The Ultimate List of the Best Entry Level Automatic Watches

If you are looking for a new watch that is stylish, reliable, and affordable, you might want to consider entry level automatic watches.

Automatic watches are also known as self-winding watches. They have a rotor that spins when you move your wrist. These timepieces can run for several days without being worn, depending on their power reserve.

Automatic watches have many advantages over other types of watches. They are more durable and eco-friendly than quartz watches. They are also more elegant, sophisticated, and satisfying to own than digital watches.

Automatic watches are a reflection of your personality and style, and they can become a valuable heirloom that you can pass onto future generations. In this article, we will show you some of the best entry level automatic watches available on the market.

Additional resources: Unlock the Secrets of Automatic Watches: A Beginner’s Guide to Movement

What to Look for in an Entry Level Automatic Watch

When you are shopping for an entry level automatic watch, you may be overwhelmed by the variety of options and features available. 

How do you know which one is best for you? What are the most important factors to consider? 

Here are the main features and criteria to look for in an entry level automatic watch.

See also: Mechanical vs. Automatic Watches: Which One is Better?

Movement Type and Origin

The movement is the heart of an automatic watch. It powers the watch and displays the time and other functions. There are different types of movements, such as Japanese, Swiss, or Chinese, with their own characteristics. 

Water Resistance Rating

The water resistance rating is a measure of how well an automatic watch can withstand water pressure. It is usually expressed in ATM (atmospheres) or meters (depth). The higher the rating, the more resistant the watch is to water. However, this does not mean that you can use your watch for any water activity.

Case Size and Material

The case is the part of an automatic watch that encloses and protects the movement. It also determines the size and appearance of the watch. The case size and material can affect the comfort and style of the watch.

The most common case material for entry level automatic watches is stainless steel. Stainless steel is durable, corrosion-resistant, and affordable. Other case materials include titanium, plastic, or ceramic. 

Crystal Type

The crystal is the part of an automatic watch that covers the dial and protects it from dust, moisture, and impacts. It also affects the readability and durability of the watch. There are different types of crystals, such as sapphire, mineral, or acrylic.

Dial Design and Readability

The dial is the part of an automatic watch that displays the time and other functions. It also affects the aesthetics and functionality of the watch. The dial design includes elements such as color, numerals, markers, hands, date window, etc. These elements can affect the readability and style of the watch. 

Strap or Bracelet Type and Comfort

The strap or bracelet affects the comfort and appearance of the watch. There are different types of straps or bracelets, such as leather, metal, or rubber. 

Leather straps are soft, flexible, and breathable, but can also wear out, fade, or crack over time. Metal bracelets offer durability, resistance to water and stains, but can be heavy, noisy, or cold to the touch. Rubber straps are light, flexible, and waterproof, but can be sticky, sweaty, smelly, fade, or crack over time.

Complications and Functions

Complications are the additional functions of an automatic watch. They can include features such as day/date, chronograph, GMT, moon phase, etc. 

These complications can enhance the watch’s utility and appeal, but can also increase complexity and cost. They can also affect the accuracy and reliability of the watch, as they require more energy and space from the movement.

Warranty and Customer Service

Warranty is the guarantee that covers the repair or replacement of defective parts or products within a certain period of time. Customer service is the support that the manufacturer or seller provides for the customers before, during, and after the purchase of an automatic watch.

Warranty and customer service can affect your satisfaction and confidence in buying an automatic watch.

Also read: Uncover the Essentials of Collecting Watches: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Dos and Don’ts

9 Best Entry Level Automatic Watches

Here are our top 9 picks for the best entry level automatic watches based on the features and criteria we discussed in the previous section.

Seiko 5 Sports

Let’s start our list of the best entry level automatic watches with this classic timepiece.

The Seiko 5 Sports is a classic and reliable sports watch that has been around since 1968. It features a stainless steel case with a black hard coating, a unidirectional rotating bezel with a black insert, and a Hardlex crystal. The dial is black with luminous hands and markers, and a day/date window at 3 o’clock.

The movement is a Japanese automatic with a 41-hour power reserve and hacking seconds function. The watch comes with a stainless steel bracelet with a fold-over clasp.

The Seiko 5 Sports is water-resistant to 100 meters, which means you can wear it for swimming or snorkeling, but not diving. It also has a sporty and rugged design that reflects its durability and performance. The watch comes with a three-year warranty from Seiko.

Priced at around $200 to $500, The Seiko 5 Sports is an awesome choice for anyone who wants a watch that can handle any adventure or challenge. It is available on Seiko’s official website, through authorized dealers, and online retailers like Amazon and Jomashop.

Orient RA-AK00

Next on our list is the Orient RA-AK00. It is a stylish and elegant dress watch that showcases the Japanese brand’s expertise and craftsmanship. It features a stainless steel case with a rose gold PVD coating, a domed mineral crystal, and a white dial with rose gold hands and markers.

The movement is a Japanese automatic with a 40-hour power reserve and hacking seconds function. The watch comes with a brown leather strap with a pin buckle.

The Orient RA-AK00 is water-resistant to 50 meters, which means you can wear it for casual use, but not for water activities. It also has an open heart window at 9 o’clock that reveals the movement in action. The watch comes with a one-year warranty from Orient.

Priced at around $260 to $600, The Orient RA-AK00 is an amazing choice of entry level automatic watch. It suits for anyone who wants a dress watch that can also work as an everyday watch. These watches can be purchased from various online retailers, such as Amazon and Walmart.

Timex M79

The next choice is the Timex M79, which is a retro-inspired dive watch that pays homage to the iconic Rolex GMT-Master. It features a stainless steel case, a bidirectional rotating bezel with a blue and red insert, and a domed acrylic crystal. 

The dial is black with luminous hands and markers, and a date window at 3 o’clock. The movement is a Japanese automatic with a 40-hour power reserve. The watch comes with a stainless steel bracelet with a clasp extension for easy adjustment.

It is water-resistant to 50 meters, which means you can wear it for swimming or snorkeling, but not diving. It also has an Indiglo backlight function that allows you to read the time in the dark. The watch is affordable, reliable, and stylish, making it one of our picks on the list. On top of it all, it comes with a one-year warranty from Timex.

Priced at around $200 to $300, the Timex M79 is a great entry level automatic watch for anyone who loves the vintage look of a classic dive watch, but doesn’t want to spend a fortune on it. Timex M79 watches are available on the Timex website, Amazon, and authorized retailers.

Baltic Aquascaphe Dual-Crown

Our next pick on the list is the Baltic Aquascaphe Dual-Crown. It is a modern and versatile dive watch that draws inspiration from the vintage supercompressor watches of the 1960s. It features a stainless steel case with two screw-down crowns, one for setting the time and date, and one for rotating the internal bezel. 

The crystal is a domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating. The dial is black with luminous hands and markers, and a date window at 3 o’clock. The movement is a Japanese automatic with a 42-hour power reserve. The watch comes with three interchangeable straps: stainless steel mesh, rubber tropic, and nylon NATO.

The Baltic Aquascaphe Dual-Crown is water-resistant to 200 meters, which means you can wear it for diving or other water sports. This entry level automatic watch also has an attractive and functional design that combines vintage charm and modern technology. The watch comes with a two-year warranty from Baltic.

Priced at around $725, the Baltic Aquascaphe Dual-Crown is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a dive watch that can adapt to different occasions and outfits. It is available for purchase on the Baltic Watches website and at a few select authorized dealers.

Baltic HMS 002

The Baltic HMS 002 is a simple and elegant dress watch that showcases the French brand’s attention to detail and refinement. This dress watch truly deserves a spot on our list of the best entry level automatic watches for its simplicity and elegance. It features a stainless steel case with polished and brushed finishes, a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, and a sunburst blue dial with silver hands and markers. 

The movement is a Swiss-made automatic with a 38-hour power reserve and hacking seconds function. The watch comes with an Italian leather strap with quick-release spring bars.

The Baltic HMS 002 is water-resistant to 50 meters, which means you can wear it for casual use, but not for water activities. It also has a thin and light profile that makes it comfortable and elegant on the wrist. The watch comes with a two-year warranty from Baltic.

Priced at around $400, the Baltic HMS 002 is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a dress watch that can also work as an everyday watch. The Baltic HMS 002 watch can be purchased from various sources, including online marketplaces and Baltic Watches official website.

Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80

The Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 is a sophisticated and versatile watch that can suit any style and occasion. We picked this piece for our list of the best entry level automatic watches for exactly that reason. It features a stainless steel case with a rose gold PVD coating, a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, and a silver dial with rose gold hands and markers. 

The movement is a Swiss-made automatic with an 80-hour power reserve and a silicon balance spring that enhances accuracy and resistance to magnetic fields. The watch comes with a brown leather strap with a butterfly clasp.

The Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 is water-resistant to 100 meters, which means you can wear it for swimming or snorkeling, but not diving. It also has a date window at 3 oclock, which adds some convenience to the dial. The watch comes with a two-year warranty from Tissot.

Priced at around $800 to $2,000, The Tissot Gentleman Powermatic is a superb choice for anyone who wants a watch that can transition from formal to casual settings with ease. The Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 watch is available on the Tissot website, at authorized Tissot retailers, and online retailers.

Seiko Presage Cocktail Time

Another classic from Seiko on our list is the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time. This entry level automatic watch is stylish and versatile, displaying the day and date on the dial. It features a stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, and a sunburst blue dial with silver hands and markers. 

The movement is a Japanese automatic with a 41-hour power reserve and hacking seconds function. The watch comes with a brown leather strap with a pin buckle.

The Seiko Presage Cocktail Time is water-resistant to 50 meters, which means you can wear it for casual use, but not for water activities. It also has a day/date window at 3 o’clock that shows the current day of the week and date of the month, and a textured dial that mimics the look of a cocktail glass. The watch comes with a three-year warranty from Seiko.

Priced at around $380 to $550, the Seiko Presage Cocktail Time is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a watch that can transition from work to play with ease. These watches can be purchased from various retailers, including Amazon, Seiko’s official website, Chrono24, and local authorized dealers.

Invicta Pro Diver

For this entry on our list, we focused more on affordable entry level automatic watches. Invicta Pro Diver is a budget-friendly and attractive dive watch that mimics the design of the Rolex Submariner. It features a stainless steel case, a unidirectional rotating bezel with a blue insert, and a mineral crystal. The dial is blue with luminous hands and markers, and a date window at 3 o’clock.

The Invicta Pro Diver movement is a Japanese automatic movement, specifically the Seiko NH35A. It has a power reserve of 41 hours. The watch comes with a stainless steel bracelet with a fold-over clasp.

The Invicta Pro Diver is water-resistant to 200 meters. It also has a simple and elegant design that can suit any outfit or occasion. The watch is very cheap, but still offers decent quality and performance, and it comes with a three-year warranty from Invicta.

Priced at around $179 to $1000, the Invicta Pro Diver is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a watch that looks more expensive than it is. These watches can be purchased from various retailers, including Invicta’s official website, Amazon, Walmart, and Jomashop.

Nomos Glashutte Tetra Neomatik 39

Our last pick is the Nomos Glashutte Tetra Neomatik 39; a minimalist and elegant dress watch that showcases the German brand’s craftsmanship and innovation. The entry level automatic watch features a square stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal, and a white silver-plated dial with blue hands and Arabic numerals. 

The movement is a Swiss-made automatic with a 43-hour power reserve and a patented escapement system that ensures accuracy and durability. The watch comes with a black Horween leather strap with a pin buckle.

The Nomos Glashutte Tetra Neomatik 39 is water-resistant to 30 meters, which means you can wear it for everyday use, but not for water activities. It also has a small seconds subdial at 6 oclock, which adds some visual interest to the dial. The watch is expensive, but worth it for its quality and design, and it comes with a two-year warranty from Nomos Glashutte.

The price range of the Nomos Glashutte Tetra Neomatik 39 watch is between $2,900 and $3,159. The Nomos Glashutte Tetra Neomatik 39 is available on the Nomos Glashutte website, online retailers, and authorized dealers.

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Final Thoughts

Entry level automatic watches are a great way to discover the beauty and craftsmanship of mechanical watches. They offer style, quality, and affordability, without compromising on performance or design. They are also a reflection of your personality and taste, and they can become a valuable asset that you can cherish for years to come.