Best Budget Pilot Watch

Do you long for the open skies? Are you a pilot at heart who’s looking to learn the trade for pleasure or profit? Are you a career pilot in search of a pilot watch that won’t max out your credit cards or drain your bank account. We’re here to help with our definitive list of the best pilot watches available in the market at $500 or less!

Pilot watches are an essential part of any aviator’s arsenal. While some believe modern airplanes have rendered most pilot watches redundant, quite the opposite is true. You can’t beat the organization, easy to read displays, and iconic looks of a great pilot watch. And if you can find one of these time piece beauties for a reduced price point, it’s an even better deal.

What makes an affordable pilot watch great? It could be added functionality such as dual time or an Eco Drive power source. It could be an easy to read dial or a strong dial window made of either sapphire crystal or Hardlex. It could be a combination of all of these things and a price tag that won’t make your wince before heading to the cash register.

We’ve scoured through dozens of affordable pilot watches, paring them down into a definitive list of the 6 best pilot watches for under $500. We’ve even ranked them in reverse order, with our favorite pilot watch of the bunch occupying the number one slot. And stay tuned at the end of this article for a handy Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you make an informed purchasing decision for your next pilot watch.

But first, let’s get to the list!

The 6 Best Budget Pilot Watches In 2021

6) Hamilton Khaki King Pilot Watch

If you’re looking for a pilot watch that melds classic aviation style with modern convenience at a price you can afford, you can’t do much better than the Hamilton Khaki King Pilot Watch. The understated design scheme and gorgeous brown leather strap look great with clothing choices both formal and casual. And the durability of the sapphire crystal dial window protects the beautiful black dial from sudden impacts and scratching. A cost-efficient stunner worth writing home about, the Hamilton Khaki King Pilot Watch is worth your time.

Specs

Dial Window Material: Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 42 mm

Case Thickness: 11 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Length: Men’s Standard

Strap Width: 20 mm

Strap Color: Brown

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Water Resistant Rating: 200 meters

Movement: SwissQuartz Movement

Pros

• The timeless design of this watch harkens back to the golden days of aviation in style. If we were ranking these watches on looks alone, this watch would be much higher.
• The Swiss quartz movement is as accurate as they come at this price point. Hamilton knows how to make movements, and they’ve done so for over a century.
• The water resistance of this watch is top notch. You can take it swimming or out jet skiing and know that it’s not going to get damaged with submersion or splashes.

Cons

• While we love the looks and feel of the leather strap, it can sometimes get wrinkles in it with repeated use.
• This watch is a bit light on features compared to some of the watches later on our list.

5) Seiko Men’s Silvertone Solar Alarm Chronograph Watch

While Seiko doesn’t call this a pilot watch in its marketing materials, the Seiko Men’s Silvertone Solar Alarm Chronograph Watch is undoubtedly made for pilots with the inclusion of features such as a handy slide rule. We really dig the versatility of this particular pilot watch. While it’s a fantastic time piece to take up in the air with you, it’s also one of those watches that can be worn both to the gym and to a fancy dinner party. It just has that kind of malleability which makes it fashion forward no matter what’s going on in your life that day.

Specs

Dial Window Material: Hardlex

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Double Locking Foldover Clasp

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 43 mm

Case Thickness: 13 mm

Strap Material: Stainless Steel

Strap Length: Men’s Standard

Strap Width: 20 mm

Strap Color: Silver

Dial Color: Black

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Water Resistant Rating: 100 meters

Movement: Quartz Movement

Pros

• The addition of Swarovski crystals and the mother of pearl watch dial center add a pop of style and class which will be the talk of your next dinner party or social gathering.
• The two-tone silver and gold watch bracelet is a perfect counterbalance for the aforementioned stylistic nuances.
• Very few watches express femininity with this kind of confidence and pizzazz, especially at this reduced price point. It’s simply a gorgeous watch.

Cons

• The water resistance of this watch is pretty suspect. It’s barely water resistant enough to wear in the shower for a short period.
• The durability of the metal casing of this watch doesn’t compare to most of the other solar powered watches on our list.

4) Casio G-Shock GA-1100 Gravitymaster Watch

Casio’s line of G-Shock watches are among the most respected low-cost watches in the marketplace today. That’s what makes the aviation-specific Casio G-Shock GA-1100 Gravitymaster Watch such a cool bargain for pilots everywhere. It offers unparalleled shock resistance and fantastic water resistance, an intuitive analog/digital combination display, and unbeatable features such as world time and a powerful LED display light. Great features and top-shelf durability make this watch one of the top pilot watches out there, bargain or not.

Specs

Display Type: Analog/Digital

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material: Resin

Case Diameter: 51 mm

Case Thickness: 8 mm

Strap Material: Resin

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Red

Dial Color: Blue

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Water Resistant Rating: 200 meters

Movement: Connected

Pros

• This watch features the best shock resistance you’re going to find on this list. No matter what you bang it up against, it will hold up.
• The two-tone blue and red color scheme is quite unique and pops off your wrist. It has its own personality and it’s pretty dang cool, but there’s also three other color schemes you can choose from.
• The analog portion of the watch is super easy to read with large numbers and the inclusion of a resonant LED display light.

Cons

• This watch has a sporty look which may not appeal to those looking for something more understated or dressy.
• The backlight doesn’t quite light up the digital displays enough to see them clearly in the dark.

3) AVI-8 Men’s Hawker Hurricane Japanese Quartz Watch

The crisp, clean dial aesthetic of the AVI-8 Men’s Hawker Hurricane Japanese Quartz Watch is a huge selling point. To be honest though, there’s so much more here. The brown leather strap is super comfy and easy on the eyes, the number scheme is larger and super easy to discern with a quick glance, and the entire look of the watch has been lovingly crafted with inspiration from the Allied fighter planes of the same Hawker Hurricane namesake. This is the kind of pilot watch which goes lighter on features in favor of feel, and it works for it.

Specs

Dial Window Material: Mineral

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 44 mm

Case Thickness: 11 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Length: 9.5 inches

Strap Width: 21 mm

Strap Color: Grayish Brown

Dial Color: White

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Water Resistant Rating: 50 meters

Movement: JapaneseQuartz Movement

Pros

• While the overall features on this watch may lack to some, it’s counterbalanced by the beautiful design and comfortable leather strap.
• The circular stainless steel case is really durable and has a very classic shape that brings the whole watch design together perfectly.
• The inclusion of large and legible numbers and easy-to-see hands make this watch a cinch to read at a quick glance when at the controls of your favorite plane.

Cons

• The crown has a bit too much backlash for our liking.
• The luminosity of this watch just isn’t up to par with some of the other entries on this list.

2) Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T Watch

From a features standpoint, there isn’t much that the Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T Watch can’t do. One of our favorite features in this or any of the pilot watches we’ve profiled is the inclusion of synchronized time adjustments for 44 different cities around the world. If you’re an aviator with wanderlust in your blood, you’re going to love how smart this watch can be. In addition, this watch can be charged by both artificial and natural light thanks to the inclusion of Eco-Drive solar powered technology. There’s just so much here and so much that will help you in the skies or on the ground.

Specs

Display Type: Analog/Digital

Clasp Style: Tang Buckle

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 48 mm

Case Thickness: 15 mm

Strap Material: Leather

Strap Width: 22 mm

Strap Color: Black

Dial Color: Blue

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Water Resistant Rating: 200 meters

Movement: Quartz Movement

Pros

• From an aesthetic perspective, the deep navy blue is accentuated perfectly by the splashes of bright yellow. It’s a real looker that goes with all sorts of outfits.
• This watch is loaded with features, atomic timekeeping capabilities, and all kinds of nuances that pilots of all skill levels will find useful.
• The inclusion of Eco Drive technology is a real win. This watch is easily charged by lights both natural and artificial. No battery replacements necessary.

Cons

• We wish the dial face was about 5 mm larger to accommodate the broad scope of this watch’s functionality.
• You can’t do time/distance calculations because there is no time scale included with the slide rule.

1) Seiko Flightmaster Pilot Slide Rule SND255P1 Watch

Design versatility and a gorgeous contrast between its stainless steel band/case and blue dial gives the Seiko Flightmaster Pilot Watch the nod as our pick of the best of the budget pilot watches. And if you don’t like the stainless steel band, you can easily get a leather replacement which looks fantastic as well. This watch is also loaded with useful features for pilots of skill levels including a slide rule, Lumibrite markers, and a 12-hour totalizer. And to top it off, this watch works fantastically as both a pilot watch and a dress watch for parties and dinners on the ground. Seiko truly outdid themselves with this affordable pilot watch gem.

Specs

Dial Window Material: Hardlex

Display Type: Analog

Clasp Style: Deployment Clasp

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Case Diameter: 41 mm

Case Thickness: 10 mm

Strap Material: Stainless Steel

Strap Length: Men’s Standard

Strap Width: 21 mm

Strap Color: Silver

Dial Color: Blue

Bezel Material: Stainless Steel

Water Resistant Rating: 100 meters

Movement: Quartz Movement

Pros

• The Hardlex crystal dial window is as tough and scratch resistant as they come. You won’t have to worry about scuffs and scratches decreasing visibility.
• While the watch may look a bit on the heavy side, it’s actually not. It’s perfectly balanced and a lot more comfortable to wear than most watches with a stainless steel band and construction.
• Balancing great features, luminescence that really pops, and a great look, this watch is the complete package for pilots looking to save hundreds of dollars on a great pilot’s watch.

Cons

• The slide rule isn’t the best of the watches we’ve profiled. Compared to other watches, the misalignment between the numbers outside and inside the glass can be a bit irritating.
• This watch might actually be a bit small for some tastes. It does pop really nicely with the color scheme and the entire design aesthetic, but it does tend to get lost when wearing a flight suit or something of the sort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which brand makes the best pilot watches for those on a budget?

With two of the six entries on our list of the best pilot watches for budget-conscious consumers, Seiko is our easy choice. In fact, Seiko is one of the best watch brands out there when it comes to luxury-quality time pieces at affordable price points. If you’re looking for a pilot’s watch that offers an extraordinary amount of features, a dial scheme that’s both informative and easy to read, and a stylish aesthetic that’ll pop with anything you well, you can’t go wrong with a Seiko.

One note — the two Seiko pilot watches on our countdown have quartz movements. Seiko does have a selection of watches with an automatic movement to their credit, but no automatic movement pilot’s watches that we’d consider to be among the best pilot watches out there.

What features should I look for in the best affordable pilot watches?

If you’re looking for more than just an average pilot watch and are actively searching for the one of the best pilot watches you can find on a budget, you don’t have to sacrifice great features and good looks for the money. In fact, the best pilot watches for those who are scrimping and saving include advances features such as dual time, solar power capabilities or Eco Drive technology, a stunning black dial scheme or something similar in a different color, and other beautiful affects such as brown leather bands.

In short, the best pilot watches available at a lower price point are among the best pilot watches currently in the marketplace. Brands like Seiko, Citizen, and Casio have gone above and beyond to provide their customers with pilot watches that are well worth two or three times their intended retail value.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re just starting out as a pilot or have picked it up as a hobby outside of a career context, pilot watches remain one of the most useful and helpful accessories you can possibly have in your arsenal. And if you’re looking for a cost-efficient pilot watch which won’t set you back thousands of the dollars, the six pilot watches on the list above are the best of the best that you’ll find at a reduced price point. From luxury features to attractive aesthetics, there’s a pilot watch for everyone in the list above.