Five top-notch men's watches on a good low-cost (under $500)

The Japanese manufacturer Orient positions watches as sports watches. But the metallic finish and discreet color scheme with a dark blue dial and bezel make the model a worthwhile solution for everyday use as well.

The dimensions of the steel case are optimal for the average male hand: 12 mm thick and 42 mm in diameter. Sports enthusiasts in the Orient AA02005D will appreciate the high water resistance ( WR200M): the watch is not only afraid of showering or swimming, but also diving under water to a depth of 20 meters. To increase the tightness, a screw-down crown is provided, in addition, it is slightly recessed into the case for greater protection against accidental contacts.

Another sporty feature of the models is the unidirectional rotating bezel, capable of performing the function of a stopwatch or timer. And for easy reading in difficult operating conditions, the hands and hour markers are coated with a luminescent coating.

Orient AA02005D is a mechanical watch with a proprietary caliber F6922 on 22 jewels and automatic winding support. Power reserve at full spring tension is standard 40 hours. The vibration frequency of the mechanism is 21,600 semi-oscillatory movements per hour, which provides the basic accuracy by the standards of "mechanics" with daily errors of up to -15/+25 seconds.

In addition to displaying the time, the model informs about the current date and day of the week : the corresponding double window is located next to the three-hour mark.

Of the shortcomings, some users note that the bracelet is not the most practical, easily collecting scratches. But in any case, in its price category, Orient AA02005D claims to be one of the best mechanical watches for fans of outdoor activities and amateur diving.

The representative of the Pro-Trek line in the Casio hierarchy belongs to the premium travel watches. In accordance with the status, the model has acquired an extensive set of sensors, including a digital compass, a barometer and a thermometer, an altimeter with a memory of up to 40 entries and a climb schedule. Their accuracy, as well as the proprietary quartz movement itself, should not cause concern.

Tourists will be pleased with the work of Casio PRG-600-1E from a solar battery that recharges the built-in battery. In case of a long absence of "light recharge", a charge indicator is proposed. And fans of winter outings will like good frost resistance: all functions of the watch will work properly at temperatures down to -10 °C.

The model received a mixed dial: a trinity of analog hands is complemented by a digital display, which displays all the additional information. Also in the upper right part is the arrow indicator of functions. Among the latter, in addition to an abundance of sensors, there is a calendar, a countdown timer up to 60 minutes, a stopwatch accurate to hundredths of a second and 5 alarm clocks.

There is also a world time function. Plus, the names of cities representing each of the 24 time zones are applied on the bezel, with the ability to quickly select the one you need. If you fly often, this option is very convenient.

For easy reading of data, the Casio PRG-600-1E implements the movement of the analog hands, which are shifted so that the values on the digital area are visible. And the usual luminescent coating is complemented by LED backlighting.

Waterproof up to 10 bar in tandem with a screw-down crown allows you to wear your watch for swimming with a mask. The body is quite large(diameter 52 mm) but light (78 grams). The model looks solid on the hand thanks to the steel silver bezel. At the same time, the rest of the case is made of black plastic, and the strap is made of rubber.

The extended functionality of the Casio PRG-600-1E does not contradict the good readability of the dial, and the price tag here is quite adequate. Thanks to this, the watch will definitely become a useful accessory for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts.

Like most wearable accessories of the American brand FOSSIL, the main feature of the model is its appearance. The black steel bezel and brown leather strap look very versatile: the watch can be worn with casual wear, and at the outset.

But the key element of the design is, of course, Skeleton, which looks great in tandem with a transparent case back. So, the “stuffing” of FOSSIL ME3098 is open to the eyes and, at least for the first time, a bewitching “wow effect” is guaranteed.

It is not only the gold-coloured open movement that adds to the attractiveness of the model's dial. Roman numeral markings, behind which there is no substrate, can also be considered an interesting design feature: after all, the watch is translucent along the perimeter.

The marks, like the trinity of hands, are made in contrasting black, so there should be no problems with determining the current time.

The FOSSIL ME3098 mechanical caliber contains 20 jewels. It is complemented by an automatic winding rotor with an openwork coating: even a purely functional structural element here is not without a designer gloss. In terms of accuracy and reliability, the mechanism corresponds to the capabilities of the "mechanics" of the entry level.

Both the dial and the back of the watch are covered with mineral glass. The 44 mm case has good water resistance (WR50M), so taking a shower or even swimming without diving is not prohibited in the model.

FOSSIL ME3098 is an excellent choice for those who are looking primarily for a spectacular and stylish skeletonized watch. In appearance, the accessory is able to "compete" with the elite models of fashion houses and / or Swiss manufacturers.

Watches from the famous Swiss manufacturer TISSOT present the T-Classic collection, which combines models with a classic design.

The accessory received a metal case with a matte silver color and a black calfskin leather strap with embossed imitating crocodile. The dial is also made in black, but on sale you can find a version with a white backing — TISSOT T063.637.16.037.00 from 19 490 up to 32 580 ₴. The watch looks harmonious with both a business suit and jeans.

Although TISSOT T063.637.16.057.00 is equipped with a quartz movement, the inscription Swiss Made, cherished by many, “flaunts” at the bottom of the dial. The model uses the caliber of the Swiss company ETA G15.561. This is a reliable, accurate and proven mechanism, the special status of which, among other things, is emphasized by the presence of stones in the amount of 6 pieces that are clearly not required for “quartz”.

The information content of the TISSOT T063.637.16.057.00 dial is not at all trivial. First of all, there is an original perpetual calendar (during its initial adjustments, even a leap year is adjusted) with an arrow indication of the date, day of the week and month of the year. So, the number is indicated by a thin arrow on the main axis (at first it is easy to confuse it with a second), and the scale itself is placed in a crescent from “nine” to “three”. The month window is on the top left, and the day of the week is on the right. And the second hand itself is placed on a separate mini-dial, located above the six-hour mark.

An important feature of the watch is the convex sapphire crystal. It is much better than the usual mineral analogue is protected from scratches. But water protection up to 3 bar should be attributed to the disadvantages, because the body is “contraindicated” in heavy rain and not careful hand washing. Other than that, the TISSOT T063.637.16.057.00 is an eye-catching Swiss made quartz watch that combines a classic design with an original dial.

In the Seaday collection of the Swiss manufacturer Atlantic, watches belong to the top-level models, since they include an automatic mechanical caliber, and not “quartz”, as we say, Atlantic 69550.44.51R .

The "heart" of the model is the Swiss Made movement - ETA 2824-2 with 25 jewels and automatic winding (power reserve 38 hours). It is a cult caliber of the Swiss watch industry, which is characterized by high reliability and good precision, as the frequency of semi-oscillating movements is increased to 28.8 thousand per hour. So, with proper adjustment, even certified chronometers are created on the basis of this “mechanics”.

Atlantic 69750.41.61 received a silver steel case and a black leather strap with a traditional buckle. Laconic markers and three hands echo the first in terms of color, and the round dial with a diameter of 42 mm echoes the second. A related version with a white backing is also on sale - Atlantic 69750.41.21 , but here the visibility of the readings is clearly worse.

The classic design is complemented by the presence of a date display: the corresponding window is in its usual place - at three o'clock. And on the back cover there is a window that allows you to personally observe the work of the gears.

The dial of the model is protected by a sapphire crystal, which guarantees high resistance to scratches. Also, the body is well protected from water: up to 5 bar is more than enough for a shower and / or a swim in a fresh water body without diving.

Atlantic 69750.41.61 is a balanced Swiss Made mechanical watch from a proven brand in terms of price and quality.