The best watches under $1,000

Under $1,000 buys Swiss automatics with 80-hour power reserves, sapphire crystals and some of the best-finished microbrand watches made.

Every pick lists its lug-to-lug and the wrists it suits. Watch the integrated-bracelet models: they can wear much larger than their case size.

Our picks

HamiltonKhaki Field Mechanical 38mm$675
The hand-wound 38 mm field watch most often recommended as a first mechanical, with a long power reserve and a 47 mm lug-to-lug.
Lug-to-lug
47 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
38 mm case · 9.5 mm thick · manual, 80 h reserve · 50 m
TissotPRX Powermatic 80 40mm$850
The integrated-bracelet look for under $1,000. Its rigid first link makes it wear about 51 mm long, so check your wrist.
Lug-to-lug
51 mm
Fit
Fits 7"–8.5" wrists
Specs
40 mm case · 10.9 mm thick · automatic, 80 h reserve · 100 m
SeikoProspex Alpinist$900
The Alpinist in a 39.5 mm case: an inner rotating compass bezel, 200 m and a 46.4 mm lug-to-lug.
Lug-to-lug
46.4 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
39.5 mm case · 12.7 mm thick · automatic, 72 h reserve · 200 m
SeikoProspex 1970 Diver's Modern Re-interpretation$900
A modern take on Seiko's 1970 diver with a 46.9 mm lug-to-lug, short for a 41 mm case.
Lug-to-lug
46.9 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
41 mm case · 12.3 mm thick · automatic, 70 h reserve · 200 m
LorierNeptune (Series V, no-date)$699
A vintage-styled 39 mm diver from a small independent, with a 46 mm lug-to-lug.
Lug-to-lug
46 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
39 mm case · 11.4 mm thick · automatic, 42 h reserve · 200 m
OrientKamasu$580
An in-house automatic, sapphire crystal and 200 m dive spec for well under $600.
Lug-to-lug
47 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
41.9 mm case · 12.8 mm thick · automatic, 40 h reserve · 200 m
TissotSeastar 1000 Powermatic 80 40mm$875
A Swiss automatic diver with a 46 mm lug-to-lug, compact for 40 mm.
Lug-to-lug
46 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
40 mm case · 12.5 mm thick · automatic, 80 h reserve · 300 m
SeikoProspex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph 39mm$750
A solar chronograph in a 39 mm case, with a lug-to-lug under 46 mm.
Lug-to-lug
45.5 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.5" wrists
Specs
39 mm case · 13.3 mm thick · solar · 100 m

Everything else that qualifies

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Fits	Retail
Casio F-91W	35.2 mm	38.2 mm	8.5 mm	5.5"–6.25"	$30
Casio A168	36.3 mm	38.6 mm	9.6 mm	5.5"–6.5"	$30
Casio W-800H	36.8 mm	44.2 mm	13.4 mm	6.25"–7.25"	$40
Casio AE-1200WH	42.1 mm	45 mm	12.5 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$40
Casio A700W	35.5 mm	37.4 mm	6 mm	5.5"–6.25"	$46
Timex Weekender 38mm	38 mm	45 mm	9 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$77
Casio Duro MDV-106	44.2 mm	48.5 mm	12.1 mm	6.75"–8"	$85
Timex Expedition Scout 40mm	40 mm	48 mm	11 mm	6.75"–8"	$95
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E	42.8 mm	48.9 mm	13.4 mm	6.75"–8.25"	$100
Casio G-Shock DW-6900	50 mm	53.2 mm	18.7 mm	7.5"–8.5"	$100
Casio G-Shock GA-2100	45.4 mm	48.5 mm	11.8 mm	6.75"–8"	$110
Casio G-Shock GA-B2100	45.4 mm	48.5 mm	11.9 mm	6.75"–8"	$165
Casio Edifice Slim EFR-S108D	39.9 mm	44.8 mm	7.8 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$170
Timex Q Timex 1979 Reissue 38mm	38 mm	45 mm	11.5 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$229
Timex Marlin 1965 Reissue Hand-Wound 34mm	34 mm	—	10 mm	—	$259
Timex Q Timex GMT 38mm	38 mm	—	12.5 mm	—	$269
Orient Mako II	41.5 mm	47 mm	13 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$285
Orient Ray II	41.5 mm	47 mm	13 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$290
Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler (Garrison)	37 mm	—	—	—	$295
Timex Marlin Automatic 40mm	40 mm	48 mm	13 mm	6.75"–8"	$299
Swatch Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon	42 mm	47.3 mm	13.3 mm	6.75"–8"	$300
Seiko 5 Sports Field Sports Style 36mm	36.4 mm	44.4 mm	12.5 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$315
Seiko 5 Sports Field Sports Style	39.4 mm	48.1 mm	13.2 mm	6.75"–8"	$315
Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver 40mm	40 mm	45.7 mm	14.8 mm	6.5"–7.5"	$320
Casio G-Shock GW-5000U	42.8 mm	48.9 mm	13.5 mm	6.75"–8.25"	$330
Seiko 5 Sports SKX Sports Style	42.5 mm	46 mm	13.4 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$350
Spinnaker Bradner Automatic	42 mm	50 mm	14 mm	7"–8.25"	$370
Orient AA08 Diver	41.8 mm	46.8 mm	12.8 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$390
Islander Greenport 39mm	39 mm	47 mm	13.5 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$395
Seiko 5 Sports SNXS Series	37.4 mm	44.7 mm	12.5 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$415
Orient Bambino Version 7 38mm	38.4 mm	44 mm	12.5 mm	6.25"–7.25"	$430
Islander Northport Automatic Dive Watch	40.5 mm	47 mm	12.5 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$449
Tissot PRX 40mm Quartz	40 mm	—	10.4 mm	—	$450
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time 38.5mm	38.5 mm	45.4 mm	11.8 mm	6.5"–7.5"	$450
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time	40.5 mm	47.2 mm	11.8 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$450
Citizen Promaster Dive Eco-Drive	44 mm	48 mm	11.5 mm	6.75"–8"	$450
Seiko Presage Cocktail Time	40.5 mm	—	11.8 mm	—	$475
Brew Metric Chronograph Retro Dial	36 mm	41.5 mm	10.8 mm	6"–7"	$475
Bulova Hack Watch 38mm	38 mm	—	—	—	$495
Seiko 5 Sports SKX Sports Style GMT	42.5 mm	46 mm	13.6 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$495
Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic	40 mm	49.5 mm	11.7 mm	7"–8.25"	$495
Seiko Prospex Sea Turtle	45 mm	47.7 mm	13.4 mm	6.75"–8"	$525
Tissot PR516 Chronograph 40mm (quartz)	40 mm	—	12.2 mm	—	$575
Seiko Presage Style60's Open Heart	40.8 mm	47 mm	12.8 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$595
Citizen Zenshin Mechanical	40.5 mm	—	—	—	$650
Seiko Presage Style60's GMT	40.8 mm	47 mm	13 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$650
Lorier Astra	36 mm	44 mm	10.4 mm	6.25"–7.25"	$699
Lorier Falcon	36 mm	44 mm	10.4 mm	6.25"–7.25"	$699
Seiko Prospex Land Mechanical 38mm	38 mm	46.2 mm	12.9 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$750
Halios Seaforth IV	41 mm	46.5 mm	12.4 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$765
Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T Blue Angels	45 mm	—	14.5 mm	—	$795
Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 39.3mm	39.3 mm	—	9.8 mm	—	$795
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 35mm	35 mm	44.9 mm	10.9 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$795
Traska Freediver	40.5 mm	48 mm	11.9 mm	6.75"–8"	$795
Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 42mm	42 mm	53 mm	11 mm	7.25"–8.5"	$795
Lorier Hyperion GMT	39 mm	46 mm	12.2 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$799
Bulova Oceanographer Devil Diver 41mm	41 mm	—	14.5 mm	—	$825
Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80 38mm	38 mm	44 mm	11.2 mm	6.25"–7.25"	$825
Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver	41 mm	—	12.3 mm	—	$875
Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph 43.5mm	43.5 mm	—	—	—	$895
Tissot Visodate 39mm	39 mm	—	10.4 mm	—	$950
Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium 40mm	40 mm	48 mm	11.5 mm	6.75"–8"	$950
Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic Auto 40mm	40 mm	—	10.8 mm	—	$995
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical	39.5 mm	44.5 mm	12 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$995
Hamilton Khaki Field Murph 38mm	38 mm	44.7 mm	11.1 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$995
Seiko Prospex Alpinist	39.5 mm	46.4 mm	12.7 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$995
Seiko Prospex Alpinist	39.5 mm	46.4 mm	12.7 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$995

How we picked

We considered every current watch in the almanac with a US retail price under $1,000, weighing movement, crystal, water resistance and how the case actually wears. “Fits” is the range of wrist sizes where the watch grades as an ideal fit on our lug-to-lug model. Prices are US retail and change often.