A dapper dress watch is a necessity when trying to finish off a formal look. But even those these watches are often saved for events like weddings, business meetings, or any event requiring a suit, they can also work well with more casual attire.
An elegant dress watch can pair nicely with pretty much any occasion (well, any occasion not involving contact sports or deep sea diving), making them a great addition to any man’s collection.
And the good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to get one.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the 5 best dress watches you’re gonna find for under $500 (which is very budget friendly in the world of fine watches).
We’ll also talk about what features you should look for during your search to help you find the best option (just in case none of these watches strike your fancy).
How To Buy A Dress Watch
A dress watch is one that is designed to be worn with formal clothing. For us guys, this means suits, tuxedos, or really anything involving a button up shirt.
But they can just as easily be worn with a nice polo shirt and shorts.
Dress watches aren’t as rugged as some other varieties, like diver’s or racing watches, which is why they are saved for more non-physical events.
These timepieces are designed with only one thing in mind- to look elegant.
I think it’s a good idea to keep this in mind during your search because ultimately, the point of getting a dress watch is to get something you think looks good.
I know what you’re thinking- isn’t that the point of getting any watch?
Yes, but many other watches are designed with other functions in mind as well, not just to look good. Diving watches, for example, are designed specifically to act as timers and function underwater.
But dress watches don’t serve any purpose other than complimenting formal attire (and telling time).
So, first and foremost, you should find a dress watch that you think looks good with suits or tuxedos. However, style aside, there are a few things you should consider in your search. These include:
Dial
The hallmark sign of a dress watch is its simple dial. Traditional dress watches come with very minimalistic dials that really only tell time.
Some may also come with date windows, but you’re not going to find chronographs or rotating bezels on these watches.
Remember- these watches should act as a compliment to your formal attire, it shouldn’t draw attention away from the clothes. When it comes to dress watches, understated is the way to go.
That said, more modern dress watches might come with more flashy dials, with gears and moving parts visible. Personally, I’m a fan of the classic, understated look.
But to each their own.
Case
Another tell-tale sign of a dress watch is the case (the part that houses the components of the watch). These watches should come with thin cases because we want these watches to fit comfortably underneath the cuffs of our shirts.
Most guys will be wearing these watches with long-sleeve, button up shirts and suits- and you don’t want your watch bunching up or catching on your sleeves.
Dress watches should be under 10 mm in thickness- under 8 mm is even better.
If you get a quartz watch, this shouldn’t be a problem because the battery operated mechanisms don’t need as much space as the mechanical movements.
If you have your heart set on a mechanical watch, don’t fret- there are plenty of thin mechanical watches out there. Just keep in mind that the thinner you go, the more you’re likely going to have to spend.
Besides the thickness of the case, you’ll also want to think about the diameter and the size of your wrist. If you’re a petite gentleman, you might want to opt for a smaller watch; larger gents might want a slightly wider watch.
Most dress watches fall somewhere between 40-44 mm in width.
Materials
When looking for dress watches in any price range, it’s always a great idea to consider the materials the watch is made of. More specifically, look at what the case, crystal, and band are made of.
You can find dress watches with cases that are made out of precious metals (like gold or platinum) or you can go with traditional stainless steel- all depends on your style and budget.
The use of precious metals will increase the asking price.
In the under $500 budget, you’re likely talking stainless steel for the case.
Watch crystals come in 3 varieties- acrylic (plastic), mineral glass, and sapphire. Most dress watches will come with mineral glass or sapphire crystals.
Mineral glass is more affordable, but scratches a lot easier. Sapphire crystals are more expensive, but extremely scratch resistant (surprisingly, sapphire crystals are doable in this price range).
When it comes to the band, traditional dress watches will be made out of leather. Many come in either black or brown, but nowadays you’ll also see dress watches with metal bracelets or rubber bands.
That about does it for the quick dress watch buying guide. These watches should have simple dials and smaller cases. If the budget allows, you can opt for precious metals, but in our price range here this probably won’t be doable.
If you’d like more info, check out the complete dress watch guide.
The 5 Best Dress Watches For Under $500
#1 Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic Auto (H32515555)
The Jazzmaster Viewmatic Auto by Hamilton has a full suggested retail price of roughly $700, but since you can get in on Amazon for just under $500, it qualifies for our list.
Hamilton is a Swiss brand today and is part of the SWATCH group (although they started out in the USA). They’ve spent the last century making a name for themselves, including integral roles in both the military and Hollywood.
Nowadays, their known as a quality provide of budget-friendly watches.
This watch has a lot going for it and I think it’s a steal for this price range. Right off the bat, you’ll notice the simple elegant design that the classic dress watch is known for.
Personally, I’m a sucker for the stainless steel case and brown leather strap look because no matter how much fashion trends change, this will never go out of style.
This Jazzmaster model utilizes an automatic mechanical movement, meaning it winds itself as you wear it (no batteries involved). And you won’t have to worry about wearing it every day either, with its 80-hr power reserve.
As I mentioned above, the case is stainless steel and 40 mm wide. It’s also only 8 mm thick, which is impressive for an automatic watch in this price range.
This watch comes with a sapphire crystal that is scratch resistant and waterproof to 50 m.
You can also see the automatic movement in action from the back of the see-through case (hence the “Viewmatic” name).
Overall, the Jazzmaster is a great dress watch for this price range. It’s rare to see such an elegant looking automatic watch in this price range.
#2 Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80
Tissot is another very well-known Swiss watchmaking company who specializes in making affordable timepieces that look like they should cost more than they actually do.
Their Le Locle lineup is named after the company’s home near the Jura Mountains that runs along Switzerland.
This particular Powermatic 80 is a perfect example of how elegant a black dial paired with a black leather band can look. The combination really makes the stainless steel case and silver numerals on the dial pop.
Technically speaking, the Powermatic 80 is also an automatic mechanical watch, getting its name from the fact that it has an 80 hr power reserve, allowing you to go 3 days at a time without having to worry about strapping it on.
I think the use of Roman numerals adds to the formal look on the dial. Besides the second hand, the only extra feature is the date window at 3 o’clock.
The case on this model is a little more narrow at only 39 mm wide. It has a thickness of just under 10 mm, which should make it easy to fit under buttoned shirt cuffs.
The stainless steel case is paired with a sapphire crystal for the utmost in toughness/scratch resistance. The Powermatic 80 is also water resistant up to 30 m, in case you find yourself romping in the bay after a seaside wedding.
Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable watch that would pair nicely with any dark tuxedo, Tissot’s Le Locle Powermatic 80 is a wonderful choice.
#3 Tissot Men’s Everytime Swissmatic
Yes, another Tissot made the list. I told ya, they specialize in making affordable, attractive watches. Their Everytime Swissmatic is similar to the Powermatic 80 mentioned above in terms of specs, but as you can see the style is quite different.
The minimalist approach taken on the dial here gives it a classic dress watch look, but with a touch of modern sleekness.
You’ll notice there are no numerals on the dial. This adds to the formal appearance, but you might find yourself doing a double take to see what time it is (no worries, you won’t have anywhere else to go when you’re at an event that lets you wear this watch).
The Everytime Swissmatic uses an automatic movement (Swissmatic is the name of the movement). With a sales price under $300, this is one of the most affordable automatic watches you’re going to find.
Tissot is able to provide such affordable automatic watches because they have found a way to completely automate the manufacturing process for the Swissmatic movement.
But just because it’s automated, doesn’t mean the Swissmatic can’t compete with other more expensive movements.
This watch has a power reserve of 72 hours and a claimed accuracy of ±10 seconds a day- feats plenty of watches costing 2x as much can’t claim.
The simple dial is housed in a stainless steel case and covered with a sapphire crystal. The case is 40 mm wide and 11.6 mm thick. The band is black leather and closes with a standard buckle.
If you’re looking for an elegant, sleek looking black dress watch, Tissot’s Everytime Swissmatic is hard to beat. The movement on this watch is surprisingly sophisticated considering the low price tag.
#4 Seiko Presage Automatic Cocktail Time (SRPC99)
Seiko is a world famous Japanese watchmaking brand that has been around since the 1880’s. The brand is responsible for numerous innovations in watch making, including introducing the world to the first quartz watch.
The brand is going as strong as ever today. They currently offer many different lineups, with the Presage lineup consisting of mechanical watches that are supposed to epitomize the perfect combination of beauty and function.
Speaking of beauty, it’s the “golden champagne” color on the numerals and dial that instantly draw me to this watch.
The hue almost gives the sense of a gold watch, but without giving up the durability that comes with stainless steel (or the cost that comes with gold).
The lack of numerals (except for the date window at 3 o’clock) adds to the formal style of the watch.
Besides the instant wow factor that comes with this watch, this Presage model utilizes an automatic movement with a manual winding capability and power reserve of 41 hours.
The champagne colored dial is housed in a stainless steel case that is 40 mm wide and almost 12 mm thick, making it the thickest watch on this list.
The dial is covered by a Hardlex crystal, which is Seiko’s equivalent to a mineral material- more scratch resistant than plastic, but not as resilient as sapphire.
You’ll attach this watch to your wrist using the brown leather strap and its 3 fold, button push clasp.
Overall, if you’re looking for a little color from your dress watch, Seiko’s Presage Automatic in “golden champagne” is a great choice. If you do choose this watch, be prepared for compliments at your next dinner party.
#5 Junghans Mens Max Bill Quartz (041/4461.04)
Junghans is a German watch brand that has been making wrist watches since the 1920’s. Their history dates back a lot farther though, with their roots in clock manufacturing going all the way back to the early 1860’s.
Their Max Bill lineup consists of a group of watches that the Swiss architect/artist designed for Junghans in the ’60s.
Largely unchanged since the days Max Bill designed it, this stainless steel model is clean and easy to read. Unlike the Tissot mentioned above, this watch has fairly large numerals that are easy to see from any angle.
Unlike all the watches on this list so far, as the name implies, this is a quartz watch.
But, since there are less mechanical components involved in the movement, this watch comes with a case that is only 8 mm thick, making it one of the thinnest on this list.
The case is only 38 mm wide too, making it the smallest on the wrist as well.
When it comes to the specs, the Max Bill Quartz comes with a stainless steel case and a domed plexiglass (plastic) crystal. The plastic crystal is a bit of a disappointment, because it will be more susceptible to scratches.
If you purchase through the Junghans website, they say you can opt for a sapphire crystal, but that will obviously up the cost (which would put this watch over our $500 limit for this list).
This watch comes with a brown leather strap and stainless steel buckle to finish off the dapper look.
Overall, if you’re looking for a smaller, sleeker dress watch, Junghans Max Bill Quartz is a very stylish choice. It’s also a great introduction to the world of German watches.
Final Thoughts
There ya have it, my 5 top picks for dress watches under $500. As you can see, I’m a fan of automatic movements and sapphire crystals.
I’m also a fan of brown leather bands, although black dials and bands go well with pretty much any look. And if I were looking for a watch to wear specifically with a black tux, I’d go with a black band.
Unfortunately, I rarely find myself wearing a tux these days (every once and awhile for New Year’s though…)
Anyway, when looking for a dress watch, consider the type of movement as well as the materials the crystal and band (and case) are made of.
Also think about what style of band you like- brown leather vs black vs metal bracelet.
I hope this list proves that you can find some really nice watches in this price range. It’s awesome that automatic movements and sapphire crystals are doable for under $500.
Ok, that about does it. Time for you to step up your wrist game with a dapper dress watch.