Are you a devoted watch wearer but not necessarily a devoted aficionado or collector? Do you feel, er, naked when you forget to wear it? Maybe you need a good beater watch. A beater watch is a watch that’s made to survive the wear and tear of your day. One you put away for date night but is like a pal on the wrist you feel lost without. It’s one that isn’t too cheap and isn’t too expensive. In other words, you’re looking for the most durability-bang for your buck.

Our Top Picks

When shopping for a beater watch, you’ll want to look for durable case and band materials and a good quality scratch-resistant dial cover. And a good beater watch will have features to fit your lifestyle. There are luminescent dials for nightwalkers, stopwatches for coaches, and well, you get the idea. Browse our collection of the Best Beater Watches to find one that’s right for you.

Product overview

SEIKO Men's SNK809 5 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch with Black Canvas Strap

Seiko Men's SNK809 Seiko 5 Automatic Watch

  • automatic movement
  • analog dial
Timex Weekender Analog Beige Dial Unisex Watch - T2N651
Best Unisex Watch

Timex Unisex Weekender Watch

  • quartz movement
  • analog dial
Seiko Women's SXGL61 Dress Two-Tone Watch

Seiko Women's SXGL61 Dress Watch

  • square case & dial
  • Japanese quartz movement
Citizen Quartz Mens Watch, Stainless Steel with Polyurethane strap, Casual, Blue (Model: BI1041-22L)

Citizen Bl1041-22L Men's Watch

  • analog dial
  • quartz movement
Seiko Men's SNE102 Stainless Steel Solar Watch with Brown Leather Strap, Multicolor dial
Best Watch for Men

Seiko Men's SNE102 Solar Watch

  • analog dial
  • Hardlex crystal
Timex Men's TW4B04400 Expedition Scout Chrono Tan/Green Leather Strap Watch

Timex Men's Expedition Scout Chronograph Watch

  • chronograph
  • quartz movement
Vostok Amphibian Automatic Mens Wristwatch Self-Winding Military Diver Amphibia Case Wrist Watch #420059 (Silver)

The Vostok Amphibian Men's Military Watch

  • automatic movement
  • self-winding
Casio Men's Classic Stainless Steel Japanese-Quartz Stainless-Steel Strap, Silver, 21 Casual Watch (Model: AE1200WHD-1A)

Casio Men's AE1200WHD-1A Digital Watch

  • digital display
  • backlight
Timex Women's Easy Reader 25mm Watch – Silver-Tone Case White Dial with Black Leather Strap
Best Watch for Women

Timex Women's Easy Reader Watch

  • analog display
  • Indiglo backlight
Casio Men's G-Shock Quartz Watch with Resin Strap, Black, 20 (Model: DW5600E-1V)

Casio G-Shock DW5600E-1V Men's Watch

  • digital display
  • multifunctional

SEIKO Men's SNK809 5 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch with Black Canvas Strap

Seiko Men's SNK809 Seiko 5 Automatic Watch

It’s hard to go wrong with the Seiko for a beater watch. The Japanese company has been crafting reliable timepieces since 1881, and the Seiko SNK809 for men is durable and affordable.

Some features that make it a great beater watch include the strong stainless steel 37 mm case, scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal, and practically indestructible nylon band. Powered by automatic movement, the Seiko SNK809 has useful features you’ll appreciate every day such as an easy-to-read analog dial with luminescent hands and a day/date window at 3 o’clock. A red-tipped seconds hand marks the minutes around the outer rim.

This Seiko model is also water-resistant to 30 meters (99 ft), so it will be safe from rain and splashes outdoors.

Specifications

  • automatic movement
  • analog dial
  • Hardlex crystal
  • luminescent hands
  • stainless steel case
  • nylon band
  • day/date
  • water resistance: 30 meters
  • case size: 37 mm
Timex Weekender Analog Beige Dial Unisex Watch - T2N651
Best Unisex Watch

Timex Unisex Weekender Watch

Despite the name, the UNISEX Weekender by Timex makes a reliable daily go-to beater watch. Featuring quartz movement, the cream-colored analog dial features a full set of black Arabic numerals for a traditional old school look. The 38 mm case is strong polished brass, and hardened mineral glass protects the dial. The olive green band is durable nylon and adjustable for a good fit over time.

You’ll appreciate the Indiglo light-up dial in low light, and if you need to know the time in military terms, it’s marked on the inner dial. It’s water-resistant to 30 meters (99ft).

Specifications

  • quartz movement
  • analog dial
  • military time
  • hardened mineral glass
  • brass case
  • nylon band
  • backlight
  • water resistance: 30 meters
  • case size: 38 mm
Seiko Women's SXGL61 Dress Two-Tone Watch

Seiko Women's SXGL61 Dress Watch

The Seiko Women’s Dress Watch has a stylish look that will complement any outfit. Full Arabic numerals around the white square dial are in a font that helps give the watch a dressier look. The Seiko logo is beneath the 12 o’clock position. A Hardlex mineral crystal dial cover will resist the scrapes and scratches of your day.

The 17 mm case is stainless steel for durability, and links can be removed or added to the two-tone gold and silver bracelet for the perfect fit as time goes by. It’s water-resistant to 30 meters (99 ft) to protect against splashes and rain.

Specifications

  • square case & dial
  • Japanese quartz movement
  • analog display
  • Hardlex crystal
  • stainless steel case
  • two-tone band
  • water-resistance: 30 meters
  • case size: 17 mm
Citizen Quartz Mens Watch, Stainless Steel with Polyurethane strap, Casual, Blue (Model: BI1041-22L)

Citizen Bl1041-22L Men's Watch

The Citizen Bl1041-22L Watch for men is a great go-to watch for the frequent swimmer. It’s water-resistant to 100 meters (330 feet) and suitable for swimming and snorkeling but not diving. Luminescent hands and baton indices on the dark blue analog dial make it easy to read underwater or in low light. A yellow minute hand and black needle-style seconds hand tipped in yellow gives the dial a dash of color.

With a 42-mm stainless steel case, it’s powered by quartz movement for reliability and has a hard mineral dial cover for durability. It’s matched with a comfortable dark blue polyurethane band with a tang buckle. The Bl104-22L model comes with a 5-year limited warranty.

Specifications

  • analog dial
  • quartz movement
  • mineral crystal
  • luminescent
  • stainless steel case
  • polyurethane band
  • water resistance: 100 meters
  • case size: 42 mm
Seiko Men's SNE102 Stainless Steel Solar Watch with Brown Leather Strap, Multicolor dial
Best Watch for Men

Seiko Men's SNE102 Solar Watch

The Seiko SNE102 Watch for men will look great at the office day after day and is sharp enough for more formal after-work occasions. And Seiko’s solar power eliminates battery worries forever. The midnight blue analog dial features goldtone hands and baton indices. A day/date window is located at 3 o’clock, and Seiko’s trademark Hardlex crystal is highly scratch-resistant.

The Seiko SNE102 also features the company’s Japanese quartz movement, an important aspect of an everyday watch. The 39 mm case is sturdy two-tone stainless steel. The croc-embossed leather band is of good quality to last and last. This watch is water-resistant to 100 meters (330 ft). No worries about rain, splashes, showering, or surface water sports.

 

Specifications

  • analog dial
  • Hardlex crystal
  • solar powered
  • quartz movement
  • stainless steel case
  • leather band
  • water resistance: 100 meters
  • case size: 39 mm
Timex Men's TW4B04400 Expedition Scout Chrono Tan/Green Leather Strap Watch

Timex Men's Expedition Scout Chronograph Watch

Whether you need a stopwatch function for work or play, the Timex Expedition Scout Watch will go wherever you go with style. The round olive green analog dial is military-inspired and features easy-to-read full Arabic numerals and three subdials. A yellow seconds hand and yellow subdial hands add visual interest. Timex’s signature Indiglo backlight makes the dial easy to read in low light.

The Timex Expedition has a tough yet attractive 42-mm polished brass case. A mineral glass dial cover protects against scratches. The 30-minute chronograph function measures to 1/20th of a second. The band is light brown brushed leather, and it’s water-resistant to 100 meters.

Specifications

  • chronograph
  • quartz movement
  • analog dial
  • mineral crystal
  • Indiglo backlight
  • brass case
  • leather band
  • water resistance: 100 meters
  • case size: 42 mm
Vostok Amphibian Automatic Mens Wristwatch Self-Winding Military Diver Amphibia Case Wrist Watch #420059 (Silver)

The Vostok Amphibian Men's Military Watch

The Vostok Amphibian Military Watch for men doubles as a dive watch and the Vostok name spells the high quality needed for an everyday beater watch. The Russian manufacturer has been crafting fine watches since 1942. Inspired by the Russian military, the Amphibian features an ocean blue analog dial with luminescent hands and indices. A date window is at 3 o’clock, and the dial cover is strong acrylic.

The Amphibian is an automatic self-winding timepiece featuring 32 ruby jewels. The 39 mm case is stainless steel, and the bracelet-style band is stainless steel. It’s water-resistant to 200 meters (660 ft).

Specifications

  • automatic movement
  • self-winding
  • 22 jewels
  • acrylic crystal
  • analog display
  • luminescent
  • stainless steel case & band
  • water resistance: 200 meters
  • case size: 39 mm
Casio Men's Classic Stainless Steel Japanese-Quartz Stainless-Steel Strap, Silver, 21 Casual Watch (Model: AE1200WHD-1A)

Casio Men's AE1200WHD-1A Digital Watch

Need a beater watch that displays world time? The Casio AE1200WHD-1A Digital Watch for men has a multifunctioning dial featuring world time and a world map, perfect for the frequent traveler or social studies teacher. The square black dial features an LCD display and LED backlight. The dial cover is a durable mineral crystal.

The 39.5 mm case is tough plastic with a stainless steel case back. The stainless steel bracelet-style band has a safety clasp. This Casio model is water-resistant to 100 meters (330 ft).

 

 

Specifications

  • digital display
  • backlight
  • mineral crystal
  • multifunctional
  • world time
  • plastic/stainless steel case
  • stainless steel band
  • water resistance: 100 meters
  • case size: 39.5
Timex Women's Easy Reader 25mm Watch – Silver-Tone Case White Dial with Black Leather Strap
Best Watch for Women

Timex Women's Easy Reader Watch

This little Timex Easy Reader for Women can “take a licking and keep on ticking” just like the manufacturer claims, and the price is amazing. The round white no-nonsense analog dial features full black Arabic numerals for contrast and has Timex’s signature Indiglo light. The dial cover is mineral crystal.

The 25 mm case is silvertone brass and the band is black genuine leather. It’s water-resistant to 30 meters (99 feet) and safe from rain and splashes.

Specifications

  • analog display
  • Indiglo backlight
  • mineral crystal
  • brass case
  • leather band
  • water resistance: 30 meters
  • case size: 25 mm
Casio Men's G-Shock Quartz Watch with Resin Strap, Black, 20 (Model: DW5600E-1V)

Casio G-Shock DW5600E-1V Men's Watch

It’s impossible to beat the Casio G-Shocks for everyday stability, reliability, and toughness. The G-Shock DW5600E-1V model features multiple high-tech functions, and the quartz movement keeps the digital display accurate to +/- 15 seconds per month.

Your beater G-Shock will have several useful day-to-day functions including a 1/100ths seconds stopwatch, multiple alarms, hourly time signal, countdown timer, and an auto-calendar.

The 45 mm case is made of tough resin and the band material is strong plastic. It’s water-resistant to 200 meters (660 ft) and safe for serious water activity including diving.

Specifications

  • digital display
  • multifunctional
  • quartz movement
  • resin case
  • plastic band
  • water resistance: 200 meters
  • case size: 45 mm