When discussing the luxury watch world and brands like Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet, we generally discuss watches with a serious price tag. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy mechanical timepieces. There are plenty of options out there that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. We picked five entry-level watches that could spark a love for a new passion. After all, collecting mechanical watches isn’t a hobby for the happy few; no, it’s a hobby that should be for everyone – and it is! So, let’s look at some of the best automatic watches under €500.
Citizen Super Titanium Automatic Small Seconds
Citizen is a brand with many great options under €500. The Japanese brand offers a wide variety of models for the set budget. Citizen has you covered with an extensive collection of serious dive watches, rugged sports models, and stylish daily wearers. We picked the brand’s Super Titanium Automatic Small Seconds series. This stylish series of lightweight daily wearers was introduced in 2024 and received much praise. Thanks to the use of lightweight titanium, the watches combine modern looks with great wearability.
Citizen introduced four models with a 40.5mm Super Titanium case and bracelet. Thanks to the predominantly brushed finish, the darker hue of the titanium material gets a nice textured feel. The color combines nicely with the four dial colors that Citizen introduced. The first two are the green (NJ0180-80X) and blue (NJ0180-80L) dial versions with a black ring on the periphery that holds the minute track. The other two are the white-dial version (NJ0180-80A) and a turquoise-dial variant that Citizen calls “Lightgreen” (NJ0180-80M), which do not have that black ring and therefore look more modern and open. All four models have a nicely textured dial with a small seconds sub-dial at 5 o’clock. Inside the case, you will find the brand’s in-house caliber 8213 that powers this great series of lightweight daily wearers that cost €429. It makes them a great first pick for this list.
Seiko 5 Sports SSK GMT Field Series
Back in 2019, Seiko introduced the new Seiko 5 Sports collection. Every year, the collection has grown with various new introductions. All of the new Seiko 5 Sports models are part of either the SKX series, the Field series, or the SNXS series. All three series have a distinct design signature. The SKX series takes after the famous Seiko SKX dive watch, the Field series is the Seiko 5 collection of military-inspired field watches, and the SNXS series is a series of stylish daily wearers. Although I have picked one specific model from the Field series for this list, I suggest you look at the entire collection to find your favorite.
A duo of watches that has quickly become a fan favorite is the Seiko 5 Sports SSK GMT Field series. The two models are inspired by classic military field watches. Seiko introduced two versions in 2023. The first is the SSK023, which has a black dial and a stainless steel GMT bezel on a stainless steel bracelet. The second is the stealthy black SSK025 with a blacked-out stainless steel case, black dial, black GMT bezel, and black leather NATO strap. The watches all feature a 39.4mm case that is 13.6mm thick and are water resistant up to 100 meters. Thanks to the addition of the GMT hand and the 24-hour GMT bezel, you can keep track of time in an extra time zone during your adventures. It makes the SSK GMT series the perfect affordable travel watch. The stainless steel SSK023 is €460, whereas the stylish black model is slightly cheaper at €430.
Lorier Neptune Series IV
One of the best developments in the watch industry is the growth of smaller independent brands. They have pushed the boundaries by offering value for money using luxury materials, great movements, and stellar designs. One of the leading affordable brands is the New York-based brand Lorier. The brand has made a name by creating some of the best vintage-inspired tool watches. Lorier’s Falcon series is a great pick inspired by the great Rolex Explorer. But we picked the brand’s retro-styled Neptune Series IV dive watch. At $499, it is the perfect third pick for this list.
The design of the Neptune was inspired by the great dive watches of the 1950s, specifically the early Rolex Submariner models. The watch features a 39mm stainless steel case that is 12.7mm thick, including the domed crystal. The black dial features gold-colored details after the classic Rolex gilt dials. On top of that, Lorier equips the Neptune with gold-colored hands to complete the look in style. As this is a classic dive watch, the Neptune features a traditional 60-minute dive bezel with numerals that light up in the dark, along with the hands and markers on the dial. Additionally, the watch is powered by the trusted automatic Japanese Miyota 90S5 caliber. This reliable and affordable movement ensures that this retro-inspired dive watch stays under $500.
Blancpain × Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms
Our fourth pick is the Blancpain × Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms. This series of popular Bioceramic watches followed in the footsteps of the tremendously popular MoonSwatch. This time, Swatch was inspired by the design of the famous Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first modern dive watch, Swatch introduced five colorful Bioceramic versions inspired by Blancpain’s famous dive watch in 2023. In the two years after, the brand introduced an additional three models to create a full collection of eight colorful Swatch dive watches.
All Scuba Fifty Fathoms models feature a 42.3mm case that is 14.4mm thick and water resistant up to fifty fathoms or 91 meters. The Bioceramic case comes in eight different colors that are matched by the colors on the dials and contrasted by the color of the bezel. The sturdy yet comfortable NATO strap combines the colors of the case, dial, and bezel to complete the look in style. Inside the case of all the Scuba Fifty Fathoms models, you will find the Sistem51 movement. This automatic caliber features a colorful design and finish that is in line with the theme of your favorite model. It creates a colorful and popular series of fun timepieces that make for a great, affordable fourth pick at €400.
Orient Bambino 38
Last on this list of great watches under €500 is the Orient Bambino 38. It’s a series of brilliant dress watches to close out this list with a more stylish pick. The Bambino 38 series is perfectly suited for informal daily wear but also feels right at home on a more formal occasion, thanks to its traditional style. This combination has made it an affordable fan favorite. The Orient Bambino has a nicely sized 38.4mm stainless steel case that is 12.5mm thick. The watches are very well proportioned and wear like a charm.
Orient offers the Bambino 38 with a string of different dial colors. Among them are the standard black and white dial versions. But I would opt for the models with the stunning powdery colors. You can choose from a creamy yellow, dove gray, copper, or baby blue dial; they all look stylish. Orient matches them with beautiful leather straps that finish the look in style. The Bambino 38 is powered by the automatic Orient Caliber F6724 with a 40-hour power reserve. This classic dress watch is available for €309 on a leather strap. But if you prefer a stainless steel bracelet, it can be yours for €359, making the series a great, affordable option.
So, those are five great automatic watches available for under $500. There are a host of other great options that could have been on this list. What’s most important, however, is that you can enjoy mechanical watches without breaking the bank.
