10 Best Watches Under $300

You've only got $300 and still need a stylish watch? Here's the 10 best watches under $300
Featured watches:
Spinnaker
Citizen
Certina
Seiko
Marathon
Maen
Vero
Smiths
Accurist
Islander
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[@islandwatch]

Holy Smokes! Thanks so much for the mention - honored!

[@festivitycat]

My $200 Islander keeps better time than my $1,200 Seiko, and looks great too. You are doing fine work!

[@Yoshikaable]

Kudos for keeping the fan favorite alive!!

[@nigelbailey8289]

You make quality Mark and team I would have some but living in UK and working with delivery companies it would be too much stress but well done always watching

[@bigsmooshflopdong33]

Whoop whoop, way to go Marc!

[@danal9787]

Love my Islander!

[@390razr]

My best purchase for $300 was a 42mm Glycine Combat Sub I picked up at Costco for $299.99. ETA 2824 movement, sapphire crystal, 200M of water resistance. Can’t beat that value for money. Swiss made on the dial too, for extra snobby points.

[@wisamal-hakim5531]

That’s incredible, great watch, great price

[@RS3NDIT]

costco has great deals. Just picked up my first Seiko, a SRPD93, for $179.99

[@ProfessorPesca]

I got a Boldr Venture for Christmas at £250 to fill the no date field watch hole in the box and I’m blown away by how comfortable it is. Heartily recommended!

[@JasonTheWatchGuy]

Certina is definitely one of those budget brands I really need to pay more attention to! Lots of choices in their line up and some fantastic designs.

[@Reladan187]

I’ve enjoyed my Ds Action Diver 38. Bracelet is good. Feels solid. Powermatic. Pretty easy going and capable with that money

[@SingleTrackMined]

I have a DS Blue Ribbon diver and a haq DS Action chronometer and they are amazing value. Certina is a very underrated brand.

[@chriswatchreviews4752]

I paid $350 for my Certina DS Auto with the Day/Date Complication. They are seriously underrated for what they offer

[@TOMMYBIGTIME]

Congrats Marc!!! You made it on the Watchfinder list

[@indramatic]

Happy to see his watch here too. Marc definitely deserved it!

[@whywecollectwatches]

I have to say the Islander orange dial is my favorite from this list.

[@anscomber8031]

I really like the new-ish Islander Bayport.

[@philtheairplanemechanic]

Been eyeballing the ice Blue Waffle islander for a while. Just have to get over the name.

[@lenherbert492]

The Spinnaker with that Blancpain bezel and 500 feet is a bargain, wish they did a no date version

[@alphaenterprise2232]

Though it's better it differentiates itself from Blancpain 50 fathoms

[@vaclav_fejt]

@@alphaenterprise2232 And the date is legible for lefties...

[@khaaaaaaaaaannn]

"At the third stroke, the time sponsored by Accurist will be..."

[@xyzabc7694]

In the next episode please do include the King of $300 Category - Orient Watches! You can pick any model honestly Bambino, Kamasu, Defender, Pilot, Neo 70s

[@leonardocrncec9566]

Agreed, I bought green sunburst dial Orient Kamasu and I'm very impressed with quality. It attracts a lot of attention, people stare at it all the time! Also, you can wear it in every occasion.

[@moes7862]

Ils n'ont pas mis Orient ?!!! 😤

[@DarrenBates]

I have the red Kamasu. Just over €200, and honestly it's a lifetime keeper. Runs just outside COSC. 200m, beautiful case, rudimentary but perfectly usable bracelet with a decent clasp and plenty of micro adjust, a sturdy movement with hacking and handwinding and a step up ahead of the equivalent Seiko 4R movement, nice and buttery 120 click unidirectional bezel, sapphire crystal and probably the best dial you can get on a watch below 2,000.

[@noahzelkin2352]

@@DarrenBates I love the Kamasu, I myself own a red one; but it is nowhere near the best dial under $2000 lmao. The seiko presage cocktail time line has better dials, as does most of Hamilton’s entry level stuff. I would say the dial on the kamasu is just a standard sunburst dial. Also the bezel is not buttery smooth, it is just tight.

[@whywecollectwatches]

I now have three Orient watches and they are some of my favorites in my collection.

[@tombluck]

Great video guys. That accurist is a new one for me and super cool looking. I am glad to see Islander made the list, I think it would be awesome if you had Marc on for a chat in that format you have done with various KZbin watch people.

[@karlsenula9495]

Boldr Venture Carbon is another lovely field watch for right at $300. Orient Kamasu (especially the sunburst red dial version) is also fantastic for the price. Or Bambino. Seiko solar quartz tank also nice ... Cartier or JLC vibes. I am sure the more I think the more I can find. Alba Titanium field watch. 👍👍👍

[@smashexentertainment676]

Came here to write about Kamasu and Bambino. For the price it doesn't get any better than that.

[@Rhoslan463]

Really glad to see Certina get a mention. It's an often overlooked brand which is strange considering the quality and value of their watches. More please.

[@liv0003]

Not for women unfortunately. 99% of the women Cestina collection is with rubbish quartz movement, the very few automatic/mechanical watches offered come with a horrible mother of pearl dial or studded with horrible "precious stones", the women's collection is very boring. As often happens also with many other brands.

[@markclayden7654]

@@liv0003 That "rubbish" quartz movement is a Precidrive, probably the most accurate quartz movements ever made.

[@liv0003]

Nice... I have nothing against quartz, I have quartz watches, I just wish the various brands would also offer to us women some automatic options too, instead of just giving us only quartz watches often also overpriced . You have no idea how frustrating it's for a woman like me who loves mechanical/automatic watches to find some brand that offers options also for us and possibly without being covered with "precious stones" or mother of pearl. if I want a jewel I just buy a jewel, if I want a watch I want it "clean" without diamonds or other stones.

[@markclayden7654]

@@liv0003 Most watches are unisex and can be worn by anyone. Looking for a "Women only" option is going to limit your choices.

[@liv0003]

@@markclayden7654 I limit myself to the women's models simply because the sizes fit better for my wrist. I wouldn't look only at women's collections if watches sizes were more wearable. I often really like the "men's models" in terms of design, there is also much more choice and variety as well as having many automatic/mechanical options the problem is that most have a diameter of 38 to 44 mm or more. Way too big for my wrist. On me the perfect size is from 30 to 36 mm already 37mm is too big , for some categories such as chronographs it may even fit but 37 is by far my maximum limit . Thanks anyway for the suggestion 👍

[@RetiredAtenPilot]

Like the video guys ... Looking to find a place that has the Smith 3 chrono dial? I cant find it anywhere, Do you have a link?

[@Mooauf80]

Diver: Orient Kamasu or Seiko 5, Sport: Citizen Tsuyosa, Chrono: Seagull 1963 (Sugess not Tianjin - common missconception: The known Seagull 1963 is a licensed reproduction from Sugess, the original comes from Tianjin in a limited edition per year without a see-through back and costs around 700$+ ), Dress: Orient Bambino and Moonphase/Reserve Indicator: Sugess ST1908S or S426 ;) For me in this price category its important to not only get a nice piece, but also one that keeps its value...

[@mrzombier]

I have the Seiko 5 in "sage green". Swapped with Uncle Seiko strap and double domed sapphire crystal and the watch looks amazing. Had a local watch guy regulate the movement and its running +/-5 seconds/day. Couldn't be happier.

[@mikekane9213]

Y'all are hilarious. 10,080 minutes in a week. I'm genuinely smiling for about 15. Thanks.

[@u.d.7543]

Tom is the specialist of cheap watches, so I would say Tom won this one.

[@hawkeye454]

I love my two Islander watches, very well made and look great!!

[@karlsenula9495]

The Smith's is a nice new modern play on the bullhead chronograph.

[@dperreno]

I love that Accurist - it has a great retro vibe while offering contemporary features!

[@eatswodo]

My very first watch was a Smiths - 60 years ago - and I still have it. Good to see Islander here. I think Dan Henry might have deserved a spot also.

[@jesse-martinmanufor6248]

What a fantastic list that definitely won't dig a hole in my pocket. My favorite on the are Spinnaker, Certina DS Camino and Smiths.

[@JohannesSebastian]

Citizen watches are awesome. Quartz is awesome. More Citizen thank you.

[@marioschristodoulou2390]

Where can I find that Smiths crono ?

[@christryon6664]

Nice video as usual boys. 👍

[@doxies]

Definitely going to pick up the sage green Seiko. I recently added a Timex GMT - think one of them could easily be on this list instead of some of these choices

[@jimwatchyyc]

Addiesdive flieger, sapphire crystal, great lume, Seiko NH35, SS bracelet, all for $70 US. I bought one, absolutely love it. But I did put it on a Laco flieger leather strap.

[@kristiannielsen6013]

Bought the Spinnaker and love it!

[@kevinwall2313]

Love how you found islander such a great brand!! Any of their watches are great !

[@larryleyba6496]

I have a blue version of Mark's Islander Monter. The only gripe that I have with it is the bezel is a little lose. I love the way the watch feels on my wrist and the legibility. I do have a good reference to the original because I own two Seiko Monsters, the Dracula and the Orange and Black 2nd generations both. I love a good monster and was bummed when they discontinued the Monster. I was thrilled to see the return with the Penguin Tracks Ice Monster as well as the swimming Penguins and the Ray Monster. If they ever bring back the version 2 indices I'll have to spring for another one. Nice Vid, you have exposed me to some models I will have to look into. That Accurist looks intriguing. The only purchase I made in 22 was a gorgeous Zelos, Great White in red meteorite. I absolutely love that thing.

[@lebowskiunderachiever3591]

I have a newer monster and love it. I dig the Accurast as well, love 70's aesthetic. I am interested in a bronze Zelos but would need to see it in person 😎

[@drebarthelotte5712]

Gosh. I would buy none of these watches.if I had a list. My list would be , San martin sn020 w/ nh35 Baltany chronograph vk 61 Pagani design pd 1701 w/ ice blue dial Berny railmaster am138ms-l full lume dial Rdunda/ Retangula r3 seamaster compressor. Save half of your money

[@drebarthelotte5712]

@👉officialwatchfinder👈 satisfaction of watches come ls from satisfaction with a watch. These are good

[@BigTwinkle]

Just got the Spinnaker Fleuss with white pearl dial. Love it, the dial is stunning. I got my Sternglas Hamburg for under £300 and that's great value for money too.

[@wisamal-hakim5531]

Orient, seiko, citizen, swatch, Casio, Take your pick all make fantastic cheap watches

[@MastinoNapoletano420]

NICE MARC! CONGRATS! You got on Watchfinder! 😁 Way to go Andrew! Marc has a lot of nice watches under 300 dollars, some of them are limited pieces.

[@tijnblub6221]

Great list

[@TheTopStarz]

Nice to see accurist being shown on these type of lists finally

[@jazzman5598]

Exactly….I thought Mosier as well. Fine vid guys! Thanks

[@davidhori4899]

I was genuinely surprised and pleased to see Long Island Watch here! O have four of them and I'm happy with each of them.

[@ewantheboat]

A spinnaker is a lightweight downwind sail which has a huge area and helps to to give more power to the boat by increasing the sail area

[@idletime]

G'afternoon ☕☕☕ & great job guys . Nice call on the Citizen Eco-Drive Axiom as I recently ordered a matching his and hers Eco-Drive Axiom Diamond set for my fiancee's B'day in 4 days 😀

[@dodzb7362]

YES!!!! I bought the SEIKO SRPE61K1 last month! different color. It's a good watch!

[@johnsmagnet]

For an alternative tritium, MWC has a number of appealing models - I am still besotted with mine. Titanium case, sapphire crystal with AR coating, 300m water resistance, Ronda quartz with 10-year battery. Looks a bit like one of the higher-end Marathons, but only $340 (on sale, it was less than $200). It replaced my Casio Duro as the "beater" but still looks like new. It's a beast, and I love it.

[@AtlantaGuns]

Alba ( Seiko ) APBT211: titanium 200M day date. Ultimate beater $80 💪

[@ajcallaway123]

Nice list. Vero looks interesting. Subtle if you want it to be, or put a vibrant strap on it and it's sporty and fun.

[@geoffreyaugust0]

$300 for a watch with tritium lume is a great price. Tritium is being used more and more it seems with indie brands and they're WAY more expensive. Great looking watch too.

[@melody3741]

Also, I think that probably my favorite would be anything in the sort of seagull 1963 or sugess chronograph family. Anything with a st19. They're not the most reliable watches ever, but they are plenty reliable enough especially if you get a 1963 from a very good manufacturer or from seagull themselves, they're lovely and feel wonderful to operate and are just amazing. And I know that people like High beat movements especially for chronograph, but I actually really love the low beats movement in it because you can see the chronograph hand tick around and it gives it a vintage look.

[@matthewhowell1455]

Spinnaker just released a GMT for $399 using the new Seiko NH34 movement! I am familiar with Accurist; I have a Skymaster in my collection. Also, Islander is one of my favorite brands; I have a number of them in my collection.

[@girishcfm5692]

Great video. I would like to mention the Citizen garrison titanium. Titanium with sapphire crystal with an eco drive movement. Less than 200 dollars. Real good value for money.

[@indramatic]

What is great about this particular price bracket is it doesn't matter where the watch was made, Switzerland, Japan or Cape Town (there ARE microbrands in Africa!) as long as this thing is showing correct time and you personally like it.

[@curtbrown7718]

The Citizen Chandler is a good choice. Thank you.

[@liambyrne3488]

Some great watches here. I especially love what Accurist is doing at the moment, some very good looking time pieces. Incidentally I picked up the Seiko 5 GMT orange dial for £280 recently, couldn’t be happier!

[@Shahrozirl]

Hey its a bit late but I've heard that the jubilee bracelet isn't the best on the gmt? Is ur one rattly or bad?

[@liambyrne3488]

@@Shahrozirl for the price point it’s surprisingly good by seiko standards. Solid links unlike the jangly old SKX one, and definitely superior to the bracelet on my 5KX. I won’t be swapping it out. The clasp is standard seiko fare but it’s comfortable and plenty of micro adjustment.

[@andgate2000]

Gotta a blue seiko 5...but changed the band for blue leather

[@Olddirtytiger]

Yes now you're talking my language, that Spinnaker Fleuss is gorgeous I became a brand ambassador after buying it , feel free to use my code , check my shorts, also so pleased to see you mention the Accurist Origin brought that over the black friday sales when they gave you a free steel strap looks sublime on that. The certina is a brand I don't yet own but looks like great value, 👌 good video lads more like this

[@Staticclism]

I scored a new Junghans Milano Solar for $185 right before the end of the year. Such a steal.

[@pzwolski]

Nice watch.

[@WriterandPhotographer]

Great video..........watches that don't exclude most people from ownership. I'm sure this video was appreciated.

[@HandlewithcareVibes]

gotta love that Seiko SRPE65K1

[@bob_mosavo]

Thanks 😁

[@derbywinner6316]

Glad you mention Certina

[@TickSweep]

Great watches. I love that Smith! I picked up the Accurist Origin Chrono and the specs for the price are brilliant. It give off Zenith vibes. But as one of there designs. Not to plug but there is a video on my channel of it 😂

[@deividasnavickas]

SRPG47 was my first watch for about 220 quid. my god am I happy with it, the accuracy straight from the box is shockingly good. Was getting around +5 to no more than +10sec PER WEEK... from 220quid watch.

[@danonthestrings]

That Accurist looks really cool!

[@1MarkBevans]

I think the Smiths crono is neat, too bad it’s not available anywhere I can find, I’d buy it just for the looks

[@robertjames47]

Me too. Can't find it. Anyone?

[@chupacabre99]

I would add Bulova Computron in this. One different but still a good quality watch.

[@karlsenula9495]

So is Accurist like the English version of America's Timex? And yes you can get Accurist here in the U.S.

[@Finnergans]

never heard of Vero before. That turquoise is a real stunner. I wish it had minute markers, even if they were small.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

My son wants a Bulova computron, from the same maker I'd recommend giving a look to the Frank Lloyd Wright line they are currently liquidating on Amazon.

[@stevev7402]

Long Island Monsters are fantastic watches. Great value for the money too. I have their Abalone dial model

[@ethanwalker7865]

I love my stainless Seiko Tank. I got it on sale on amazon for 95$ and its super classy but just as good with jeans n tshirt imo

[@paulhiggins8774]

Some lovely watches there, just for your info Maen translated from English to welsh means stone. Love Accurist watches my oldest one is 69 years old and my latest one is 2 years old a retro racer in blue Brilliant show keep them coming

[@sdaafasfad]

I think you mean translated from Welsh to English & not from English to Welsh?

[@paulhiggins8774]

@@sdaafasfad yep you are right

[@ethanwalker7865]

I like the hands on the Maen Hudson.

[@Vernomeno]

No Orient and no Vostok? I'm out of here! (Just kidding of course) But seriously guys, a list of budget watches without them is not ok. You could fill entire lists just with Orient alone.

[@whereisvanuatu]

Boy, I’m happy you didn’t feature the watches I’m currently looking at, so they won’t sell out in the next 48 hours!

[@tyronepalma3854]

If you want less than 300 dollars, can't recommend enough Ben's watch club, it's the channels specialty

[@paulb9453]

If a watch was available at 40-50% discount, would you compromise your face and strap colour to get the value? Great video, enjoyed it, as always, perfect price point for me, thanks.

[@sdaafasfad]

Good question Paul. I tend to go towards Black, White, Grey & Blue dials. I once bought a watch with a kinda Tiffany blue coloured dial. Seeing the Nautilus and the newer Oyster Perpetuals coming out in those kind of colours, I saw a lovely custom built Seiko, great case and bracelet, great hands, lovely Tiffany blue dial. I never wear it, it doesn't go with anything I wear! And because of that, I regret the purchase. It looks amazing in my case. I just can't pull it off. However if the colour is one that you can wear and pull off well, I wouldn't see why you shouldn't buy it at such a huge discount.

[@pzwolski]

It depends on the colour. If I dreamt about a red dial, I would not change it for a black one, but I would consider a blue one if it was on a huge discount. I could change white to creamy or silver to dark grey and vice versa without any hesitation.

[@andromedagodit2492]

Niiice... Might wanna add the Orient Mako 2 or the Kamasu... Or the Orient Sports Outdoor... Or the Orient Triton Mini... All Automatic under 300... I believe. 🤔 You guys get the drift. 😁 Thanks for the wonderful list guys... 😁

[@thorsan42]

Does anybody know where you can buy that Smiths chronograph?

[@pzwolski]

Have you checked at chrono24?

[@thorsan42]

@@pzwolski Yeah, I've checked it, and Ebay too.

[@tuzu1758]

Islander has a ton of great watches under $300.00.

[@JohnCannonBand]

I would go with the seiko cocktail time Mojito. You can get it for a little over 300.

[@alwayspooh1588]

The Seiko 5 is always a winner!

[@alltheserobotsshallfall]

no links to the watches??? :(((

[@spex7503]

The Accurist Origins in that tan colourway looks like a nice balance of classic and original. Their green waffle dial on a gold bracelet ... not so much.

[@melody3741]

That turquoise style is the most beautiful dial I've ever seen

[@siddarthrock]

Some more are- timex expedition north mechanical EDIFICE ECB10D G-SHOCK GA-B2100 - solar and bluetooth

[@alessandro.felici]

I have the thumbnail watch of a Watchfinder’s video!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@irisfailsafe]

You always need to include a CASIO in a sub 300 dollars watch list And as usual Tom won this one...

[@jamessteven9748]

I love how you can spot the misalignment a mile away on Seiko 🤣

[@Olddirtytiger]

My Citizen watch to chuck into the chat would be the Excalibur BN010051E it's found in Argos yes Argos and is 180 quid... hear me out ... 200m Divewatch, EcoDrive powered, milled strap with divers extension.... only thing it dont have is sapphire crystal...its also about 5 years old but trust me its a bargin....

[@markgray4029]

Accurist do some nice stuff at present lots of 70s vibes in their range Tissot prix quartz at £250 is great value though even without the waffle dial

[@quinnsearle9977]

There's a quartz version of that Merci that Emmanuel Macron wears, it's quite good and I think it's right around that price point!

[@khairyalonto]

Seagull 1963, Orient Bambino 38mm, Seiko SARV001

[@nartlambaz]

The Spinakker Fluess is an extremly good watch. Amongst the Fifty Fathoms homage watches, it stands out.

[@MrNiam0r]

Tisell Bauhaus as a cheap alternative for a Nomos Tengente.

[@ehsanhaque5929]

Plenty of Timex under $300!

[@siorisiregar327]

in indonesia, we used to have a similar time telling service sponsored by accurist, but we cannot reach that number anymore lol

[@Everton4109]

Blancpain Mil-Spec is my holy grail. I know odd choice. But it is. So until then Spinnaker it is

[@Convair_F-106]

you are slowly becoming the budget watch channel

[@pzwolski]

You must multiply it by a number of watches. It is not a cheap hobby. 😉

[@Convair_F-106]

​@@pzwolski I'm really not interested in collecting budget watches, that's not the content that made me start watching Watchfinder. I'd rather buy a few high quality watches, or maybe even just one, but have an asset than waste money on a collection of cheap ones that just depreciate pretty much the moment I buy them.

[@pzwolski]

@@Convair_F-106 You say 'asset'... Hmm... Have you ever considered a watch to be a toy giving you lots of nice feelings? My watches make me smile, when I wear them or even look at them, although they are not expensive ones. I would be worried that my pricey 'asset' gets some scratches, which depreciate its value.

[@ginoongboyong]

At that price point, I have 2 watch in mind: G-Shock Rangeman GW9400 and Seagull 1963.

[@LittleTrader968]

Speaking clock still works on BT, just call 123 from any landline day or night, calls cost 50p a minute from BT landlines. 😁

[@baselayoub]

When they say $300, they mean $450 on the grey market plus taxes, shipping and import charges

[@NotThatOneThisOne]

No Helm Vanuatu?

[@LambentOrt]

The Accurist is cute!