Octagonal Bezel Watches: The Best Affordable Options

Few shapes in watchmaking are as instantly recognized as an octagonal bezel fixed with eight screws. It appeared in 1972 on a steel sports watch that was a commercial risk at the time, a luxury watch with the price of a gold one and the material of a tool. It went on to define a category, and today the best known references start at about $13,500 at retail and change hands for far more.

The shape has since been borrowed so widely that it now exists at every price. This guide explains what makes the design work, how to tell a good affordable version from a poor one, and the six we would consider under $150.

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Watch Index · prices checked October 9, 2026

The watches in this guide, ranked

Every watch this guide mentions, ranked by Value Score or by what one watch costs today with each store's current offer counted.

Why the octagon works

A round bezel is a ring; the eye passes over it. An octagon has corners, and each corner catches light at a different angle as the wrist moves. Add a flat, polished top surface with brushed sides and you get a frame that flashes as you move, around a dial that stays still. That contrast is the whole effect.

The screws do two things. Visually, they turn the bezel into a piece of hardware, like a porthole, which is where the original design took its inspiration. Structurally, on the original, they hold the bezel to the case through to the back. On affordable versions they may or may not do that job, but they need to look right either way: evenly spaced, neatly aligned, and finished to match the bezel.

What to check on an affordable octagonal watch

• The bezel edges. Crisp edges between the polished top and brushed sides are what make the octagon read clearly. Rounded, soft edges make it look molded.
• The screw alignment. On the best versions the screw slots all point the same way. Random alignment is not a flaw, but it looks less finished.
• The dial texture. The original has a checkered pattern on the dial, and a textured dial is part of what people expect from the look. A plain dial is a deliberate, more minimal choice.
• The bracelet taper. An integrated bracelet should narrow noticeably from case to clasp. A straight bracelet makes the watch look heavy.
• The case size. The best known versions run from about 37 to 41mm depending on the reference. Much larger and the octagon dominates the wrist.

Six affordable octagonal watches

Lucky Fours Oceanus: the classic version

If you want the look as people picture it, the Oceanus is it: an octagonal bezel with visible screws, an integrated steel bracelet and a blue dial with a fine checkered texture. It is $79.99 and comes in 11 colorways, including white, black, green and rose gold tone versions, so it can be as classic or as unusual as you want. The blue checkered dial is the one that most closely follows the original.

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Lucky Fours Auron: the minimal version

The Auron keeps the screwed octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet but replaces the checkered dial with a plain silver sunray. The effect is quieter and more modern, closer to a dress watch. It is $89.99, and the version we would choose for an office.

Lucky Fours Stardust: the textured case

The Stardust moves the texture from the dial to the case. Its integrated octagonal case has a frosted finish, a fine matte grain that sparkles faintly, around a plain black dial. Frosted cases are associated with some of the most expensive gold versions of this design, and in steel the finish gives the watch an unusual, soft sheen. It is $149.99, with 4 colorways including black, rose and gold tones.

Lucky Fours Spine: the automatic

The Spine is the octagonal case with an automatic movement shown through an open skeleton dial, on a steel bracelet. Skeleton versions exist at the top of this category too, at prices far beyond the standard models. At $149.99, it is the version for someone who wants a mechanical watch rather than quartz.

Lucky Fours Aura: the all black version

The Aura is an octagonal watch in all black, case, dial and bracelet, with almost nothing printed on the dial. Black hides the scale of the case, so it wears smaller than a steel watch of the same size, and the octagon becomes a subtle shape rather than a statement. It is $79.99. Our guide to all black watches covers this style.

Lucky Fours Prince Oak: on rubber

The Prince Oak puts an automatic skeleton dial with a gold tone movement inside a black octagonal case, on a rubber strap. It is the sportiest version here and the only one on a strap. It is $149.99.

What about established brands?

Here we have to be honest: established brands rarely sell an octagonal bezel at this price. The Japanese and American makers in our price guides do integrated bracelet watches, but with round or cushion shaped bezels. The nearest alternative is the Tissot PRX 40mm at $450, a Swiss integrated bracelet watch with a 40mm case and a bezel that is round rather than eight sided. If you like the integrated shape more than the octagon specifically, it is the established brand to buy. The Citizen Tsuyosa at $495 is the automatic alternative with a round bezel. Both are compared in our integrated bracelet guide.

*as listed on each brand's US website, October 2026

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Because the Lucky Fours offer is buy one, get one free with mix and match, the most interesting way to own this shape may be two versions of it: the Oceanus in blue for the classic look and the Aura in black for evenings. For other ways to get the same expensive look, see our guide to cheap watches that look expensive.

WatchesUnder is owned by BlackRobin Capital Inc.

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