The 10 Best Watches Under $50

By Beau Hayhoe

Can you find a stylish, rugged and dependable watch under $100? Heck, can you do it under $50? Yes, you absolutely can — if you check out our guide to the best men’s watches under $50. Folks, that’s right — $50 can score you a reliable, functional and tough watch from a lauded brand, one that’s going to work with ensembles both more casual and a bit more adventure-ready. Shelling out for the right watch doesn’t take a ton of dough, if you do your research and look for the right brands.

The right watch also has to fit your lifestyle while standing up to stylistic challenges across the board — consider those aims met with the below guide. And the good news is, the pool continues to deepen in terms of brands that are making watches the right way at the right price. Think subtle-yet-stylish designs, the right specs and a focus on creating a timepiece that’s just going to get the job done, quite simply. Again, it doesn’t have to be crushingly expensive, either; just set aside $50 and you’re all set.

From brands like Timex — practically an expert in the category — to accessible companies like Invicta, these are our 10 favorite picks.

Timex Weekender

The Timex Weekender arguably started it all — at least, for some of us watch aficionados — when it comes to finding the right affordable, casual and yet versatile watch. With subtly classic style, a nicely sized 38mm case size and the potential to swap in any number of watch straps from your collection (ranging from olive nylon to brown leather), you’re really getting more than one watch from Timex here — that’s to be applauded, so you should rock this one as often as possible with your favorite casual style staples. – Buy It

Timex Expedition Camper Watch

The Timex Expedition line is yet another series of watches that packs an almost absurd amount of toughness and quality into a simple, functional design — and for a great, great price, at that. The crisply designed, easy-to-read black case (with white dial markings) makes for a versatile, neutral change of pace alongside the tan nylon strap, so you should feel free to wear it with everything from a shawl cardigan and faded blue denim to your best outdoor kit (winter parka sadly not included). There’s hardly a more dependable watch out there for under $50. – Buy It

Casio G-Shock Classic Digital Watch

Casio G-Shock doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to blending absurdly tough specs with accessibility and quality — the brand’s Classic Digital Watch delivers in that regard, along with the rest of the brand’s excellent line. Casio calls it the “quintessential G-Shock,” with features like 200 meters of water resistance, plus shock-resistant functionality, a smart-and-simple look and the sort of rugged toughness that can stand up to tough weather and tough conditions all year round. The all-black color makes it easy to mix and match with casual ensembles aplenty, too. – Buy It

Timex Weekender Oversized

Invicta ‘Coalition Forces’

Invicta knows that you need a casual watch that can take a beating — repeatedly, too. Whether you want a timepiece to throw on to chop firewood, haul brush or just run out to pick up a six-pack of your favorite brew, the Invicta Coalition Forces Watch is the one you need in your life. Made from a tough blend of stainless steel and silicone for unmatched durability, the beastly 45mm case offers up toughness and plenty of laidback style at the same time. If we were you, we’d wear it with a casual crewneck sweater and your favorite pair of denim. – Buy It

Timex Highland Street

While high-end brands like Rolex continually set the standard in terms of what a dive watch could be, there’s certainly no need to spend thousands of dollars on the next timepiece on your wrist. In a cool grey-and-blue color scheme, it looks great, it wears nicely and it’ll match up with business casual style staples like a herringbone blazer and tobacco chinos as well as it will with a broken-in pocket tee and deep black denim the rest of the week. What’s not to love about that, right? Get it in your shopping cart now for just under $50. – Buy It

Casio MDV106-1AV

Casio continually manages to nail that tricky balance between the type of watches that look great and yet perform very well — the MDV106-1AV, name and all, nails that balance quite perfectly. The brand notes that it’s inspired by the sea, and the black resin strap seems to ensure it would fit right in with tailored swimming trunks and a classic white polo come spring and summer. In the meantime, this is a watch you can wear with a rugged cardigan, slim blue denim and sturdy leather boots on plenty of winter days. – Buy It

Timex Ironman Classic 50

The Timex Ironman line is perhaps as stellar of an example possible when it comes to what the brand can do without causing you to blow your budget in the process. The Classic 50, featuring a remarkably tough 43mm case, is absolutely the right watch to buy in terms of your next piece of crucial training gear, with the ability to help you take on every component of training for, well, an Ironman. WIth 50-lap training capability and plenty of options to help keep your training on time and on track, the Ironman Classic 50 is the whole package (without emptying out your entire wallet). – Buy It

Timex Easy Reader

Want a watch that can do it all when it comes to casual, easygoing style? Particularly in the winter — and particularly when paired with casual staples like a V-neck sweater, a classic Oxford shirt and your favorite denim — the Timex Easy Reader is going to work wonders when it comes to your everyday timepiece collection. It’s sharp, it’s simple and it’s well-made (plus, the affordable price certainly can’t be beat). It’ll work well with a navy cotton blazer and a marled tee in the spring — just throw on some chinos and white sneakers — and it’ll team very nicely with a wool topcoat and slim olive chinos now. Truly “easy” — right? – Buy It

Timex Easton Avenue

Let Timex cover all of your casual watch needs — there’s seriously not a lot that the brand can’t do, and pieces like the slightly more refined Easton Avenue Watch showcase those efforts accordingly. The 39mm case diameter leans slightly dressier, meaning this would fit right in with a navy herringbone blazer and slim chinos at the office. The Easton Avenue Watch would also do well with a rugged marled henley, perfectly worn blue jeans and a tough leather jacket — sounds like an A-plus weekend style combo to us, right? – Buy It