20 Best Small Watches Under $1,000

If you’re looking for a watch under $1,000 and happen to be thin-wristed, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best small watches under $1,000.

The sub-1000 category is an effective place to shop for timepieces. It’s way past fashion watch territory, so there’s a wealth of horologically-sound options. Still, it falls way beneath many of the Swiss hard-hitters, the Pateks and Rolexes of the world.

This means you can avoid being overcharged via brand recognition as long as you display a touch of caution.

Within our $1,000 ceiling, we’ve got a range of price points, aesthetics, and national origins. The watches on our list don’t go past the 39mm mark.

So if you’re a slender-wristed gent and aren’t sure where to begin outside of a budget, many priorities are represented here.

20 Best Small Watches Under $1,000

Here are the best small watches under $1,000 in no particular order…

Smiths Everest PRS-25

What the Bulova Lunar Pilot is to the Omega Speedmaster, the Smiths Everest PRS-25 is to the Rolex Explorer. You may know that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed Mount Everest with a Rolex.

You may not know that they also had a Smiths watch. Rolex hogs all the attention because it’s become a household name in the following years, while Smiths went defunct.

Fortunately, Timefactors in England brought Smiths watches back.

With the Everest PRS-25, you can wear all of the compelling lore of an Explorer on your wrist, for literally a tenth of the price. And if anyone asks if you’re wearing a Rolex homage, you get to educate them about this watch’s equally important history.

• Dimensions: 39mm diameter, 11.3mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 100m

Newer watches run on Miyota’s 9039 caliber, and older ones run on 9015, which is just like a 9039 except it has an unused date complication on the movement (there’s no date on the PRS-25’s face).

Junghans Max Bill Kleine

German Bauhaus specialist, Junghans, is an excellent brand when it comes to small automatics.

They’re evolved enough not to separate their 34mm, and 36mm watches into the women’s section, for one thing, and I’m sure part of this has to do with the fact these efficiently-designed minimalist watches work for both genders.

This Kleine is the brand’s iconic Max Bill-designed watch, at a comfortable 10mm thickness.

• Dimensions: 34mm diameter, 10mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 30m
  

The PVD stainless steel case adds an aesthetically authoritative touch, plus extra durability on the function side. It runs on Calibre J800.1, a 25-jewel Swiss automatic with a 38-hour power reserve.

Lorier Safari

The dial of the Lorier Safari looks like it came from the pocket watch of a man of gentry, the kind he keeps while out on an African expedition.

The aesthetic of a bygone era and lifestyle is definitely what Lorier is going for here. The ready-for-adventure look of this field watch is familiar yet unique.

The case is simple and sleek, and the dial features a railroad outer track and bold, legible indices that complement the shiny and brushed bronze dial. 

• Dimensions: 36mm diameter, 9.5mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 100m

It runs on Miyota’s premium caliber, the 9039, which has a respectable vibration frequency of 2,8800 per hour.

Vaer A3 Tradition

Per its namesake, Vaer’s A3 Tradition is a traditional field watch featuring all of the time-honored qualities.

The indices are tropical-colored, making them easy to read on the stark black dial.

I think that the syringe hands add an appropriate touch of class. Even though the old-fashioned field watch started out as a practicalist design, we now associate its aesthetic with classy vintage timepieces.

• Dimensions: 36mm diameter, 9.4mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 100m

Ever enjoyable, the easy strap change lugs can be used for bracelet experimentation. Vaer has 20 of them, and the A3’s simple face goes with anything.

Farer Bradfield

Farer proves that horologically serious watches can be fun too.

The Bradfield features all of the makings of a quintessential Farer watch, from the playful colors to the creative yet practical organization of the dial.

What’s more, it’s extremely legible even in the dark, thanks to the high-grade Super LumiNova, which is blue on the indices and stepped inner ring, and yellow on the hands.

The Sellita movement is exceedingly anti-magnetic, boasting ISO certification and a five-year movement guarantee.

• Dimensions: 39.5mm diameter, 11.5mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 300m

This watch is a bit like a toy for grown-ups, but isn’t that what watches are anyway?

Bulova Super Seville

The internet’s favorite vintage Datejust homage, the Bulova Super Seville, is a historically important watch in its own right.

It was built before Citizen bought Bulova out, so many consider it one of the main representatives of the twilight of American watchmaking. It boasts the Rolex-like fluted bezel, a reasonable 36mm case, and an easily-serviced 17-jewel automatic movement.

Though this watch is vintage, it’s not difficult to find on secondary markets like eBay. The trickiest part is the fact the prices range so widely.

• Dimensions: 36mm diameter, 12mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel 
• Water resistance: 10m

You won’t have a hard time finding a stainless steel automatic for under $1,000 but definitely do your diligence in researching the seller you’re working with.

Seiko SKX013

The always-popular Seiko SKX013 is a go-to beater dive for watch nerds. It’s durable, has that classic diver look, and is equipped with Seiko’s 7S26 movement.

While the 7S26 is pretty basic, it’s robust and reliable, it will likely last you over 20 years without maintenance, and at this point, has definitely joined the “heritage movement” club.

This watch has a built-in community of fans, making for a great support system if you have any questions about your SKX.

There are two versions of the SKX013. The SKX013J is slightly rarer and features a “21 jewels” mark below the 200m appellate, and the SKX013K, which doesn’t. They’re the same watch except the J is made in Japan.

• Dimensions: 37mm diameter, 11.5mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel 
• Water resistance: 200m

If rarity matters to you, see if you can find a J (again, it’s only slightly rarer). Still, I do like the cleaner face of the K.

Marathon Medium MSAR 

Sometimes I think we thin-wristed guys miss out on being able to wear those robust tuna can-type dives.

Thanks to its deep dial, thick bezel, and knurled crown, Marathon’s MSAR (Medium Search and Rescue) fully serves up that hearty tool aesthetic. But, it does so at a 36mm size. The dial itself is super busy, which adds to its heavy tool watch look, but is still perfectly legible.

This function-heavy timepiece runs on Marathon’s 26-jewel M2 movement, which is based on a Sellita automatic.

• Dimensions: 36mm diameter, 13mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 300m

It’s equipped with self-illumination 24-hour tritium gas tubes that will last 25 years and has 300m of water resistance. 

Baltic Aquascaphe

The Aquascaphe is Baltic’s flagship of sorts, helping this French watchmaker become royalty in the microbrand world.

This watch is definitely a throwback because of its vintage-inspired style. Yet, simultaneously, it’s also very current.

It’s definitely one of those in-the-know kinds of watches because of its instantly recognizable sandwich dial and Baltic’s zero-shortcuts approach to building this sapphire crystal-clad, crisp-bezeled diver.

• Dimensions: 39mm diameter, 12mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 200m

The dimensional dial, double-domed protector, and tropical indices all play off of each other, creating a charming design from every angle.

Marathon GPM

Despite being Marathon’s GPM (General Purpose Mechanical), there’s actually nothing generic about this watch.

Yes, it’s a classic field watch, but the crisp syringe hands and the fully-matte stainless steel are pure Marathon. I also think the unactivated lume still gives the indices a pale shade of green, which is pretty fun.

The GPM is based on the historic Marathon GG-W-113 but fulfills modern-day government standards for military watches.

• Dimensions: 34mm diameter, 10.6mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 200m

Also, Marathon makes the GPM in different sizes. Pay attention to the variation you’re buying to ensure you’re getting the actual size you want. 

Armida A9

An homage to one of the most coveted expensive Submariners, the Rolex MilSub, the Armida A9 sports the extra-thick, crowded bezel that gives it the MilSub’s signature look — but on a 38mm body.

Armida is smart to tap into this market since even people who can afford a MilSub will likely be waitlisted for a million years before they have the privilege of forking over $100,000.

Overall, the A9 is a beautiful watch in its own right.

• Dimensions: 38mm diameter, 12.6mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 300m

It has drilled lugs, well-polished hands that offer good light play, and a signed crown. And like so many on here, it runs on Miyota’s first-class 9039 automatic.

Aristo 4H262

The Aristo 4H262 is a unique watch that balances a veritable feast of textures, via its body, with a simple aviator-style dial face.

The dial sports long and bold Arabic numbers in the cardinal directions, offering elegance and legibility, similar to a Longines Conquest or a Rolex Air-King. 

Unlike traditional luxury pilot watches, the 4H262’s construction is beautifully ornate, with its onion crown, coin-surfaced bezel, and mesh bracelet.

Thanks to its reasonable size, this watch sticks out but isn’t too loud. It comes as a quartz and a Swiss automatic, so just pay attention to the description.

• Dimensions: 38mm diameter, 10.5mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 50m

Sometimes postings of this watch will still use the word “automatic” regardless of its movement.

Yema Flygraf Pilot

I believe that the WWII-influenced Yema Flygraf Pilot is one of the most underrated aviator watches out there. Thanks to its practical and sectioned-off dial design, it’s wildly legible, even in the darkest situations.

It’s as if Yema only focused on function, and its stylishness just effortlessly follows.

Not a lot of brands give their aviators the luxury sport watch treatment to the extent they do with, say, their field and dive watches.

Rolex’s Air-King is kind of an exception (but Rolex is luxury overall anyway).

• Dimensions: 39mm diameter, 13mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 300m

The Flygraf, on the other hand, features an exquisitely brushed bezel and a beautifully signed crown and embossed back. It runs on a 31-jewel in-house automatic caliber.

GLYCINE Combat Sub 36 

A lot of sellers will categorize the GLYCINE Combat Sub 36 as a women’s watch. It isn’t, it just happens to be 36mm.

If you’re looking for a classic Swiss dive that’s well under $1,000 and arguably luxury, the Combat Sub 36 is an excellent choice.

It has everything from the beautifully-finished applied indices and the crisp-clicking bezel to the silky dial protected with a scratch-resistant sapphire. The guardless crown gives it a bit of a vintage look, but it’s overall a pretty timeless piece. 

• Dimensions: 36mm diameter, 12mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 300m

It runs on the GL224 Swiss movement, a reliable shock-resistant automatic that vibrates at a respectable 28,800 vibrations per hour.

San Martin SN059

The flute-bezeled San Martin SN059 looks a lot like the Rolex Datejust but costs around $500.

It boasts luxury-level finishing, especially seen on the bezel and dial, both of which shine lustrously under any level of light. Besides its high-end construction and functionality, the best part about the San Martin is its customization options.

The dials come in sunbursts, mother of pearl, or marble, all slightly different since they’re naturally formed. You can choose a watch with the San Martin logo, with no logo, or with a customized logo.

• Dimensions: 39mm diameter, 12.5mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 100m

Finally, you can opt for Swiss automatic movement, or for $180 cheaper, a Chinese movement that’s perfectly reliable, just hard to service because it’s made of less common parts. 

Undone Terra Daybreak

Undone is all about personalized timepieces, and their customization of the vintage field watch is actually pretty remarkable.

Like Lorier, the Terra Daybreak is both familiar and unique. It has two particularly distinct features. First is its tortoise-shaped case, which is essentially a cushion case with sharper angles and more dimension.

It’s clean, modern, and has a monobloc relationship with its lugs. The second is the granular dial surface, which I think is a cool way to level up a matte dial.

• Dimensions: 37mm diameter, 12.8mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 50m

It features a scratch-resistant sapphire and a Japanese automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.

Hamilton American Classic Valiant

As a brand, Hamilton is pretty good when it comes to watch sizes. While the 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field makes its way to a lot of small wrist roundups and deserves a shout-out here, today we’re focusing on the 34mm American Classic Valiant.

As classy and traditional as a dress watch gets, Hamilton expertly applies Roman numerals in a way that isn’t gaudy or too ceremonial by using a simplified stick font. 

Its round case and shiny dial give it an upscale but perfectly versatile look.

• Dimensions: 34mm diameter, 9mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 50m

Best of all, its automatic H-10 movement boasts 80 hours of power. That’s definitely Swiss luxury levels, but for less than $700.

Bulova Sutton

Bulova is a great brand to go to for affordable automatic dress watches with a vintage flair.

Their collection of square-shaped eveningwear timepieces (many designs taken from their archives), is likely the reason they were chosen to create the Frank Sinatra line.

This Sutton is a gadgety take on the classic Deco tank shape. In addition to the exposed balance wheel, it also has an industrial-looking textured face and almost Aviator-like straight-forward indices. You can always go for the traditional affordable automatic tanks Bulova offers.

• Dimensions: 33mm diameter, 12mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 30m

They’ve got a lot. However, this Sutton is definitely an offbeat combination of unlike qualities that interestingly come together pretty “wearably.”

Tissot Le Locle Dress Watch

The Le Locle is the quintessential Tissot dress watch.

It features the traditional Le Locle signature on its dial, the face of which famously takes industrial diamond-plated steel and successfully repurposes it into a sophisticated dress watch. Top that off with feuille hands and Roman numerals.

It runs on Tissot’s special Powermatic 80, which you can get a glimpse of on the caseback.

• Dimensions: 39mm diameter, 9.75mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 100m

I should mention that this watch has a beautiful back. It’s not just see-through but design-heavy and embossed, creating an elegant frame for the movement. 

Timex Marlin

The Timex Marlin is instantly recognizable thanks to the unusual font of the indices, sitting on an attractively brushed dial.

Still, the 34mm sizing is perfect for a timepiece with a hint of a “look-at-me” quality. Any bigger, and it might be considered flashy.

As it’s built, acrylic glass and all, this reissue of a ‘60s classic is simply sophisticatedly striking.

• Dimensions: 34mm diameter, 10mm thickness
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Water resistance: 30m

It’s also a hand-wound mechanical. So if you love tactility and operating an old-fashioned watch, this guy’s got you covered.

Some Great Small Watches to Choose From

If you’re looking for an investment piece and aren’t necessarily interested in brand names, the sub-1000 category is a more-than-reasonable place to look.

There are plenty of high-quality, horologically impressive timepieces at this price point. Fortunately, brands no longer use an automatic movement as an excuse to build gigantic timepieces.

The collectors’ community knows that the best watchmakers can put a lot of analog functions into even the smallest watches.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!