According to some historians, the first proper wristwatch was gifted to a queen, so these timepieces were always more than simply utilitarian. Now, they can be not only status symbols but beautifully wrought pieces of jewelry. We’ve all seen watches that sell for tens of thousands of dollars, even though in the end they do what watches have done for a little over two centuries. That is, they tell you what time it is. These watches may find their way to the wrists of the mucky mucks, but you can also have a swanky watch for no more than a couple of hundred bucks and in many cases less than that. Here are a few to choose from.
1. Seiko 5 SNK809
If you’re looking for elegant simplicity, you can’t beat this watch. It has an immaculate stainless steel case, an analog display and a lovely band of black canvas. One fun fact about this watch is that you need to swing it from side to side for about half a minute to get it going. It’s possible to have this timepiece for under $100.
2. Orient Bambino
Available for under $150, versions of this watch come in colors from peach to sky blue to rust red to pine green. Some of these versions also have dials that seem just a bit convex, giving them a pillowy look. Most bands are made of leather, but there are versions with bracelets of stainless steel.
3. Timex Marlin
4. Citizen’s Eco-Drive BM8180-03E
5. Casio Edifice EFV-100
An object of robust beauty, this watch made mostly of gleaming stainless steel sports three hands, including a jaunty hour hand shaped like an arrow. You can even wear it to 328 feet underwater. Better yet, it can be yours for around $100.
6. Invicta Pro Diver 8926OB
7. Bulova Classic 96B104
8. Tissot Everytime
This is a line of watches that you can purchase for $150 to $200. This watch line also has men’s and women’s versions. Some have stainless steel bands coated with PVD applied yellow gold. Dials come in colors from a moony silver to ingot gold to black to malachite green.
9. MVMT Classic Line
10. Vostok Amphibia
11. Daniel Wellington Classic Sheffield
12. Swatch Skin Irony
13. Hamilton’s Khaki Field Quartz
14. Lorus by Seiko
Seiko is another old and revered watch company whose very name means “exquisite” in Japanese. The Lorus line offers watches and chronographs that range from those with a military look to fun pastel children's watches made of plastic and silicone. You can easily have a Lorus for under $100.
15. Skagen Ancher
Inspired by a Danish art colony and one of its most prolific painters, these watches come in many irresistible styles. There are watches with stainless steel bracelets whose square dials sport rounded corners, watches with perfectly round dials with leather straps and multifunction watches with straps of steel mesh. There’s one under $150 just right for you.