Buying a new watch can be a bit of a minefield. Where do you begin?

There are simply hundreds of thousands of designs out there, all with vastly differing price points. There’s the whole mechanical vs quartz thing, and whether you want something smarter or sportier – do you go leather strap or metal bracelet, simple dial or more complex?

There are of course the big names, from Swiss giants to Japanese monoliths, but there are also the smaller, micro-brands, many of which have impressive quality-to-price ratios.

In short, it can be tricky to know where to look, what to go for and where you should spend your money. From the best budget options through to more luxury pieces, here are the best watches for men in 2023. 

What to look for in the best watches for men

Settling on a brand 

There are, naturally, thousands of watch brands that are out there contending with each other for your money.

Some will have been around for well over a century, trading off their quality and heritage. Others will have started up only recently and might have a more contemporary approach to design.

When settling on a brand, it’s best to do your research. You can’t really go wrong with the big Swiss or Japanese names, but learn about them and what they do best.

If you’ve found a brand that specialises in a certain style of watch, whether that be a chronograph or a dress watch, it’s probably best to stick to that style as it’s what it does best.

Don’t be afraid of the micro brand though. In recent years hundreds of micro brands have flooded the market, all offering their own unique take on both classic and modern designs. Micro brands often manufacture in small batches and use tried and tested movements, offering all the reliability of the big names. 

Mechanical vs quartz 

This one largely comes down to budget. Mechanical watches are typically far more expensive than quartz ones, so if you’re willing to spend that might be something to consider. But what’s the difference?

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A mechanical watch is powered by a movement that’s battery-free and runs entirely by itself. You either wind it up or go for an ‘automatic’ mechanical watch, which winds itself. Quartz watches on the other hand are powered by batteries, with a small electric charge zapped through a tiny quartz crystal inside the watch, giving it its power.

Quartz watches are easy to spot because the seconds hand will tick, whereas mechanical watches have a ‘sweeping’ seconds hand, which glides seamlessly around the dial. 

The best watches for men, at a glance

• Best budget watch for men: Casio Men's Digital Watch
• Best value watch for men: Rotary Regent Auto Men's Blue Watch
• Best luxury watch for men: Breitling Avenger Automatic
• Best minimal watch for men: Junghans Form Stainless Steel Leather Quartz Watch
• Best statement watch for men: Tissot Sideral S

Casio Men's Digital Watch

• Casio Men's Digital Watch with Stainless Steel Bracelet, £29 £24.49 – buy here

It’s difficult to go wrong with a simple Casio metal bracelet watch.

This retro staple has long been on the favourite lists of both casual consumers and watch snobs thanks to its classic design and easy charm.

It comes in either gold or silver, and has plenty of functions that watches ten times its price could only dream of. It has an alarm for a start, which is only available in hyper rare mechanical watches, while its chronograph and light-up dial only further separate it from the pack.

A casual classic, and affordable, this Casio is a surefire winner.

Rotary Regent

• Rotary Regent Auto Men's Blue Watch, £349 £301.82 from Amazon – buy here

Offering impressive value for money is this Rotary Regent watch, which has a louche ‘70s feel.

Boasting an integrated stainless steel bracelet, a vibrant blue dial and an automatic mechanical movement, it has a distinct sporty look to it that ensures it can be enjoyed as a daily wearer.

Other features include a handy 100m water resistance, so it can be worn comfortably in the bath or when swimming, as well as a day and date feature at 3 o’clock.

Look out for the finishing of this piece, too; its mixture of brushed and polished stainless steel gives it a far more premium look than its price point suggests. 

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Accurist Everyday Solar Men's Watch

• Everyday Solar Men's Watch, £199 from Accurist – buy here

Accurist's Everyday Collection is the brand's most popular range, and this recent addition to it is one to be excited about.

The Everyday Solar watch draws all of its power from ambient light, meaning that it will never require a battery replacement. Just two minutes of direct sunlight can power for a full day, and in case you have plans to head to Norway during winter, there's a power reserve of 120 days.

It's also water resistant up to 50 metres and comes with a five year guarantee once registered; not bad for a watch that costs less than £200.

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Watch 38mm

• Khaki Field Mechanical Watch, £530 from Hamilton – buy here

Hamilton has always produced some of the cleanest, most aesthetically pleasing field watches.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-read, casual watch with genuine military heritage, there is nothing better than the Khaki Field Mechanical. 

Q Timex Chronograph 40mm

• Q Timex Chronograph 40mm Leather Strap, £180 from Timex – buy here

If you’re a fan of motorsport-inspired watches, the Timex Q Chronograph could be for you.

It has a classic reverse panda dial, making its chronograph sub-dials particularly easy to read, while its meca-quartz movement results in a sweeping seconds hand that adds a touch of class.   

Junghans Form

• Junghans Form Stainless Steel Leather Quartz Watch, £440 from Beaverbrooks – buy here

With its minimal design and slim form factor, this Junghans dress watch is as versatile as it is stylish.

While the brand produces a wide range of mechanical designs, this one comes with a quartz movement which keeps the price down, while also ensuring unrivalled accuracy. 

Orient Mako Vintage

• Mako Vintage, £409.99 from Orient – buy here

Orient has long been an insider’s watch brand, beloved for its impressive attention to detail and unrivalled price points.

The Mako dive watch is one of its most popular designs, and for good reason. This one boasts a vintage feel with its off-white hour markers and classic diving bezel.

With a movement produced entirely in-house, a 40-hour power reserve and a grey fumé dial, it’s difficult to beat. 

Tissot Sideral S

• Sideral S, £915 from Tissot – buy here

For a splash of colour, Tissot’s Sideral S has your back.

A revived piece from the Swiss brand’s ‘70s catalogue, it comes with a distinctive yellow, green and red marked dial, a bold yellow strap and a (slightly more contemporary) forged carbon case. 

Seiko 5 Sports Retro Colour

• Seiko 5 Sports Retro Colour, £300 from Seiko – pre-order here

 Channelling a vintage 1960s feel that Seiko made popular with its original 5 Sports watches, this piece represents the Japanese brand at its best.

It comes with a silver and black bezel, a sunray silver dial and a classic dive watch case, referencing Seiko’s iconic SKX pieces. 

Breitling Avenger Automatic

• Avenger Automatic 43, £3,100 from Breitling – buy here

When it comes to aviation-inspired designs, there is no better brand than Breitling.

The Avenger Automatic boasts a durable stainless steel case, 300m water resistance and a rugged, highly legible dial that’s easy to read day or night.

Note also the specially shaped bezel, which has been designed to be usable when wearing gloves, if that’s your thing. 

Baltic MR01

• MR01 Salmon, €545 from Baltic – buy here

Baltic is one of the leading micro brands around, and with this watch, it’s easy to see why. A modern take on classic mid-century dress watches, it comes with a beautifully finished salmon colour dial and bold Breguet numerals.

Note also the exquisitely finished movement, with its micro-rotor allowing it to be viewed in its entirety through the see-through case back. 

How much are watches for men?

Watches can famously reach astronomically high prices, with models from brands like Audemars Piguet and Patek Phillipe regularly fetching hundreds of thousands of pounds.

However, there's a great selection of brands that cost a few hundred pounds, and if you want something even more affordable, you can get retro digital watches from around £20.

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Where to buy watches for men

Men's watches are widely available. If you know which brand you want to buy from, then it's often best to purchase from the brand itself, although there are a number of specialist shops that sell a selection of watchmakers.

• Amazon
• Watch Shop
• Goldsmiths
• H Samuel
• Argos
• House of Watches

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