Words: Justin Hast
One of the great misconceptions of the watch world is that great design has to be expensive. It just isn’t the case. While yes, you won’t be getting any hand finishing for £500, nor any precious metals, what you will get is considered, proportional, balanced design with real soul.
With many mid-level watchmakers proving that you can create masterpieces at a lower price point — and some of the bigger players even experimenting with affordable timepieces — we thought we'd take a look at five of the best men's watches under £500 on the market right now...
Seiko 5 Sports SRPK29
Built for: Sports.
Best feature: Too many to choose from! Details like a unidirectional rotating bezel, a depth rating of 10 bar, see-through caseback and LumiBrite on hands and indexes makes this cult classic a real contender if you fancy the sporty aesthetic.
Wear it: On a summer's day, with a crisp white tee, tailored shorts and classic Chuck Taylors.
Hamilton Khaki Field Quartz
Built for: It has roots in warfare – but to me, it’s the ultimate urban tool watch.
Best feature: This is peak “rugged elegance”. Can I coin that? This is a shape you can spot from across a room and a watch you can throw on without thinking about it. The best feature here is the fact you will sleep well in the knowledge that you simply won’t be able to destroy this thing!
Wear it: Outdoors. This isn’t a watch to wear with a suit — it’s a watch to wear with walking boots and tactical jackets; to hike with, climb with and take on an adventure.
Tissot PRX
Built for: Everyday wear.
Best feature: Has there been a more popular model under £500 in the last few years? (Aside from the MoonSwatch!). This is a beauty! A 40mm stainless steel fusion of a Royal Oak and other '70s vibes, its build-quality and bracelet are superb. But that green dial! A showstopper.
Wear it: Honestly, the best watches are the ones you wear the most and this is a classic daily beater. You won’t take it off.
Marloe Watch Company Astro Stellar
Built for: Style.
Best feature: The dial! That deep blue with orange accents just works. It’s inspired by the International Space Station, an orbiting scientific project. I also love the case – there are too few square cases in my opinion. As well as the fact this is a small British brand and it’s wonderful to see them thriving.
Wear it: All day, everyday.
Junghans Form
Built for: Understated elegance.
Best feature: That Bauhaus design. If you know Junghans you will undoubtedly know the Max Bill model. It is an icon of design – quite possibly the quintessential dress watch. Here in the Form we have bold Arabic numerals, a date window at three and a beautiful off-white dial. You just can’t go wrong.
Wear it: We’d suggest strapping it around your wrist for a fancy event — and then wowing your fellow guests with its do-everything design.
If you have a bit more cash to spend, check out our pick of the best men's watches under £1000...
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Further reading
From vision to masterpiece: Charting the personalised journey of a bespoke Swaine creation
Longines' triple drop of Legend Divers celebrates 65 years of expertise
