The Best Affordable Watches of 2025

The best new affordable watches of 2025 provide definitive proof that you no longer need a fat bankroll to put an enviable ticker on your wrist. Sure, you might not get one made of gold, set with a rainbow of precious gemstones, or with a mechanical movement that’s been labored over by an artisan in the Swiss Alps, but not every great watch is a product of precious metals or coaxial tourbillons. Indeed, the last 12 months have shown that no matter what kind of watch you’re into, from sporty to dressy to vintage-inspired, there’s plenty of style and substance to be had for well under a grand.
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Mainstays like Timex, Casio, and Citizen have all helped to make 2025 a banner year for budget-friendly bangers, but not all of this year’s best budget picks come from the big names. Thanks to the efforts of established indies like Lorier and Brew, and niche specialists like Junghans, there are some excellent under-the-radar options to choose from. And if you’re into buying something assembled right here in the good ol’ US of A, you’ve got options there too, thanks to the stylish efforts of Vaer and Shinola.

Basically, unless you’re absolutely itching to spend ten grand on a watch, you can find something you love for far less among the selects below.

5 of 2025’s Best Affordable Watches

The Cross-Continent Collaboration

Unimatic Todd Snyder x Unimatic Modello Quattro U4 GMT watch

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The New York Cool Kid

Lorier Olympia SII watch

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The Mid-Century Minimalist

Junghans Max Bill Quartz Damen watch

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The Better-in-Brown

Bulova Surveyor watch

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The Retro Remaster

Timex E-Line 1983 watch

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Todd Snyder x Unimatic Modello Quattro U4 GMT Watch

It may not be quite on the level of Lennon and McCartney or Kobe and Shaq (yet), but the partnership between Todd Snyder and Unimatic is proving to be an incredibly fruitful one. The latest collab between the heavyweight American designer and the Italian GOAT of minimalist sports watches is par for an extremely stylish course.

Citizen Tsuyosa 37mm Watch

In the few years since its North American launch, the Tsuyosa has quickly established itself as a frontrunner on every Best Mechanical Watches Under $500 list. With its integrated bracelet, sapphire crystal, and a variety of fetching dial colors, it’s easy to see why. This year, thanks to a new 37mm case size, it’s become that much more of a go-to.

Bulova Surveyor Watch

Watch companies are notorious for changing the dial color on a timepiece and acting like it’s a super big deal. In some cases, however, it actually changes the whole personality of the watch. That’s true of Bulova’s newest Surveyor, whose silvered brown dial will be a serious complement to indigo denim, navy-blue suits, and a lot of your other favorite wardrobe pieces.

Casio A158 Watch

This relative of the iconic Casio f91w doesn’t change the script in any major way, and that’s a good thing. Instead, it offers a five-link bracelet, an LED backlight, and a hit of green that makes a perfect companion to its yellow gold-tone finish.

Junghans Max Bill Quartz Damen Watch

If mid-century Euro-minimalism is your jam, you’re probably familiar with the Junghans Max Bill lineup, which is based on a series of designs created by Bill, a legendary Bauhaus-trained architect, in the early 1960s. The newest addition to the collection, however, adds serious style chops in the form of a selection of pastel dials and a diminutive 32mm case size.

Timex E-Line 1983 Watch

Timex’s march through its greatest hits continues with this deep cut, “TV dial” from 1983, which is available in four distinctive flavors, including full gold-tone and robin’s egg blue. The case size is a very retro-correct 34mm, but instead of a battery—as one might expect in a relaunch from the peak quartz era—this one packs a modern Japanese automatic movement.

Noah x Timex Lighthouse Watch

Brendon Babenzien has more than proven his clothing design chops over the years, so it should come as no surprise that the Noah founder and J.Crew men’s creative director has a knack for watches, too. Babenzien’s sold-out Timex collabs started strong and have only gotten better, as this recent elliptical lighthouse dial ably demonstrates.

Brew Metric Digital Blend Watch

The significant overlap between watch lovers and coffee lovers, plus some truly inspired design, has helped make Brew a star of the American indie watch scene. Its latest offering, which combines an analog dial with a digital LED espresso timer (complete with percolating coffee cup animation), will help you pull the perfect shot, or at least look like someone who can.

Vaer G2 Pacific Polar GMT Watch

For those unfamiliar with Vaer’s oeuvre, their newest GMT tells you everything you need to know. Classic tool watch looks, high-end materials, incredible value, and American assembly all make this watch a standout. And if you have a little more to spend, you can upgrade to a Miyota automatic movement and 200m water-resistance for under $1,000.

Lorier Olympia SII Watch

If you want to earn a nod of respectful approval from a watch enthusiast, any of Lorier’s creations will do the trick. The reasons are in the details of the NYC indie brand’s latest chronograph, which include an old-school Hesalite crystal, an unusual Seiko automatic movement, and a 316L marine-grade stainless steel bracelet with micro-adjustment. Plus, just look at it.

Shinola Duck 3HD Watch

In case you missed it, Shinola’s been on a bit of a heater this year. Following the launch of the extremely wearable Circadian Monster Automatic, they dropped this 1960s-inspired “skin diver,” whose colorful dial and vintage details make it an easy choice for a day at the beach, or anywhere else, really.