Introduction
Mechanical watches with automatic movements attract many enthusiasts thanks to their traditional charm and the absence of a battery. Even with a maximum budget of €300, it’s possible to find a beautiful, reliable, stylish automatic watch for men.
Of course, in this price range, you have to be realistic about the finishes and performance: they won’t compete with high-end Swiss models or elaborate watch complications. Nevertheless, the watches presented here offer excellent value for money and will satisfy both novices and collectors on a reasonable budget.
In this 2025 selection, you’ll discover 10 automatic watch models with a retail price of around €300 or less. On the agenda: Japanese brands renowned for their reliability, confidential micro-brands popular on specialized forums, and other mainstream brands offering very good value for money. You’ll find watches in various styles – from rugged dive watches to elegant dress watches – to suit all uses. Let’s get straight to the point!
CITIZEN GARRISON
Best Everyday Watch: There admittedly aren’t a ton of stellar GADA watch options on the market for below the $300 mark, though the Citizen Garrison is an exception. Boasting stellar bang for your buck, the Garrison is pieced together around a 43mm silver-tone stainless steel case finished in a combination of brushed and polished surfaces. Mated to a matching three-link steel bracelet with a fold-over clasp with push buttons, the case also accommodates a simple military-inspired three-hand dial layout with a day and date window/function at 3 o’clock — all set beneath a scratch, shatter, and impact-resistant mineral glass crystal.
At the heart of the watch is one of Citizen’s solar-powered Eco-Drive quartz movements, which never requires a battery swap. For only $320, Citizen also makes a titanium version of the Garrison that features a matching full-titanium bracelet, making for an even more attractive GADA watch. Unlike fancier dress watches or more casual-looking military timepieces, it’s easy to justify investing in an everyday watch, as the timepiece is practically guaranteed to get extensive use.
SEIKO 5 SPORTS SRPE63
Best Japanese Watch: Though it has a bit more of a casual appearance with some limited with an offset crown at 4 o’clock, the case also comes matched to a NATO strap that matches the watch’s blue dial. Water resistant down to 100 meters, this entire watch tips the scales at just 2.64oz — furthering its conduciveness to everyday wearing. Alongside its impressive movement, a major part of what makes the Seiko 5 Sports SRPE63 so special is the fact that it boasts a level of fit and finish that’s rarely seen on a watch for below the $700 mark.
Get field watch vibes, the Seiko 5 Sports SRPE63 is another terrific choice for everyday horology. Punching well above its weight, the 5 Sports SRPE63 comes loaded with a host of features and traits that are very rarely seen at watches of this price point. This includes a simple yet elegant 40mm stainless steel case that houses a Caliber 4R36 movement — a Japanese-made automatic item with 24 jewels and a 41-hour power reserve.
BULOVA HACK
Best Field Watch: Part of the American brand’s Military Collection, the Bulova Hack is a classically styled field watch that’s been bestowed with a few contemporary touches. For starters, the watch’s 40mm case sports a traditional field watch design, though it has been finished in a gunmetal-sequel shade of dark gray before being mated to a NATO-style strap made from green leather — two details that massively alter and modernize the character and appearance of the watch.
Fortified beneath a double-domed sapphire crystal, this watch’s dial features Arabic numerals and a retro hand-set design, both of which have been hit with a coat of luminous paint. Keeping the whole thing ticking is an automatic movement with a hacking second’s hand. This watch also comes backed by a three-year warranty. It is, however, worth pointing out that one of the watch’s water resistance ratings is limited to only 30 meters.
TIMEX Q TIMEX GMT
Best GMT: Based on its 1970s range of watches of the same name, the Q Timex line was first reintroduced in 2019 and has quickly become one of the best-selling families of watches that the American brand makes. Benefitting from a newer updated design with a revised dial and a new bracelet, the Timex Q Timex GMT features a Swiss-made analogue quartz GMT movement. This GMT sports a diver-sequel appearance with a black dial that’s contrasted via yellow, almost gilded hour markers and a four-item hand-set that’s been hit with the same light yellow finish. Bestowed with a mix of vertical and horizontal brushing across its top, the case also boasts a rotating bezel, a screw-down crown, and an attractive multi-link bracelet with an almost integrated design. And, while it does offer a bit more functionality and an overall more upscale appearance, this four-hander also makes for a pretty solid GADA option. Plus, on top of the Pepsi bezel variant that we tested, Timex also produces a blacked-out version of the watch that comes juxtaposed via a white hand-set and hour markers.
ORIENT BAMBINO V.7
Best Dress Watch: Based on its elegant and upscale-looking design, fully-polished case, and premium, lined black leather strap, the Orient Bambino V.7 could easily pass for a watch costing five times what it does, making for an exceptional dress watch choice at this price. The seventh of the eight generations of Bambino made by Orient, the V.7 features a minimalistic, circular case design with a fixed bezel, a retro-inspired knurled crown, and an exhibition case-back that leaves the Bambino V.7’s Caliber F6724 automatic movement on full display.
