Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Men’s Watch Gift Guide, From $10 to $1,000

By

Gifting a timepiece is never an easy task, especially when watches can range from under $20 to the cost of home in the hills with a view. When choosing a watch, it’s important to take into account not only the recipient’s style, but also their hobbies. If they like to travel, then a travel-style watch would suit them best — while perhaps a dive watch would best suit someone who frequents the ocean. To help you narrow down your search, we’ve selected some of our favorites watches, from a modest $10 to a pricey yet attainable $1,430.

Lesser-Known Watch Brands

You may not have heard of these brands, but these watches still represent some of the best options that will last a lifetime and won’t break the bank.

Recommended Videos

Damasko DS30

Damasko DS30
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you haven’t heard of Damasko, that’s understandable, because this German brand flies below the radar with its in-house hardened steel cases that are ready to take all the abuse you throw at them without showing a scratch.

  • Size: 39mm
  • Movement: ETA 2824-2 Elabore
  • Strap: Leather

Related

Victorinox I.N.O.X. Mechanical

Victorinox I.N.O.X. Mechanical
Image used with permission by copyright holder

You really can’t hurt an I.N.O.X. watch, and Victorinox has proven that by running these things through such rigorous tests that the online videos of the abuse are as entertaining as they are ridiculous.

  • Size: 41mm
  • Movement: ETA 2824-2
  • Strap: Stainless steel

Dive Watches

Whether you are diving deep into the ocean or simply doing a backflip off a diving board into your swimming pool, dive watches are, of course, for those who love being in the water.

Bulova Devil Diver Oceanographer

Bulova Oceanographer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With a Satanic depth rating of 666 feet, the Oceanographer is one of Bulova’s vintage-inspired watches that continue to lure its wearers to the depths.

  • Size: 44mm
  • Movement: Sellita SW 220
  • Strap: Steel

Travel Watches

Travel watches can tell you which time zone you are in while staying classy enough to go from a business meeting to a local bar, providing durability and style in equal measure.

Farer Oxley GMT

Farer Oxley GMT
Image used with permission by copyright holder

British styling and Swiss accuracy make for one serious automatic GMT that’s as versatile as it is useful when globetrotting.

  • Size: 39mm
  • Movement: ETA 2893-2 ‘Top Grade’
  • Strap: Leather

Active Watches

The following watches are ready to provide your biometrics at a glance in real time and many will offer up intensive data plots for ultra-geeky post-workout analysis.

Casio G-SHOCK GBD800UC-3

Casio G-SHOCK GBD800UC-3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

No more excuses — the deep functions of this newly styled G-SHOCK will tell you everything you need to know about your workout, and when you’re done you can check out detailed graphs on your smartphone via the Bluetooth connection.

  • Size: 54mm
  • Movement: Quartz
  • Strap: Polyresin

Montblanc Summit 2 Titanium Sports Edition

Montblanc Summit 2 Titanium Sports Edition
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Giving the Apple Watch a run for its money, Montblanc’s Summit 2 smartwatch will release you from the herd mentality and set you free from grabbing your attention-hungry smartphone every two seconds.

  • Size: 42mm
  • Movement: Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100
  • Strap: Rubber

Suunto Traverse Sapphire Black

Suunto Traverse Sapphire Black
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With GPS and GLONASS capabilities, these watches excel at keeping you on track when you’re off the grid, providing navigational data that’ll make sure you don’t get lost or lose track of your vertical achievements.

  • Size: 50mm
  • Movement: N/A
  • Strap: Silicone

Inexpensive Watches

Not every watch needs to be overpriced. These inexpensive options make great gifts for the man who may not have a specific style or purpose for a watch outside of telling time.

Timex x Todd Snyder Military-Inspired Fabric Strap Watch

Timex x Todd Snyder Military-Inspired Fabric Strap Watch
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This classic field watch comes in a perfect size and a price that’ll make you want to grab a few in the different handsome colorways.

  • Size: 40mm
  • Movement: Quartz analog
  • Strap: Textile NATO

Spinnaker Cahill SP-5033-01

Spinnaker Cahill SP-5033-01
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Few folks will recognize that this design was inspired by a rare and lovely Breguet dive watch from the 1960s but the cues are all there, making for a fine vintage-inspired diver with fantastic specs.

  • Size: 43mm
  • Movement: Miyota 21 automatic
  • Strap: Leather

Casio F-91W Digital Watch

Casio F-91W Digital Watch
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This classically styled Casio at this price is flagrantly reminding us of the glory days of digital watches — price, size, style, and all.

  • Size: 39.5mm
  • Movement: Quartz movement
  • Strap: Leather

Seiko Recraft Series Watch

Seiko Recraft Series Watch
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Seiko brings heavy value with this mid-century inspired beauty that’ll cruise its way through all seven days of the week without flinching.

  • Size: 39.5mm
  • Movement: Seiko automatic
  • Strap: Leather

Swatch System 51 Mechanical Watch

Swatch System 51 Mechanical Watch
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When Swatch released the System 51 auto-winding mechanical watches, the watch world took note under the pretense that it was an elegant and clever mechanical device, but the real reason watch nerds were so obviously psyched was that the System 51 made them smile.

  • Size: 42mm
  • Movement: Swatch Sistem 51
  • Strap: Plastic

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
David Duran
David Duran
David Duran is an award-winning travel writer who has visited all seven continents and more than 70 countries. His writing…
The 6 best men’s watches you can buy for under $200
Don't break the bank trying to upgrade your watch selection with these reasonably priced options

Though dozens of very expensive watches are great investments, not all timepieces are astronomically priced. Plenty of elegant watches are both well-made and affordable, and these days, you can give a great watch as a gift at just about any price.

While we’ve previously focused on more expensive watches (check out our guide for the best men’s watch gift), we’re taking it one step further now with our guide to the absolute best men’s watches under $200. Some of these picks fall into more vintage silhouettes, while others are more modern, but the one thing they all have in common is that they won’t break the bank.

Read more
The best luxury watches for men don’t have to cost $10K
Before investing in a luxury watch, check out these excellent options for the best bang for your buck

Every great watch rotation needs a healthy assortment of the best luxury watches, or at the very least, one especially investment-level timepiece. It's a step up in every way from the timepiece you might be used to wearing daily, whether it's a smartwatch, a rugged silicone strapped watch, or a "daily driver" leather watch that you've had for years. A luxury watch is a marker of intention. It adds elegance and refinement to your most well-tailored ensembles and reminds you of both meaning and purpose that keeps you on track throughout the day. The best men's watches are a welcome addition to your wrist game.

The best luxury watches feature precise movements, handsome dial designs, high-quality case and strap materials, and just a little something extra to separate them from the rest of the pack. Sure, these timepieces are more expensive, but that's a good thing: There's hardly a situation where you can't wear your new favorite luxury watch, and that goes for more casual affairs, too. It's worth buying and wearing as often as possible, all the better to get some "ROI" on your purchase. Where to start with the luxury watch market? We've got a few crucial picks in mind.

Read more
The 10 best tactical watches for men looking for that rugged aesthetic
Be ready for anything with these watches that are just as tough and durable as you are

Tactical watches were initially designed to be task-specific and created specifically for flying, diving, or even trench warfare. Other men’s watches might be stylish, but can they, as the Timex saying goes, take a lickin’? It could be said that the very first wristwatches for men, designed for soldiers in World War I, were, technically speaking, tactical watches. Today — although specialty watches may incorporate specific features for everything from space flight to deep-sea diving — they are mostly known for a rugged aesthetic, with big faces and large, easy-to-read digits.

They’re usually accompanied by a fabric or NATO strap that is very secure and dries quickly; silicone or braided paracord is also popular. Their chunky nature may be a bit too casual to wear with a suit, but it makes them the perfect accessory to wear with today’s everyday wardrobe, rounding out a rugged cotton or flannel shirt with khakis or jeans, and, of course, boots. We also like them with tweedy sport coats and textured heavier-weight suiting materials. What’s best is that the style seems to come across a wide range of price points, so you can pick one up on a whim to build your timepiece collection or make an investment purchase that can become a family heirloom. Here are a few of our favorites.

Read more