Brands
The Best Affordable Watch Brands in 2026
Michael Chen·5 min read
Watch Brands
Buying guides to the affordable watch brands and how they compare.
Brands
Seiko Watches: A Buying Guide for 2026
Michael Chen·6 min read
Brands
Seiko Alternatives Under $100
Seiko's US store starts at about $225, so a $100 budget means looking elsewhere. We matched each Seiko style to the watches that come closest for under $100, and said where each falls short.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·5 min read
Brands
Seiko 5 Sports: Is It Worth It, and What Else to Consider
The Seiko 5 Sports is still the default first automatic. We look at what it does well, where it has slipped as prices rose, and which watches deserve a look at the same money, for less, and for a little more.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·5 min read
Brands
Citizen Watches: A Buying Guide
Citizen's big idea is a watch that runs on light and never needs a battery. Here is how the US range breaks down, what the current prices are on Citizen's own site, and the models we think are the best buys.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·4 min read
Brands
Casio Watches: A Buying Guide Beyond the Digital Classics
Everyone knows the $30 Casio digital. Fewer people know how much else the brand makes for under $200, from gold tone vintage digitals to analog dress watches and steel chronographs. Here is the range, and what to buy.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·4 min read
Brands
Casio vs Timex: Which Budget Brand Should You Buy?
Casio and Timex make most of the good watches you can buy for under $100. They are not interchangeable: each is clearly better at certain kinds of watch. Here is where each one wins.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·4 min read
Brands
Timex Watches: A Buying Guide
Timex has made affordable watches in Connecticut since the nineteenth century, and its range now runs from a $77 Weekender to automatic Marlins. Here is what each line is for and which models we would buy.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·4 min read
Brands
Tissot Watches: The Entry to Swiss Watchmaking
Tissot is where most people buy their first Swiss watch, and the PRX is the reason many of them do. Here is the US range from $350 to under $1,000, what Powermatic 80 means, and which model gives the most for the money.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·4 min read
Brands
Bulova Watches: A Buying Guide
Bulova has spent 150 years making watches that look more expensive than they are, and a few that changed watch technology. Here is how the current range works, what is on sale, and which models are worth your money.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·4 min read
Brands
Japanese vs Swiss Watches: What the Label Really Tells You
A Swiss label adds real money to a watch's price. Sometimes it buys something you can see and feel, sometimes mostly a name. Here is what the two labels actually guarantee, and how the watches compare when the price is the same.
Michael Chen·October 9, 2026·4 min read
Brands
Direct to Consumer Watch Brands: How They Sell for Less
Online watch brands sell steel watches for under $100 that would cost far more through a jeweler. Some of that is real savings and some is marketing. Here is how the model works and how to judge a brand you found online.
Daniel Reyes·October 9, 2026·4 min read