keeps things balanced with a subtle gradient that avoids the typical overdone sunburst effect, while the baton markers and needle seconds hand keep the layout crisp and readable.

Tissot’s use of the ETA F06.115 quartz movement is what allows this timepiece to be quite affordable in comparison to its mechanical counterparts. Plus, you can’t beat the reliability and accuracy of quartz. That’s why our team prefers the quartz version of the PRX. You can find the 40mm of the PRX on the Tissot site for $395, which is going to be your best option for buying this watch. You can also explore our full hands-on review of this watch to learn more about why we enjoyed it so much.

Seiko Turtle

While the modern Seiko Turtle leans on the heritage of the old 6309 from the 1970s, it tightens things up with modern touches like the in-house 4R36 movement, better manufacturing practices, and stronger quality control. On paper the case is large at 44.3mm in diameter. However, while we reviewed the watch we noted that the iconic shape of the asymmetrical cushion case allows the watch to wear smaller than you’d expect – the lug-to-lug is short (48mm), the crown is tucked in low, and it’s contoured to hug your wrist.

The updated 4R36 movement is rated for -35 / + 45 seconds per day, though the one reviewed was more accurate than that. Dial visibility here is high thanks to the contrast created between the matte black surface and bold lume plots. The watch has a reputation for being a strap monster, so we paired it with everything from silicone to nylon straps and never felt it lost its personality. While we did experience some bezel alignment issues, the 120-click action is smooth and clicks clean.

We love Seiko divers here on our team, but it’s becoming increasingly more and more difficult to find models that aren’t getting close to being over $1000. That’s why the Seiko Turtle is so special since it can be found on the official Seiko site for $495. You can usually get an even better deal on Amazon with the watch hovering between $350 – $400. We have more unique, hands-on insights in our full review, so be sure to check it out if you’d like to learn more.

Baltic Aquascaphe

Case Size:	39mm x 47mm x 12mm
Movement:	Miyota 9039 (Mechanical Movement)
Power Reserve:	42 Hours
Accuracy:	-10 / +30 seconds per day
Manual Winding	Yes
Hacking	Yes
Price Range:	$540 – $585

The Aquascaphe doesn’t draw on one specific vintage reference for its design, but it nails the spirit of old skin divers in a way that feels earned – this is the core of Baltic’s design language and no other microbrand does it as well as them. While we were testing the watch we found the 39mm diameter and 12mm case thickness to hit that perfect sweet spot between allowing the watch to feel modern on the wrist without compromising on the nostalgic leaning of the design. In person you’ll note how the textured matte dial, gilt accents, and sandwich cut markers create a strong sense of presence and visual depth.

Now, while the watch is certainly a design triumph, it’s still a reliable tool at the end of the day thanks to its 200m of water resistance and double-dome, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. We also tried the Aquascaphe out of rubber and nylon straps, but at the end of the day the included beads-of-rice bracelet is the way to go, offering the perfect complement of comfort, aesthetics, and usability. Baltic went with the Miyota 9039 to keep things thin and avoid the phantom date click you find on so many other microbrands using off-the-shelf movements. It winds smooth, beats at 28,800 vph, and the watch we tested ran within +8 seconds a day with a full 42-hour reserve. The bezel grip is solid, crown action feels deliberate, and the drilled lugs plus quick-release bracelet show that someone actually thought through how this thing gets worn.

There are a few models and variants available for the Aquascaphe, so we encourage you to explore the official Baltic Watches site – prices will run you anywhere from $540 to $585. You should also explore our full hands-on review of the Baltic Aquascaphe if you’d like to learn more about our experience with the watch.

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical

Hamilton isn’t exactly an obscure watch brand, but among their catalog of timepiece we feel that they’ve carved out something quite rare: an incredibly reliable and comfortable field watch that doesn’t feel like a costume piece. The Khaki Field Mechanical nails that balance with a 38mm diameter, 9.5mm thickness, and 47mm lug-to-lug case dimensions, creating just enough wrist presence while remaining faithful to the field watch design. At first we were unsure about the size of the watch, but after several days of actually wearing it on wrist, our team realized how spot-on the sizing was. It’s powered by the hand-wound H-50 movement, an upgraded and Hamilton-branded version of the old ETA 2801 with double the power reserve and no date. We found that winding the watch every morning became a welcome daily routine. Plus, if we did happen to miss a day the 80-hour reserve thankfully kept the movement running.

It’s only rated for 50 meters of water resistance, which means we certainly wouldn’t recommend swimming with this watch (but in reality, you don’t need to – that’s why Hamilton didn’t focus their efforts on water resistance) While the general legibility of the watch is very strong, our team found the time-telling experience to be even stronger at night. This is due to how strong the lume is and how well that allowed the basic dial features to be even more visible. The one downside though is the 12 o’clock position doesn’t have any sort of differentiation from the rest of the lumed spots. The included green NATO isn’t for everyone as we found it to rub and irritate the skin on our wrists at first. However, the watch features 20mm drilled lugs so swapping the strap out for a more comfortable NATO or leather strap will be incredibly easy for you.

Right now the best place to pick the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is on the brand’s official site where the price will be just under $600. Feel free to check out our full hands-on review if you’d like to read more about our time testing the watch.

Bulova Lunar Pilot

These days Bulova isn’t necessarily the first name that comes up in a conversation about tool watches. However, the history, functionality, and design of the Lunar Pilot shows us that maybe they should. Famously worn by American Astronaut David Scott as his backup timer on Apollo 15 (after his Speedmaster reportedly broke), the original Lunar Pilot earned its rightful place in history and was eventually reissued in 2016. Even with the reissue’s 45mm case diameter and 52mm lug-to-lug span, it was much more balanced on wrist than our review team originally expected. Much of this is due to the design and flow between the case and the bracelet.

The one issue we had with the bracelet though is that the bracelet featured a different style of polishing than the case, which caused them to look mismatched. But honestly, that’s easy to overlook given how nice the quality of the bracelet is (especially at this price point). However, what truly made the watch memorable for our team was the movement. Bulova’s 262kHz quartz is absurdly accurate at +/-10 seconds per year and glides just enough to trick your eye into thinking it had a smooth mechanical sweep. The chronograph pushers were snappy and the lengths of all the hands were spot on, making the watch incredibly legible (where it would have been easy for it to feel convoluted).

Given the history of the watch, incredible quality of the build, and the outstanding functionality of the movement, this was a watch experience that will stay with our team for a long time. The Basic model of the Lunar Pilot is available on the official Bulova site for $695. However, we recommend checking out Amazon where you can sometimes find the bracelet version for under $500. Also feel free to read our full review of the Lunar Pilot for our full review experience and unique photos.

Seiko Sumo

In a catalog full of retro reboots and reissues, the Seiko Sumo stands out of the crowd by simply being a unique, non-vintage inspired design. The Sumo is also notorious for its size, clocking in at 45mm in diameter, 52.6mm lug-to-lug, and 13.5mm thick. However, we noted how the watch wore quite flat on our wrists due to the well-countered and expertly engineered case – even feeling at home on wrists sizes under 7 inches in diameter. Additionally, you’ll note that its curved silhouette accentuated by the juxtaposition of polished and brushed surfaces give the Sumo a bit of a luxury/tool hybrid wrist presence – more refined than a tool watch but still obviously ready for saltwater.

The current generation of Sumo models are powered by the automatic Seiko 6R35 movement (upgraded from the previous generation’s 6R15). With 200m of water resistance, a sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, and legendary Seiko lume, the Sumo truly has the bones of a proper diver. Still, there are some quirks about the watch that make it not for everyone. The 20mm bracelet can look a bit odd on a 45mm case like this and there is an awkward gap between the lugs and the case that makes it difficult to find 3rd party straps.

But at the end of the day, if you’re looking for a dive watch that features a design that’s more refined than some other options out there without sacrificing any functionality (or breaking the bank), the Sumo will always be our recommendation. At this time your best option for purchasing a Seiko Sumo will be from Amazon where you should see prices between $800 – $900. Feel free to explore our hands-on review of the Sumo as well for more info and insights.

Nodus TrailTrekker

Raven and Nodus. These are two of the longest-standing names in the microbrand watch market and we’ve had the pleasure of watching their individual brands define their own unique design languages over the years. That’s why when they announced the Nodus TrailTrekker GMT as a collaborative design effort, we were incredibly interested to see what the result would be. Truthfully, our review team was surprised by how well the two brand’s aesthetic visions clicked – utility from Raven and clean, modern refinement from Nodus. It features a unique grey DLC case, Cerakote (ceramic coated) 24-hour bezel, and an incredibly wearable 39.5mm case diameter.

Functionality and reliability are where Nodus and Raven are quite similar, so we weren’t surprised by how legible the watch was. The GMT hand features a pop of yellow to help differentiate it from the rest of the hands, but its length is balanced enough to not draw too much attention to itself – this is a level of detail we’ve seen before from both brands. While the TrailTrekker has an additional single-pass nylon strap included with it, you’re going to want to keep it on the stock bracelet. After a bit of testing, we exclusively kept the bracelet on due to the fantastic fit and finish, 20mm-to-16mm taper, and proprietary NodeX clasp that makes micro-adjustments very easy. The Miyota 9075 automatic GMT movement ran consistently and handled time zone jumps easily and also offered a traditional traveler’s style GMT function, allowing the local hour to be independently changed.

While the TrailTrekker really impressed our review team, it is worth mentioning that the DLC coating and overall more sporty, almost tactical aesthetic of the design will not appeal to everyone. The official Nodus site is the best place to stay up to date with updates and inventory of the watch – it’s also the best place to purchase the watch which is priced at $895. We had an incredible time reviewing this timepiece so we encourage you to please explore our full hands-on review.