Mechanical is the oldest type of watch movement and it requires periodically hand-winding a spring to maintain its power. Three types of movements exist for a watch: mechanical, automatic, and quartz. Think of the movement of a watch as its engine, or the way it gets its power. But complications aside, there are a number of things to keep in mind when shopping for a new watch. Things to consider before buying a watch under $500Ī watch can offer many features, also known as complications, that may boost its value, appeal, and usefulness. One note: These aren’t smartwatches (if you want that, check out our thoughts on the Apple Watch 7), but they are smartly selected for those that want a timeless timepiece. We narrowed down our picks with the budget, accessibility, color variety, size, band and crystal quality, and water resistance in mind. We also consulted professionals and collectors, combed through hundreds of critical reviews and consumer impressions, and kept an eye on the most frequently cited value-oriented watches. We compared specs like crystal quality (the glass dome that goes over a dial), water resistance, brand names, and band types to discover what timepieces are best for most people. When finding the best watches under $500, we used a combination of personal experience, hands-on testing, past recommendations, and online research to narrow down what’s worth wearing. Best chronograph: Citizen Chandler Eco-Drive.Best-looking: Q Timex Reissue Falcon Eye.These are the best watches under $500 for casual fans and collectors alike. You don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars to add an accessory to your wrist for styling purposes or simple timekeeping.
Affordable watches are no less useful than expensive ones because, well, even the best watches under half a grand perform the same task as a pricey one. When considering the plethora of choices you can find in a watch-be it mechanical or quartz, analog or digital, field or diver-things get a little bogged down in spec-reading over features. After that, the bells and whistles are just bonuses, or, technically speaking, complications. Watches under $500 should have a baseline function of telling time.