Top 10 Best Automatic Watches Under $500 2024 – Elegant Watches for Both Men & Women

A wristwatch that was once viewed as a functional piece of equipment used to read the time has now become a fundamental subtlety in the realm of men’s fashion and styling. Watch collecting can be an expensive hobby.

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Not everyone wants to spend thousands on a watch. If you are one of them this article is for you because we will tell you about 10 Best automatic watches under 500 dollars.

Automatic watches are a mark of luxury (and a nice antidote to our smart-tech-crazed world). Instead, more people are embracing the beauty of old-school movements and the style of vintage designs. If money were no object, finding a watch would be easy. The good news is that there are a plethora of options out there for best automatic watches under 500.

The best automatic watches under 500 have the build quality and features to compete with the most prestigious brands, while be able to outlast cheaper, more common watches. Many famous watch brands make best automatic watches under 500 dollars.

We’re going to compare ten of the best automatic watches under $500 to see which ones offer you the most in terms of affordability and performance. From best dress watch under 500 to best dive watch under 500, here are Top 10 best automatic watches that are under $500 .So, get ready for real deal without breaking the bank.

At Star2, we provide you the best product with a focus on Quality, Reliance, and Assurance. Our Team previously began; their energy for Top quality brands drove them to do huge amounts of exploration so that Star2 can offer you the best items available. You can visit our page for the Best Fitness Tracker for Small Wrists and How to Charge Fitness Tracker – What to Consider.

Top Reviewed Picks of This Year

1. Invicta Men’s Pro Diver 40mm – Best Stainless Steel Automatic Watch 

 

Invicta is among the most acclaimed and affordable watch brands available on the market. The two main reasons for this popularity are their attractive design and their best value watches for money ratio.

Invicta dive watches are some of the lowest-priced timepieces you can get if you want something for under $500, but that looks anything but cheap!

The Invicta 8926 is the top selling model in this collection. This specific watch is renowned for making Invicta famous as a brand, and drove the organization’s message home that quality watches can be delivered and offered to the general population at humble costs.

The watch features Japanese Automatic movement, a protective mineral crystal dial window, luminosity, water resistance to 200 meters, and a date window at the 3 o’clock position.

Key Features

Durable flame-fusion crystal window

It’s perfectly sized at 40mm to fit a wide range of men’s wrist.

The black tone is extremely easy to combine with different kinds of clothes, from casual to formal. You can dress it up or down!

They are made from stainless steel with a matching bracelet, creating a classic look that works with any outfit!

You can get it in a few different designs and with several dial colors, to easily combine it with your personal style and look.

Look much more expensive than what it actually costs.

Reliable Seiko automatic movement – the NH35A caliber. It’s a genuine workhorse that is strong and keeps appropriate time (be off around 15 seconds of the day), it gets the job done to show Invicta’s quality commitment.

The automatic movement guarantees accuracy and reliability.

It has a central clock position with a unidirectional bezel function, date window, screw-down crown, deployment clasp, and a flame fusion crystal window, which all comes together to form a simple yet stunning timepiece.

It is water resistant to 200 meters.

Attractive price (I think this is the most important) It’s one of the best watches men and women can invest in when wanting best automatic watch under $500, and the automatic movement guarantees accuracy and reliability.

The exhibition case back allows you to see the movement ticking inside the timepiece. Despite the fact that it is of no use in adding attraction to your watch in the eye of other people as no one else but you can view the caliber inside, observing your watch’s heart beating is still a little thing of joy!

The watch’s water resistance rating is higher than ordinary dress watches; you can go swimming, take showers, go diving or snorkeling with it.

The 8926 is nearly identical to the Omega Sea Master – so much so that Omega nearly sued Invicta unless they agreed to change some of the parts. Despite its borrowed design, the Invicta 8926OB perhaps is the best-known watch in the whole Invicta pro diver series, the reasons seem to be obvious.

Shortly, the Invicta 8926OB is a good-looking & dependable versatile timepiece. However, with products at this price range, imperfections are inevitable.

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2. Seiko Men’s SNK809 Seiko 5 – Best Automatic Stainless Steel Watch

 

Seiko is watch brands that pretty much everybody recognizes, regardless of whether they never wear a watch or sport a large collection. The Seiko 5 is one of the brand’s most notorious watch series.

Presented in 1963, it offered extraordinary incentive with a few innovations. In fact, it had five key innovations that inspired its name.

Ask anyone about their first automatic watch and more often than not, the name Seiko SNK809 will come up. It’s not surprising, though, given its reliability and popularity among watch enthusiasts. Not only is the Seiko SNK809 a durable and sturdy automatic watch but it also comes with a reasonable price tag.

Key Features

Day/date complication within a single window, which was uncommon at the time

In-house automatic movement (with Diashock shock protection system comparable to the existing Swiss Incabloc system)

A sturdy nylon band. The Seiko SNK809 is as versatile as it gets, not only in functionality but also in design.

Seiko’s unbreakable Diaflex mainspring within a durable case. The Seiko 5 SNK809 highlights a non-expecting dark dial with white Arabic numerals. It has an inner circle with the hour markers and an outer circle with the minute markers.

Almost 40 hours of juice power this timepiece while its water resistance keeps internal components nice and dry up to 30 meters.

The crown rests at 4 o’clock instead of 3 o’clock (where it’s found on 99% of watches), and I quite like the small difference this makes. Although this takes becoming acclimated to, the situation of the crown really adds more solace to the wearer as it dodges the crown from pushing on your wrist at whatever point you twist your wrist up.

The dial is pretty straightforward. It may look a bit crowded at first glance due to the huge minute markers, but the no-fuss presentation of the dial is actually one of the SNK809’s best features.

The top of the case and lugs have a pewter-grey finish, which shimmers in light but doesn’t go so far as to be reflective.

The Seiko SNK809 is powered by the in-house automatic 7S26 calibre movement, which boasts a combination of functionality and reliability

This is an in-house designed crystal that resists scratches better than standard mineral glass but isn’t at the level of sapphire. It’s impressive for the price as I expected to see acrylic.

Since it’s a mechanical automatic, you’ll going to have to wear the Seiko SNK809 regularly to power it. It has a power reserve of up to 41 hours, definitely a decent power reserve among automatic movements out there.

Simple, functional, and reliable, the Seiko SNK809 watch is not out to make heads turn at first glance. Admittedly, it’s no beauty by any watch standards. However, it has its own charms that have so far captivated large number of watch lovers all over the world.

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3. Invicta Men’s Pro Diver 40mm – Best Gold Automatic Watch

 

In the realm of watchmaking, Invicta and their range of watches need no introduction. From a high-quality build to attractive model ranges and design, Invicta has been a go-to for a lot of watch enthusiasts.

If you are a lover of striking and distinguishable watches, then gold-colored models should be considered – certainly one of the most requested options by enthusiasts. The Invicta 89300B in particular is characterized by a gold-plated steel case and strap.

Key Features

Yellow gold-plated stainless steel case and bracelet and blue automatic dial.

Uni-directional rotating coin edge yellow gold-plated bezel with blue ion-plated (count-up elapsed time) top ring

Blue dial with luminous gold-tone Breguet-style shape hands and dot hour markers.

Minute markers around the outer rim.

Date display at the 3 o’clock position.

SII caliber NH35A automatic movement, containing 24 Jewels, bitting at 21600 vph, and has a power reserve of approximately 41 hours.

Scratch resistant mineral crystal. Screw-down crown; unidirectional stainless steel coin edge bezel with blue top bezel ring;

200 meter water resistant, suitable for professional marine activity and surface water sports. Suitable for diving.

Beautifully exemplary, inside operations are manufactured with varieties of strong developments. Worked with certain ability, the guts with which these watches work makes the Pro Diver the quintessential in performance.

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4- Bulova Automatic Watch (Model: 98A228) – Best Water Resistant Automatic Watch

 

American watchmaker Bulova is a quiet pioneer, responsible for industry innovations such as the first electronic watch and the standardization of watch parts.

Bulova likewise offers premium lines that are more plan engaged and less materials-centered, and are subsequently sold at more sensible costs.

Introducing the brand new Marine Megastar that includes a 3-hand automated motion showcased in an open aperture.

Between the industrial black screws on the bezel and the modern looking multi-edged lugs, this watch is one of the most eclectic and widely recognized timepieces in Bulova’s catalogue.

Key Features

Featuring a new Sport style, it has a gun stainless steel casing with rose gold toning around the edges, with further golf-tone accents, a black dial and black inner dial ring.

Its automatic timing means the natural movement of your wrist will power it, avoiding the need for costly batteries.

The cutaway section on the dial, revealing the inner workings, is a really smart piece of design and confirms the modern feel. Elsewhere, the chunky rose-gold case and dramatic rose-gold Roman numerals add a splash of color, with a subdial second hand and luminous rose-gold-accented hands completing the funky look.

The grey silicone strap is tough and flexible, and features a bold-red underside for another modern style point. A watch for those who want to get noticed!

The open heart movement, automatic movement requiring no change of battery, the dial with a rose gold tone accents and the soft silicone strap.

It features sapphire glass for a scratch resistant display and as an extension of the automatic operation; it includes a power reserve of 40 hours.

Although it is not designed for anything too intensive it does feature water resistance of up to 100 meters and is competed by a smart matte-black bracelet strap in silicone.

You get some nice gold pop with the bezel, crown, and pushers. It’s not gaudy. And if you don’t like gold, but want to have a more jewelry look, it’s a great combination. Talking about the bezel, the addition is acrylic which gives it that three-dimensional look that is a plan get back to bakelite bezels found on vintage divers.

Bulova is one of the longest-established global watch brands. Bulova watches are known for being highly accurate, stylish, and durable. For a fashion accessory with serious style points, look no further than the Mens Bulova Mechanical Marine Star Watch. It is one the best dress watch under 500 you can get.

If you are looking for a more masculine set of watches, this one is an ideal choice.

Bulova have demonstrated consistently that they have the right to be referenced with the immediately more noteworthy greater names in the commercial center.

You know when you purchase a Bulova watch, similar to this one, you are not only investing in a watch, but paying for a piece of history.

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5. Bulova Automatic Watch – Best Automatic Watch for Small Wrists

 

For those looking of a definitive watch in quality and gorgeousness, Bulova presents this watch. Gents will not want to be seen without this stainless steel watch.

Marvelously crafted of stainless steel, this case is secure but offers an appealing aesthetic. It has some serious sensational appearance. This stylish timepiece is sure to complete any man’s collection.

Key Features

Stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet. Fixed stainless steel bezel giving it a very classy look.

This high quality watch has a three hand dial with gunmetal Roman numerals and markers and luminous hands.

A domed sapphire crystal with blue anti-reflective coating tops the dial, while the stainless steel bracelet secures with a push-button deployment clasp.

The contrast between the silver dial and the indigo blue color of the hands of the watch makes it easy to read the time

The dial of this watch has two sub-dials; one measures the time in seconds, the other indicates a 24-hour display

Partial skeleton sub-dial which allows you to see through to the jewel components

The watch is water-resistant to 100 meters.

The heart of the watch is an outstanding automatic (self-winding) movement.

This watch is kept with a 42-mm case, with its outstanding build.

Included with the watch are the following complications: power reserve, central 60 second hand. Make sure your watch does more than just tell time.

Bulova watch with up to 60 hours reserve power

The mineral crystal has a domed appearance over the face.

Bracelet is lightweight with no discomfort all day

This beautiful wristwatch, powered by automatic movement supporting: hour, minute, second functions.

This watch has a water resistance of up to 100 feet/30 meters, suitable for short periods of recreational swimming.

Bulova also produce very affordable watches. This watch have a Swiss Automatic movement, which is a bargain at this price point. Experience unprecedented quality with a polished bezel, with maximum craftsmanship on full display.

With its silver dial, a watch turns into a work of art which you will not want to be without. Its surely one of the gorgeous timepiece.

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6. Seiko Men’s RECRAFT Series – Best Automatic-self-Wind Watch

 

With so many watches on the market, Seiko is a consistently reputable, relatively affordable, and trusted brand that you can depend on for a Best automatic watch under $500.

The Recraft style showcases Seiko’s storied Japanese quartz chronograph with a bold and radiant appearance if you’re looking to add some color to your timepiece collection.

In stainless steel with silver-tone finish, blue dial, self-winding, day/date calendar, water resistant up to 50M and fold over push button clasp.  This remarkable men’s automatic watch from Seiko’s exclusive Recraft series combines classic design with modern flourishes for a timeless look.

Key Features

This vintage-inspired watch is a bit broader. These watches seek inspiration from vintage timepiece in their design, which may be focused on one specific watch, or several watches from the same era, and combines the best of these watches into a modern remake.

As the same suggests, the Seiko Recraft is a timepiece that has recrafted past tradition of Seiko and combines it with modern design features and technology. Seiko’s Recraft collection includes watches that are made in a retro-modern style for the 21st century.

The SNKP23 has an interesting (and unusual) 316L stainless steel case design, shaped almost like a square or rectangular pillow.

The blue dial has silver hands and hour markers with white accents.

The “bezel” is brushed and the sides of the case are polished. What contributes to the funky case design is its lug design, where the hauls are flawlessly incorporated into the case. Oftentimes, the top of the lugs are polished and the sides are polished to create a nice contrast, but not on the SNKP23. Instead, the whole visible outer part of the bezel is polished, including the lugs.

The watch is powered by a Seiko caliber 7s26 automatic, self-winding movement which has a 41 hour power reserve when fully wound.

The dial printing is kept at a minimum and only includes the word”AUTOMATIC” and the Seiko logo. Positioned at 3 o’clock, we have the day and date window with a metal frame around it.  Instead of being rectangular-shaped which is usually the case for Seiko’s Day+Date watches, this frame is slightly curved and has a polished finish.

The movement of your wrist throughout the day powers the watch.

A scratch resistant Hardlex crystal is used along with an exhibition back that allows you to view the movement in action.

The watch is water resistant to 50 meters.

Perfect for ANY size wrist including small ones. If your wrist is medium size, and even bigger, this watch is still an amazing fit. It goes with pretty much any look and any age.

Vintage, but modern look that is gorgeous

3 year warranty on manufactory defects

All in all, in terms of function, reliability, and finish, it’s definitely a watch that offers great value for money.

We probably don’t have to sing Seiko‘s praises as a value proposition anymore. Seiko makes some of the best value watches. They’re economical, relatively robust for what they are, come in a dizzying array of model choices and dial colors, and widely available. This Seiko Recraft model SNKP23 by way of example.

If you’re going for that funky 1970s look, this Recraft could be the move. With its retro and perfectly modern look, it is a steal for the price but most importantly, it is unique. It has a square case that is 13mm thick and is ideal for more modest wrists as long as you prefer bulkier cases.

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7. Orient Men’s Japanese Automatic / Hand-Winding Stainless Steel 200 Meter Diving Watch

 

Orient Watch, founded in 1950, is a Japanese company known for being one of the few low to mid-range watch companies that still manufacture their own automatic movements. They’ve taken the world by storm, producing over 1.1 million watch movements every year.

The Orient Ray II, along with its sister model the Mako II, is always on the short list of recommended first automatic watches for people just starting to get into watch collecting. The Ray II accompanies an extensive update from its archetype; most prominent is the move up to the watch development.

Key Features

The deep blue dial features a lovely reflective star-burst patterned background, applied indices, a framed day/date window, and minimal text.

The Orient logo (two lions either side of an ‘O’ shield) sits just below the 12 o’clock index. Looking around online, many people dislike this logo, calling it ‘cheap and pretentious‘. In my humble opinion, it looks just fine. It’s small and tastefully done.

The date window sits at 3 o’clock. The text for the day and date is sharply printed, and the day can be set to read in either English or Spanish. It’s all black text, except for Sunday which is printed in red.

Pair of clean-cut swords makes up the minute and hour hands. The second hand is a red-tipped arrow and features a small chromed counterbalance. The in-house F6922 movement ticks over at 3 times a second, leading to a decently smooth sweep.

The thin, scalloped-edge unidirectional diver’s bezel is marked with a round luminescent pip at the 12 o’clock, minute marks for the first 15 minutes, and marked every 5 minutes after that with either a bar or the numerals. It holds position very well, with only a slight wiggle when forced, and a nice solid clicking when turned.

Smooth, flowing lines define the stainless steel case of the Orient Ray II. The shape is simple – crown & crown guards at 3 o’clock and short, slightly curved lugs built on a circular center.

The Ray II now comes with hand-winding capability with its caliber F6922 movement. This movement also comes with an impressive 40-hour of power reserve, pretty much guaranteeing that the watch won’t run out of juice in the most inopportune moments.

The stainless-steel case also comes with a 120-click unidirectional bezel with the dials incorporating highly luminous coating for enhanced visibility in low-light environments.

The back case is screwed down, as well as the crown, which helps give the Ray II its 200-meter water resistance. Its all-stainless-steel design (case and bracelet) also gives it that ‘icing on the cake’ premium aesthetics.

The Ray II is available with either a black dial (FAA02004B9), a blue dial (FAA02005D9, the piece I have), or as the ‘Ray Raven II’ – with a blacked stainless steel case (FAA02003B9).

Now the movement in the Orient Ray II is by far the greatest improvement of the watch and is the best value for the money in watches!

The new F6522 caliber is a 22 Jewel movement that hacks and hand winds. Orient makes a great looking affordable dive watch – of that there is no doubt.

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8. Orient Men’s Kamasu Stainless Steel Japanese-Automatic Diving Watch

 

Orient separates itself from other watch brands due to their much-lauded and high quality great developments. Building on this foundation, Orient continues to offer an attractive collection of amazing dive watches. In 2019, Orient released the Kamasu, set to sit alongside their legendary line of affordable divers.

Key Features

The Kamasu is a 41m dive watch with a day-date complication and can be had on a variety of different watch faces.

It offers a 120-click bezel and their F6922 automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve.

Water resistant 200m (660ft) in general, suitable for professional marine activity and serious surface water sports, but not diving

Stainless steel case, brushed, polished

Flat sapphire crystal

Blue dial with sunburst finish, day and date indication at 3

Luminous hands and indices

Stainless steel bracelet with fold-over double button deployant, 22mm lug width

I learned that Kamasu is the Japanese word for Barracuda. Both, bezel and minute hand, give a corresponding impression. Looking at the bezel it looks like a barracuda took a bite. The minute hand comes to a very sharp point, like the teeth of a barracuda.

The case is finished in alternating brushed and highly polished surfaces and the overall fit and finish can easily compete with dive watches in a higher price bracket.

The sapphire crystal fits exactly into the case, everything sits secure and tight. The crystal does not line up precisely with the case.

Available in 6 different color contrasts.

The Kamasu also offers a sapphire crystal which makes it an upgrade over the base models like the Ray and the Mako.

It also features sleek stick markers like the Mako, but with all the additional goodness of higher-end models. With all the features including hacking and hand-winding, the price point of $250 is just right.