Originally published in late November 2016, this post has become an evolving perennial favorite. This update for Holiday Season 2020 updates with some new and exciting options. The list is growing a little shorter this year, but still contains many solid options to be appreciated by all levels of watch people.
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With the Holidays fully among us, I wanted to put together some great go to watches all under $300. Whether you've started to become interested in watches and are thinking about dipping your toe in for the first time, or are shopping for a seasoned collector and just want to participate in their interest or hobby, all of the watches on this list are great in the own right and really have something special to set them apart.
Seiko 5
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If everyone were to make the most logical progression into mechanical watches possible, I would have to think the Seiko 5 would be everyone's jumping off point. Starting around $80, in a variety of colors, and with an automatic movement, and day-date display, the field watch provides a basic entry, and Seiko offers a myriad of options within the "5" family from there.
The 5 even comes in an extremely classy, sub $100 option that represents what might be the best "value" in any watch available. When a publication used to covering Patek Phillippe's hammering for millions at auction waxes on poetically about this watch's merits, it's hard to ignore. "The Value Proposition: A Seventy-Five Dollar Watch that Looks Like a Million Bucks."
At 37mm, in a stainless steel case, and with a great, classic, "field dial" layout, it's hard to really even recommend much else, when this one is less than the price of a nice dinner for one. New for 2019, the Seiko 5 lineup received a revamping and upping of the price tag with many models now seemingly replacing the venerable SKX options in their entry diver lineup, though at 100m water resistance. I personally find the one below to be quite charming with the mesh bracelet and “faux-tina” vintage styled lume, though I imagine the more traditional oyster style bracelet to be more slightly more versatile, timeless, and robust.
The Seiko 5 lineup recently received a pretty extensive overhaul, bumping the venerable SKX lineup out for the time, with a ton of fresh new combinations of bezel, case, dial, and bracelet options. One of my personal favorites for its clean, timeless, and really versatile designs is the SRPE55K1 below for around $206 on bracelet, which is a heck of a buy and an easy substitute for the outgoing SKX013.
Swatch Sistem51
This one might be a bit polarizing, but it cannot be denied. Let's look at what you have here: a Swiss made, in-house automatic movement, with date, and 90-hour power reserve, for under $150. The Sistem51 represents the World's first mechanical movement to be fully produced via automated assembly, and it's comprised of just 51 parts. The sheer stats and feats of this watch led many heavy-hitting collectors out to buy them strictly to be put in the safe. HODINKEE provides a nice look at its significance here.
Background aside, the watch is very wearable, playful, and fun. The plastic case is lightweight and comes in a variety of colors if you're looking to standout a bit, the dials are playful and stylized, and I find this just makes for a really fun watch. It can also be a great introduction into the world of mechanical watches with its display case back showing off a matching and highly decorated, patterned, and colorful movement. For less than $150 on Amazon you really can't go wrong, it's just a fun watch.
Timex Marlin
Timex has been killing it lately, even for watch nerds, selling out quirky, vintage inspired pieces like the Timex Q earlier this year. This particular example, the Marlin, isn’t limited, but it is so good being the only manually wound caliber on this list, with mid-century looks that have lots of subtle interest and tons of vintage style to class up anyone’s wrist, guy or gal. I just don’t know where else to get a new, stainless steel case, manually wound, vintage styled watch for $200, so I felt this had to be included. UPDATE: it’s now available in a number of handsome 40mm variants on bracelet with an automatic movement for just $260!
Dan Henry continues to be one of the absolute gems and mind boggling favorites of the watch world for delivering an absolute ton of value and though in such an accessible package. With new releases continuing to come, including this absolutely stunning 1937 chronograph released earlier this year, Dan Henry watches continue to be one of the best / most fun options out there for non-watch people to seasoned collectors. Just $270, shipped, including a watch roll and a leather strap. I’m not even sure how that price point is attainable considering most watch rolls are more than that alone these days.
Thanks for reading and happy gifting. I truly believe the nice thing about this list is these watches would be appreciated (and I see them appreciated) by all levels of watch people (or not) as just great things.
With all of the model variants you are left with well over 10 really solid choices for under $300 pretty much any day of the week. These are all solid watches, some of which I own or plan to own myself. Interestingly enough, I chose to stop at $300, largely because in between $300 and maybe $700 I don't often see gaining much for the additional money spent. However, I’m happy to revise this paragraph for 2019 to state there seem to be more and more options entering this space every week, so I just may need to add a next tier roundup soon, particularly to cover some of the wonderful independent watches coming through.
Furthermore, I really like the options on this list because any one of them would make a great first or only watch but are also "credible" enough in their own right that even hard core watch collectors would or do own some or many of them. For example, behind nearly any watch collector's collection, especially those focused on vintage, is almost always a Seiko diver. And that speaks volumes of those watches and the like minded pieces included here.
Have any questions? Curious about something not on the list or wondering where to find something in particular? Feel free to reach out via email at meticulist.net (at) gmail or via the contact page.
Gift ideas for watch lovers that can all be had before Christmas via Amazon Prime