The 15 Best Watches Under P50,000 Are Worth Your Hard-Earned Cash

Watches can run pretty steep, some of them worth more than a fleet of Ferraris. For watch collectors and enthusiasts, such astronomical prices—think six figures—are well worth it: ownership of rare and coveted timepieces is something to be admired in certain circles. But there are also stellar options in the market that won’t break the bank, watches under P50,000, ones that start from a reasonable two figures to the sweet-spot limit of the high threes.

Brands like Longines, Doxa, Hamilton, Seiko, and even Swatch have a number of great watches in this price range—and different types, too. There are dress watches, bracelet watches, field watches, divers, chronographs, and more. Whether you’re looking for timepieces to wear to work, to climb a mountain, or plunge into the pool, we gathered some of the best, all of them under P50,000 and all of them ready to be shown off. These styles may not hold the same cachet as, say, a Louis Moinet Meteoris or an ultra-rare Rolex Albino Daytona, but that doesn’t make them any less distinguished. All you have to do is pick one that fits your personality and lifestyle. And if you have some money left over, buy yourself a Ferrari.

New Gent Watch

SWATCH
P4,500 AT SHOPEE

When Swatch debuted in 1983, it caused ripples in the watch world by fully embracing quartz movements. That's now standard for much of the market, and the brand has become a behemoth in the industry, offering simple timepieces at prices that are pretty tough to beat. And the New Gent, a sizable water- and shock-resistant model (quartz movement and all) with an acrylic crystal, is a great example of what Swatch does best.

Size: 41mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 30 meters

Signatur Minimalist Watch

SKAGEN
P4,808 AT AMAZON

Terms like clean and architectural are the hallmarks of Danish design. Living up to this reputation is Skagen, Denmark's premiere watchmaker, and its aptly named Signatur Minimalist, a timepiece that features stainless steel case, mineral crystal, white dial, and a sleek brown leather band. The only flourish is three-hand analog display in soft pastel hues.

Size: 40mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 50 meters

Townsman Chronograph Watch

FOSSIL
P4,703 AT AMAZON

The Townsman tops most lists of best Fossil watches—a great feat considering the slew of styles that the brand has designed over the decades. Why? Just take a look at the striking blue dial, with contrasting yellow hands and hour marks, and a leather strap with a beautiful patina. It's no wonder the timepiece is a consistent best-seller.

Size: 44mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 50 meters

G10LM Watch

MWC
P5,856 AT J CREW

The Military Watch Company (MWC), as its name clearly suggests, created timepieces for the armed forces, the kinds of unfussy styles that servicemen wore on-duty and off. This style, in particular, riffs of the G10, a watch that the British Ministry of Defense gave to soldiers of different ranks. So whether you were an officer or a major general, you wore the same low-maintenance timepiece with pride.

Size: 35mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 50 meters

The Modern Art Watch

TIMEX + TODD SNYDER
$128 AT TODD SNYDER

Timex and Todd Snyder's team-up is one of the best ongoing partnerships in recent memory. Both brands offer classic American styles, but update them in ways that feel fresh and exciting. Case in point: The Modern Art watch, which is inspired by the works of Color Field artists like Mark Rothko. The combination of colors on the dial is vibrant, the graphics are bold, but it keeps to the refinement that's characteristic of Snyder's aesthetic.

Size: 40mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 50 meters

Scuba Dude Amphibian Automatic Dive Watch

VOSTOK
P7,812 AT AMAZON

If you want to live The Life Aquatic authentically, the Amphibia is what you need (along with an orange beanie). The timepiece graced the wrist of Steve Zissou, an oceanographer who knows a thing or two about the right kind of gear to wear in submarines. It features self-winding movement and a robust case, and is water-resistant up to 200 meters—ideal for plunging into the water.

Size: 40mm

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 200 meters

Marlin Watch

TIMEX
P11,470 AT TIMEX
P11,239 AT NORDSTROM

The Marlin was essentially an overnight success when Timex released it in the '60s. Then, the style was a hand-wound watch with an elegant steel case and black leather strap that looked like a million bucks—but was priced for every man. Over the decades, the brand built up the collection, offering an assortment of colorful dials and changing up the straps. There are many Marlins nowadays, but the update of the OG model, as you see right here, remains the best of the bunch.

Size: 34mm

Movement: Hand-wound

Water Resistance: 30 meters

General Purpose Watch

MARATHON WATCH COMPANY
$200 AT J CREW

Since 1939, Marathon Watch Company has been offering Swiss-made timepieces that follow strict military standards. In fact, the brand's styles are still issued to service members—because they are just that reliable. Take the General Purpose watch: its quartz movement is one of the most accurate around, and its durable fibershell case consistently receives high marks. Though it may not be the most water-resistant option (30 meters is the limit), it'll definitely do right by you on solid ground.

Size: 34mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 30 meters

Lexington Multifunction Goldtone Stainless Steel Watch

MICHAEL KORS
P15,532 AT NORDSTROM

Michael Kors is a leading name in the fashion industry, and there was a time when parading the MK logo was a point of pride. The moniker certainly enticed executives at Fossil, who, in 2004, licensed the name to create bold, sizable bracelet watches, often in gold-plated stainless steel that was—and, by are large, still is—all the rave among fashion followers. Watch enthusiasts also know that the quartz movement is up to snuff.

Size: 45mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 50 meters

Prospex 'Arnie' Watch

SEIKO
P24,399 AT ZALORA

Topping our list of the best tactical watches was the Prospex, a celebrated style by Seiko that's one of the most heavy-duty in the market. Not only is it water resistant up to 200 meters, it is also solar-powered timepiece that'll work up to six months from a single charge. What's more, it's the same watch that Arnold Schwarzenegger wore in a number of his action flicks in the '80s—hence why it's now called the Arnie.

Size: 47.8mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 200 meters

GMWB5000D-1 Watch

G-SHOCK
P45,060 AT SHOPEE

Beautiful bulky and emitting a Back to the Future vibe, G-Shock offers the kind of pieces that make a statement. And the GMWB5000D-1—which is modeled after the DW5000C, the first timepiece released by the brand more than three decades ago—definitely lives up to this reputation. The case and strap are made of polished stainless steel (RoboCop in watch form, basically), and its features include smartphone connectivity, Bluetooth, and world time for 300 cities.

Size: 43mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 200 meters

Khaki Field Automatic Watch

HAMILTON
P32,475 AT NORDSTROM

Field watches were first introduced during WWI, designed for soldiers stationed in the trenches. Therefore, they were built to be legible and free of complications (it's all about telling time precisely), along with being able to withstand a reasonable amount of water and dirt. Over the years, the style became a symbol of ruggedness and masculinity. Hamilton's Khaki Field Automatic imbues all these characteristics and more. The more being a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal face, and a relatively handsomer look when compared to others in the category.

Size: 38mm

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 100 meters

Lunar Pilot Chronograph Watch

BULOVA
P25,951 AT AMAZON

In 1971, on the Apollo 15 mission, Commander David Scott was one of the first men to drive on the moon's surface. And on his wrist during this history-making ride was a watch by Bulova. The Lunar Pilot Chronograph is a reissue of the model that Scott wore, a timepiece with a quartz movement that's so hardwearing that it works in outer space.

Size: 45mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 50 meters

Conquest Classic Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch

LONGINES
$950 AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

When Longines released its Conquest collection in 1954, it was one of the first instances when a watch brand debuted a whole line under one banner, instead of a single model. And the whole gang—from ones with silver cases and white dials to gold cases with gold dials—has stuck around, perhaps because it followed the codes of a mid-century dress watch: clean, simple, and elegant. Over time, bracelet versions made of stainless steel were introduced, adding to its luster—both in the literal and figurative sense. The newer styles also feature sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating, and dials in a range of colors, including this one in an eye-catching blue.

Size: 34mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 50 meters

Sub 200 Caribbean Watch

DOXA
$990 AT WATCHESOFSWITZERLAND

The Sub 200 Caribbean received a wave of praise when it debuted in 2019. It is a three hand diver’s watch made of high-quality 316L stainless steel and features a unidirectional bezel with markers coated in SuperLumiNova (just like the batons on the dials) and a domed sapphire crystal. And, true to its name, the timepiece is water resistant up to 200 meters.

Size: 42mm

Movement: Automatic

Water Resistance: 200 meters

The key factors to consider before purchasing a watch...

Brand: Watch companies intend to produce styles that bolster recognition in the industry. Their goal is to garner brand loyalty and retain repeat business. So, the make and model of a given timepiece is often only as good as the name behind it. Watches are meant to be shown off, to impart distinction. That’s how they get you. Even the labels that offer pieces on the affordable end of spectrum want you to wear them with pride. Provenance counts for a lot, because you are not just buying a mere accessory, but the history, lore, and reputation that a moniker instantly imparts.

Design: Wristwatches nowadays come in all forms. There are digital models with square cases, dress watches with sunray dials, tool watches designed for things like diving and flying, and burly tactical timepieces primed for battling Predators. All are worthy, but it is important to pick the ones that fit your personality and lifestyle.

Movement: The mechanism that makes a watch tick shouldn’t be taken lightly. In fact, the best companies focus heavily on improving the movement of their timepieces, continuously innovating and upgrading the engine, the function that makes a watch a watch. Today there are two standard types: mechanical and quartz. The latter is powered by a battery, and is the most common and most affordable option. Above that is the mechanical watch, which is less accurate but revered for its history, the expertise that goes into it, and the sheer human innovation that keeps improving upon the old with every passing year. You can choose a hand-wound mechanical watch, which is charged up by winding the crown every couple of days, or an automatic, which uses kinetic energy to power up the movement. As long as you're wearing it, you don't need to wind it. If you take it off, most have a power reserve of somewhere from 40 to 80 hours. After that, you'll need to get get moving to get it ticking again.

Durability: You want your watch to be able to withstand all the hurdles that come your way. The best options will feature a strong resistance to water (up to a 100 meters is decent, but 200 or higher is money), and a crystal that’s as close to scratch-proof as it gets—sapphire crystal being the strongest. Also look for styles made of durable leather, canvas, and metals. Gold is gorgeous, but stainless steel—the highest quality is designated "316L"—is much tougher. You could also opt for metals like titanium (lighter and stronger, but more prone to scratching) or ceramic (tough as nails and basically scratch-proof, but pricy), if the standard options aren't doing it for you.

From: Esquire US