Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Whether navigating waitlists or wading into the murky gray market, buying a great watch can be difficult. That’s why, for the sake of one’s wallet (and sanity), many set their sights on reasonably-priced timepieces from highly-regarded brands like Seiko, Hamilton, and Citizen. Bulova is among the best on this list, and recently, one of its most popular dive watches received a tremendous discount.
Right now, a popular Bulova Marine Star ‘Series B’ quartz watch is on sale for $201—a 43% discount on the normal $350 price. This watch has earned over 350 five-star ratings from stylish shoppers who have called it “intrinsically handsome” and the “perfect size.” The savings are significant, leaving you with enough scratch to pick up a G-Shock or a couple of Timex watches to occasionally switch things up.
Bulova Marine Star ‘Series B’ Watch, $201 (was $350) on Amazon
This watch is a hefty 43mm, but the black face and stainless steel case give it a simple and sleek look that’s perfect for any dressy or casual outfit. It has a three-hand design and a date window and features a rotating bezel that lets you measure elapsed time (and is also fun to fidget with). In keeping with the nautical theme, it’s water-resistant up to 100 meters, which makes it capable of handling a swim. It’s also powered by a quartz movement, making it an accurate and low-maintenance option.
Shoppers were impressed with the looks and quality of the watch. “I’ve worn this watch almost every day for the last year and absolutely love it,” a shopper said. “It looks just as much at home in formal wear at work as it does out on the weekends or working on my car.”
Others were impressed with how the watch compared to more expensive timepieces, with one writing, “Everyone always thinks it is a Rolex until they stare at it long enough.” Another shopper called it a “good travel watch to replace your Rolex Submariner,” adding, “The quality is really good and it really looks like a Sub.”
If you’re looking for an affordable watch from a trusted brand, this Bulova Marine Star is a steal at just $201 and it’s a great watch to wear in any setting. The sale is only live for a limited time, so if this is the right one for your style, pick it up before the clock runs out.
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Owning a fine Swiss watch is something that many collectors strive for, but it may be more attainable than you think. You can find a great Swiss watch from the same place you buy fire pits and T-shirts: Amazon. Tissot, a trusted Swiss watchmaker, sells many of its affordable watches on the mega marketplace, including the Chrono XL—a rugged take on the field watch that’s on sale for over $200 off right now.
The Tissot Chrono XL typically retails for $395, but it’s 61% off right now, dropping the price to $156 for a limited time. This watch has been purchased over 200 times in the last month and has earned over 100 five-star ratings from shoppers who say it’s “comfortable to wear” and that they “love the quality.“
This large 45mm watch features a quartz movement for precise timekeeping. It comes with an olive canvas strap, giving it a rugged, military-inspired look juxtaposed by the three chronograph sub-dials that provide precise stopwatch timekeeping. The face uses baton indices and Arabic numerals at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions, and there’s even a date window at the 4 o’clock position. To modernize the look, Tissot has dressed the case in a matte black PVD coating.
Shoppers were impressed with the versatile look of this Tissot watch. “I wanted something a little more sporty and casual,” one shopper said. “I love this watch. It is easy to read, and has the right amount of casualness while still being incredibly elegant.” Another shopper called it “handsome and durable,” adding, “I use it as a daily watch.”
Others appreciated the great value of the watch. “You can’t beat this Tissot for value to price,” a shopper said. Many have even chosen it as their daily driver, including one shopper who said, “I have Rolex, Bulova, G-Shock MTG, Citizen, Timex, and several others, and this is the one I put on every day now.”
Legendary Swiss watchmakers typically charge a pretty penny for their timepieces, but Tissot watches, like this one, are renowned for their modestly priced quartz and mechanical Swiss construction. Since it’s only 61% off for a limited time, the clock is ticking for this deal, so act fast if it’s calling your name.
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
There’s an undeniable magic that comes with wearing a traditional watch. Classic watches have been refined over hundreds of years and are still synonymous with a gentleman’s style, but good watches can be very expensive. Heritage brands like Rolex and Omega continue to charge thousands of dollars for their mechanical masterpieces, even for the lower-end models. But some shoppers have found their way to one Invicta dive watch that offers the look of luxury for less than 1% of the cost.
The Invicta Pro Diver Coin-Edge Automatic watch in black is one of Amazon’s most popular styles at just $79. It currently ranks among the 30 bestselling watches on the site after an astounding 29,500 five-star ratings since 2006. A very popular model, it’s available in more than 20 colors, with options to match any personality.
Invicta Pro Diver Coin-Edge Automatic Watch in Black/Stainless Steel, $79 on Amazon
This automatic watch is perfect for everyday wear. Made from a combination of alloy and stainless steel, it features a nicely sized 40mm case with black accents on the bezel and dial and glow-in-the-dark hour markers and hands. It also has an easily resizable stainless steel bracelet with a fold-over clasp. A reliable mineral crystal clearly displays the time while protecting against scratches and drops. Inside, the watch uses an automatic 24-jewel movement from Japanese manufacturer TMI (Seiko) to keep the time turning as you wear it. You can even see it working thanks to the exposed caseback.
While certain aspects will never touch the quality of a luxury watch, shoppers say there are plenty of reasons to opt for one of these instead of similar models from higher-end brands.
“I have a decent Movado watch that was a college graduation gift that I love. The issue is every time it needs a new battery it’s $100 down the drain,” one shopper said. “After extensive research, I decided I don’t wear watches often enough (once a week sometimes less) to warrant spending another thousand dollars on a name…[This watch is] very solidly built, fit and finish are very good for the price. Internals are top-notch in this price range. I’ve gotten compliments on it immediately and it has been a conversation starter several times, which makes me feel a bit weird but it catches people’s attention. The clear back is a pretty interesting feature as well.”
Surprisingly, many watch collectors have tried this Invicta and have been pleased with how it holds up, even for a sub-$100 model. And though it’s widely noted to be inspired by the Rolex Submariner, many agree that it’s a worthy and affordable alternative.
“Yes, it’s a ripoff of the Rolex Submariner just like so many others, but it’s inexpensive and built like a tank,” one shopper noted. “Seiko NH35A movement—dead reliable, cheap to service if you even bother…It is a very well-made watch with a quality movement inside that you can beat the hell out of and not feel guilty about…I own Tissots, Omegas, Orients, etc., but those don’t get used when doing yard work or working on my cars. This does and manages to still look good when I have to run to the hardware store.”
Watches often get passed through generations, giving added sentimental weight to these already significant objects. This sort of misty-eyed affection isn’t limited to just watch buyers. Take the latest release from Patek Philippe, reference 1938P, created as a tribute to former longtime company president Philippe Stern on his 85th birthday.
Philippe’s son and current president of Patek Philippe, Thierry Stern, commissioned the series of just 30 watches to honor his father—naming it 1938P after the year he was born. The new watch digs deeper into his father’s legacy, featuring a brand new movement and housing a minute repeater—Philippe Stern’s favorite complication.
Patek Philippe Reference 1938P watch with Caliber R AL 27 PS movement shown.
Courtesy Image
Putting together this new self-winding caliber R AL 27 PS movement was no easy task—requiring the addition of 227 components and the filing of four new patents. The story goes all the way back to the company’s 150th anniversary in 1989, when Philippe Stern reintroduced the minute repeater in wristwatch format with the launch of the caliber R 27. This was combined with an alarm that rings at the preset hour, one of five sound functions revealed in the Grandmaster Chime Reference 5175 back in 2014. The R AL 27 PS is built off the R 27 and, for the first time, combines a minute repeater and an alarm.
The watch is as visually striking as it is technically impressive—featuring aGrand Feuenamel portrait of Philippe Stern himself on the 18k white gold dial. The white and gray, three-quarter profile image emerges from a black enamel background, complemented by a hand-stitched alligator leather band with platinum clasp to finish off the classic look.
The platinum, officer’s-style case has a 41mm diameter with a 14.2mm thickness and is 49.4mm lug-to-lug. The case opens up to reveal the movement as well as an engraving that reads: “À mon père, 85 ans de passion horlogère. “To my father, 85 years of watchmaking passion.”
The price of this ultra-limited-edition watch is available upon request. For more information, visit the Patek Philippe website.
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Shinola is in and of itself a lifestyle. With an impressively broad range of rugged yet refined timepieces, home goods, and travel accessories, it’s easy to fall in love with the aesthetic. But it all started with one watch—the Runwell—and even after the Cyber Monday sale, you can still get it for less.
The Detroit-based brand just extended its 25% discount on nearly every product on its website, including the original Runwell watch. Normally $595, the Runwell 41mm is eligible for the discount, dropping the price to just $446. What’s even better is that Shinola is also still offering free shipping on orders over $125.
The most classic Runwell has a traditional face with black Arabic numerals on a white background. It features a round stainless steel case and a tan leather strap with contrast stitching. The aesthetic situates it somewhere between a field watch and a dress watch, with a look resembling an upgraded version of the Timex Weekender. Variations of the classic Runwell are plentiful and equally as handsome, including styles with a green dial, black-on-black features, and even a one-of-a-kind Petoskey stone dial.
Like most Shinola watches, the Runwell is powered by a quartz movement, which the brand calls Argonite 1069. The quartz movement means the watch is accurate and requires minimal maintenance. According to Shinola, the movement is made from “Swiss and other imported parts” which are hand-assembled in their Detroit factory. The Runwell watch swaps out a second hand for a second subdial, giving the face extra visual appeal. The 41mm case places it on the larger end of the spectrum, but it’s by no means oversized.
This watch spurred a movement of finer men’s accessories. To highlight just how expansive Shinola’s shop is today, look through the Runwell collection—a name that has been used for everything from sunglasses to leather backpacks, and even a bicycle. Products in the Runwell collection were designed for everyday use, and the watch is no different.
With its classic styling, premium look, and luxurious feel, the Runwell watch is a casual piece that feels special. It also comes in a stylish wood box that’s extremely giftable. This makes it a great gift for anyone on your list (including yourself).
If you’ve had your eye on a Shinola watch, now’s the time to buy with the extension of the 25% discount. You’ll want to act fast, though, because it’s unclear as to when the discount will end. At just $446 for a classic Runwell, you’ll be thanking yourself for pulling the trigger for years to come.
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Everyone knows that Rolex makes quality luxury watches that are lusted after and that Omega has a cool watch that once went to the moon on an astronaut. But for newbies to the watch collecting scene, or guys that want to branch out from their tried-and-true brands, it can be difficult to suss out just what watch from popular brands—across the watch spectrum from tough digitals to handsome mechanicals—will be right for your wrist. Hence our annual Watch Guide, which spans a wide range of watch brands and activities that can be enhanced with the help of a trusty watch at hand, and aims to give you the guidance and direction to buy your next favorite watch.
How to Buy a Great Watch
The first thing to know about watches is that anyone can get into them in a way that’s fulfilling at any budget level. It’s easy to get intimidated by videos of people handling watches with white gloves and using unnecessarily flowery or rigid language to talk about them. But the higher up you go seeking advice from respected collectors, the simpler their advice gets: Buy what you love.
Now, if what you love is a vintage Paul Newman Daytona, then following this advice is easier said than done. So, a better goal may be buying what you love within your budget. There are cool and interesting watches at every level, and there will always be a watch you want but can’t or don’t have, so enjoy the watch of right now.
If we had to pick a best overall watch to point you toward, it would be the classic, stylish, and high-quality Omega Speedmaster Professional. It’s an investment piece you could leave to your kids, or bribe your way out of a war zone in a pinch. For those on a smaller budget, but also enamored with watches that went to the moon, we also whole-heartedly endorse our runner-up, the Bulova Lunar Pilot. The finish and details on this watch make it able to hang with virtually any luxury Swiss sports watch out there—in every way but price.
Watch Styles
Once you’re immune to watch world pretentiousness and are ready to embrace the coolest watch in your budget, then it’s time to decide what kind of watch you’re into. Do you want the utilitarian look of a dive watch, the military aesthetic of a field watch, a racing chronograph with subdials, a pilot watch, a dress watch, or something totally different? Explore the different genres and have fun with the search.
In an era when our phones can automatically adjust to any time zone in the world with perfect accuracy, and grant us access to the knowledge of mankind, you don’t really need a watch to do anything other than tell you the time (to keep you from looking at your phone) and to feel good on your wrist. That said, know that buying fashion watches is best avoided. This category refers to any watches branded with a fashion label instead of a watch brand, and with the notable exception of Hermès watches, fashion watches are the equivalent of costume jewelry.
How to Pick a Watch Size
Once you’ve decided on the style of watch you’re looking for, determine what sizes will look best on your wrist—36mm was once a standard men’s watch size but would now be considered the smallest that most men would wear. A 45mm watch, meanwhile, will dwarf a smaller wrist and look awkward. For most men’s wrists, 38mm to 42mm is usually the sweet spot.
Go try on watches at a store, or if that’s not possible, many watch websites now have virtual try-ons so you can take a picture of your wrist with your phone and then see the watch on your arm on your computer. This is not ideal, though, because the thickness of a watch is a big part of how big it feels, but at least you can see the width and the lug-to-lug distance—i.e., the distance from the lugs that hold the strap above 12 o’clock to the lugs that hold it below 6 o’clock.
Lug-to-lug is an important dimension because if a watch is narrow but has a long lug-to-lug distance, it can feel larger than you’d expect based on the width alone. Similarly, if a watch is neither wide nor long on lug-to-lug but is extremely thick, it can feel bigger than expected.
Watch Movements
You will hear a lot about movements. The movement, or caliber (often spelled calibre), is the system of gears and springs that run the hands and complications of a watch. They can be automatic or self-winding, where a weight inside the watch winds a spring that powers the movement. Or manual-winding, where the wearer winds the spring every day or every few days to keep it going. They can be quartz movements, where a battery powers the gears and you change it every few years, or solar quartz, where it gets its power from sunlight and never needs winding or a battery change. If pure functionality were the goal, then even the finest watches would probably be solar quartz, but pure functionality takes a back seat to tradition in watch collecting.
Broadly speaking, the best watch movements are made in Switzerland and Japan. As mentioned above, mechanical watches are more coveted by collectors than quartz watches. But often this preference is overblown by people just getting into watches and wanting to appear savvy by affecting a disdain for anything that isn’t mechanical. Even serious watch collectors respect quartz when it’s the right movement in the right watch. Here’s what else to look for:
Manufacture Caliber or In-house Movement These are movements made by the watch companies themselves. These are generally found on higher-end watches like Rolex and Omega, but more affordable in-house movements can be found with a handful of brands, such as Oris, Seiko, and Yema.
Third-party movements made by Sellita from Switzerland or Miyota from Japan are very common, and typically less expensive while still being respected and reliable. A primary benefit of an in-house movement is the freedom of a custom fit. Whereas, if you’re a watchmaker using a third-party movement, certain specs of your watch case have to match to specs of the movement or else it won’t fit.
Master Chronometer
This is a certification of the accuracy of a watch. Phonically this is easy to confuse with the word “chronograph”—a type of watch usually designed for racing that has subdials that act as a stopwatch for measuring minutes, seconds, and fractions of seconds while the main watch hands continue to function as normal.
Some chronograph watches are certified master chronometers, but any watch can be a master chronometer if it passes the certification. That said, this certification is primarily a sales tool for luxury watch companies, because a far less expensive watch with a radio-connected solar quartz movement would still put any master chronometer automatic to shame.
Why Get Into Watch Collecting?
Watches can be a good investment, but passion should be the driving force behind your choice of watch, not social status or potential ROI. Watches are the closest thing to jewelry most men will wear on a daily basis other than their wedding rings, so why not make a meal of it?
Watch history is human history because time has always been the most valuable asset we have. Through watches you can learn about wars, sporting triumphs, trips to the moon and to the depths of the ocean. Just don’t get caught up in obsessing over specs to sound smart or to find a way to justify a large purchase—and always remember that the most important thing is to buy what you love, within the budget that you can afford. Focus on the value that you give a watch through the way it makes you feel, and the journeys and experiences you have while wearing it. In the eyes of the beholder, a Timex passed down from a father can be worth more than a Rolex in the window of a boutique.
Why You Should Trust Us
To build this year’s Watch Guide, we assembled the best of our longtime writers who’ve covered luxury, style and adventure for Men’s Journal. Plus, these writers—Stinson Carter, Nicholas McClelland, Christopher Friedmann, and Justin Park—have a particular and long-standing love and obsession for those handy timepieces that attach snugly to your wrist.
Watches—digital or analog or even smart—are true miniature marvels of engineering that any of us can acquire and wear and lust over, no matter the price. Our top watch writers took on the impressive task to bring you this year’s Watch Guide, and we hope that their many years of experience writing about men’s lifestyle products and pursuits shine through thoroughout this buyer’s guide.
Read on and enjoy, your next watch obsession may just lurk behind these links.
Bulova continues to make superb contemporary watches and vintage inspired pieces worthy of admiration for their high quality and relative affordability. We especially love our best overall pick, the Oceanographer “Devil Diver,”a fun and funky cushion-case dive watch they recently revived from their archives.
We gathered up the best Citizen watches, from entry level timepieces that cost a few hundred bucks to stunners that cost a few thousand dollars. And our best overall pick, the “Tsuyosa” Automatic, is sure get a few looks from strangers.
The G-Shock watch is a tough cult classic. For the best out there, we give the nod to the light, tough, and titanium Full Metal GMW-B500. But it doesn’t stop there. We rounded up six more of the most trustworthy options that will stand the test of time.
While Movado watches skew toward the more affordable and entry-level, they have more than a few fans out there. That includes us, especially of the Movado Alta Se Automatic Chronograph, our best overall pick of the Movado watches.
With options from high-tech divers to classy dress watches to sporty everyday options, their timepieces are known for being affordable, dependable, sturdy, and well-crafted. The Seiko Prospex Sea 1965 Diver, our best overall pick, embodies that ethos as it’s a recreation of their famous 1965 diver.
In today’s world of athlete celebrities, if you want to be considered a bona fide star, you need the watch collection to match. After all, the bigger the collection, the bigger the star, right? Here are the pro athletes with the best watch collections.
For those of us who don’t have the opportunity to throw down tens of thousands of dollars on a Rolex or the latest Richard Mille, there are still quality watches available, especially for under $500, like our overall pick, the Seiko 5 Sports SKX watch. It’s a high-quality, stainless-steel automatic that’s water resistant up to 100 meters.
You can finally find watches under $1,000 that you’ll own for a lifetime—timepieces that are their own pinnacles of watch collecting. The best watch under $1,000, the echo/neutra Averau, is our favorite as the Italian-designed, Swiss-made moon phase watch is in a class of its own.
Our favorites adventure watches are long-lasting, stylish, and pack in easy-to-use features that enhance your time outdoors instead of forcing you to focus on tech when you’re heading outside to unplug. For those reasons, the Garmin Fenix 7X Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition is our top overall pick.
For watch lovers, dive watches are an alluring way to tell the time—their simple designs look cool and are instantly legible. Plus, divers are mechanically over-engineered to take a beating, so you can knock them around a fair bit without much worry, which is why the Rolex Submariner is our top overall pick for best dive watch.
The wristwatch had become an essential piece of frontline gear by WWII and makers around the world were creating simple, functional field watches specifically for military use—a tradition that continues to this day. That’s why the Rolex Explorer is our best overall pick for the best field watch—it’s one of the most rugged and capable timepieces ever made.
While smartwatches can’t do everything your phone does, they’re close, bringing in loads of health, fitness, and safety features that make them a great complement to your phone. We found that the Google Pixel 2, which works for Apple and Android users, is the best of the bunch.
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
If your current watch just tells time, there’s an entire universe of smartwatches on the market that bring features normally reserved for smartphones right to your wrist. While these smartwatches can’t do everything your phone does, they bring in lots of health, fitness, and safety features that make them a great complement to your phone. We rounded up nine of the best smartwatches on the market, but ultimately found that the Google Pixel 2 was the best of the bunch, mostly because users of both Apple and Android can enjoy the benefits of the smartwatch.
What You Should Look for in a Smart Watch
Operating System
Google, Samsung, and Apple are all big players in this space and the best smart watch for you may come down to which tech ecosystem you’re already committed to. While a Google Watch may work with an iPhone, the integration and learning curve will be better if you stick to the brand you’re already with. (If you like the Apple Watch, you have to have an iPhone for most features.) If you value fitness and tracking features over app support and phone integration, fitness smart watch heavyweights Garmin and Suunto make dozens of worthy options.
Cellular Connection
Some smartwatches (most of the Apple and Samsung offerings) have the ability to access wireless data networks without tethering to your phone. Most fitness-first watches from brands such as Suunto and Garmin do not, meaning you’ll either need to keep your phone on you for messaging and other connected apps and download maps for offline use. Having a data connection for your phone makes it much more capable but it also drains the battery faster and almost always requires an additional line of data on your wireless plan, which usually costs around $10 per month.
Most smartwatches are fairly light, balancing the scales around 30 grams. More robust adventure watches such as the Garmin Fenix 7x we recommend below, however, can be more than double that average. While a few dozen grams might not seem like much on paper, we can promise you’ll notice the size and weight difference if you’re used to a slimline watch such as a Fitbit or Apple Watch SE.
Lightweight watches are comfortable for everyday wear, but the biggest reason to go bigger and deal with the weight penalty is screen size. Reading maps and messages on your phone is just more effective and enjoyable with a large, bright screen. Bigger watches also tend to pack bigger, longer-lasting batteries, so you may be willing to trade weight for fewer charging hassles.
After refusing to wear a watch for a decade (figured my phone had the time), outdoor sports watches made me appreciate using my smartphone less for telling time, navigation, and tracking. Since then, I’ve tested many of the major releases from brands like Garmin, Suunto, Samsung, and Casio. The Garmin Fenix 7x is my current go-to, but I also cycle in the Suunto 9 Peak and Nixon Regulus for certain outings.
I’m one of the few Android users left on Earth, but I test Apple products with my partner’s phone (under protest).
Best Overall Smartwatch: Google Pixel Watch 2
Google Pixel Watch 2 smartwatch
Courtesy Image
Google finally entered the hardware market with their Pixel Watch to pair with their Wear OS software that runs on many Samsung and other smartwatches for Android. The Google Pixel Watch 2 is a fairly light upgrade, but the price tag is only about $100 more than the original at most–and you get speed and battery upgrades that make it worth going with Version 2. Google owns Fitbit and so the 2 also brings in several Fitbit health tracking features that are welcome. With tech companies there are always rumors of a new model and the accompanying question of “Should I wait for the newer model?” But with no confirmed release date, we think it makes sense to grab the Pixel 2 unless you want to pick up the original Pixel Watch at a discount for now.
SIZE: 41mm
WEIGHT: 31g
STRAP: Fluoroelastomer Active Band
Best Smartwatch for Apple Users: Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatch
Courtesy Image
If you’re an iPhone user, it’s hard to beat the features you get with an Apple Watch, even though there are plenty of iOS compatible options from other brands. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a more fitness-focused Apple Watch but it’s good for closer to a day and a half with normal use which is just enough to let you relax about charging and just wear the dang thing. It also has all the same upgrades and features as the Series 9 but with the addition of lots of fitness features such as compass, run tracking, and built-in cellular so you can leave the phone at home when desired.
SIZE: 49mm
WEIGHT: 61.4g
STRAP: Alpine, Trail, Oceanv
Best Smartwatch for Android Users: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic smartwatch
Courtesy Image
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic uses Google’s latest Wear OS update and brings back the beloved rotating bezel control that lets you easily scroll menus instead of fiddling with small buttons as on most smart watches. This latest edition of their flagship watch has a bigger battery, but that gain is negated if not overcome by a bigger, brighter screen. The battery runtime still beats most Apple watches, but if you’re prone to forgetting to juice up, previous versions or other models might be worth a look. Because you get the latest WearOS, you’ll get access to tons of third-party apps via the Google Play Store, a flexibility you don’t get with Apple Watches and one of the best reasons to choose Samsung in this category.
Best Outdoor Smartwatch: Garmin Fenix 7X Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition
Garmin Fenix 7X Pro-Sapphire smartwatch
Courtesy Image
If you’re more into tracking VO2 Max than step counts, The Garmin Fenix 7X Pro-Sapphire Solar Edition is the GPS smartwatch for the outdoor athletes that want the latest and greatest. Garmin has a bewildering array of full-featured tracking watches for racers and adventurers, but this watch brings together fitness tracking and navigation features as well as any watch to-date. To get the most out of the significant investment here, you’ll need to value the robust fitness tracking features from sleep monitoring to ECG heart rhythm monitoring to stress and endurance scores to help you dial in your training. But for outdoor adventurers, it’s the maps and navigation tools that seal the deal. The GPS uses multi-band tech for maximum accuracy and you get altitude and compass readings like any good outdoor watch. But the mapping stands out with lots of premium features such as golf course maps, ski area maps, suggested routes back to your start, and even turn-by-turn directions for at-a-glance wayfinding when you’re moving fast.
SIZE: 51mm
WEIGHT: 88g
STRAP: Fluoroelastomer Active Band
More Smartwatches We Love
Best Budget Apple Smartwatch: Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Courtesy Image
Because Apple doesn’t license its wearable OS to other manufacturers, your options for finding a cheaper Apple watch are limited to sales and considering previous models. The Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen isn’t yet outdated, but you can pick one up for less than half the cost of the Ultra without that drastic of a downgrade in experience. If you’re new to the smartwatch category, it can be tough to stomach spending over a certain amount for a watch. But the SE makes that a bit more palatable. It’s also a great watch to hand down to kids when you’re ready for an upgrade.
SIZE: 44mm
WEIGHT: 32.9g
STRAP: Fabric Sport Loop, Silicone Sport Band
Best Budget Android Smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
Courtesy Image
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 has the rotating bezel navigation that makes this watch line stand out functionally. The screen isn’t quite as big and bright as the Galaxy 6—and it won’t be quite as future-proof–but the battery life is comparable and it’ll have most of the same functionality. Given that you can get a Watch 4 Classic for around $100 (a quarter or less of the cost of most of the latest Samsung and Apple smartwatches), it’s a no-brainer way to dip your toes into the smartwatch category before splurging.
SIZE: 46mm
WEIGHT: 52g
STRAP: Silicone
Best Fitbit Smartwatch: Fitbit Versa 3
Courtesy Image
Fitbit nails simplicity in fitness tracking and the Fitbit Versa 3 watch delivers all the basic smartphone integration you need while keeping a feature-rich but easy-to-use fitness tracking interface in the forefront, with 24/7 heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking. The Versa 3 is compatible with Android and Apple, but not surprisingly, integration is better with Android and you can use Google Assistant with the Versa 3 but no Siri, so iPhone users may prefer an Apple Watch.
SIZE: 40mm
WEIGHT: 20g
STRAP: Elastomer
Best Fitness Smartwatch: Suunto Race Sports Smart Watch
Courtesy Image
Suunto and Garmin both make a ton of feature-rich fitness-focused GPS smartwatches, but the price tags creep close to $1000, scaring off most outside of the truly hardcore. The Suunto Race Sports Watch manages to pack in almost all the must-have fitness tracking and outdoor features. The highlights are significantly better battery life than Apple/Samsung/Google and built-in mapping that lets you go off-grid without needing your phone at every intersection. The biggest difference between the Race and pricier options is the lack of solar charging, which can extend battery life almost infinitely.
SIZE: 49mm
WEIGHT: 69g
STRAP: Silicone
Best Classic Style Smartwatch: Fossil Gen 6 Classic
Courtesy Image
Google has licensed its Wear OS wearable operating system so select manufacturers such as Fossil can bring some diversity of style to the category. The Fossil Gen 6 Classic has a metal band (silicone strap included as well) which is enough to make this look far different than the most popular offerings from Samsung, Google, and Apple. The Gen 6 Classic works with both Android and Apple phones, but with a Google operating system, it’ll perform best for Android users. Though the latest Wear OS iteration is still only available on a few Samsung watches for now.
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Questions? Reach us at shop@mensjournal.com.
If it seems like Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale has come and gone with the wind, that may be because it’s only a two-day event, ending on October 11, 2023, at midnight PST. There’s also the off chance that it’s because your watch battery died.
Regardless, the October Prime Day Sale is the perfect time to shop for things you want, like fitness equipment, a new fall jacket, or even a cool watch. And, unlike your battery-powered piece, one of the best deals to be found during the sale is on the Citizen Addysen Eco-Drive Watch. It’s entirely powered by light and just $175, 53% off of the original price.
It’s no secret that this watch is handsome. The Addysen is a three-hand, 41mm round watch featuring a silver-tone stainless steel metal case and mesh band. Central is a beautiful deep blue dial with contrasting accents, complete with a date display. But the real ingenuity is inside, where you can’t see.
The Eco-Drive technology lies either around or beneath the dial and is powered by a solar cell layer that feeds into a small lithium-ion battery. One full charge allows the watch to function for six months, even in total darkness. The brand, however, recommends that you expose the watch to light every month for about six hours, just in case. This innovative light-powered charging feature negates the need for battery replacements. Over time, you’ll have made your money back considering you don’t need to purchase batteries.
The Citizen Addysen Eco-Drive watch has earned an average rating of 4.7 stars, with 83% of the total being the highest mark. For those still skeptical about a light-powered watch, consider the reviews. One customer noted, “The watch started ticking within seconds of taking it out of the box, a true testament to their Eco-Drive tech since it was night and in artificial light only.”
There’s never a bad time to get a watch for yourself or as a gift, even with today’s smartwatches; unless, of course, you wait until after the October Prime Day sale when this watch goes back up to its full price. But with a brand like Citizen, you can feel confident that it’ll have the staying power to last through whatever the next major technological change may be. Between that and the Eco-Drive tech, it’ll just always work.
More Can’t-Miss Amazon Prime Day October 2023 Sales:
Field watches are perhaps the least understood category of tool watches, partially because there are no precise requirements. The first versions were pocket watches converted to wrist pieces by soldiers in the trenches and on the battlefield during the first World War—grunts had a hard time trying to pluck a watch from inside their jackets while aiming down a barrel.
By WWII, the wristwatch had become an essential piece of frontline gear and a number of makers around the world were creating simple, functional pieces specifically for military use, which is a tradition that continues to this day. That’s why the Rolex Explorer is our best overall pick for the best field watch—it’s one of the most rugged and capable timepieces ever made.
Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Questions? Reach us at shop@mensjournal.com.
What Is a Field Watch?
Field watches are essentially tough as nails and easy to read. Most examples deploy large numbers and hands coated in luminous paint for low light visibility. Another key feature is a stop-seconds function for synchronizing with others or against a reference time ala an atomic clock. Some display a 24-hour ring for tracking military (a.k.a. Zulu) time. Typically, they don’t offer delicate complications (extra functions) since they can be easily damaged and difficult to repair.
It’s that simplicity coupled with their rugged, utilitarian nature as well as their minimalist design that make field watches great for wearing day to day, whether you’re climbing a via ferrata or just hiking off to work.
So, for anyone looking for a great field watch to add to their collection, here are 10 of our favorite options to consider.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been collecting watches for nearly as long as I’ve been able to tell time. Around the age of 10, I started disassembling pocket watches to see what makes them tick. Today, I feel naked if I accidentally leave the house without a watch on my wrist—so I’ll go back and get one. (Is it horology or is it OCD, only my shrink knows for sure.) Currently my cache includes a variety of vintage and contemporary pieces from micro brands to G-Shock. Most days I wear an Explorer II (Ref. 226570) but my grandmother’s Mickey Mouse watch will always be my favorite.
Rolex Explorer 36 (Ref. 124270)
Courtesy Image
Best Overall Field Watch: Rolex Explorer
Probably the most important quality in a field watch is reliability, something the Rolex Explorer has in spades. The bidirectional self-winding 3230 movement is accurate to -2 and +2 seconds per day and is protected from impact by high performance shock absorbers. The Explorer is available in both 36mm and 40mm sizes and like the other Rolex professional models, the Oystersteel case and bracelet are highly corrosion resistant. It will keep on keeping even in the toughest of environments. All in all, it’s one of the most rugged, capable timepieces ever made and perhaps the ultimate go anywhere, do anything watch.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Rolex 3230
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 36mm, 40mm
STRAP: Stainless-steel bracelet
Tudor Ranger
Courtesy Image
Best Automatic Field Watch: Tudor Ranger
Sure, Tudor’s Black Bay banks more hype but don’t sleep on the Ranger. It’s a boss-level field watch from the house of Wilsdorf. Want to go swimming? No problem, it’s good for 100 meters, which is deeper than most of us will ever go. The self-winding, in-house MT5402 caliber is good for 70 hours on the nightstand and it comes with a five-year warranty, just like big brother Rolex. Trust us, it’s handy. While field watches aren’t typically worn on a bracelet, Tudor makes a great one. We’d buy it that way and throw it on a strap when we head into the great outdoors.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Tudor MT5402
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 39mm
STRAP: Nylon, leather, stainless-steel bracelet
Christopher Ward C65 Sandhurst Bronze Series 2
Courtesy Image
Best Military-Style Field Watch: Christopher Ward C65 Sandhurst Bronze Series 2
The cool thing about bronze is that it will develop a unique patina over time whether you wear it hiking through the woods or camped out at your office desk. Christopher Ward got the sign off from the British Ministry of Defense for this 38mm tribute to the 1969 Smiths W10 field watch of yore. The updated piece features arrow hands coated in gold and filled with Super-LumiNova while old radium BL grade X1 lume is applied to the indexes and dots above the Arabic numerals as well as the triangle at 12 o’clock. Inside beats a Swiss-made, chronometer-certified version of the Sellita SW200-1, which means it’s good for a 0 and +5 seconds per day variance. A screw down crown helps give the watch 150 meters of water resistance and the back is stamped with the British Army’s logo.
CASE: Bronze
MOVEMENT: Sellita SW200-1
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 38mm
STRAP: Canvas
Hamilton Khaki Field Watch
Courtesy Image
Best EDC Field Watch: Hamilton Khaki Field Watch
Hamilton makes their archetypical Khaki Field Watch in both 42mm and the more traditional 38mm size. Either way it’s one of the coolest watches in the brand’s catalog. Both feature a classic dial design and hand-wound, time-only movement that is good for around 80 hours with a fully charged mainspring. The stainless-steel case and sapphire crystal combination yield 50 meters of water resistance. You get the choice of nylon NATO, leather strap or bracelet. We’d go with the bracelet, which goes against the grain with field watches. But NATO straps are cheap and good bracelets at this price point are hard to find.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Hamilton H-50
DIAL: Black, white
SIZE: 38mm, 42mm
STRAP: Nylon, leather, stainless-steel bracelet
More Field Watches We Love
Best Stylish Field Watch: Seiko 5 Sports Field Watch
Courtesy Seiko
It’s shocking how much watch Seiko offers for the money. This field watch boasts an automatic movement with 41 hours of power reserve and a day-date calendar. Plus, the 39mm case is water resistant to 100 meters. On the dial, luminous hands and markers tick around Arabic numerals marking the hours in both standard and military time. It’s an affordable, stylish option that stands out in a crowded field.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Seiko Caliber 4R36
DIAL: Gray
SIZE: 39.4mm
STRAP: Nylon
Best Titanium Field Watch on a Budget: Timex Expedition North Titanium Automatic
Courtesy Timex
It’s hard to argue against a titanium, automatic watch for under $400. And this Timex also gives the wearer a sapphire crystal, plus a screw-down crown and case back yielding 200m of water resistance. The textured, gray dial displays the time in larger numerals painted in Super LumiNova with a date window at 3 o’clock. In a nod to sustainability, Timex offers the piece on a recycled plastic strap with a titanium buckle, indisputably making it a slick daily beater.
CASE: Titanium
MOVEMENT: Miyota 8215
DIAL: Gray
SIZE: 41mm
STRAP: Nylon
Best Minimalist Field Watch: Unimatic U2 Classic
Courtesy Unimatic
Anyone who loves minimalist, reductive design, will find Unimatic’s U2 Classic a beguiling addition to their everyday carry. Assembled in Italy, the watch, a.k.a. “Modello Due,” offers a simple, signed dial with sword-style hands and round indexes painted in lume. Inside the time-only piece is powered by a reliable Seiko sourced NH35A automatic movement with a 41-hour power reserve. The 316 solid stainless-steel case lends the watch a diver level of 300 meters water resistance and reaches a svelte 38.5mm in diameter and 12.7mm thick. But the double-domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal tacks on an additional 2.7mm of girth and the lugs aren’t curved, so it will wear a bit bigger than other watches of similar stature. That won’t fit everyone, but for some it will be just right.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Seiko NH35A
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 38.5mm
STRAP: Nylon
Best Outdoors Field Watch: Benrus DTU—2A/P
Courtesy Benrus
For those who eschew labels or logos, the dial on this Benrus field watch is unsigned with only numbers and lumed indexes in standard Zulu time. Originally created to serve the U.S. military’s needs, the 39.5mm, bead-blasted 316L stainless steel case houses a Swiss Sellita SW200 automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve and 50 meters water resistance. As a bonus, the watch comes with a removable compass attached to a NATO strap as an extra tool for the field.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Sellita SW200
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 39.5mm
STRAP: Nylon
Best Hybrid Field Watch: Sinn 856 UTC
Courtesy Sinn
Sporting a Sinn is a good way to show other collectors and enthusiasts you’re in the know. The German maker is renowned inside the watch community for its bulletproof construction. The 856 UTC is no different. Though technically from their pilot line it still meets all the requirements of a great field watch and then some. The 200 meter-rated case is constructed from bead-blasted, scratch resistant stainless steel. The hour numerals are painted in lume. But beyond time and date, the Sellita automatic movement powers a UTC (a.k.a. GMT hand) to track a second time zone using an interior 24-hour scale on the dial. That hand can also be used as a sort of compass. In the northern hemisphere during daylight hours, one can hold the watch horizontally and point the 12 toward the sun and the UTC hand (set to local time) will point north. That’s a great feature whether you’re flying a plane or overlanding in the wilderness.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Sellita SW 330-1
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 40mm
STRAP: Leather
Best Field Watch for Flyboys: IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire
Courtesy IWC
Sure, it’s a pilot watch named after an airplane, but the Spitfire also looks just as cool on the ground and makes an exceptional field watch. It’s easy to read, features a ton of lume and is built for a beating. A 39mm case that’s less than 11mm thick wraps an in-house, automatic 32111 caliber with an 120-hour power reserve.
The new Victorinox I.N.O.X. Professional Diver LE checks all the boxes for a dive watch—it has a strong titanium case, it’s water resistant to 200 meters, and it’s ISO-certified for diving—but it comes with some unique extras: A stunning 3D-printed dial pattern and a handy pocketknife in a matching color scheme. If you’re on the hunt for a capable tool watch that’s also a real head-turner, look no further.
The I.N.O.X. Professional Diver LE combines tough construction and dependable underwater capability with some ocean-inspired aesthetics. The watch features a 45mm titanium case that’s sandblasted and coated in a black matte PVD finish. The case offers excellent strength and durability at a low weight, so despite the watch’s blocky looks, it won’t feel clunky on your wrist.
Like any real dive watch, it comes with a unidirectional rotating bezel—formed in a striking hexagon shape—for tracking time underwater. On the bezel, the 20-minute zone (the amount of time you can stay at 100 feet below the surface without doing decompression stops), is marked in bright yellow for easy reading. In addition, Victorinox used two different colors of Super-LumiNova to make the dial, hands, and indices clearly legible under the waves.
Courtesy Image
But the real highlight of the I.N.O.X. Professional Diver LE is the attention given to aesthetics. The center of the dial displays a highly detailed 3D-printed pattern in light green; it’s meant to evoke the oxidization of brass pieces found on shipwrecks resting at the bottom of the ocean. To top it off, the watch is sold with a matching Spartan PS Swiss Army Knife in the same pattern (it’s only available to those who purchase the watch), and two expandable rubber straps that are designed to fit over a wetsuit.
If you’re suiting up for a dive, the I.N.O.X. Professional Diver LE will make a trusty companion. It’s an official ISO 6425-certified dive watch, so it’s been tested for proper performance on dives, plus it’s built to withstand magnetic fields and is powered by a quartz movement for accurate timekeeping.
Want to put one on your wrist? Don’t wait—Victorinox is producing just 1,200 of these limited-edition beauties.
