12 Best Affordable Watches with Power Reserve Indicator
There are an endless of different watches with countless different functions and features on the market. The biggest difference may of course be mechanical vs quartz, but when we are also talking functions, there are plenty to choose from. The most common and most familiar may include things like a chronograph, date function, GMT function, day function, and so on.
In this article, we will look closer at a function that is not too commonly used in watches but can still be found in some of them. That is a power reserve indicator.
What is a power reserve indicator?
A power reserve indicator is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an indicator integrated into the dial that indicates the power reserve of the movement. The purpose of a power reserve indicator is to tell you exactly how much power is left in the movement so you can take the appropriate action.
Power reserve indicators are mostly found on mechanical watches but can also be found on some quartz watches. The reason why we mostly find them in mechanical watches is that the power reserve of these watches is much shorter than that of a quartz watch. For example, a mechanical watch may have a power reserve of 38 hours whilst a quartz movement may have a battery life of 2 years. With that said, it is much more important to stay on top of the power reserve of a mechanical watch.
A power reserve indicator can actually be a truly useful function, and some people always look for this in their watches so they can ensure that it is always running.
Benefits of a power reserve indicator
The primary benefit of a power reserve indicator is that it allows you to stay on top of the energy levels in your watch in order to prevent it from stopping. When your watch runs out of energy, you need to either wind. Or, in the case of a quartz watch, replace the battery. If this happens, you need to set the time and potentially any functions again. But if you see that the energy is low, you can instead do something about it to prevent it from stopping.
Others simply enjoy the look and purpose of a power reserve function on the dial, but don’t use it too often.
Below, we’ll look closer at the best and most popular watches with power reserve indicators.
Best affordable watches with power reserve indicator
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Seiko Coutura Chronograph SSC628
Starting off this list, we have the Seiko Coutura Chronograph SSC628. This is a very cool watch with a very unique and bold design. The watch has a large case with a diameter of 45.5mm and a design that stands out from the ordinary with sharp and aggressive lines. But what stands out the most is its integrated steel bracelet design which is integrated into the case. The case features a crown at 3 o’clock which sits protected between crown guards, as well as chronograph pushers on each side.
The dial is executed with great attention to detail and is brown with a beautiful sunburst finish. The dial features three sub-dials for the chronograph function, and discreetly tucked into the left sub-dial at 6 o’clock, it has a power-reserve indicator that shows if the battery is full or empty. Speaking of this, the watch is powered by a Solar quartz movement, meaning it gets its energy from solar and ambient light. A practical function that eliminates the need of replacing the battery.
The chronograph measures up to 60 minutes in 1/5 second increments with a split time measurement function and 24-hour indicator. The water resistance of this watch is 100. All in all, this is a great choice if you want something bold, sporty, and unique, with a great presence on the wrist.
Specifications
- Diameter: 45.5mm
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Power-reserve: 100m/330 feet
Orient Star “Classic” Traditional SEL09002W
The Orient Star Classic SEL09002W is a sleek, elegant, and classic dress watch with a power reserve indicator. It has a slim yellow gold case with a polished finish and slim lugs and bezel. To give it that classic look that makes it suitable for formal occasions and as a dress watch, it is presented on a brown embossed leather strap.
The watch features an elegant white dial with a pattern at the center and a circular pattern towards the edge. It also has black Roman numerals printed on it. To go with the classic theme, it has blue Breguet hands which just radiate class.
It is powered by the automatic Orient caliber 40N52 with 22 jewels. At 12 o’clock on the dial, we find the power reserve indicator which goes from 0 to 40, which is the power reserve of this movement. On top of the case, it has a spherical sapphire crystal with an anti-Reflective coating. As an additional detail, the watch is also equipped with a see-through case back to enhance its luxurious and elegant appearance.
All in all, if you’re after a classic and traditional dress watch with a power reserve indicator, you can’t go wrong with the Orient Star Classic.
Specifications
- Movement: Orient automatic caliber 40N52
- Jewels: 22
- Crystal: Spherical sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Orient Star 2nd Gen”Classic” SAF02004W
The Orient Star 2 Gen Classic SAF02004W is, as the name suggests, a classic watch with a minimalistic and simple design. It has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 38.5mm which is actually quite appropriate for a dress watch. It’s not too big, but it is also not tiny. The case design is exactly what we can expect from a dress watch, meaning short and slim lugs and a thin bezel with a polished finish
On top of the case sits a domed mineral crystal, and this pairs with the slightly domed silver dial with a pearlescent, matte finish. Orient has done an exceptional job with the finishing and attention to detail with things like applied beveled metal hour markers and matching hands. At 12 o’clock, it also has a power reserve indicator. What’s also great is that the case has a slim profile of only 10mm which allows it to slide under a cuff without any issues. At 3 o’clock, it has a date window which can be convenient for everyday wear.
For understated class and elegance, you really cannot go wrong with this watch.
This is also a popular watch amongst watch enthusiasts as it is powered by the automatic caliber 46A40 which operates at a frequency of 21600 BPH.
Last but not least, the water resistance isn’t the most impressive, but it is a dress watch and is not meant to have the best water resistance. This one is resistant to 50m.
Specifications
- Jewels: 21
- Movement: Automatic caliber 46A40
- Frequency: 21600BPH
- Water resistance: 50m
- Diameter: 38.5mm
- Thickness: 10mm
Zeppelin Automatic 7060-4 Automatic Watch
The Zeppelin 7060-4 is a simple, clean and elegant dress watch with a classic design. It has a slim stainless steel case with very short and thin lugs as well as a thin bezel which allows it to sit comfortably and discreetly on the wrist. It will also slider under a cuff without any issues with its slim profile of 11mm. The diameter measures 40mm.
It is designed with a classic, vintage-inspired look and has a cream-colored dial with traditional hands. The power reserve indicator has been placed at 12 o’clock, and at 3 o’clock, we also have a date window which can be very useful. To go with the classic theme, it has black-printed Arabic Breguet-style numerals. At 6 o’clock, it has a 24-hour sub-dial.
With all of this said, it is evident that Zeppelin has paid great attention to the details and really put a lot of focus on making every single aspect of this watch align perfectly with the classic look it is trying to achieve.
On top of the case sits a Hesalite crystal, and powering this watch is an automatic movement with 26 jewels from Citizen. As a bonus touch, the watch also has a see-through case back.
All in all, this is a classic and stylish timepiece that works great if you are looking for something simple and elegant and with a power reserve indicator of course.
Specifications
- Crystal: Hesalite
- Diameter: 40mm
- Thickness: 11mm
- Water resistance: 30m
- Jewels: 26
- Movement: Modified self-winding Citizen caliber
Bulova 96C143
For someone who wants something elegant but also interesting with a great number of details, this Bulova watch offers all of that.
It is designed as a sleek and stylish dress watch but is by no means boring thanks to its beautiful dial.
It is presented with a stainless steel case where Bulova has really paid attention to the details by using a brushed finish with polished stepped lugs. The bezel itself is thin and has a polished finish. In terms of design, the case is simple and clean, just the way a dress watch is supposed to be. On top of the case sits a domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating.
Worth pointing out is that this watch is available with either a gray, blue, or silver dial, so you can pick the watch of your choosing. The dial has a beautiful striped pattern which reflects the light beautifully and also gives some depth to the dial. It has applied metal Roman numerals and matching sharp metal hands with luminescence applied to them. At 9 o’clock, it has a day indicator sub-dial and at 6 o’clock, it has a 24-hour sub-dial indicator. At 3 o’clock, it also has a date window. All of these functions are such that can be truly useful for everyday wear.
Last but not least, we have a power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock.
The watch is powered by an automatic movement with 26 jewels and a power reserve of 40 hours. A nice feature is that the movement can be seen via the see-through case back at the back.
The water resistance is what we expect from a dress watch, 30 meters.
All in all, for someone who is looking for something traditional and classic, but also does not want a boring and minimalistic dress watch, this is a great choice.
Specifications
- Power reserve: 40 hours
- Water resistance: 30m
- Jewels: 26
- Crystal: domed sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Citizen PCAT Eco-Drive AT4004-52E
If you want something sporty yet in-your-face, the Citizen Pcat Eco-Drive may be the watch for you. The watch is designed as a sporty chronograph and perhaps with some design inspiration from dive watches.
The watch has a stainless steel case with gold accents such as the crown and push buttons as well as the bezel. The watch has a fixed bezel with a tachymeter scale on it which is used together with the chronograph to measure the elapsed time. It is powered by a Japanese quartz movement with Eco-Drive, meaning it gets energy from solar and ambient light. In addition to this, it is synchronized to the Atomic clock which ensures perfect accuracy at all times. On top of the case sits a non-reflective sapphire crystal.
The dial features a black dial with a beautiful pattern and gold accents which goes very well together with its gold theme. The hands are also large with luminescence applied to them which ensures excellent legibility.
It incorporates a chronograph function that measures up to 60 minutes, has a perpetual calendar, 12- and 24-hour times, alarm, power reserve indicator, as well as a day and date function. It offers synchronized time in five time zones.
Being a sports watch, it also has water resistance to back it up, with a water resistance of 200m/660 feet.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Movement: Japanese Eco-Drive quartz
- Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire
Citizen PCAT CB5880-54L
Next up is the Citizen PCAT CB5880-54L which is a sports and tool watch that has a ton of different functions incorporated into it.
It is presented with a large stainless steel case with a diameter of 43mm that has a nice combination of brushed and polished elements and is presented on a stainless steel bracelet. The bezel of this case is very thin which leaves a lot of room for the dial. The watch has a sloped rehaut on which a tachymeter scale is printed which adds some depth to this watch.
The center of the dial has a beautiful blue color with subtle yet important red accents which adds to the sporty look. The dial has large sword-shaped hands with luminescence applied to them for excellent legibility.
In terms of functions, this watch has a lot to offer, and this can be seen by the many functions that are incorporated into the dial. The dial incorporates a power reserve indicator, a date window at 4 o’clock, atomic timekeeping, an alarm, a day indicator, and much more.
The water resistance, as we expect from a sports watch, is great, at 200m/660 feet. This makes it suitable for swimming and diving.
Specifications
- Diameter: 43mm
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
Citizen Eco-Drive Dress AW7020-51A
We’ll include a classic watch in this list as well, and this comes in the form of the Citizen Eco-Drive AW7020-51A. This is a stylish yet simple watch with a diameter of 41mm and a simple and classic design. It has a round case with a brushed bezel and straight, rectangular lugs with a polished finish. On top of the case, it has a mineral crystal. Its simple and elegant design makes it perfect for everyday wear, but also formal occasions as well.
The watch features a simple and clean dial with a silver finish and applied metal Roman hour markers. To go with the classic theme, it has blued sword-shaped hands.
Powering the watch is a Japanese quartz Eco-Drive movement that is powered by solar and ambient light. At 3 o’clock, it has a date indicator, and the only additional function is a power reserve indicator positioned between 7 and 8 o’clock. The power reserve of this watch is 8 months when fully charged.
All in all, this watch gives a very refined and luxurious appearance which is a great thing considering its price. It certainly punches well above its own weight in terms of finish and quality, in relation to its price.
Specifications
- Crystal: mineral
- Movement: Quartz Eco-Drive
- Power-reserve: 8 months
- Diameter: 41mm
Orient Star Sports Diver’s RE-AU0302L
The Orient Star Sports Dive RE-AU0302L is obviously a dive watch. And it has a simple yet sporty design with a stainless steel case that has a diameter of 43.6mm and a thickness of 14mm. The lugs are relatively slim and the crown at 3 o’clock does not have any crown guards. On top of the case, Orient uses an anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
As a dive watch should, it of course has a unidirectional rotating bezel with a blue aluminum insert with silver markers.
The dial is also sporty yet simple as it should be with a blue background and large applied hour markers with a generous amount of luminescence applied to them. The hands follow the same theme as the markers and also have a rounded design.
Powering this watch is the Orient automatic caliber F6N47 which has 22 Jewels. The movement has a power reserve of 50 hours, and this can also be seen via the power reserve indicator positioned at 12 o’clock. In addition, it also has a date indicator at 3 o’clock which can be convenient to have for everyday wear.
A dive watch needs good water resistance, and this is not just a watch with a dive-inspired design. Instead, it offers a water resistance of 200m/660 feet which means that you can actually go diving with it.
Specifications
- Power reserve: 50 hours
- Crystal: domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Diameter: 43.6mm
- Thickness: 14mm
Seiko Presage Power Reserve Ice Blue Cocktail Time “Sky Diving” SSA343J1
If you want something truly elegant with a luxurious appearance, look no further than the Seiko Presage Cocktail time SSA343J1.
This is a watch that emphasizes elegance and attention to detail. In fact, Cocktail time watches have become known for their beautiful dials with great attention to detail.
This watch is designed as an elegant dress watch which also works great for everyday wear, in particular if you tend to often wear formal attire. It has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 40.5mm and a thickness of 14.5mm. On top of the case sits a Hardlex crystal. For design purposes, it is equipped with a large crown which is positioned at 3 o’clock. Its large size also makes it easy to operate. The lugs of the case are slim and the bezel is thin with a polished finish.
It offers a water resistance of 50m/165 feet which means it can handle water splashes but should not be used when swimming. But this doesn’t really matter since it’s not the type of watch you would go swimming with anyway. The watch is also powered by an automatic movement.
Like on all Seiko Cocktail time watches, the dial is the highlight of this watch. It has a beautiful pattern with grooves and an ice-blue color. It has tall sharp applied metal hour markers with a beveled finish and sword-shaped hands. At 6 o’clock, it has a sub-dial date indicator. Going from 12 o’clock to 4 o’clock, it has a power reserve indicator which indicates the power reserve of the movement with an additional hand positioned at the center. It’s nice to have a power reserve function, but it is also nice to see how well this has been integrated into the dial design without cluttering it.
Specifications
- Movement: Automatic
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Thickness: 14.5mm
- Crystal: Hardlex
Citizen BN2038-01L Aqualand
Next up, we have the Citizen Aqualand BN2038-01L which is a tough, sporty, and durable dive watch made to handle the harshest conditions.
The watch has a large stainless steel case with a diameter of 44mm and a water resistance of 200m/660 feet, meaning it is suitable for diving. The watch also has an interesting case design where the crown and crown guards are positioned on the left side of the case which improves comfort when wearing it. As a dive watch should, it features a unidirectional rotating bezel. The bezel has an aluminum insert where the first 20 minutes are colored red and the rest blue. Blue and red go very well together and give a fresh yet sporty look. On top of the case, it uses a mineral crystal.
Powering this watch is a Japanese quartz Eco-Drive movement that is powered by light, thus eliminating the need for replacing the batteries, which is a useful feature to have.
In terms of functions, it also has a few features to offer. It is equipped with a maximum depth memory, rapid ascent alarm, auto start dive mode, and power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock on the dial. At 3 o’clock, you’ll find a date window as well.
The dial is blue and puts great emphasis on legibility with its large round applied hour markers with a generous amount of luminescence applied to them. All of the hands have broad arrow tips which provide excellent legibility.
This is a truly sporty watch made to last. It is most appropriate for those who enjoy large watches and want something robust and reliable with great performance but also with a stylish and sleek design.
Specifications
- Diameter: 44mm
- Movement: Japanese quartz caliberJ250
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Crystal: Mineral glass
Orient “Neptune” Japanese Automatic Diver
The Orient Neptune is one of the most popular dive watches on the market, and it is easy to see why. It has a stylish and clean design with great quality and attention to detail, whilst also staying true to the classic dive watch appearance. Orient has decided to put the crown at 4 o’clock instead of at the standard 3 o’clock position. This contributes to giving it a unique appearance but is also good for comfort when wearing it as it keeps the crown from digging into the wrist.
It has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 43.4mm and has a unidirectional rotating bezel with sharp teeth around the edges for improved grip. This watch is designed with a gold and steel design, which is why the bezel has a yellow-gold finish. The bezel in turn has a black aluminum insert with a lime pip at 12 o’clock for improved legibility.
The water resistance of this watch is also great at 200m/660 feet, making it suitable for swimming and diving.
The watch follows the theme of dive watches and has large applied hour markers with a generous amount of luminescence applied to them. The background is matte black, and this provides excellent contrast against the large hands with gold frames and luminescence on them. At 11 o’clock, it also incorporates a power reserve indicator which shows how much energy is left in the automatic movement that powers it. At 4 o’clock, it also incorporates a date function.
Specifications
- Diameter: 43.4mm
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
What is a good watch power reserve?
As you know, the power reserve of watches can vary a lot. In general, the mechanical watches with the lowest power reserve have a power reserve of approximately 24-40 hours or so. A good power reserve is considered to be at least 48 hours. A watch with a good power reserve is considered to be at least 70 hours up to several days. The watches with the best power reserves on the market are, for example, the Panerai 8 days with a power reserve of, you guessed it, 8 days, or the Panerai Luminor GMT 10 Days. But normally, watches with more than 3 days of power reserve tend to be primarily found in expensive luxury watches, so they don’t quite fit into this article.
The current world record holder in the best power reserve is the Hublot MP-05 LaFerrari with a power reserve of 50 days or 1,200 hours as it features 11 centrally-mounted and coupled mainspring barrels. Note that this is for mechanical watches. Quartz watches usually have a power reserve of at least 2 years, but they can also be much longer than that in some cases.
When should a watch with a power reserve indicator be wound?
There’s no fixed answer to this, but the most important thing is that you wind your watch before the watch runs out of power to prevent it from stopping. When you see the power reserve indicator closing empty or zero, wind it to increase its reserve.
What does power reserve mean?
As discussed earlier, power reserve refers to the number of hours (or days) the watch will maintain its energy until it stops. The power reserve is usually discussed with mechanical watches but also applies to quartz watches. But when most people talk about the power reserve of a quartz watch, they usually refer to the “battery life” as quartz and mechanical watches cannot really be compared.
The reason why the power reserve in mechanical watches is quite important is that it is usually not very long. With only normally about 2-3 days of power reserve, you need to keep the power reserve in mind to ensure that the watch doesn’t stop as a result of running out of power.
Normally, you don’t have an issue with the power reserve (and usually don’t have to think about it) when it comes to automatic watches since the rotor winds the watch when it is on the wrist. But it can still be a good thing to have, for example, if you don’t wear your watch for a day or two. But with this in mind, the power reserve indicator is more crucial on hand-wound watches than they are on automatic watches – even though most of the mechanical watches with power reserve today are automatic.
Watches with better power reserves tend to be more expensive
Mechanical watches with better power reserves tend to be more expensive, for obvious reasons. Designing a mechanical movement with an improved power reserve means an increased level of craftsmanship and an increased level of technical complications. As a result, affordable watch brands do not generally focus too much on developing insane power reserves. Instead, you’ll find mainly luxury and expensive brands focusing on this type of mechanical development.
