Chronograph watches are much more than just sports watches. Yes, water-resistant chronograph pushers are useful for active pursuits like swimming, running, scuba diving, and racing. But, they’re also great investments for everyday activities like cooking and studying.
Stopwatch functionality can be achieved with the help of sub-dials or a digital stopwatch feature, and having a stopwatch around your wrist means you’re always ready to get things done and get them done right. And oftentimes, chronograph function includes tool watch features like a tachymeter scale and/or a ground speed calculator.
And you don’t have to drain your finances to land a great chronograph watch. In fact, you can buy one on a budget even if you’re looking for luxury features like a perforated leather strap, combined analog display and digital display, world time, and/or a sturdy stainless steel band. You can secure a great chronograph watch for as low as a hundred dollars or so!
From dive watches to sports watches and everything in between, we’ve tested dozens of timepieces to bring to you our in-depth list of the 6 Best Chronograph Watches For Under 500 Dollars In 2021.
Let’s get going with our #6 entry!
The 6 Best Chronograph Watches Under $500
6) Graf Zeppelin Chronograph Alarm Watch
- Chronograph- Alarm
- Swiss Movement
- Brequet style hands
- Stainless steel case (polished)
- 2 Years warranty
Crafted to commemorate the centennial of the birth of the Zeppelin airship, the Graf Zeppelin Chronograph Alarm Watch honors history without looking back too far. With three subdials for chronograph functions, a well-place date window, a sturdy stainless steel case, and an embossed black leather strap, this watch straddles the line perfectly between getting things done and looking good doing them.
Specs
Display Window Material: Mineral
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 42 mm
Case Thickness: 13 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Length: Men’s Standard
Strap Width: 22 mm
Strap Color: Black
Dial Color: Black
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Swiss Quartz
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Pros
- This contains all the classic style elements of old-school pilot watches.
- The included Swiss quartz movement is fantastically precise.
- The black-on-black design scheme works well with whatever you’re wearing.
Cons
- The hour and minute hands are really small compared to the rest of the dial.
- The leather watch strap is kinda stiff out of the box.
5) Junkers G38 Chronograph Quartz Watch
- Black Leather strap
- Stainless-steel case, White dial
- Quartz movement
- Case diameter: 42mm
- Water resistant: 100m
The crisp white dial and two subdials of the Junkers G38 Chronograph Quartz Watch have a timeless look that’s just so fun to see around your wrist. The Bauhaus-inspired design is organized, uncluttered, and easy to use. The inclusion of different colors (black or brown) for your textured leather strap allows you to personalize this modernist marvel to your tastes. The Junkers G38 is anything but junk.
Specs
Display Window Material: Mineral
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 42 mm
Case Thickness: 12 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Length: Men’s Standard
Strap Width: 22 mm
Strap Color: Black
Dial Color: Silver
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Swiss Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Pros
- The 100 meters of included water resistance makes it the perfect accessory for swimming or boating.
- The Swiss quartz movement keeps time with very little clock drift.
- The leather strap is breathable and surprisingly comfy on first wear.
Cons
- The mineral dial window isn’t the best at scratch and ding resistance.
- It feels a bit simplistic and light on features compared to some other watches on this list.
4) Bulova Lunar Pilot Watch
- From the Bulova Archive Series, The Lunar Pilot made space history on August 2, 1971--during the Apollo 15 mission, a moon pilot chronograph was worn on the moon.
- 6 Hand, Chronograph, High Performance Quartz
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Sapphire Crystal
- 50M Water Resistant and 3 Year Limited Warranty
With a tachymeter scale chock full of Arabic numerals and three separate subdials, there’s a lot going on with the Bulova Lunar Pilot Watch. However, it’s all organized perfectly — from the hour markers to the placement of the date display in between the four and the five o’clock position. It’s a stunning replica of the same watch worn by David Scott for the Apollo 15 mission, albeit with a upgraded quartz movement.
Specs
Display Window Material: Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 45 mm
Case Thickness: 13.5 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Length: 9.25 inches
Strap Width: 22 mm
Strap Color: Black
Dial Color: Black
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Pros
- Bulova instilled this watch with a classic coolness factor.
- If you’re a history buff and space travel is your thing, this watch is also your kind thing.
- The anti-reflective sapphire crystal dial window cuts down glare even in direct sunlight.
Cons
- The water resistance of this watch is on the lower end of the scale.
- The watch face might be too big for some smaller wrists.
3) Casio Men’s Edifice Tough Solar Watch
- Solar powered, 100M Water Resistant, Mobile link (Wireless linking using Bluetooth SMART), Airplane mode, LED Light (Super Illuminator)
- World Time 40 times zones, Hand shift feature, 1/100 second stopwatch, Countdown Timer, 5 daily alarm, Low battery alert, Full auto-calendar (to year 2099), Power Saving (hands stop to save power when the watch is left in the dark.)
- 12/24 hour format, Button operation tone on/off, Analog:3 hands, Digital: Hour, minute, second, pm, date, day, world time am/pm
- Approximate battery operating time: 8 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after charge) 26 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge)
If you’re not familiar with Casio’s array of durable, function-rich sports watches, then you’re in for a treat with the Casio Men’s Edifice Tough Solar Watch. The shock resistance and 100 meters of water resistance enhance this timepiece’s toughness, but its the advanced features such as Bluetooth phone syncing and brilliant Super Illuminator LED light which really push this baby over the top.
Specs
Display Window Material: Mineral
Display Type: Analog/Digital
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Strap Material: Stainless Steel
Strap Color: Silver
Dial Color: Black
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Solar-Powered Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Pros
- The addition of Casio’s Tough Solar technology means you can charge this phone easily with a lamp or a tiny touch of sunlight.
- Casio watches are all about useful features, and this one is no different.
- Nobody does chronographs quite like Casio. Having a digital display to help makes it easier to read, too.
Cons
- The digital displays might be hard to read for those with visual impairments.
- The Bluetooth connectivity is somewhat buggy with certain phones.
2) Seiko SSB031 Men’s Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch
- Quartz movement
- Case diameter: 40 mm
- Chronograph, stainless steel case case
- Hardlex
- Water-resistant to 100 meters(330 feet)
While other chronograph watches attempt to reinvent the wheel with updated design schemes, the Seiko SSB031 Men’s Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch leans into what makes the subgenre great. It offers the water resistance of a good dive watch, the durability of the top sports timepieces, and an easy-to-read and easy-to-utilize dial (and subdials) when you need to use it as a stopwatch. And to make things even better’, the Hardlex crystal dial window is a real beast!
Specs
Display Window Material: Scratch-ResistantHardlex Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Push ButtonDeployment Clasp
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Case Thickness: 11 mm
Strap Material: Stainless Steel
Strap Length: Men’s Standard
Strap Width: 20 mm
Strap Color: Silver
Dial Color: Black
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Pros
- Seiko makes affordable, fan-favorite watches that last long and go strong.
- The scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal dial window can maintain clarity for years without scuffing.
- This watch is a perfect swimming or water sports companion. It doesn’t mind getting wet.
Cons
- The luminous hands can lose their resonance relatively quickly over time.
- The tachymeter feels a bit condension and imprecise.
1) Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph Watch with Perpetual Calendar
- Round watch in stainless steel with contrasting chronograph subdials featuring date window at 4 o'clock and semi-covered hour markers
- 44 mm stainless steel case with mineral dial window
- Japanese quartz movement with analog display
- Croco-embossed leather band with buckle closure
- Water resistant to 100 m (330 ft): In general, suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not scuba diving.
If you need a chronograph watch that’s not just water ready but actually loves the wet stuff, the watertight screw-down crown and overall construction of the Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph Watch is right up your alley. Citizen watches are much more dependable than most budget watches with long-lasting builds that don’t disappoint. And, the inclusion of Citizen’s breakthrough Eco-Drive technology eliminates the need for battery changes with the best solar-powered technology in the watch industry today.
Specs
Display Window Material: Mineral Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Case Thickness: 12 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Length: 9.5 inches
Strap Width: 22 mm
Strap Color: Brown
Dial Color: Silver
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Pros
- Eco-Drive technology harnesses solar power to amazing effect. You won’t have to worry about battery changes!
- The Japanese quartz movement is as accurate as it gets.
- The overall design of this watch is both attractive and easy to understand. It looks good and works like a charm.
Cons
- The mineral dial window doesn’t resist scratches like sapphire or Hardlex crystal.
- The watch face might be a bit too wide for small wrists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a chronograph watch?
Chronograph timepieces combine the functionalities of a stopwatch and a regular display watch. An analog timepiece usually has an independent sweep second hand and a sub-dial that tracks minutes. A digital chronograph often features a push button stop and start for the included stopwatch. A chronograph function is perfect for anyone who is doing athletic training, racing, or anything that requires you to track lap or section times.
Are chronograph watches good for everyday wear?
Yes! Whether you prefer expensive watches or cheaper sports watch options, chronograph timepieces are a great everyday option! Whether you pick one with a Swiss quartz movement, Japanese quartz movement, or mechanical setup, the classic style and useful chronograph functions of the best watches in the class make them the right accessory choice day in and day out.
Closing Thoughts
Take notice, watch enthusiasts! The affordable watches on the list above combine classic watch features like luminous hands and unidirectional bezel (or tachymeter bezel) functionality, with fantastic aesthetics that make them look much more expensive than they actually are. If you’re in need of a stylish timepiece that turns heads while also being extremely useful, leave the other watches to the amateurs. Grab one of these chronograph superstars and get going!