Affordable dress watches don’t have to be low-cost compromises. While some budget dress watches lack originality with simple white dial schemes and low-quality build materials, there are also dozens of great affordable dress watches in the marketplace that look just as fabulous as their luxury counterparts.
There’s a misconception out there in the watch world that the more money you spend, the better you’ll look. That’s not always true. Do you want a dress watch with a stunning minimalist design or one that carries off Bauhaus style without a hitch?
You can find stunning, sleek, and downright sultry dress watches at a price point that won’t put a hurting on your bank account or credit cards. We’ve compiled our favorite affordable dress timepieces, bringing them together into an easy-to-digest list of the 6 Best Affordable Dress Watches Under $200.
The 6 Best Dress Watches Under $200
6) Vincero Men’s Kairos Luxury Watch
- Case Diameter: 42mm
- Movement: Citizen Miyota Quartz
- Water Resistance: 10 ATM
- Stainless Steel: 316L Surgical
- Strap Material: Top-Grain Italian Leather
We start with a lesser-known brand in the watch world. San Diego-based watch company Vincero is pretty new to the game, but that doesn’t mean that they’re behind the curve. The Vincero Men’s Kairos Luxury Watch matches style and wits with most low-end dress watches. Every curve and line is clean and perfectly placed. And the dark blue dial on this particular model has an undeniable resonance that will carry over to and through your entire outfit.
Specs
Display Window Material: Mineral Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 43 mm
Case Thickness: 9 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Length: Men’s Standard
Strap Width: 22 mm
Strap Color: Brown
Dial Color: Blue
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Pros
- This dress watch is available in nearly a dozen different style and color combinations.
- The dial design is well-balanced and so appealing.
- This watch is versatile enough to be worn with casual, business-casual, and formal outfits.
Cons
- The included Japanese quartz movement doesn’t quite match up to those made by the likes of Seiko.
- The leather band is exceedingly stiff out of the box.
5) Seiko SNE039 Stainless Steel Solar Watch
- Solar-powered classic watch with sunray dial featuring logo under 12 o'clock, sword-shape hands, and date window at 3 o'clock
- 37 mm stainless steel case with Hardlex dial window
- Quartz movement with analog display
- Stainless steel link bracelet with push-button clasp
- Water resistant to 30 m (100 ft): In general, withstands splashes or brief immersion in water, but not suitable for swimming.
While Seiko has plenty of dress watches that retail over our $200 threshold, the budget-conscious Seiko SNE039 Stainless Steel Solar Watch sacrifices very little in the way of aesthetic and build materials. A demure dress watch with a quality solar-powered quartz movement, the Seiko SNE039 dials down the fuss in favor of a classic, slick presentation. It also features a scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal dial window that’ll keep the watch face clear for years to come.
Specs
Display Window Material: Hardlex Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Push Button Deployment Clasp
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 37 mm
Case Thickness: 9.6 mm
Strap Material: Stainless Steel
Strap Length: Men’s Standard
Strap Width: 19 mm
Strap Color: Silver
Dial Color: Black
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Quartz
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Pros
- The date display is large and quite legible to the naked eye.
- The classic black dial design makes a big statement with very little going on.
- The solar-powered quartz movement takes very little light to keep it moving strong.
Cons
- The luminous hands lose their potency quickly over the course of a night.
- The stock stainless steel band could be better. It squeaks a bit out of the box.
4) Stuhrling Original Analog Display Watch
- Minimalist design brings a sleek elegance to any wrist
- Ultra slim profile has minimal weight and bulk combined with genuine leather band provides maximum comfort
- Quick set date window for easy functionality while maintaining an uncluttered watch dial
- Versatile, expressive style pairs well with both casual and professional attire, making this a timepiece for all occasions
When we look for dress watches, we tend to discount those offering with a chunky, thick case. That’s why the slim-lined Stuhrling Original Analog Watch is so appealing to use — it interweaves quality watch materials and an aerodynamic structure that looks downright luxurious around your wrist. The no-fuss black dial is a real treat, and the inclusion of a Krysterna crystal dial window protected the watch face from scuffing and scratching.
Specs
Display Window Material: Krysterna Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Case Thickness: 7 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Width: 22 mm
Strap Color: Black
Dial Color: Black
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Pros
- While the circular date display is small, it’s the perfect contrast to the all-black dial.
- The black dial and black leather band offer a little bit of edge to a classic dress watch look.
- The stainless steel case is pretty dang durable for a budget dress watch.
Cons
- The Japanese quartz movement can lose about 3-4 minutes a week.
- The included leather band may flake and lose coloration with everyday use.
3) Orient Bambino Version IV Japanese Automatic Dress Watch
- 41mm Case Diameter
- Japanese-automatic Movement
- Water resistant to 30m (100ft): in general, withstands splashes or brief immersion in water, but not suitable for swimming or bathing
- Case thickness: 11.8mm
Available with a multitude of color combinations and strap choices, the Orient Bambino Version IV Watch series is pure versatility at its finest. Our personal favorite is the multi-tone blue-to-black dial featured above. When it catches the light just right, everything from the stick hour markers to the Orient logo comes off in a breathtaking fashion. This is also the only automatic watch on this list and features a lengthy power reserve compared to most affordable mechanical watches.
Specs
Display Window Material: Mineral Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 41 mm
Case Thickness: 11 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Length: 9.5 inches
Strap Width: 22 mm
Strap Color: Black
Dial Color: Blue
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Japanese Automatic
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Pros
- There are so many different versions of this dress watch available in a variety of colors.
- It’s a bit bigger and kinder to those with larger, thicker wrists.
- The included Japanese automatic movement is well-balanced and crafted nicely.
Cons
- This dress watch is extremely hard to read in dim lighting conditions.
- Some available color combinations are better than others
2) Citizen Eco-Drive Corso Stainless Steel Quartz Watch
- Timeless styling that effortlessly takes you from work to play.
- 3 Hand, Date
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Mineral Crystal
- 30 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
Timepieces within the Citizen Eco-Drive watch collection are always great value picks. The Citizen Corso Men’s Quartz Watch is no exception. The key selling point here is Citizen’s Eco-Drive solar-powered technology which turns little bits of both natural and artificial light into long stints of usage life. And this particular Citizen watch model ups the ante with a multi-toned silver dial and rose gold accents that tie everything together quite perfectly.
Specs
Display Window Material: Mineral Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Case Thickness: 9 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Length: 7 inches
Strap Width: 21 mm
Strap Color: Black
Dial Color: Silver
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Pros
- The addition of Roman numeral hour markers at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions was a great choice.
- The silver dial has a sunray element that pops in the right kind of light.
- The solar-powered quartz movement has a lengthy power reserve that can keep it going for around a month.
Cons
- The date window gets lost in the dial design.
- The rose gold watch hands look great, but they’re hard to read in low light.
1) Bulova Men’s Watch
- From the Bulova Men's Classic Collection, inspired by vintage design, our classic watches achieve a tailored, understated look that's always in style.
- 3 Hand, Calendar, Slim Movement
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Mineral Crystal
- 30M Water Resistant and 3 Year Limited Warranty
A stately timepiece with a sensual slim profile, the Bulova Classic Quartz Men’s Watch operates under the adage that less is indeed more. Its thin case and the comfortable leather band look fantastic and form-fit beautifully to most wrist sizes. You don’t need sub-dials and lots of distractions to make a great dress watch. With slim watch hands and hour indices and a well-place date display, everything is in its right place with this Bulova breakthrough.
Specs
Display Window Material: Mineral Crystal
Display Type: Analog
Clasp Style: Buckle
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Case Diameter: 37 mm
Case Thickness: 5.9 mm
Strap Material: Leather
Strap Length: Men’s Standard
Strap Width: 20 mm
Strap Color: Black
Dial Color: Silver
Bezel Material: Stainless Steel
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Pros
- When you purchase a watch with the Bulova name imprinted on it, you know you’re getting minimalist style at its budget-friendly finest.
- The slim watch hands are quite the aesthetic treat.
- It’s available in three different color schemes, giving you plenty of attractive options to choose from.
Cons
- The leather band is stiff out of the box. It gets better after repeated use, but it’s still rough at first.
- The buckle closure of the stock band struggles to maintain its strength over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Affordable Dress Watches
Can I find stylish dress watches at affordable prices?
Yes! You don’t have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to get your pick of the best high-quality dress watches out there right now. Whether you’re looking for men’s or women’s dress watches, some of the best watches we’ve tested can be had for under $200 a pop. You can look like a million bucks while wearing a gorgeous new timepiece from a trusted watch brand like Seiko or Citizen. In fact, this list is teeming with men’s watches under $200 that are also top-quality watches that straddle the line between style and substance.
What watch features should I look for in the best men’s watches under $200?
You don’t have to sacrifice style when you purchase an affordable watch. In fact, you should expect plenty from all men’s dress watches you buy — even those that can be had for $200 or less.
Watch features you should look for in the best dress watches under $200 include premium materials like a high-quality brown leather strap, an accurate timekeeping mechanism like a Japanese quartz movement or automatic movement, an easy-to-read date window, luminous hands and hour markers, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a lengthy power reserve for solar and automatic watches, and an attractive watch face with cool design quirks like Roman numerals or sleek stick indices.
Closing Thoughts
The six dress watches above are all crafted by some of the best watch brands going today. Price doesn’t always equate to quality. For a fraction of the cost of a Rolex, you can secure a water-resistant timepiece that looks good with both a suit and business-casual garments. When you wear one of the dress watches above, you’ll get a boost of confidence that’ll carry through for your next date or huge job interview.