Best Automatic Watches under $200 for Men & Women | 2022 Comparison & Buyer’s Guide

Automatic watches are mechanical watches that require regular wear to work. Such a watch wind by itself, getting the needed energy from your movements.

An automatic watch is typically composed of around 70 parts. One of the most essential elements is a rotor, which can be made from gold, platinum, or tungsten. Such materials are sufficiently powerful to wind the movement. When you move your arm, the rotor swings and winds the spring.

Some models made with a glass case allow the wearer to watch this process in real-time. If your watch stops, just shake it and the gears will start turning again.

Some models can also be wounded by hand, which is a beneficial feature for those who do not wear their watches regularly. But note: the less you wind your watch manually, the longer the components will last. There are many benefits of wearing automatic watches. In particular, they do not require batteries, are of low maintenance, and are pretty accurate.

What is the best automatic watch? Your watch should be comfortable to wear and aesthetic-looking. This means, among other things, that the watch needs to be of the right size. For men, a perfect automatic watch has 44-millimeter dials, whereas women's models are smaller and come in 36-millimeter size. If you prefer a unisex option, there are automatic watches with 40-millimeter dials available. Also, it is crucial that your watch is built with high-quality materials because watches containing low-grade materials tend to lose minutes.

The power reserve is another thing to consider when buying your automatic watch. The best option should have up to 42 hours of energy stored, however, some advanced models may offer a power reserve of up to 10 days. Last but not least, look at the frequency of your watch’s movement, which is expressed in Hertz (Hz) or beats per hour (BPH). High-beat movements run at 28,800 or 36,000 BPH, while anything below is considered low-beat movements.

We recommend that you choose a watch with high beats per second, as this influences the reliability of the mechanism. The thing is that such a device is more accurate because its oscillator divides time into smaller spans. As for accuracy, a good automatic watch is +-25 seconds per day. However, if your watch loses or gains more than 25 seconds in a couple of days, that means poor accuracy.

Best Automatic Watches Under $200 Compared | Trusted Brands

Below, we have rounded up the most trustworthy and reputable manufacturers of automatic watches. They all have been in the industry for decades and are well-known for the top quality of their products.

Orient Watch

This Japanese watch manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo was established in 1950 but now is a subsidiary of Seiko Epson. For more than 70 years, Orient Watch has been producing mechanical watches, both self-winding and hand-winding, as well as quartz, solar, and other models. Remarkably, in the 1960s, the company introduced the world’s thinnest automatic watch at the time. At present, Orient Watch offers four different collections of watches: Classic, Contemporary, Sports, and Revival. Its sports collection is particularly interesting. For example, the Men's Kamasu Automatic Diving Watch is water-resistant up to 200 meters and has a design inspired by the barracuda fish.

Bulova

The Bulova brand traces back to 1875, when Joseph Bulova opened a store in Manhattan to sell top-quality timepieces. From the very beginning, Bulova relied on advanced technologies and innovation, something that has become the brand’s distinctive feature over time. The Bulova Chronograph Model was the only privately-owned watch that was worn by astronauts on the Moon during the Apollo 15 mission. In 2008, the brand was acquired by the Japanese company Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. for $250 million. Today, Bulova offers different watch collections for men and women, including Military, Marine Star, CURV, and Regatta. An excellent model from the Classic Automatic Collection is the Bulova Men's Watch with a stainless steel case, 40-hour power reserve, and a crocodile-embossed leather strap.

Fossil

A well-established American fashion designer, the Fossil Group owns Fossil, Michele Watch, Relic, Zodiac Watches, and some other brands. The company makes smartwatches, hybrid smartwatches, as well as handbags, jewelry, and licensed accessories for global brands. What separates this brand from other manufacturers is the distinguished design of its automatic watches. In a sense, wearing Fossil watches is an inexpensive way to look fashionable. Its automatic watches come in a variety of colors, feature leather straps, and have incredible dial designs. Just look at the Fossil Men's Stainless Steel Automatic Watch with a 50-millimeter case, a black skeleton dial, and a mineral crystal face.

Seiko

Seiko is a famous Japanese manufacturer of watches and electronic devices, with headquarters in Tokyo. The company boasts a 140-year history and was among the first ones to launch the production of quartz wristwatches. Forty years ago, Seiko introduced its first automatic quartz watch that combined the accuracy of the quartz mechanism with a self-winding feature of automatic watches. At present, the company offers various product lines including Seiko 5, Presage, Grand Seiko, and others. The Seiko 5 series features an automatic watch movement, a durable case, and is water-resistant. Seiko watches are available in all price ranges, from budget options to high-end luxury models. If you look for a budget-friendly model from this brand, consider this military-style Men's SNK805 SEIKO 5 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch with a green nylon strap and water resistance of up to 30 meters.

Invicta Pro Diver

Founded in the first half of the 19th century, Invicta started out as a Swiss watch company. In the 1990s the brand was bought by an American company and is now headquartered in Hollywood, Florida. Nowadays, Invicta has over 35 collections of watches, such as the Artist series, Cuadro, Gladiator, Pro Diver, Specialty, and more. The reason that Invicta automatic watches are highly popular is that they are incredibly affordable while being of excellent quality. In fact, you get a luxury quality for less than $100 and the watch looks like it could cost three times more. Invicta watches combine traditional aesthetics with high-tech materials, offering lots of amazing designs for people of all ages and preferences. For instance, this Invicta Men's Pro Diver 40mm Automatic Watch featuring a fascinating bezel with a blue top ring is suitable for diving and professional marine activity. This is a watch with a Japanese automatic movement, meaning it is built with an emphasis on precision and practicability.

Best-Selling Automatic Watches under $200 | Comparison Table