Plastic fantastic: the 6 best plastic watches

Jamie Weiss

100 years ago, cheap watches were made from chrome-plated brass. These days, they tend to be made out of plastic. The least glamorous, but arguably most practical of all watch case materials, plastic is cheap, extremely shock-resistant, and easy to form into a wide variety of shapes. It might lack the cache of precious metals or even good ol’ stainless steel, but we here at Time+Tide don’t see plastic as a dirty word. Here’s a guide to some of the best plastic watches that might be easy on the wallet, but also on the eyes.

Casio CA53W-1

Casio is the undisputed king of plastic watches, with the Japanese brand making the vast majority of its timepieces out of plastic resin. So what to pick? We’ve gone for the iconic CA53W-1 calculator watch (as worn by Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly in Back to the Future II) as it’s one of the most function-packed watches at any price point that also happens to be exceedingly affordable and made from plastic. On top of its calculator function, it also boasts a 1/100th of a second stopwatch and a second time zone function. Price: US$54, from the Time+Tide Shop

Swatch Once Again

Arguably the most iconic plastic watch ever, the original Swatch from the 1980s is an unequivocal design icon that almost single-handedly saved the Swiss watch industry in the face of the so-called quartz crisis. In the 2020s, the Swatch Once Again brings back the OG Swatch as a fairly faithful recreation, complete with a day/date window and a minimalist dial. A notable change is that its strap is made from bio-sourced material, making it slightly better for the planet (a recurring theme of this buying guide, you’ll find). Price: US$60

Timex Waterbury Ocean

Timex, like Casio and Swatch, is another brand known for its affordable plastic watches, but this Waterbury isn’t your average plastic fantastic. It features a case made from #tide Ocean Material, which is composed of ocean waste. #tide collects bottles in the seas surrounding Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and then shreds, washes, and compacts them before turning them into useful, granulated plastic. The result is a plastic watch that’s anything but disposable. Price: US$99

Blok 33

While this is technically a kid’s watch, I couldn’t help but include the Blok 33 as I think it’s one of the coolest plastic watches on the market. Designed to help young’uns tell the time, it might be made of plastic (a Swiss bio-polymer) but it’s distinctly less disposable than other children’s watches, and is built to withstand the rigours of play. Indeed, its entire design revolves around ease of use, such as integrated lugs for toughness; a left-hand-mounted, screw-down crown that won’t dig into growing wrists and helps offer 100 metres of water resistance; sector-shaped numerals and bezel markings that make measuring time a cinch… Most of all, it just looks cool – adults wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear it either. Price: US$202, from the Time+Tide Shop

Maurice Lacroix Aikon #tide Camo

An interesting melange of a watch that combines an integrated design, a bold camo look and eco-friendly credentials, this is one of the more out-there takes on Maurice Lacroix’s popular Aikon. Like the Timex I’ve included in this buying guide, this Maurice Lacroix also features a case made from #tide Ocean Material and doubles down on the oceanic inspiration with a “Jura wave” textured dial. Price: US$825

Ulysse Nardin Diver Net Azure

Plastic watches tend to be affordable, but a few luxury timepieces are made from this humble material. The Ulysse Nardin Diver Net Azure is a standout example: while it does have case elements made from (recycled) steel and carbon fibre composite, it’s predominantly made from Nylo, a product made by French firm Fil & Fab composed of recycled fishing nets that can be injection-moulded, similar to #tide. The end result is a watch that’s easier on the planet and remains distinctly luxurious. Beneath its exhibition caseback beats the in-house calibre UN-118, which features a 60-hour power reserve with a 4Hz beat rate, a bridge decorated with circular côtes de Genève, and a DiamonSil escapement. Price: US$13,300