With many things in life, you get what you pay for and watches are certainly no exception. Although, you also don’t need to sell a kidney to get a decent set of wrist-wear. To help you out we’ve scoured the universe for some of our favourites in the 50 best watches under $500. While these watches may lack the functionality of a modern-day smart-watch, they make for it with plenty of elegance and style that won’t break the bank.
VOID V01EL-BL/BL
#50The case is made from stainless steel and the strap is premium leather. The display is a digital LCD with a blue-green EL backlight and is water resistant for up to 3 ATM. Various color combinations available and it carries a two year warranty. ($195)
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Timex Weekender
#49Rustic and classic, every watch face is carefully selected from watch shops, antique stores and a variety of stores in and around Brooklyn. The strap is handmade natural leather with a black X stitch. ($150)
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Parnis Big Pilot Power Reserve
#48This watch has an easy to read dial with calendar display in a stainless steel case. The glass is made from a protective mineral which is anti-scrape and the strap is high quality leather. ($100)
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Seiko Men’s SNK805
#47This military inspired watch features a green dial nestled in a brushed stainless steel case with a green cloth weave strap. Features a day and date function with a white and red sweeping second hand. ($56)
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Sea-Gull OEM Classic Rodina
#46The face is a stylish easy to read white numbers on a black dial face. The case is stainless steel and for the leather band you have a selection between black or brown. The seconds is displayed independently in the small dial by 6 o’clock. ($119)
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Skagen Theodor Men’s Leather Watch
#45Simple and elegant, the watch looks sophisticated enough to go with any suit. Features a stainless steel case with a supple leather strap and is waterproof for up to 3 ATM. ($125)
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VOID V03D-BL
#44This watch strikes the perfect balance between form and function. Various coloured face and strap combinations available. The case is stainless steel and the strap is premium leather. Waterproof for up to 3 ATM. ($215)
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AV-4030-04 Supermarine Seafire
#43The solid stainless steel case is polished to give it an almost coppery color. The dial face is easy to read and has a date display as well as a secondary time zone. The strap is hand sewn from high grade leather. ($395)
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Breytenbach BB6640 Chronograph
#42This chronograph movement is encased in stainless steel with a mineral crystal glass. The leather strap is solid with a crocodile pattern embossed. The dial is available in white or black. (EUR 199)
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Seiko Men’s SSC081 Adventure-Solar Classic Casual Watch
#41This high-tech solar powered watch features a compass dial, alarm chronograph and is water resistant for up to 10 ATM. The body is a polished steel case with a classic brown leather strap. ($186)
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Lacoste Black Leather Strap
#40This classic and slick watch features a bright white face with a red second hand and a date display. Encased in a stainless steel body with a black leather strap and is waterproof for up to 3 ATM. ($112)
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Timex X J.Crew
#39Old school charms meet modern capabilities with this stainless steel body and navy cloth strap. The black dial with white numbers features day and date and is easy to read. (£146)
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Laco 1925 Pilot Classic Analog
#38A pilot classic analog that features a black dial with big luminous green numbers. Encased in a stainless steel body with a brown leather strap. ($402)
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VOID SOND-BLACK
#37The watch is injection moulded into one single piece to reduce the number of moving parts. Features a digital LCD display with a blue-green EL backlight. Various color combinations can be pieced together for a unique combination. ($95)
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Melbourne Watch Co. Hawthorn Tan Strap
#36This watch bridge the gap between a dress watch and a sports watch. The glass is made with anti-reflective sapphire crystal and the dial features super-luminova for night time illumination with a day and calendar display. You have a choice between a leather strap or stainless steel bracelet. (AUD 395)
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Akribos XXIV Men’s AK589RG
#35This Swiss chronograph features a white face with a rose-tone case. Big black numbers makes it easy to read and the date display is above the 6 o’clock. A brown crocodile pattern on a genuine leather strap rounds it up. ($199)
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Daniel Wellington Classic Bristol
#34The minimalistic eggshell white dial in either a Rose Gold or Silver case looks effortlessly elegant. The strap is a dark brown color and made from leather. (£179)
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Triwa Havana Nevil Brown
#33This analog watch features two brown chronograph sub dials on a stainless steel sun ray dial. The hand cut acetate case features a silver toned bezel and a brown genuine leather strap. ($329)
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VOID V02-BR/BG
#32This watch has one of the most unusual ways to display time. The red long arm still displays the minutes and the shorter white arm the hours. The stainless steel case and premium leather strap is available in various colours. ($205)
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Triwa Lansen Orange Canvas Strap
#31The black dial with white numbers is encased in a brushed stainless case and finished off with an orange 100% cotton canvas strap. (£149)
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Asos Watch
#30The black face features thee sub dials that is for display only. Encased in a metal body with a nylon strap. (£22)
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Seiko Sportura Chronograph
#29The green chronograph dial is encased in stainless steel with a brown calfskin strap. The watch is water resistant for up to 10 ATM. ($169)
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Uniform Wares 251 Series
#28A simple, elegant and legible dress watch encased in a matt PVD gun gray case with an Italian calf leather strap. The lens is made from scratch proof sapphire. (£390)
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Alessi Unisex AL13001 Out Time
#27The dial is a creamy eggshell white with black hands and hour indexes etched on the outer rim of the case. Encased in a stainless steel with a genuine brown leather strap. Water resistant up to 3 ATM. ($185)
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Mijlo The Everyday Watch
#26Two face designs complemented with five interchangeable bands to create a ten piece collection. One face is a polished silver case and the other a rose gold. The bands come with a five year warranty. ($247)
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Antoine Arnaud Spirit of St. Louis
#25The big face is legible and features three sub chronographs. Encased in a brushed stainless steel with a brown leather strap and water resistant for up to 5 ATM. (EUR 179)
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Electric FW02 PU
#24This is a heavy duty timepiece for the casual trekker. Features include a date and three sub chronographs, a raised uni-directional rotating bezel and water resistant for up to 20 ATM. The strap is a custom moulded PU with branded stainless steel insert. ($350)
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Nixon The Time Teller
#23The dial includes applied indices and custom moulded hands. The stainless steel case is topped with a hardened mineral crystal lens and a tapered custom 5 link stainless steel strap. ($95)
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Miro Gold/Blue/Honey
#22The blue dial is set in stainless steel brushed gold plated case. The straps are made from calf leather and the colours to choose from include Honey, Chocolate, Nature and Black. ($181)
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Junkers Bauhaus
#21The visually appealing white dial is set in a silver brushed stainless steel case and complemented by a brown stitched leather strap. ($249)
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Shore Projects St Ives
#20The black face with white dials and indicators is set in a gold plated stainless steel case and finished off with a green strap. Water resistant for up to 10 ATM. (£115)
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Tayroc TXM007
#19The watch has an elegant light black dial with matt black arms and indictors. Finished off with a black crocodile pattern embossed leather strap. (£75)
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Huckberry Seiko Dive Watch
#18This dive watch has a big minute and hour arm for an easy read. It also has a day and date function and strap selections include a Horween leather or a premium Nato. ($299)
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AV-4007-03 Hawker Hunter
#17This vintage looking watch has bold numbers and big arms, set inside a two-tone color inner rings encased in stainless steel. It includes a date function and is wrapped up with a black leather strap with white stitched thread. ($330)
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Botta Design Tres
#16This contemporary designed watch is suitable for any occasion. The dial is available in either black or white and the strap options includes a natural tanned brown or black leather strap, metal or rubber. (EUR 348)
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Bachelor Shoes Bhaskara Black
#15This elegant design features a white face with black roman numerals set in a steel case with a rose gold finish. The strap is a black, hand stitched leather strap. ($225)
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Paul Hewitt Nato Strap Watch Silver Line
#14This watch features a white dial with silver arms and four roman numerals. The strap is a blue green woven strap with a metal clasp. (EUR 139)
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MVMT Black/Black Leather
#13This is a dark watch from the dial to the case to the strap. The second hand stands out with its read color and I for one wish they did it with the rest of the arms and indicators. The black case is from stainless steel and the strap is a decent 24mm black leather. ($95)
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Tsovet SVT-DE 40
#12This is a good looking chronograph with a matt blue dial is set in a stainless steel case with a refined contrast finished. It is fitted with a brown stitched leather strap and is waterproof for up to 5 ATM. ($475)
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AV-4013-06 Hawker Hurricane
#11This vintage chronograph is eye catching with the rose gold case and brown leather strap with rose gold rivets. Includes a date function. ($470)
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Akribos XXIV Men’s AK715BR
#10This watch has clean white dial set in a polished silver tone stainless steel case and features a date function. The strap is brown and made from genuine leather. Water proof for up to 3 ATM. ($65)
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Danish Design IQ16Q975
#9This chronograph features a dark gray dial with a date function, set it a brushed stainless steel case with a black leather strap. ($249)
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Kitmen Keung Watch – Long Distance 1.0 Gold Edition
#8This watch features two clocks on one dial. The bezel chamfered with a brushed finish. The strap is Argentinian made calf leather. ($415)
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Komono Watch – Winston Blue Cognac
#7The dark blue hue dial is set in a gold rose steel case. The arms and numerals also feature the rose gold color and the watch is finished off with a genuine brown leather strap. ($115)
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Braun Watch BN0024BKBRG
#6The desirable black dial with white numerals has a separate seconds chrono. It comes with descent width brown leather strap. ($179)
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Triwa Walter Hvalen
#5The gray sunray dial color is complemented beautifully by the brushed gun plated stainless steel case. The uni-rotational bezel is from the same brushed gun steel and comes with an organic sewn leather strap. ($265)
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Larsson & Jennings WW L&J Ltd Edition
#4The whited dial is highlighted by the gold plated hour indicators and the roman 12 o’clock numeral, set in a polished stainless steel gold plated case. The watch is complimented with the navy British bovine leather strap. (£260)
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Breytenbach BB7740
#3This chronograph watch is visually appealing with its beige dial and silver brushed stainless steel body. The leather is made from brown leather and is embossed with a crocodile pattern. (EUR 299)
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Citizen CA0331-56L Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph
#2Elegant and sophisticated with three separate chronograph dials on a blue inner and black outer dial. Other functions includes date and a tachymeter and it is fueled by light so it never needs a battery. It comes with a stainless steel mesh band. ($262)
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Tissot Tradition Rose Gold Chronograph
#1This watch delivers a contemporary statement with a whisper of vintage. It is a beautiful design with 3 sub chrono dials with a date function, set in a rose gold steel case. The watch comes with a dark brown leather strap with the crocodile pattern embossed on it. ($495)