9 of the best watches under US$100

Buffy Acacia

This list would have been much easier to write just a handful of years ago, but watch price inflation has been making low benchmarks such as US$100 much more difficult to achieve. As such, we’ve had to double-dip into a couple of brands. That said, there are still some great options out there which will give you change from a US$100 bill, and you don’t even have to lower your standards.

Casio F91W-1

Casio is one of the only brands that actually sells a lot of watches under US$100, but the F91W-1 has got to be the most iconic, as well as one of the cheapest. From its black resin case and strap, to the playful zaps of blue, yellow, and red on the dial, no watch does a better job of capturing an aspect of ’80s and ’90s style that never feels outdated. It’s charmingly retro, but its functionality is still useful for modern life. The features include a 1/100-second chronograph with several measuring modes, a daily alarm, annual calendar, and hourly time signals. The 35.2mm case feels at home on absolutely any wrist, and its little LED backlight ensures its visibility in darkness. Price: US$22.95

Flik Flak Cyberozaurus

If you’re browsing this list, there is a chance you’re hunting for an affordable gift for a young relative. Well, Flik Flak is Swatch’s avenue for pure childhood wonder. There are so many brilliant designs, but the Cyberozaurus is hard to go past. Dinosaurs AND lasers? Sign me up. A translucent case is always going to be a fun choice, and the neon highlights cut through the navy backdrop. Detailed numerals at five-minute intervals surround the outer minute markers, while an inner ring of hour markers make it extremely easy to read the time. The 31.85mm case is rounded and without lugs to fit on even the tiniest of wrists, while a 9.25mm thickness won’t get snagged on too much. If the watch ever runs out of battery, you won’t need to worry about finding a replacement, as Swatch stores offer free battery changes forever. Price: US$40

Timex Expedition Scout

Timex has a reputation for reliability hand-in-hand with affordability, so the Expedition Scout’s field watch style is well-suited to an adventurous person on a budget. The monochromatic dial with its 12 and 24-hour markers has its origins in the military, but overall it’s just a highly legible approach which can work for all preferences. The pop of yellow on the seconds hand adds a nice little drop of character, too. Its Indiglo function lights up the dial after-dark, so you’ll never be unable to see the time. At 40mm, it carries a solid amount of presence without feeling overly bulky. Price: US$65

Armitron Tetra

Armitron became an American household name throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, taking advantage of the quartz and digital movements which came out of Japan. To this day, its catalogue is packed with fun and affordable watches across all sorts of styles. The Tetra is one of its best sellers, with a huge digital display for easy legibility and a streetwear-savvy black and red colour scheme. The top-heavy case design gives it a wonderfully retro, sci-fi feel, and the 36mm diameter makes it an easily unisex watch for any wrist. Price: US$70

Casio G-Shock DW-5600UE-1

Casio may have had a turn on this list already, but the G-Shock line absolutely needed to be recognised. Short of taking a hammer and nail to it, you’d have a hard time even trying to destroy one. The modern-day DW-5600UE-1 is about as close as you can get to the original release from 1983, preserving the octagonal shape, the ridged shoulders, the protected pushers, and the easily-legible black numeral dial. Small pops of colour around the LED screen’s frame inject it with a bit of fun, and the full resin case and bracelet ensure its lightweight practicality. Price: US$74.95

Swatch Clearly Gent

Based on the Jellyfish from 1983, Swatch’s first ever limited edition release, the Clearly Gent is an affordable dose of childlike wonder. The plastic case, TPU strap and clear movement components aim to make as much of the watch as see-through as possible, highlighting the colourful hands and the movement’s metallic components. It’s cool from a style point of view, and also fun to just stare straight into the quartz movement. Despite being called the Clearly Gent, its 34mm diameter can suit any wrist at all. Price: US$80

Fossil Carraway Money Clip Watch

This is truly left of field, but why not go for something with a little bit of novelty? Fossil is a titan of the affordable watch world, even owning and manufacturing for other known brands like Skagen, Emporio Armani, Diesel, and even the luxury Swiss brand Zodiac. The Fossil Minimalist is an actual wristwatch for US$100 you could consider, but the Carraway Money Clip Watch is something nobody else does. You could keep this tank-style beauty on your money if you want to flash the cash whenever you check the time, otherwise it could decorate a lapel or pocket as a personal accessory. Price: US$95

Citizen BI1030-53E

A clean but personable watch for daily wear, the Citizen reference BI1030-53E comes in just one cent below budget. The 42mm case has fairly short lugs for ease of wear, and it’s only 9.5mm thick to ensure comfort and cuff-slipping ability. The Oyster-style folded steel bracelet may be a bit of a hair pincher, but the 20mm width makes it easy to replace with a strap of your choice. The date display at 6 o’clock is a nice symmetrical touch, and the hands have a little strip of luminous paint for after-dark legibility. It’s not the most exciting watch in the world, but not every watch needs to be. And being a Citizen, it will last decades. Price: US$99.99

Time+Tide Timeless Pick: A discontinued Seiko 5

It’s no secret that Seiko has been upping its prices and overhauling its catalogue over the last five years, however Seiko’s production numbers were always insanely high. That means there are still plenty of new-old-stock Seiko 5 watches available for sale, featuring the now-outdated 7S26 movement. While it may not have hand-winding or hacking seconds, those movements are still fantastic value for money, and you can find them floating around inside some cool designs for under $100 pretty easily.