The Slender Wrist’s 10 Best Watches Under $50

Reach for any of these ten best watches under $50, and you’ll never feel guilty about overspending again!

There’s something impressive about wearing a budget watch confidently. It shows a level of discernment beyond just throwing down a few zeroes. Whether you’re new to the watch-wearing stratosphere or not, affordable watches come in handy for various reasons. Wear them to do the yard work or to go to the gym. It won’t matter too much if they get a little knocked around. So, I’m rounding up some of the best watches under $50. 

Some of these watches are from brands you might be familiar with. Others prove that lesser-known brands can compete in this space, too! And not all of them are quartz watches, either. So, without further ado, let’s get started. Here is your guide to the best affordable watches.

10 Best Watches for Under $50

Lean into some more affordable options and limit financial commitment with these easy wins. They all fall within the 0-50 dollar bracket and offer something different from the next. The best part? If your budget allows, you can pick up more than one to build or start your watch collection.

1. Timex Weekender 38mm

The Timex Expedition collection gears its designs towards outdoor explorers. Some models offer compass features alongside highly-lumed dial elements for navigating the great outdoors. Timex is similar to Citizen but produces watches in several countries, including China, India, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Sourcing movements from these regions also helps the company cut down on costs. Even so, you should not underestimate Timex watches. Despite being one of the most affordable watch brands, these watches offer a lot in terms of quality and longevity.  

The Timex Expedition watch arrived in 2009 and has equipped wrists with rugged outdoor tools ever since. Under $50, this watch measures a compact 39mm diameter, making it an ideal option for smaller wrists. It features a resin case, a black dial, and Timex’s innovative INDIGLO technology. With a simple touch of a button, the dial illuminates for superb clarity and readability in the dark! 

I particularly like the yellow accents on this dial. They give the Times Expedition a distinctive “field watch” style. 

2. Casio Vintage A168WA-1 Electro Luminescence Watch

For the 90s kids out there, you can’t get a better retro electronic watch than the Casio Vintage A168WA-1 Electro Luminescence Watch. It’s a box to check off the list if you want a collection with a bit of everything. The Casio Vintage A168WA-1 Electro Luminescence Watch has a vivid blue electro-luminescent backlight that provides additional visibility in darker environments. It also offers features like a 1/100th second stopwatch, daily alarm, and hourly time signal.

This is a relatively compact design, measuring 38.6 mm wide. Appropriately enough, I always think the gray case with red, black, and blue accents reminds me of old-school Nintendo Gameboys. It’s a serious watch with fun energy. Overall, this cheap and cheerful watch captures the zeitgeist of the 80s and 90s electronic phase. 

In our Casio A168WA review, we mention that this is one of the best retro everyday watches for small wrists. If you’re a fan of Japanese brand watches, our best Orient watches list also offers inexpensive yet well-built timepieces.

3. Timex Weekender 38mm

As far as unisex watches go, Timex hits the nail on the head with this stylish Weekender watch. Many people look at the Weekender vs the Expedition; however, they are different. 

The Weekender measures 38mm in diameter, making it a go-to option for small wrists. The Weekender watch collection is all about casual comfort. You don’t get better value in a watch than a Citizen model like this. These watches feature battery-powered quartz movements, eradicating any servicing hassle. A quick battery replacement every 2-3 years is all you’ll ever need to worry about. If you fall out of love with the watch or want something new, it’s no big deal. You won’t lose a great deal of money.

This Timex Weekender 38mm watch is super cheap and features a stylish black and orange nylon strap. Its silver-tone brass case isn’t going to last forever. However, for the price, you can enjoy it for a season or two and then refresh your collection with something new. It features a grey dial, white Arabic numerals, and an additional 24-hour track. 

4. Olevs Diamond Business Dress Watch

Olevs is a Chinese brand that sells many of its watches on Amazon. The company is not especially popular among enthusiasts and isn’t considered “luxury.” However, if you want an affordable watch that mimics the look of a luxury timepiece, Olevs is worth some consideration. 

The Olevs Diamond Business Dress Watch is not exactly an homage watch. But there’s no denying a definite and deliberate emphasis on the Rolex Datejust here. This is a 30-meter water-resistant steel model with a quartz movement. It features a black dial, diamond hour markers for an up-market finish, and gold-colored elements. The stainless steel and yellow gold PVD bracelet is a nice touch, as is the chiseled hexagonal effect on the dial. 

If you want to pay a little more for an automatic, check out Olevs’ range. The brand even creates its own take on the tourbillon open-heart dial. 

5. Casio World Time AE-1200WH-1AVCF

You won’t find much to fault about the Casio World Time watch. It’s an analog watch with an LED and digital display, too. With five daily alarms, 1/100th of a second chronograph, and 12/24-hour formats, it’s the complete package. 

Casio watches aren’t for everyone, especially their G-Shock line. Though they do have a few G-Shocks that work for small wrists. Their domineering, bold, and technical presence can tend to overpower a small wrist. Even so, this is a super small Casio watch by the Japanese brand’s standards. It definitely leans hard into the cool factor, almost like a toy for grownups. Its resin case measures 39mm, featuring a mineral glass top and a matching resin strap for durability and comfort. 

6. Casio MTP

Another Casio watch makes it onto this list, this time a much dressier option. The Casio MTP dips its toes into much more classic watchmaking. If you’re a fan of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual or looking for Datejust alternatives, but they are way out of your price bracket, this is a cheap alternative. It’s certainly on par with its sleekness and simplicity. 

You can pair this silky dial with a leather strap and a suit. However, its solid build also means you can put it on a range of other bands. Personally, I think the brown leather strap marries perfectly with the golden tones of the yellow-gold PVD case. Overall, you can wear this Casio with anything. It’s the perfect model for a one-watch collection.

Measuring just 38.5mm, this Casio MTP is the perfect watch for a professional. It easily slips under a work shirt’s cuff. It also features a legible date aperture to help you keep track of the days of the month. 

7. Casio MDV106 Diver

Are you looking for a cheap diver? Casio offers everything you need in a robust and reliable tool for underwater activity. As far as dive watches go, this is not half bad for under $50. Casio equips the MDV106 Diver with a solid steel case and promises a water-resistant rating of 200 meters. 

No, you don’t have to resort to Chinese homage watches when looking for an affordable dive watch. Everything is there, from the unidirectional bezel to the broad arrow hands. With a red seconds hand that you can’t miss and crisp bezel markings, what more could you want?

For anyone looking for an excellent value-for-money dive watch, this Casio is a no-brainer. Period. 

8. Gute C016 Automatic

Are you familiar with the name Gute? The company resides in China but offers a lot for its price point. Even the Parnises and Seagulls of the world rarely, if ever, serve up automatic watches in the $50 range these days. 

The Gute C016 is on this list to satisfy the tight-budgeted, horologically curious type. It even runs on an automatic movement, which you can admire through the caseback. Where else can you find a self-winding watch with an exhibition caseback for this price? Actually, don’t answer that. There’s another one coming up on this list shortly.

This Gute C016 Automatic features a simple, straightforward white dial with crisp black Arabic numeral hour markers. I also love the classic blue hands and traditional-looking brown alligator leather strap. These features combine to create a timeless dress watch for all occasions. 

9. Fanmis Mechanical Square Chronograph

Love the TAG Heuer Monaco but can’t afford it? Check out this square watch from Fanmis. For under $50, you get a striking dial, almost like the Gulf stripes on the Monaco. This watch has a throwback look about it. It exudes a 1970s TV-shaped case—yes, a little like Russian watchmaker Slava’s TV watch. It comes in white or black and features an automatic movement through its exhibition caseback. 

If you like quirky, retro mechanical watches, this affordable option from Fanmis is certainly an off-the-wall option. The movement is pretty raw-looking through the back of the watch. But you have to remember that automatic watches for this price point are not ten a penny. This is another way-below-market mechanical that you have to appreciate for its value-for-money aspect. 

10. Timex Two-Tone Dress Watch

This Timex Dress Day-Date watch looks like it costs more than it does. Despite its luxurious appeal, Timex balances things out with some modest touches to avoid risking going overboard. The Roman cardinals match the fanciness of the silver-and-gold palette, but they’re still in a somewhat modern font. Each line on each numeral resembles the simple, sterile profile of the baton hands. 

I like the dark, neutral tones of the watch’s charcoal dial. It gives the timepiece an organic feel. Of course, dressing this watch with something elegant during the evening is no problem. This Timex Two Tone Dress Watch looks refined enough for every special occasion. However, practicality is still the core focus of this design. The watch comes with a legible day-date feature. I’m not sure its contrasting white background was the best decision. Still, it does its job of keeping its wearer on track of the days throughout the month. 

Men’s Watches Under 50 Dollars Do Exist!

It’s not all that easy to find many under $50 watches, especially if you’re trying to avoid anything cheap and tacky-looking. That said, if you stick with the key brands famous for producing affordable watches, you won’t go far wrong. Alternatively, you can look towards places not known for watchmaking (for example, we have a great list of Irish watch brands). However, this list should give you a lot of inspiration. 

Two old, reliable brands to fall back on are Casio and Timex. These companies are synonymous with quality, affordable timepieces. Sticking with these two companies will give you peace of mind that you’re always spending money on the right product. But if you did want to venture off course a little, you can. There are lesser-known brands (as per those in this article) producing decent timepieces, too. 

I hope you were able to find something in this list of the best watches under $50. Even if you aren’t budget watch collecting, you’ll notice there are several models, like the Casio Diver and Timex Weekender, that are widely affordable. Cheap Chinese mechanicals are also good options for you would-be modders to tinker with. 

What’s the cheapest watch you own? Let us know in the comments.