Discover 10 affordable watches that look expensive and elevate your style without breaking the bank. Explore a variety of stylish timepieces that offer both quality and affordability.

If you’ve clicked on this video, you want a watch that looks expensive but won’t break the bank. Well, don’t worry; you’re in the right place. I have searched far and wide to bring you 10 watches that look expensive but aren’t, and these are some incredible watches. But first, subscribe to the channel so you never miss a video, okay?

Citizen NH8350

The first watch on today’s list features a stunning dial and automatic movement but costs less than a hundred dollars. If you want to get the cheapest mechanical watch from a Japanese watchmaker, this is it. The Citizen NH8350 is a bit of a hidden gem in the Citizen catalogue. This watch features an incredible level of detail on the dial that has no right being on a sub-$100 watch.

The waffle-style pattern combines with the sunburst finish to allow this budget dial to play with the light better than watches costing substantially more, pulling off a minimal yet detailed aesthetic, which is rare to see on a budget watch. Even the printed Roman numerals are raised to give them that extra punch when peering through the glass.

The case is very basic, and so is the movement too, but the Miyota 8200 inside of the Citizen will surely last for years to come and will satisfy mechanical enthusiasts with a high-quality leather strap. This Citizen, without question, looks way more expensive than its sub-$100 price tag.

Casio Edifice Sapphire

Okay, if you want something that’s sporty but still looks expensive, then this next watch might be for you. Don’t think that you need to spend a lot of money to get an expensive-looking sports watch because Casio has you covered. This is the Casio Edifice Sapphire, a watch that features a nod to the Royal Oak with its screwed flat bezel, which in itself looks like an expensive feature, but the rest of the watch does not disappoint.

We see the use of a vertically brushed textured dial, which will glisten beautifully in the light, and the bezel also features a vertically brushed finish, giving the bezel and dial a coherent flow. The usual problem with a Casio is the build quality, but this watch comes with a sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance, making it a true sports watch ready for action. Pair this watch up with a blue rubber strap matching that striking blue second’s hand, and you, without question, have that expensive sports watch look for under $100.

Ballcraft Senate

Now, if you’re looking for something completely different from what everybody else wants, then this British microbrand has you covered. Fancy a beautiful, affordable watch that you’ll rarely see on somebody else’s wrist? Then feast your eyes on the Senate. This is a watch by the British microbrand Ballcraft. Ballcraft specializes in creating these stunning dress watches, all featuring a beautifully minimal dial that packs a punch with the details. The expensive look here comes from the perfect selection of colours, opting to use a classy yet striking palette that catches the eye, with the applied hour markers giving the watch a hint of flash.

The beauty doesn’t come with a compromise, however, because inside the Senate we see the use of a high-beat Miyota 9000 series movement and sapphire glass, which makes the $400 price tag even better. Ballcraft recently announced their bespoke service, where they will create a piece uniquely designed with the exact details that you want, just for you. So, although this is only a young British microbrand, they are creating some beautiful, expensive-looking timepieces.

Seiko Cocktail Time

Now, this next pick was by far the easiest to include in today’s video, and with so much choice amongst the catalog, you can really find one that suits your style. One of the best watches when it comes to looking expensive is, for sure, the Seiko Cocktail Time range. This range features some of the best dial work you’ll find around, with some even comparing them to the likes of Grand Seiko, which is a tad dramatic.

But it’s easy to see how they’ve come to that conclusion. Now, I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of the Cocktail Time models. They are all absolutely stunning, but for me, the SRPD37 oozes class with its deep green dial. My favourite detail on this watch is the second hand with a gold finish, which always pairs up so effortlessly with green dials. But have a look through the Cocktail Time catalogue; it’s hard just to pick out one specific model when they’re all just so beautiful. And with those deep, textured dials, the Seiko Cocktail Time range rivals watches that cost much more.

G-Shock GMS 5600

Okay, if you’ve had enough of the dress watches and you want something tough and ready, then it doesn’t get much better than this next watch. Usually, a steel G-Shock could cost upwards of a couple hundred dollars, but there are a couple that you can get that come in much closer to that $100 price tag. This model is the GMS 5600, a watch that I recently added to my personal collection. Now, this G-Shock features the classic squared case design.

However, it has a very special feature. This model comes in with a staggering 38-millimetre case diameter and an 11-millimetre thickness, which makes it one of the smallest, fully capable G-Shocks on the market. But somehow Casio has managed to maintain the 20-bar water resistance rating and great shock-resistant capabilities, packing it all inside a fully polished steel shell, giving a super tough and rugged watch a flashy, expensive look. But if you don’t have a small wrist or enjoy something larger, then the GM 5600 is pretty much identical but comes with a bigger case, and both sizes can be had for less than $150, which, for a steel G-Shock, is just ridiculous value.

Seiko 5 SNKL23

Now, if you want an everyday watch that looks more expensive than it actually costs, then I highly suggest you check out the old-school Seiko 5 range. Again, like the Cocktail Time earlier, the whole old-school Seiko 5 range looks way beyond the modest price tag. None represents this better than the SNKL23. This watch went viral back in the beginning of 2017. Hodinkee wrote an article on this watch, labelling it the $75 watch that looks a million bucks and boasting about its stunning level of detail that had no right being on such an affordable watch.

Now, this watch is unfortunately no longer $75, as it was sadly discontinued a couple of years ago, but the watch can still be had for under $150, which is still a good deal for the quality of the watch that you get. Yes, it does only feature the dinosaur 7S26 movement and a basic Hardlex crystal, but the level of detail on this watch more than makes up for its flaws. A colour-matched frame date window, a vertically striped outer dial, and stunning dauphine hands give the SNKL23 an expensive look for a bargain price.

Mercure Salmon Cross

Now, if you want something that’s under the radar but still super affordable, then this next pick will definitely be for you. We’ll be visiting the Chinese brand Mercure for this next watch. Now, this watch reminds me of various super expensive Japanese microbrand watches that usually sell for thousands of dollars. This is the Mercure Salmon Cross, a watch that is very much styled around mid-20th-century Chinese-style watches.

Now, the reason this watch sticks out for me is the price point, with it coming in under $100. But it has such a premium aesthetic. It looks like it costs five times the price. Inside, we also see the use of manual wind movement. Which is rather impressive for a sub-$100 watch. This piece comes in a variety of dial colors.

But my pick for sure would be the salmon pink, which just gives off an elegant and expensive look. And with its 38-millimeter case, it has the proportions to be packed with detail on a smaller scale. This watch looks even better for me on the beads-of-rice style bracelet, but it also looks great on a variety of straps. I’ll leave an affiliate link for this one down in the description.

Baltic Bicompax Chronograph

Now, this next watch is the only chronograph featured in today’s video, but for me, it is the most expensive-looking, affordable chronograph. One thing that I think Baltic does so effortlessly is create watches that look like they cost way more. Everything from the MR01, with its micro-rotor movement, to the Aquascaphe diver. But the watch we’ll be featuring today is the Baltic Bicompax Chronograph. This ticker is just an absolute beauty and rivals the likes of the Hamilton Intramatic for its attention to detail.

Just a few days ago, Baltic announced some new variants of the Bicompax, which now feature applied indices, elevating the detail of the watch even more and making it look a little bit better. For me, the blue and gilt version takes the cake. I always think gilt hands and indices make a watch look like it costs way more. And, of course, inside the Bicompax, we see the use of the mechanical ST19 chronograph movement. So if you want a mechanical chronograph that’s affordable and punches way above its weight, the Baltic Bicompax is one to check out.

Orient Kamasu

Next up, we have the only genuine dive watch on today’s list, and if you want an affordable dive watch that still looks super expensive, this is the one to go for. For me, there’s only one dive watch that stands out in this category, and that is the Orient Kamasu. This watch has way more detail than any sub-$500 watch has any right to.

Everything, from the beautiful dial finishes to the perfectly framed day-date window, is done to perfection. With the Kamasu, you get a ton of choice when it comes to dial designs and colours, everything from the Gen 1 sunburst series to the Gen 2 fumé models. They all have a ton of detail and have such a premium look.

The best thing about the Kamasu is that the looks won’t just be temporary because it comes with a sapphire crystal and a tough-as-they-come build quality. Even after a heavy year of use, my Kamasu still looks incredible, and considering that these watches are still around $200, I personally don’t think that there’s a bigger bargain in the collecting world than this watch.

Maen Manhattan

Okay, here we are, the final watch on today’s video. Now, this is the most expensive watch that we featured today, but it without question looks super expensive. If you want that premium, integrated bracelet look but don’t have a spare $20 lying around, then you should seriously consider the Maen Manhattan. This watch is actually a homage to a vintage, rare Vacheron model but uses its own dial design to stand out from the crowd. The Côtes de Genève finish to the dial is simply sensational, giving the dial such depth that usually isn’t found on a watch under one thousand dollars.

Related Article: Top 10 Cheap Mens Watches to Elevate Your Look in 2024