The 5 Best Men's Watches for Under 500 Dollars

For your average Joe, the idea of spending 500 dollars on a watch will either seem like a substantial investment, or more likely, completely out of the question.  With that in mind, I expect the list of the 5 best men's watches for under 500 dollars to be a list of watches that could easily become a family heirloom. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.  I think all these watches should be from highly reputable watch makers, preferably have mechanical movements, and be made from high quality materials.  Either that, or such a unique piece, that I am left with no choice but to add it.  I want quality for such an investment, and expect my readers would want the same.

So, let us see what I was able to come up with for this installment of the best men's watches for under...

The 5 Best Men's Watches for Under 500 Dollars

Victorinox

Alliance Mechanical
Model: 241668
Case: 40 mm, Stainless steel
Band width: Leather
Movement: Mechanical Self winding
Functions: HH, MM, SS, Date
Battery:N/A
Water resistance: 100 M/330 ft

Victorinox is the swiss army knife company.  Maybe you knew that, because that is really what they are known for.  They have only been producing watches since 1989.  But the product they make is quality.  They manufacture their own movements.  They use a multiple crystal hardening process to make a lens surface that is extremely resistant to scratches.

The Alliance mechanical is a self winding mechanical watch.  It is a stainless construction, 40mm case and has a black face with black leather band.  The face has Arabic numerals at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions, and it includes a date window.  It also includes a see through back case, along with the Sapphire lens. 

I like the Victorinox brand for a quality, reasonably priced watch.  They are an old company, even though they have not been producing watches for that entire time.  They are still a company that should stand behind their product.

In my previous Men's Best Watches Lists, I couldn't really find a Swiss made watch I felt would fit the bill, but this one definitely fits well in this under 500 dollar price range, falling in the 400 dollar range.

Orient

Explorer
Model: FDH00001W0

Case: 44.5 mm, Stainless steel

Band width: 22 mm, Leather

Movement: Automatic hacking 48K40

Functions: HH, MM, SS, Date, Dual Time

Battery: N/A

Water resistance: 50M/165 ft

This Orient Explorer is a whole lot of watch.  I really am attracted to this Orient watch, the value is solid.  The watch has Dual time zones, it has a slide rule calculator on the Bezel, it has a Sapphire Crystal lens, and a power gauge. 

Not to mention great looks, and a mechanical auto movement, which is made in-house.  I like the Orient brand, for the appearance, as well as the fact that they are not using pieces from other companies.  It's not something you find in many sub 500 dollar watches.  In fact, its not something you will find for watches in general, but this Explorer does it for around 485.

The face is a bit busy for me, but I think it could be something I could get used to.  Orient is quickly becoming a company I look at when looking at watches of any price.  The watches are priced well, and they are not quite as mainstream as Seiko or Citizen, in the Japanese watch market.  It gives them a uniqueness factor that you cannot get from the mainstream watch companies.