9 Good Watch Brands You Should Know About

Don’t just stick to the same watch brand your entire life. Explore what’s out there with this list of good watch brands.

The horological market is brimming with cutting-edge watchmakers, both newcomers and old. Some offer affordability, while others appeal to high-end luxury watch collectors. But have you ever wondered what makes a watch good?  

In this article, I’ll suggest some reputable brands to invest in. I’ll also answer important questions like “Is Fossil a good watch brand?” and “What makes a brand good?”

What Makes a Watch Good? 

By “good”, I don’t mean just mediocre. I mean reliable, reputable watch brands that you can invest in, whether they are affordable or expensive.  

You don’t have to break the bank to find a quality watch that won’t disappoint you. The market is saturated with choice. All you need to know is what makes a watch good and where to look for it. 

Do you want the prestige and allure of a respectable name? Or are you looking for an affordable daily beater that does its job for half the price?

Most importantly, a good watch brand should be investible. It should balance style with a selection of quality materials and a reputable movement (if mechanical).  

This list of good watch brands features everything for every kind of collector.  

3 Good Watch Brands for Affordability

If you want to explore the more affordable options on the market, check out these watch brands.

1. Seiko 

A good watch brand doesn’t need to have Swiss origins or cost a lot of money. Seiko is a great example of an affordable watch brand that offers tons of quality features for its price point. 

Seiko’s catalog is vast. You can look at some of our Seiko watch recommendations in another article. However, Seiko is superior to many other brands in the market because of its quality craftsmanship. 

Seiko doesn’t cut corners when it comes to manufacturing wristwatches. Check out the Prospex watch and the Presage if you need evidence. The company has a rich history of creating collectible dive watches that feature colorful bezels, robust steel bracelets, and solid movements. In addition, Seiko creates its own movements, too!

2. Casio 

Casio proves that you don’t need to overspend for quality. It’s one of a few key Japanese brands that specializes in digital watches with a distinctive retro edge. 

Wearing a Casio digital watch takes you right back to the 1980s. The brand was instrumental during the Quartz Crisis era. Its wristwatches were a vibe during this time, and collectors appreciated them for their accuracy.

Casio developed the rugged G-Shock series, which became the brand’s best-selling line. Designed for mud, rain, extreme environments, and night use, some even have military characteristics. Casio packs others with altimeters, barometers, backlights, pulse rate monitors, world time features, and alarms. 

3. Timex  

When looking for an affordable wristwatch, never discount Timex. People often overlook these watches and presume they’re poor quality due to their cheap pricing. But Timex offers some real classic-looking timepieces like the Easy Reader and Weekender.

The American watchmaker focuses on mass affordability across its entire range. Designs like the Weekender guarantee no-nonsense dials that are legible and functional with an additional 24-hour scale. Then, there are models like the Expedition, which focuses on exploration.  

The Expedition Chronograph focuses solely on its purpose. It’s a tough watch with stopwatch features and crisp dial markings. However, if you want something dressier, opt for a hand-wound Timex Marlin.  

What’s a Good Watch Brand for Guys? 

Maybe you swear by one brand and never look elsewhere. But perhaps you’re missing out.  If you’re sitting looking at your collection and thinking, “What’s a good watch brand for guys?” maybe it’s time to refresh your collection.  

Here are a few options:

1. Hublot  

Hublot makes incredibly bold, masculine watches that pack a punch on the wrist. The designs from this brand are bold and attention-demanding.  Take, for example, the Big Bang collection, one of the best Hublot watches.

This series is incredibly avant-garde, featuring models with skeletonized movements protruding unapologetically through the dial.

Hublot is also a leader in material research and development. It makes its own proprietary gold alloys and case materials, like Carbotech. Other examples include King Gold, Magic Gold, and Sapphire.  

2. A. Lange & Söhne  

For the classic gentleman, A. Lange & Söhne offers an array of beautiful, intricately crafted dress watches for special occasions. The manufacturer produces complications like the moon phase tourbillon and perpetual calendar.

The dial of an A. Lange & Söhne watch is distinguishable for its unique layout. Unusual date apertures and main hour and minute hands feature off-center.

The same applies to the power reserve indicator of the Lange 1 series. Other famous lines include the Zeitwerk, Saxonia, and 1815.  

3. TAG Heuer  

TAG Heuer had to make it onto my list of the best watch brands for guys. This Swiss watchmaker’s designs are classic, elegant, and sporty. They tick every box with their masculine, testosterone-driven, sports-oriented designs.  

You may prefer the colorful chronographs from the Carrera, Formula 1, or Monaco watch collections. These racing watches capture the zeitgeist of the 1960s. Likewise, the elegant yet sporty Seastar dive watch is a solid beater.   

4. Tissot  

If you didn’t already know, Tissot actually knocked IWC off the world’s top 10 Luxury watch brands list this year. The manufacturer is doing incredibly well, with a turnover of $900 million last year.  

The truth is that Tissot’s portfolio is huge. From solar-powered T-Touch models to the sporty PRX collection, Tissot has a watch for every kind of collector. Except for anything reaching high into the thousands, that is. 

This Swiss watchmaker keeps its watches affordable, enabling you to broaden your collection with plenty of variants.  

Is Bulova a Good Watch Brand?  

You may have heard of Bulova or seen its watches while scouring the market. Maybe you’re wondering, “Is Bulova a good watch brand?”

Bulova is a really good watch brand for its price category. Considering this is an affordable watch brand, its meticulous designs and quality craftsmanship are admirable.  

Thanks to its famous tuning fork design, the company’s Precisionist movement is eight times faster than quartz. This astonishing precision allows it to claim an accuracy of 10 seconds per year.  

Bulova enthusiasts love the high-quality finish of these watches for their price bracket. Some models are classic and straightforward, while others are sporty. Above all, the accuracy of the Bulova quartz movement makes these watches so intriguing.  

Is Fossil a Good Watch Brand?  

Although Fossil has a design studio in Biel, Switzerland, its watchmaking facility resides in China. This may put some collectors off. But, while watches made in China are not everyone’s idea of luxury, few China-based brands offer the same quality.

Fossil watches typically only cost between $50-300. So, if you’re looking for a leg up into the world of affordable watch collecting, Fossil may be your solution.  

The brand’s most popular designs include the Fossil Defender with a 24-hour scale and the classic-looking Fossil Heritage. 

It also offers a contemporary-looking chronograph called the Neutra and the two and three-hander minimalist.  

Fossil even offers its take on the Smartwatch. Understandably, you won’t get the same smooth app performance as an Apple or Garmin smartwatch. Nevertheless, Fossil provides some excellent features in its latest Gen 6 smartwatch, helping you track all your basic health metrics.  

Wrapping Up: It Was Hard To Choose

Whittling a list of good watch brands down to 9 is no mean feat. Competition is at an all-time high across the industry as manufacturers battle continuously to stand out.

Of course, watchmakers like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Cartier, and Richard Mille are the industry’s elite. Their covetable masterpieces tell a story of brand provenance, time-honored techniques, and heritage.  

But, aside from the biggest names in the industry, there are so many more brands to explore. Hopefully, this list will give you some food for thought. 

While all the good watch brands I featured in his article are respectable, trustworthy names, many don’t get the credit they deserve.  

So, which brand will be your next investment? Are you a savvy collector with an eye on something affordable? Or do you fancy upgrading your collection with a high-end name? Let me know in the comments.