In 2020, there's still a big question mark over the holiday festivities. We don't know yet if we'll be able to spend time with our loved ones, but one thing's for sure, we want to treat them with awesome gifts no matter what.
If a loved one enjoys watch collecting (or if you want to treat yourself, I'm not judging), Amazon is probably the best place to get amazing deals on great watches. However, it can be hard to know which one to pick; there're so many Chinese ripoffs and no-name brands, you have to know where to look.
Without further ado, here are the 7 best watches to buy on Amazon this year!
1. Orient Bambino
Whether you're trying to introduce someone to watch collecting, or you're buying a gift for a WIS, the Orient Bambino will please almost anybody.
This affordable dress watch comes with components that you would expect from a piece 10x pricier. For instance, Orient produces its own in-house mechanical movement for the Bambino.
The F6724 caliber offers highly sought-after features such as hacking and hand-winding. Also, it benefits from legendary Japanese reliability.
With 5 versions of the Bambino in Orient's lineup, you will certainly find something for your tastes. Each version has its distinctive traits that help the watch stand out from its peers. Also, every version is sold in several colorways, which increases the uniqueness of each piece.
If you're not familiar with the Orient brand, you can expect the same finish & quality of Seiko watches, often for a fraction of the price.
2. Seiko 5 (SNK805/7/9)
The Seiko SNK809 is the first watch I recommend to people that want to get into watch collecting. For a pretty cheap price, you get a workhorse 7s26 automatic movement that's pretty basic, but incredibly reliable.
The Seiko 5's exhibition case back allows you to peek at this movement, although it's nothing special to look at. However, it's always nice to see the caliber at work when you've been used to quartz movements all your life.
Whereas the Orient Bambino is very dressy, the SNK809 is a watch that can be worn on almost any occasion. Paired with the right strap, this Seiko 5 will work with any outfit ranging from casual to business attire.
The military style of the SNK809 provides you with an easy-to-read 24-hour layout dial and a day-date display at the 6 o'clock position. In my opinion, this Seiko 5 is a perfect middle between stylish and functional.
3. G-Shock DW-6900
As someone that loves all kind of watches, I must say that no collection is truly complete without a G-Shock. The Casio DW-5600 is the epitome of simplicity and ruggedness. This is a watch that you can truly take to hell and back without a worry that it'll break on you.
The square case of the DW-5600 is still the same as the original G-Shock that was released in 1981. Not only does it look neat, but it also makes this watch wearable for someone with smaller wrists.
This G-Shock comes with every basic function a digital watch needs: stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm, and of course timekeeping. Also, it has Casio's noteworthy electro luminescent backlight to allow legibility even in complete darkness.
Like every other watch in G-Shock's collection, the DW-5600 is rated for 200m of water resistance. Needless to say, this will be plenty for recreational swimming or even snorkeling.
In short, this watch is a true "beater" that will follow you for the next decade without skipping a beat, no matter how rough you are with it.
4. Timex Expedition Scout
The Timex Expedition is an affordable field watch with super legible numerals that's powered by a quartz movement. This can be frowned upon by watch snobs, but you can't argue against the convenience of such a caliber.
For instance, the Timex expedition will keep time within a +-15 seconds/month range. Furthermore, it won't lose time if you stop wearing it, making it the perfect option for the occasional watch wearer.
With its 50m water resistance rating, this Timex will be able to follow you in the swimming pool. Also, the Expedition's dial can light up thanks to Timex's Indiglo feature. You can also use the luminous phosphorescent hands.
Furthermore, the Timex Expedition is sold in over 30 variations with different dial, case, and strap colors. Add that to the fact that it has a 40mm case diameter (perfect for most men), the Expedition is truly a crowd-pleaser.
5. Invicta 8926
The Invicta brand generally gets a lot of hate in the watch community, but the 8926 seems to be the exception to the rule.
This one gets a pass because it gives you access to the renowned Seiko NH35 mechanical movement for well under $80. This is a value proposition that blows the competition out of the water, including no-name Chinese brands.
Obviously, the Invicta 8926 is a not-so-subtle homage of the famous Rolex Submariner. However, Invicta applies their logo more than 5 times on the watch to make sure that it's not perceived as a fake Rolex.
With this affordable timepiece, you get 200m of water resistance and a screw-down crown, making it viable for recreational diving. Even for desk divers, the 60-minute rotating bezel can be useful to measure mundane things such as your lunch break.
6. Citizen AT0200-05E
For $150, the Citizen AT0200-05E is probably the most affordable solar-powered chronograph watch on the market.
The Eco-Drive H500 caliber powering this Citizen offers the same accuracy as your average quartz watch (+- 15 seconds/month), but you instead get a solar rechargeable battery that can last upwards of 20 years.
This battery will get charged by any type of lighting, and the power reserve will last around 6 months. Additionally, this movement is packed with useful functions such as a 60-minute stopwatch, a 24-hour display, and a small date window.
This is a true no-maintenance rugged watch that you can take anywhere (including underwater) without a worry. Also, the dial is legible and uncluttered which is amazing considering the amount of information this timepiece gives you.
7. Timex Ironman 30
What, another Timex watch on the list?! I didn't plan on including the Ironman 30 at first, but I feel obligated for one reason: it is the best-selling men's watch on Amazon.
Surely, there must be a reason why this one sells so well. Number one, it is dirt cheap! You can get the Ironman 30 for around $25, and even less on special occasions such as Black Friday or Boxing Day.
Secondly, Timex makes sure that there's an Ironman 30 for every taste. For instance, you can choose between 15+ color schemes, and you can also get the full or mid-sized case.
As the name implies, the Timex Ironman 30 is mainly a runner's watch. It comes with important functions like a stopwatch with 30-lap memory, a countdown timer, and a customizable alarm.
However, I consider the Ironman 30 to be a sports watch rather than a runner's watch. For example, the 100m water resistance makes it the perfect partner for swimmers.
I hope you enjoyed this article and that you're now filled with gift ideas for this holiday season. Don't forget that it's important to treat yourself, so you might as well pick one up for yourself!
Let me know in the comments below if you think I've forgotten an important part of Amazon's watch offering.
