Top 11 Best Everyday Watches [Affordable]
The term everyday watch is often used to describe watches that work well for many different occasions and for everyday wear. An everyday watch should be ready to meet your usual everyday needs may be. An everyday watch should work well on both formal and casual occasions, and should be versatile and stylish, but still relatively durable to handle more harsh conditions.
It should work as a trusted companion that you can trust and rely on to enhance your look, regardless of your outfit.
Naturally, since the term is very broad, there are no set criteria that an everyday watch must meet. Predominantly, the focus is on its style and design. Whilst a dress watch, for example, is beautiful and stylish, it may not be ideal to wear with casual everyday clothing, and so this type of watch may not be completely suitable.
The same goes for more robust and sporty tool watches that are built for a purpose. With that said, a 49mm dive watch may not be ideal for everyday wear either.
With this in mind, an everyday watch should be stylish, and versatile, and work great on both casual, but also more formal occasions. It is also convenient if it has a somewhat robust design and perhaps some water resistance so it can withstand whatever life throws at you, but it is not necessarily a requirement.
It’s also important to point out that different people have different preferences and tastes. With that said, some people may prefer a dive-watch-style watch for their everyday watch, but others may prefer something more elegant and refined. For some people, a dive watch may work perfectly as an everyday watch, but for others, not so much.
This also has to do with what your every day consists of, where you spend your time, which situations you find yourself in, and what you wear. This is therefore something you should think about before you dig in.
Regardless, in this article, we will look at all kinds of different everyday watches, both sporty and elegant, but we will focus on those that are more affordable, at less than 1000 USD.
Best Everyday Watches
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Seiko SNN241 Chronograph
Starting off this list, we have the Seiko SNN241. This is built as a versatile watch that has a balance between elegance and sportiness. It features a cushion case with a diameter of 42.6mm and a thickness of 11mm. It features a Hardlex crystal at the front.
The watch is presented with a stylish brown dial with a sunburst finish at the center. The outer edge of the dial has large applied luminous markers which, together with the large white hands provide excellent legibility.
It is powered by a Japanese quartz movement and incorporates a chronograph function that measures up to 60 minutes. In addition to the chronograph function, it also has a date window positioned at 3 o’clock.
The water resistance of 100m/330 feet is relatively good for an everyday watch. This means you can go swimming with it, but it is not suitable for diving. But you don’t go diving with an everyday watch anyway.
To make it more versatile and suitable for more formal occasions, it is presented on a contrast-stitched leather strap.
All in all, this watch is perfect if you are looking for something versatile and sporty but with an elegant touch that works both on formal and casual occasions.
Specifications
- Diameter: 42.6mm
- Movement: Japanese Quartz
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Thickness: 11mm
Seiko 5 SNK793 Automatic
Next up, we have the Seiko 5 SNK793. With its stainless steel case of 36mm, it is a relatively small watch that works for both men and women. It may not be ideal for those who prefer larger watches, but its smaller size contributes to a more elegant appearance.
What’s interesting about this watch is that it has all of the sporty design traits that Seiko 5 is associated with, but is executed in a way that also works on more formal occasions. This is why this is definitely one of our top choices for an everyday watch, as long as you like smaller sizes. It slides under a cuff without issues and complements your style rather than stealing the show.
The watch is powered by an automatic movement, like all Seiko 5 watches, which is something that watch enthusiasts will appreciate. The movement used is known for being a robust workhorse that can continue to tick for many years.
The highlight of this watch is certainly its beautiful dark blue dial with a sunburst finish. Thanks to its beautiful finish, it reflects the light beautifully and becomes very vibrant. At 3 o’clock, we also find the signature day and date window. Knowing what day and date it is at a glance can be very practical in an everyday watch.
The water resistance of this watch is 30m which means that it is splash-proof.
Specifications
- Diameter: 36mm
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Water resistance: 30m
Nordgreen Pioneer
The Nordgreen Pioneer is a great choice for an everyday watch for those who want something unique, stylish, and modern. Sometimes, it can be nice to step out from the most well-known brands and opt for a micro brand instead. Because oftentimes, these watches offer exceptional value for money, and the Nordgreen Pioneer does just that.
This watch features a 42mm stainless steel case with a black finish. The design has won a Red Dot award and has a Danish design by Jakob Wagner. What we appreciate most about this watch is its timeless, minimalistic, and elegant look, whilst still retaining a touch of sportiness which makes it extremely versatile.
The watch features a black dial with two sub-second dials since it incorporates a chronograph function. At 6 o’clock, it has a date window discreetly integrated. A nice feature of this watch is its interchangeable strap function which makes it easy and effortless to change straps and give it a completely new look. This is a truly useful function for an everyday watch that helps you adapt the style of the watch based on your daily needs. For a more sporty touch, you can opt for the metal bracelet, but if you want a more elegant and classic look, you can simply opt for a leather strap.
This is really a watch that works well on any occasion and is certainly one of the essential watches that you should have in your collection. And the fact that you can change straps effortlessly makes it even more adaptable to your needs and outfits.
Specifications
- Movement: Japanese quartz
- Diameter: 42mm
- Thickness: 11.9mm
- Crystal: domed sapphire crystal
Victorinox Fieldforce Quartz 241851
If you’re looking for a versatile watch that is a little sportier, the Victorinox Fieldforce 241851 is a great choice. Victorinox watches are known for being robust, tough, and durable, and that is exactly what this watch is. But at the same time, it is also designed to be more versatile to make it suitable for many different occasions.
It features a stainless steel case with a diameter of 42mm and a scratch-resistant triple-coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal at the front. The water resistance of 100m/330 feet is also quite good, making it suitable for swimming.
It has a fixed black bezel and a black dial with large Arabic numerals on it. Victorinox has still managed to retain the signature military styling with elements such as the white sword-shaped hands with applied luminescent material. Positioned at 3 o’clock, we find a day and date window which is practical for everyday wear. For a touch of sportiness and color, it has a red contrasting seconds hand.
All in all, this watch combines sportiness with elegance and is great for everyday wear, but also dressy enough for more formal occasions.
For accuracy, it is powered by a quartz movement.
Specifications
- Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Movement: quartz
- Diameter: 42mm
Citizen Eco-Drive AW1236-03A
The Citizen Eco-Drive AW1236-03A is more on the elegant side in terms of design, but as mentioned, your need for an everyday watch depends on your daily activities and clothing.
If you’re looking for something more elegant, but with a touch of sportiness that can also work on casual occasions, this watch is definitely a great choice.
It has a 40mm stainless steel case with a mineral crystal on the front and is powered by a solar quartz movement. This means that the battery gets energy from ambient and solar light, thus eliminating the need for replacing the batteries, which is always convenient.
The water resistance of this watch is, unsurprisingly, not the best at 30m, but this isn’t the type of watch that you’d go swimming with anyways.
The dial is designed to be elegant and refined and has a beautiful silver background with a brushed finish and applied copper Roman hour markers. The hands are made in the same copper color and are slim and pointy. At 3 o’clock, it has a date window which is always practical to have.
Specifications
- Diameter: 40mm
- Movement: Japanese quartz
- Crystal: Mineral glass
- Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Seiko SNE032 Two-Tone Solar
The Seiko SNE032 is a watch that captures what everyday watches are all about. It is a watch that is more suitable for those who find themselves on more formal occasions or simply prefer formal watches.
It is presented with a 37mm stainless steel case which is on the small side for men’s watches. This makes it great together with a suit or jacket, but also for those who have a preference for smaller watches. This one will slide under a cuff without any issues. In addition, its gold accents, such as the bezel, crown, and bracelet, add to its elegant and luxurious appearance. The front has Seiko’s signature Hardlex crystal.
At the same time, it is not a dress watch, nor it is a sports watch. It’s simply the perfect combination of them both.
The watch is powered by a quartz movement and uses Solar technology, meaning it gets its energy from solar and ambient light. It has a power reserve of 10 months when fully charged.
The water resistance of this watch is 30 m (99 ft. This is not ideal for swimming, but it can handle water splashes.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
- Crystal: Hardlex
- Diameter: 37mm
- Power reserve: 10 months
Fossil Townsman Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch
The Fossil Townsman is a watch that is inspired by 1960s Era architectural and automotive design, and this gives it a very classic yet stylish look.
The watch features a 44mm stainless steel case with a clean and simple design with an emphasis on the dial. As such, the case has a thin polished bezel which leaves lots of room for the dial.
Speaking of the dial, it has a striking sunburst finish with a dark blue color. The chronograph sub-dials are positioned at 12 and 6 o’clock for good symmetry. For added elegance, it has applied gold hour markers and pointy gold hands with luminescence applied to them. The blue matches the gold perfectly and creates a beautiful balance between vintage-inspiration tool-watch design, and elegance. The front of the case has a hardened mineral crystal.
The watch is powered by a quartz chronograph movement and has a water resistance of 50 meters/165 feet. For a formal look, it is presented on a brown leather strap.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 50m/165 feet
- Diameter: 44mm
- Movement: Quartz
- Crystal: Hardened mineral glass
Citizen CA0648-09L Eco-Drive Chronograph
For those who prefer an everyday watch that is more on the sportier side, the Citizen Eco-Drive CA0648-09L may be the one. It has a clear vintage-inspired racing design with a diameter of 43mm and a large blue bezel with a tachymeter scale. The lugs of the case also have a distinct design as they are straight and rectangular shaped.
The dial can be perceived as quite busy with large white Arabic numerals and markers as well as sword-shaped white hands and three chronograph-sub-dials- On the dial, you’ll also find a date window at 3 o’clock.
Another practical thing about this watch is that it is powered by a solar quartz movement. In other words, you won’t have to replace its batteries as it is powered by ambient and solar light.
The water resistance is also quite good at 100m/330 feet so you can go swimming with it if you need to.
Specifications
- Diameter: 44mm
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Movement: Eco-Drive quartz
Tissot Viso Date T0194301104100
If you’re looking for something elegant and refined, and also want Swiss watches, the Tissot Viso Date T0194301104100 is one of our favorite choices.
The watch features a reasonable size of 40mm and has a thickness of 11.6mm. The case design is definitely one that stands out and is extremely beautiful. It’s evident that Tissot has really paid attention to the details of this case by making a slim case, but still with sharp and sporty lines. The case has curved lugs with polished, beveled edges, and equally so the case itself. The bezel is also made thin in order to leave much room for the dial. And the dial is indeed very beautiful as well. Tissot presents this watch with a dark blue, sunburst finish dial which reflects the light beautifully.
The dial has elegantly applied metal hour markers, sword-shaped hands, and a day and date window at 3 o’clock.
Another nice feature of this watch is that it is powered by a Swiss automatic movement. The water resistance of 30m/100 feet isn’t the best, but this watch leans more toward the dressy side of everyday watches.
We think Tissot’s own description sums this watch up very well: ”The Tissot Heritage Visodate translates nostalgia into contemporary timepieces dedicated to detail. A gently curved dial mirrors the domed sapphire glass, both geared to showcasing a clearly visible day and date.”
Specifications
- Diameter: 40mm
- Thickness: 11.6mm
- Movement: Swiss Automatic
- Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
Tissot T0354461105100
The Tissot T0354461105100 is perhaps what many people would associate with an everyday watch. It has a robust case with a reasonable size of 39mm, but also elegant design features that make it more versatile and stylish, and less sporty.
It is powered by a quartz movement and offers a water resistance of 100m/330 feet. On top of the case, it has a scratch-Resistant sapphire crystal. The watch is presented with a clean black dial with applied metal hour markers and skeletonized metal hands.
In our opinion, this watch has a perfect balance that an everyday watch needs. It is dressy, but not too dressy to be called a dress watch. It is also sporty, but not sporty enough to be called a sports watch. In other words, it is just right.
Specifications
- Movement: quartz
- Diameter: 39mm
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Crystal: Sapphire
Tissot Stainless Steel T1274071104100 Powermatic 80
Last but not least, we have the Tissot T1274071104100, and this is definitely one of our favorites on this list. Similar to the watch above, it has the perfect balance between sportiness and elegance which makes it extremely versatile and suitable for virtually any occasion.
It has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 40mm, a very reasonable size, elegantly curved lugs, and a combination of brushed and polished elements. The case thickness of 11.5mm also makes this watch slide under a cuff without any issues. On the front, it has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
As it should, the dial focuses on minimalism and refinement. It has a beautiful blue dial with a sunburst effect and applied metal hour markers which enhance its appearance. At 3 o’clock, it has a convenient date window, and its hands are sword-shaped and have applied luminescence.
The water resistance is also quite good as well, at 100m, which is enough for swimming. More than that is not something you need in an everyday watch.
And last but not least, but perhaps most importantly, it is powered by Tissot’s Powermatic 80 movement which has a silicon spring and a power reserve of an impressive 80 hours. The movement can also be viewed through the see-through case back.
Specifications
- Diameter: 40mm
- Thickness: 11.5mm
- Movement: Swiss automatic, Powermatic 80 caliber
- Crystal: scratch-resistant sapphire
- Power reserve: 80 hours
What is an everyday watch?
Simply put, an everyday watch is a timepiece that should work for everyday use. It should be a versatile timepiece that you can wear on virtually any occasion whilst never looking out of place or odd. An everyday watch often has a good balance between sportiness and elegance which is what makes it versatile. Just as it can handle water if you decide to go for a swim, it should look amazing with a suit and more formal attire.
There are no official criteria that define an everyday watch, but to give a short and sweet definition, we could define it in the following way:
An everyday watch is a watch that works just as well with jeans and a t-shirt as with a suit.
If you only have one watch in your collection, it should definitely be an everyday watch due to the versatility it offers. Opting solely for a dress watch will mean you’ll have to take it off if you go swimming or perform demanding activities. And too sporty and bulky timepieces will just look out of place and strange if you wear them with formal attire. It should be a timepiece that just “works” and that you can throw on at any time and for any occasion without having to think twice.
Buyer’s guide for an everyday watch
Whilst there are no official criteria for everyday watches, there are some things you may want to look for when buying an everyday watch to make sure that it works for any occasion, purpose, and need.
Decent water resistance
An everyday watch should have decent water resistance. What is “decent”? Well, in my view, it should at least be suitable for swimming. Most people won’t go diving, so having this requirement for an everyday watch will only be superfluous. But to go swimming occasionally (or regularly) is something that is not uncommon. In that sense, it can be practical to have a watch that can handle this. The water-resistance is not crucial for swimming, but if you do plan on wearing your watch when swimming, it is something worth considering.
A versatile yet durable strap
As you can see in the list above, I have included watches with both leather straps and metal bracelets. An everyday watch can have a steel bracelet, leather, or rubber strap. Which you choose depends on how you plan to wear your watch and your own preference. If you plan to go swimming, it is ideal to have either a metal bracelet or a rubber strap (for obvious reasons). The most important thing, however, is that it is comfortable, durable, and has a versatile aesthetic that works with all kinds of different outfits.
A versatile design
Perhaps most important is the design of the watch. Since an everyday watch needs to be versatile and suitable for virtually any occasion, it needs to be versatile. It shouldn’t be too casual, nor should it be too formal. You want to avoid dress watches, as much as you want to avoid hardcore sports watches since these won’t work well on the other side of the spectrum (for example a dress watch when sporting and vice versa).
In addition, it can be wise to choose a watch with a more simple, clean, and toned-down design. For example, an everyday watch with a red dial may be really nice, but a red dial may look out of place with some outfits and colors. Therefore, when it comes to the dial color, choose discreet colors such as blue, black, white, and other darker colors such as brown or very dark green. This way, you make sure you can pair the watch with any outfit.
Additional functions
When making your pick, think about whether or not you want additional functions in addition to the timekeeping. Many people appreciate the ability to check the date or even the day with their watch. These are functions that can be truly useful in your everyday life. Other people may get practical use from a chronograph. Or, if you just want a simple and clean watch and don’t care about the functions, you can choose a time-only watch. It completely depends on your needs and wants in a watch.
Which is the best everyday watch?
Naturally, the answer to that question will depend on a number of different factors, not to mention your own taste, style, and preference. As you can see in the list, we have everyday watches with both more sporty designs but also more elegant designs. If you often wear casual and sporty outfits, then it can be wise to buy an everyday watch that is more sporty and casual. On the other hand, if you prefer a more dressy and formal style, it makes sense to buy a watch that reflects that.
In addition, your budget will play an important role here as well. In the list, we have focused on affordable watches under 1000 dollars, but there’s quite a difference between spending 100 dollars versus 1000 dollars. Of course, you can expect a lower quality from a 100-dollar watch than a thousand, so if you want a premium timepiece with better quality and finish, it can definitely be worth investing a bit more to get a top-quality watch (although all watches in this list hold great quality in relation to their price).
