Top 12 Best Affordable Day-Date Watches
Day-Date watches are, as the name suggests, watches that display both the day and the date on the dial. Having a day and date indicator in the dial can be very practical for everyday wear as it tells you what day and date it is with just a glance on the wrist.
The name Day-Date derives from Rolex’s iconic ”President” model which is named just that, Day-Date, due to the fact that it displays these functions on the dial. But obviously, Rolex doesn’t own the concept of displaying these functions on the dial, and therefore, there are also plenty of other alternatives on the market.
Day-Date watches come in a number of different designs and executions, but primarily, these are extremely functional timepieces for everyday wear. Knowing what day and date it is is something that you may need several times during the week, and rather than having to take up your phone to know this, your watch can be very practical for indicating this.
The good news is that they are available in both sporty and dressy executions and with both expensive and affordable price tags. In this article, we are looking closer at the best affordable Day-Date watches in all kinds of different designs and executions.
Best affordable day-date watches
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Hamilton ‘Khaki Aviation’ Swiss Automatic H64615135
The Hamilton Khaki Aviation is a pilot’s inspired watch with a 42mm stainless steel case with a water resistance of 100m/330 feet. The watch is powered by a Swiss automatic movement and has an anti-reflective crystal on top.
As a pilot’s watch should, it is presented with a large black dial with big hands and large Arabic numerals which provide excellent legibility. Of course, for getting a place on this list, it has both a day and date window on the dial. The day window is positioned at 12 o’clock and the date window is positioned at 6 o’clock. The watch features a black dial with a sunburst finish which reflects the light beautifully and makes it more interesting and appealing.
Like all pilot watches, the dial is certainly the highlight of this watch, but because of its large size and relatively large case, it is perceived as a big watch, and therefore, it requires a large wrist or a preference for large watches.
Specifications
- Diameter: 42mm
- Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Movement: Swiss automatic
Casio MTP-1381L-1AVDF
The Casio MTP-1381L-1AVDF is an elegant and sleek watch that works both as a dress watch as well as an everyday watch. It has a great balance between casualness and elegance which makes it extremely versatile.
The watch is presented with a stainless steel case with a diameter of 39.9mm which is, for many, a reasonable size that works for many different wrist sizes. Not too small, not too big. And this also helps in its versatile nature.
To add to its classic look, it is presented on a black embossed leather strap. The dial is simple in design but has a subtle raised pattern at the center. Despite its affordable price, Casio has done a great job with the details of this watch by incorporating things like applied metal hour markers and nice beveled hands with luminescence applied to them.
At 12 o’clock, it has a day window and at 6 o’clock, it has a date window.
All in all, this is just a stylish everyday timepiece that works well on many different occasions.
Specifications
- Diameter: 39.9mm
- Crystal: Mineral glass
- Water resistance: 50m/5 ATM
- Movement: Japanese quartz
Seiko SNE039 Stainless Steel Solar
If you’re looking for a stylish and sleek everyday watch with a day-date function, the Seiko Solar SNE039 is a great choice. This watch has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 37mm which means that it is relatively small. It is perhaps not ideal for men with large wrists, but it works great for those who have a preference for smaller watches.
The SNE039 is designed to be sporty yet elegant and simple. It is presented with a stylish black dial with a sunburst finish which reflects the light beautifully and applied metal hour markers with pencil-style hands. At 3 o’clock, it has the day-date indicator which is convenient to have for everyday wear.
With its smaller size, it is more subtle, making it suitable for formal occasions, but it is also suitable for everyday wear and for sportier occasions. On top of the case sits a Hardly crystal, and it is powered by a quartz Solar movement, meaning you do not have to replace its batteries.
Specifications
- Diameter: 37mm
- Movement: quartz
- Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
- Crystal: Hardlex
Seiko SGF206 Gold-Tone
The Seiko SGF206 is a bold yet stylish day-date timepiece designed fully in gold. This watch is sure to stand out with its gold case, dial, and bracelet.
The watch has a gold-tone case with a diameter of 35.5mm with a coin-edge bezel reminiscent of that on the Rolex Day-Date and Datejust which enhances its luxurious appearance.
It has a simple yet elegant champagne-colored dial with a day-date window at 3 o’clock and simple hands and applied hour markers. On top of the case, it has a Hardlex crystal and it is powered by a quartz movement, the caliber 7N43.
With its all-gold appearance, it is a very bold timepiece that stands out and is sure to get noticed, but if that is what you are looking for, its affordable price should definitely be convincing.
The water resistance is 30m/100 feet which isn’t the best, but water resistance isn’t really crucial for this type of watch anyways.
Specifications
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
- Movement: Japanese quartz caliber 7N43
- Diameter: 35.5mm
Seiko 5 Sports Automatic SNZG15J1
The Seiko 5 SNZG15J1 is a military-inspired field watch with a tool-like and sporty design.
It has a tool-like sand-finished case with a diameter of 42mm and a thickness of 12mm. In traditional field watch fashion, it has a matte black dial with 24-hour and 12-hour markers printed in black. At 3 o’clock it has a day-date indicator. The reheat with the hour markers is raised which provides some depth to the watch and on top of the case sits a Hardlex mineral crystal.
The watch is powered by the automatic Seiko caliber 7S36 which features 23 jewels.
The water resistance is 100m/330 feet which is very reasonable for a field watch. You can go swimming with it for short periods of time, but it is not suitable for diving.
This is a great choice for those who are looking for a sportier and more versatile timepiece for everyday wear that can also take a beating.
Specifications
- Diameter: 42mm
- Movement: Automatic caliber 7S36
- Thickness: 12mm
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Crystal: Hardlex
Bulova Classic Quartz 96C125
The Bulova 96C125 is actually one of our favorite affordable day-date watches for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is presented with a stainless steel case with a very reasonable size of 39mm. In addition, the case has a very interesting and unique case design that stands out from the ordinary and is refreshing from the otherwise classic and perhaps a little bit boring round cases that many manufacturers use. And lastly, the case has great finishing and attention to detail with polished bevels and brushed surfaces which shows that Bulova has really paid attention to the details. And in addition, it is presented on a very stylish stainless steel bracelet that combines elegance with sportiness.
Another great feature we love about this watch is its striking blue dial with a beautiful sunburst finish which reflects the light beautifully. The dial has applied metal hour markers with a brushed finish and beveling. The date window at 3 o’clock has a metal frame around it, just like the day indicator at 12 o’clock. All of these things show that Bulova has paid great attention to details, and this is particularly important to highlight for a watch that is also affordably priced.
It is powered by a quartz movement and has a water resistance of 30m/100 feet.
For this price, this is a stunning Day-Date watch with lovely details and a look that works just as great with a suit as it does with jeans.
Specifications
- Diameter: 39mm
- Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
- Movement: quartz
- Crystal: domed
Casio MTD-1079D-1AVCF Super Illuminator Diver
The Casio MTD-1079D-1AVCF Super Illuminator is a dive-inspired watch at an affordable price and of course with a day-date function.
It features a 44mm stainless steel case with a sporty design and crown guards protecting the crown. It is powered by a quartz super illuminator LED movement and offers a water resistance of 100m/330 feet.
In terms of design, it has a classic dive-watch-inspired design, meaning it has a unidirectional rotating bezel, a monochrome look, and an emphasis on legibility.
The super illuminator function means that at the touch of a button, you can illuminate the dial for excellent legibility even in low-lit conditions. The dial has a black color and a sunburst finish which reflects the light beautifully. The dial has applied hour markers with luminescence as well as large hands for optimum contrast against the dial. At 3 o’clock, it has a day and date window.
Specifications
- Diameter: 44mm
- Movement: Quartz
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Movement: Super Illuminator quartz
Seiko SNKN37 Stainless Steel Automatic Recraft
The Seiko SNKN37 is a retro-inspired timepiece with a stainless steel case featuring a cushion shape. Because of this, its design stands out from the ordinary and is the perfect choice for someone who is looking for a day-date watch that stands out from the ordinary. The case has a diameter of 43.5mm, but keep in mind that cushion-shaped watches wear a lot different compared to regular watches. On top of the case sits a Hardlex crystal.
The watch has a beautiful dial with a dark blue color and a sunburst finish. The rehaut is large and features large white printed Arabic numerals which provide excellent legibility. It is presented with pencil-shaped hands with luminescence applied to them and a day-date window at 3 o’clock.
It has a water resistance of 50m/165 feet, but since this is more designed as an elegant everyday watch, the water resistance isn’t really crucial.
Specifications
- Diameter: 43.5mm
- Water resistance: 50m/165 feet
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Movement: Automatic
Tissot T0384301105700 T-One Day-Date Calendar Watch
If you want a Swiss-made Day-Date watch, the Tissot T0384301105700 is a great choice. The watch has a simple and classic yet sporty design which makes it great for everyday wear, but also for formal occasions.
It has a stainless steel case with a reasonable size of 38mm which will fit a lot of wrists and also work great with either a suit or with jeans. It is powered by a Swiss automatic movement and has an anti-reflective sapphire crystal on top.
With a water resistance of 50m/165 feet, it isn’t a dive watch, but it can handle water splashes when showering or swimming for shorter periods of time.
The dial has a simple black design with large hands and applied metal hour markers for 3, 6, and 9. At 12 o’clock, it has a day window, and at 6 o’clock, it has a date window. The dial has luminous hands and stick hour markers as well as minute markers around the outer rim.
All in all, this makes for a high-quality, stylish, and versatile everyday watch.
Specifications
- Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire
- Diameter: 38mm
- Water resistance: 165 feet/50m
- Thickness: 10mm
- Movement: Swiss Automatic
Citizen Eco-Drive Day/Date AW0050-82E
The Citizen Eco-Drive AW0050-82E is another versatile stainless steel Day-Date watch for everyday wear.
It features a 43mm stainless steel case with a water resistance of 100m/330 feet and is powered by a Japanese quartz movement. The movement uses Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, meaning it gets energy from solar and ambient light, thus eliminating the need for replacing batteries. On top of the case, it has a mineral crystal
The watch has a simple black dial with large white printed Arabic numerals for both the 12-hour and 24-hour clock. At 3 o’clock, it has a Day-Date function which can be convenient to have for everyday wear.
This is a classic everyday timepiece that has a balance between sportiness and versatility, making it perfect for everyday wear.
Specifications
- Crystal: Mineral glass
- Movement: Japanese quartz
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Diameter: 43mm
Casio Sports Quartz Watch MTD1082D-2AVCF
If you’re looking for something more sporty and bold, the Casio Sports quartz MTD1082D-2AVCF may be a great choice. It is presented with a stainless steel case with a diameter of 49.6mm with mineral glass on top.
The watch is powered by a quartz movement and has a water resistance of 100m/330 feet. It has a stainless steel unidirectional rotating 60-minute bezel and an additional push button which is used for the Casio Super illumination feature, meaning the dial lights up for improved legibility in low-lit conditions.
The watch has a sporty yet beautiful blue dial with a sunburst finish and subtle red details. It features large applied Arabic numerals for the 6, 9, and 12 o’clock markers and large rectangular markers for the rest of the hours. At 3 o’clock, it has a Day-Date window incorporated. The hands feature large and broad arrows which provide excellent contrast against the dial for great legibility.
Specifications
- Diameter: 49.6mm
- Movement: quartz
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler Field Watch BM8180-03E
Last but not least on our list of affordable Day-Date watches, we have the Citizen Eco-Drive Chandler Field watch BM8180-03E.
This is actually one of the most popular affordable watches on the market, and as its name suggests, it has a military field-watch-inspired design.
The watch is presented with a stainless steel case and is powered by an Eco-Drive quartz movement, meaning it is powered by solar and ambient light. It has a matte black dial with white printed Arabic numerals for the 12-hour clock and a day-date indicator at 3 o’clock.
The water resistance is 100m/330 feet which is very reasonable for a sports watch.
It’s easy to see why this watch is so popular with its affordable price and stylish, sporty design that makes it perfect for everyday wear.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Movement: Eco-Drive quartz
Should you buy a Day-Date watch?
Different watches come with different functions. And there are literally endless functions to choose from in a watch today – chronographs, annual calendars, perpetual calendars, and so on. If you like to be able to keep track of both the day and the date with just a glance on your wrist, buying a Day-Date watch is a good idea. Having these functions is a convenient way to know the day and date without having to take up your phone to check.
Which Is The Best Affordable Day-Date Watch?
The answer to that question ultimately depends on your needs, preferences, and budget. The most iconic Day-Date watch is the Rolex Day-Date, but naturally, most people don’t have tens of thousands of dollars to drop on a watch. All the watches in this list are the most popular affordable Day-Date watches but one that stands out is certainly the Bulova watch, which has proven to offer an exceptional balance between price and quality.
History of the Day-Date watch
The first watch to ever feature a day and date function simultaneously is the Rolex Day-Date. The Rolex Day-Date was first released in 1956 and was revolutionary at the time as no other manufacturer had previously been able to incorporate both a day and a date function. But Rolex succeeded and a lot has happened since then of course. Today, you don’t have to buy an expensive, ultra-luxury Rolex watch in order to be able to enjoy this function. Instead, there are plenty of options on the market in all kinds of price ranges and designs.
Whether you want a dress watch, sports watch, dive watch, and have a budget of 100 dollars or 1000 dollars, there is a lot to choose from.
Movement in Day-Date watches
Most affordable watches are powered by quartz movements. Whilst a lot of watches in all kinds of different price ranges often have a date function, the day-date function is more complicated to make when it comes to a mechanical movement, and this is part of the reason why, for affordable watches, there are usually quartz movements inside. However, this isn’t true for only Day-Date watches but also for affordable watches in general. But with that said, as you can see above, there are some affordable Day-Date watches with automatic movements, although they are fewer, and in general cost more than quartz alternatives.
Conclusion
Having the luxury of being able to keep track of both the day and date simultaneously on a watch used to be a function that only the most expensive luxury watches included. However, things have now changed and there are plenty of affordable Day-Date watches to choose from. If you like the convenience of having both of these features in a watch, you can enjoy this function without ever having to pay more than a few hundred.
