The best watches under $300

Under $300 buys a real automatic from Orient or Seiko, a solar watch that never needs a battery, or one of the toughest watches ever made.

Every pick lists its lug-to-lug and the wrist sizes it suits, since at this price you're usually buying online.

Our picks

CasioCasio Duro MDV-106$85
The Casio Duro: a 200 m diver with a rotating bezel for under $100.
Lug-to-lug
48.5 mm
Fit
Fits 6.75"–8" wrists
Specs
44.2 mm case · 12.1 mm thick · quartz · 200 m
CasioG-Shock GA-2100$110
The slim octagonal G-Shock, for about $110.
Lug-to-lug
48.5 mm
Fit
Fits 6.75"–8" wrists
Specs
45.4 mm case · 11.8 mm thick · quartz · 200 m
CasioEdifice Slim EFR-S108D$170
An integrated-bracelet steel quartz only 7.8 mm thick.
Lug-to-lug
44.8 mm
Fit
Fits 6.25"–7.5" wrists
Specs
39.9 mm case · 7.8 mm thick · quartz · 100 m
TimexQ Timex 1979 Reissue 38mm$229
A 38 mm reissue of a 1979 quartz diver with a 45 mm lug-to-lug.
Lug-to-lug
45 mm
Fit
Fits 6.25"–7.5" wrists
Specs
38 mm case · 11.5 mm thick · 50 m
SeikoEssentials Quartz$265
A slim Seiko quartz with 100 m water resistance.
Lug-to-lug
47 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
40.2 mm case · 8.3 mm thick · quartz · 100 m
OrientBambino Version 2$275
The Orient Bambino: a domed automatic dress watch for under $300.
Lug-to-lug
46.5 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
40.5 mm case · 12 mm thick · automatic, 40 h reserve · 30 m
OrientMako II$285
An automatic 200 m diver from Orient for under $300.
Lug-to-lug
47 mm
Fit
Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
Specs
41.5 mm case · 13 mm thick · automatic, 40 h reserve · 200 m
CitizenEco-Drive Chandler (Garrison)$295
A 37 mm solar field watch with a 42.5 mm lug-to-lug.
Lug-to-lug
42.5 mm
Fit
Fits 6"–7" wrists
Specs
37 mm case · 9.5 mm thick · solar · 100 m

Everything else that qualifies

Watch	Case	Lug-to-lug	Thick	Fits	Retail
Casio A158W	33.2 mm	36.8 mm	8.2 mm	5.5"–6"	$30
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-218H	43.2 mm	44.4 mm	10.8 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$30
Casio MRW-200H	44.6 mm	47.9 mm	11.6 mm	6.75"–8"	$30
Casio LA670W	24.6 mm	30.3 mm	7.3 mm	—	$40
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 Easy Reader 25mm	25 mm	—	—	—	$73
Timex Weekender 38mm	38 mm	45 mm	9 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$77
Casio G-Shock GA-B001 Carbon Core	46 mm	42.5 mm	13.8 mm	6"–7"	$84
Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size	38 mm	—	—	—	$87
Casio LTP-B150D	22 mm	31 mm	7.5 mm	—	$90
Casio G-Shock DW-9052	43 mm	48.5 mm	14.7 mm	6.75"–8"	$90
Swatch Blue Rebel	41 mm	47.4 mm	9.8 mm	6.75"–8"	$95
Timex Expedition Scout 40mm	40 mm	48 mm	11 mm	6.75"–8"	$95
Casio G-Shock GA-700	53.4 mm	57.5 mm	18.4 mm	8"–8.5"	$99
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
Invicta Pro Diver Coin-Edge Quartz 37.5mm	37.5 mm	—	—	—	$110
Casio MTP-B190D	31.5 mm	41 mm	8.1 mm	5.75"–6.75"	$110
Fossil Minimalist Slim Three-Hand	44 mm	—	—	—	$120
Casio G-Shock Mudman G-9000	46.3 mm	52 mm	16.3 mm	7.25"–8.5"	$120
Casio G-Shock GA-110	51.2 mm	55 mm	16.9 mm	7.5"–8.5"	$130
Casio G-Shock GBA-900	48.9 mm	51.3 mm	16.6 mm	7.25"–8.5"	$140
Invicta Speedway Torvane Chronograph 39.5mm	39.5 mm	—	—	—	$150
Swatch C-Black	47 mm	44.8 mm	11.8 mm	6.25"–7.5"	$155
Timex 1976 Lexington Reissue	21 mm	35 mm	8 mm	5.5"–5.75"	$159
Invicta Pro Diver SCUBA Chronograph 48mm	48 mm	—	—	—	$160
Skagen Hagen Lille Three-Hand Brown Leather	22 mm	43 mm	—	6"–7.25"	$160
Casio G-Shock GBD-200	45.9 mm	48.4 mm	15 mm	6.75"–8"	$165
Casio G-Shock GA-B2100	45.4 mm	48.5 mm	11.9 mm	6.75"–8"	$165
Fossil Blue Dive Three-Hand Date	42 mm	—	—	—	$180
Fossil Grant Chronograph	44 mm	—	—	—	$180
Invicta Pro Diver Automatic 40mm	40 mm	—	—	—	$180
Invicta Pro Diver Automatic 40mm Two-Tone	40 mm	—	—	—	$180
Skagen Hagen Three-Hand Black Stainless Steel Mesh	29 mm	36 mm	—	5.5"–6"	$180
Fossil Machine Chronograph	45 mm	—	—	—	$190
Fossil Raquel 23mm Three-Hand Date	23 mm	—	—	—	$195
Invicta Grand Diver Sidereon Chronograph 52mm	52 mm	—	—	—	$250
Seiko Recraft Series Automatic (cushion case)	43.5 mm	—	11.4 mm	—	$250
Timex Marlin 1965 Reissue Hand-Wound 34mm	34 mm	41 mm	10 mm	5.75"–6.75"	$259
Swatch Sistem Boreal	42 mm	50.6 mm	13.8 mm	7"–8.5"	$260
Seiko SWR103	27.2 mm	39 mm	6.4 mm	5.5"–6.5"	$265
Timex Q Timex GMT 38mm	38 mm	—	12.5 mm	—	$269
Fossil Townsman Automatic	44 mm	—	—	—	$280
Dan Henry 1962 Racing Chronograph	39 mm	45.9 mm	13.5 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$290
Orient Ray II	41.5 mm	47 mm	13 mm	6.5"–7.75"	$290
Fossil Everett 42mm Automatic	42 mm	—	—	—	$295
Timex Marlin Automatic 40mm	40 mm	48 mm	13 mm	6.75"–8"	$299

How we picked

We considered every current watch in the almanac with a US retail price under $300. “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.