The diver’s watch is a one of the most popular watch choices for men of all ages. The classic style is rugged and functional, but also looks great with pretty much any look.
These watches provide the quintessential look many men think of when they picture their ideal timepiece- large, easy-to-read dial, steel case, and a metal bracelet.
And luckily, a great diver’s watch doesn’t have to completely break the bank. It’s all about knowing what to look for- and that’s where this guide comes in.
In this article, we’ll not only discuss our top picks for the best diver’s watches under $500, but we’ll discuss which specs and features you should look for during your search.
That way, if none of our picks tickle your fancy, you’ll feel confident in finding another watch that does.
But before we dive into our top 5, let’s go over a few features you should look for in order to help you spot the quality diver’s watches from the rest.
Finding The Best Diver’s Watch
All though the style of diver’s (or dive) watches can vary, the characteristics that separate a quality watch from the rest don’t. It’s a good idea to know what makes a dive watch a dive watch before you start looking to purchase one.
Unlike many other watch styles, a dive watch must fulfill some very specific requirements to be considered a true dive watch (well, the ones that are ISO certified anyway, but even the ones that aren’t usually satisfy most of these requirements).
Here’s the quick list of what specifies a diver watch from the rest (check our dive watch guide for more info):
- Water proof to at least 100 m
- Rotating bezel with time markings
- Luminous hands/numerals
- Shock/magnetic resistance
- Salt-water proof (anti-corrosive)
- Durable band
Any watch that satisfies this criteria can consider itself a dive watch. And looking at this list, it’s obvious to see these watches are really designed for use under water.
They’re durable watches that are built to serve a purpose- keep accurate time in order to keep divers safe.
But even if you’re not a diver, these watches make a great choice because they’re rugged enough to handle pretty much any situation and many (the good ones anyway) look great with both casual and more formal attire.
When comparing dive watches, regardless of cost, it’s a good idea to consider the following:
Movement
The movement is what powers the watch. Generally speaking, watch mechanisms come in 2 varieties: quartz or mechanical. Quartz watches are battery powered, mechanical watches are not.
Mechanical watches can be automatic (self-winding) or manual (it’s up to you to wind these bad boys).
Mechanical dive watches tend to cost more because there’s more going on under the hood, especially in the case of automatic watches.
Quartz watches are a little simpler- since the battery is powering everything, there isn’t the need for as many moving parts.
Both types of mechanisms have their advantages and disadvantages, but if you’re looking to get the most out of your investment, it usually means opting for a mechanical mechanism.
And believe it or not, you can get diver’s watches with automatic mechanisms for under $500 (as you’ll see shortly).
You also might want to consider where the mechanism is made during your search. Swiss mechanisms are sought after because of the high standard Swiss watches are held to.
Case
The case of a watch is what houses all the components. It’s what the band attaches to via the lugs. Cases come in various shapes, sizes, and materials.
Dive watches often come with steel cases because the material is durable enough to hold up under stress. You might also find dive watches that are made out of plastics and other lighter-weight materials.
These watches come with rather large cases with many in the 46-48mm range.
Although most dive watches come with round cases, the material and size of the cases will vary. Consider your preference when trying to narrow your search down.
If you don’t have a preference, stainless steel is never a bad option.
Crystal
The crystal is the “glass” piece that protects the dial of your watch. I put the word “glass” in quotations because the crystal isn’t actually made out of glass, or at least the kind of glass we might think of.
Watch crystals come in 3 varieties: acrylic (plastic), mineral glass, and sapphire.
Acrylic crystals are the softest, most flexible of the bunch. Watches with these crystals can easily scratch, but they won’t shatter. Acrylic crystals are the most affordable and are found on cheaper watches.
Mineral glass is a type of heat treated glass, making it more scratch resistant. This material is used on a lot of mid-range watches. Mineral glass can chip or break and if it does, the crystal will have to be replaced.
Sapphire (or synthetic sapphire) is the most scratch resistant and durable crystal material available on watches. Sapphire crystals are very hard to scratch (although not impossible) and are found on the higher-end watches.
When looking at dive watches, I encourage you to compare the crystals. The best dive watches should come with sapphire or mineral glass crystals- and yes, you can find sapphire crystals for under $500.
Band
I think it’s a good idea to think about what type of band you want on your dive watch. When it comes to dive watches, you’ve really got 2 choices- metal bracelet or rubber band.
Metal bracelets are very rugged and easy to don/doff. They also look a little more elegant when you find yourself in more formal situations.
Rubber watch bands are comfortable and rugged too. They don’t look as formal as metal bracelets do, but it’s easy to swap them out if they become damaged.
Consider which material you prefer and use that to help narrow down your search.
The 5 Best Diver’s Watches For Under $500
#1 Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80
Tissot is a Swiss watch brand that’s been in the game since the 1850’s. They offer great looking Swiss watches for a fraction of the price of luxury watches, making them a great place to start your collection.
Their Seastar 1000 is a perfect example of what a diver’s watch in this price range can offer.
This watch landed my top spot because of its combination of specs and style. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the classic solid-steel bracelet and blue face look.
Technically speaking, the Seastar 1000 is a packing an automatic Swiss made mechanism. Not only does this watch wind itself, but it has an absurdly long power reserve of 80 hours (hence the name).
This means the Powermatic 80 can sit stationary on your dresser for over 3 days without running out of power.
This watch is housed in a 43 mm stainless steel case and comes with a sapphire crystal. The back of the case is transparent, giving you a neat view of the mechanism inside.
The Seastar comes with a grey, stainless steel bracelet to finish off the classic style. This watch also features a date window and is water proof up to 300 m (1000 feet).
Overall, the Tissot Seastar 1000 has a lot to offer for such an affordable diver’s watch. This watch is constructed out of higher-end materials then we usually see in this price range.
Speaking of price, the full retail price of this watch is over $700, but it can be found for under $500 on Amazon. A great buy.
#2 Seiko Prospex “Black Samurai” Diver’s Watch (SRPB55K1)
Seiko is a well-known Japanese brand and one of the most influential watch makers in the world. Seiko is to thank for the world’s first quartz watch back in ’69, introducing the world to the convenience and accuracy that battery powered timepieces had to offer.
The brand also claims Japan’s first diver’s watch as well as the first diver’s watches to come with titanium and ceramic cases, respectively.
Seiko has been a leader in the world of quartz watches for the last several decades, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hang in the mechanical watch arena.
Their Prospex “Black Samurai” proves that they can.
In terms of style, this watch is significantly different than the classic look we see in the Seastar above. The Black Samurai comes with a blacked out dial and gold accented bezel that offers a dramatic look.
Like the Seastar, this watch also comes with an automatic mechanical movement with a power reserve of roughly 41 hours. You can also manually wind this watch anytime you like.
The movement is housed in a 43.8 mm stainless steel case. The Black Samurai uses a mineral glass crystal, so not quite as tough as the sapphire seen on the Seastar, but still pretty scratch resistant.
The band is made out of silicone and is black to match the dial.
The Prospex Diver’s Watch is water resistant to 200 m (660 feet) and comes with a date window and screw down crown.
If you’re looking for a bold look and like the feel of a rubber band, Seiko’s Black Samurai is a great choice.
#3 Glycine Combat Sub 48 (GL0095)
Glycine maybe not have the same name recognition as the 2 watchmakers already mentioned, but their history still goes back over 100 years.
This is another Swiss watchmaker who made a name for themselves with their extensive lineup of pilot’s watches. Over the years though, they’ve branched out to produce an array of quartz and mechanical timepieces.
They still specialize in pilot’s watches and diver’s watches and their Combat Sub 48 is a great example of their work. With a perfect combination of classic style and budget-friendly pricing, this watch would make a smart choice for anyone looking for Swiss craftsmanship.
The Combat Sub 48 comes with an automatic mechanical movement with a 38 hour power reserve. It’s housed in a 48 mm diameter stainless steel case.
At 48 mm, you’ll notice this is by far the largest watch on this list (so if you’re looking for a smaller watch, this isn’t the one for you).
The Combat Sub comes with a sapphire crystal, so scratches shouldn’t be an issue.
The case is attached to a stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp for easy access. This watch is water resistant to 200 m (660 ft) and also comes with a screw down crown.
The Combat Sub includes a date window at 3 o’clock and is easy to use with military time given the 24 hr notations on the dial.
Glycine’s Combat Sub 48 is another great example of what $500 can get you if you know what you’re looking for- a classic diving watch with sophisticated Swiss components.
#4 Victorinox Swiss Army Maverick
Victorinox is another Swiss manufacturer. But instead of gaining fame for their watches, they became known for something else used around the world- the Swiss Army Knife.
Victorinox starting producing knives for the Swiss Army in the 1890’s, but they didn’t start manufacturing watches until the 1980’s.
Since then, they’ve developed a stellar reputation for providing budget-friendly timepieces that look like they cost more than they do.
The company’s Maverick utilizes an analog quartz movement. This means it does use a battery, but it isn’t digital. The quartz movement is housed in a 43 mm, stainless steel case.
This watch comes in several different styles at slightly different price points, but I’m a fan of the stainless steel bracelet with blue dial.
The Swiss Army Maverick can also be used with military time and has a date window at 6 o’clock.
This watch comes with a sapphire crystal and an end-of-life indicator (something that is necessary for quartz dive watches, since you don’t want the battery to die on ya while you’re in the middle of a dive).
Speaking of diving, the Maverick is water resistant to 100 m (330 ft).
The Victorinox Swiss Army Maverick doesn’t have the same watch making history as many of the other manufacturers on this list, but its history is interesting all the same.
If you’re looking for a stylish quartz diving watch, the Maverick won’t disappoint.
#5 Luminox Navy SEAL Chronograph
Rounding out our list is this sleek looking watch by Luminox. Luminox is a much younger brand, only being around since the late 1980’s.
But they’ve been busy making a name for themselves, especially with the elite military units.
In the 90’s, they acquired a contract with the Navy SEALs to provide a watch exclusively for the elite military group. In the next few years, several other elite groups reached out to them and the rest is history.
Luminox is known for their advanced luminescence technology, making watches with exceptional visibility in any condition.
This Navy SEAL Chronograph is based on the same watch that was designed specifically for the Navy SEALs, utilizing a Swiss quartz movement.
The case is made out of a lightweight carbon material known as carbonox, which Luminox designed themselves. The back of the case is solid steel.
At 45 mm in diameter, the Navy SEAL Chronograph is on the larger side, although still smaller than the Combat Sub 48.
What draws me to this watch is the blacked out design- everything from the dial, to the bezel and crown is black, as is the rubber band.
You might think that could make reading the time difficult (and honestly it could be a little tough to see the chronograph), but with Luminox’s luminescent tech you’ll be able to see the time clearly in day or night.
Their advanced luminescence shines 24/7 and doesn’t need to be charged by the sun or depend on battery life. In fact, the numerals on the dial will shine for at least 25 years, which is pretty crazy if you ask me.
The Navy SEAL Chronograph is water proof to 200 m (660 ft) and comes with a mineral glass crystal.
If you’re looking for a tough, lightweight watch that’s good enough for the SEALs, you’ve found it.
Final Thoughts
If nothing else, I hope this list illustrates that there are plenty of high-end diving watches available for under $500.
I know we tend to think of Swiss watches as being a little less than budget-friendly, but there really are some great diver’s watches out there that won’t force you to take out a second mortgage.
When looking for the best diver’s watches, regardless of budget, I suggest you consider the type of movement it uses as well as the materials the case and crystal are made of.
It’s also a good idea to think about what type of band you’d prefer as well as the size of the case.
As this list proves, dive watches come in a wide range of sizes. If 43 mm is the average, we saw some go as big as 48 mm (which is massive).
After considering the above features and specs, it’s all about finding a watch that you think looks great.
I think the 5 watches listed above are the best diving watches currently on the market (for under $500). But if you didn’t find one you like, don’t worry- there are a ton of other great dive watches out there.
Hopefully the info you got out of this article will help you along the way in finding the right diving watch for your wrist.