Well, first things first, it’s pretty obvious that not everyone can afford a $10,000 watch. In fact, even a $500 watch is well out of most people’s budget. Also, while many may still be able to afford a $200 watch, we are pretty sure there are a surprisingly large number of people out there who wouldn’t want to spend anything over $100 on a watch.

These are exactly the people who would search for affordable mens watches, and this is perhaps the only article they would need to read to understand what exactly they need to look for.

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So without further ado, let’s cut to the chase and take a look at the things you need to know about while choosing an affordable men’s watch.

Avoid THESE Mistakes

There seem to be some surprisingly common mistakes most men make while going for an affordable men’s watch. The first one is trying to get a $100 watch that would look like a $10,000 Rolex. It’s perhaps a terrible idea as wearing such a watch is probably the best way to look cheap.

Oversized watches, fake gold look, as well as watches encrusted with plastic stones are some really terrible options. You just can’t look good wearing one of them, and hence something you should avoid like the plague.

The second common mistake is going for knockoffs. Yes, some men who think that though they can’t get an original $10,000 Rolex, they may be able to show the world that they own one by getting a fake version of the model for something along the lines of $100. Well, while you may be able to trick people who are not at all familiar with watches into believing that, anyone who knows a thing or two about them would easily be able to find out what you’re up to.

After all, it’s like trying to pay off real debts with monopoly money. It’s just not going to cut it. But once people around you come to know about your terrible attempt, you may well end up losing all your credibility. So if you don’t want to look like or turn into a joke, just stay miles away from knockoff watches.

The Right Approach

Now that you’re aware of what to avoid, let us give you a little overview of what you may want to focus on. Firstly, we think you can simply stick to the basics and understand that it’s perfectly fine to get a $100 watch that looks just like a $100 watch.

That being said, fabric straps may be a good thing to look out for, though there do seem to be a fair few stainless steel mens watches out there that cost under $100 and may be well worth your consideration.

Similarly, you may want to stick to quartz movement, as you may have to compromise on the quality quite a bit if you go for mechanical ones. However, you may sometimes get a little lucky, especially when some sellers come up with those super saver sales that allow you to grab a reasonably good mechanical watch for something around the $100 range.

Buying Online

When looking for affordable mens watches, buying online may turn out to be your best bet. While online shopping marketplaces aren’t recommended when it comes to buying expensive, high-end timepieces, they definitely seem to be a great option for buying a cheap, quality watch for a fraction of the price of what you would get it for in a store.

Just be sure to go through the user reviews and check out some reviews online.

Going for an “Authentic” Product

Apart from the things mentioned above, there are quite a few things you need to keep in mind while buying one of the top rated mens watches out there in this price range. The first, as we already covered, is to avoid watches with fake materials, like gold-colored watches. They may end up stripping off or the color may change. For example, the gold color of fake gold watches tends to turn greenish surprisingly soon.

Hence, you would want to go for an “authentic” watch. It would also help you get the best bang for your buck. Anything that’s made of a standard metal or even plastic may turn out to be a good choice.

Choosing the Right Strap

Another important thing is to avoid leather straps in this price range. They are usually fake and would show signs of wear very quickly. Instead, you may want to go for fabric or even metal straps.

They tend to last much longer and retain their natural, attractive look for a very long time. This is, however, provided that they don’t come with fake coating.

Accuracy

Well, although it may not turn out to be a major concern, it is still important to make sure the watch works well and shows accurate time. However, you usually wouldn’t come across any issue related to accuracy while buying new watches, given that you don’t try going too cheap.

Quartz may be Your Best Bet

While looking for quality, accuracy and authentication, without having a very high budget, the quartz watches may turn out to be your best bet. They may not seem as appealing as mechanical or automatic watches, but in this price range, they would be a better option as far as showing an accurate time is concerned.

Also, there are many waterproof mens watches out there that come with quartz movement, so you do not even have to worry about getting one that will be prone to water damage.

The Movement

Watches with Japanese movement are considered the best option in this price range. Of course, anything Swiss Made is well out of question, as they may be far from being affordable for you.

Also, while watches with Chinese movements aren’t considered very bad, they may not offer the reliability you’re looking for.

A Final Word

Choosing one of the best affordable mens watches out there doesn’t necessarily have to be difficult, especially given you’re knowledgeable enough about what to look for and what to avoid. If you simply refer to the things given in this guide, you may very well be able to find a watch that costs well under $100 yet works great and looks reasonably attractive and authentic.