You should always dress sharply irrespective of the occasion or event you are attending.
And after putting on your favorite suit or casual wear, the ideal accessory you should wear to complement your looks is a classy watch.
While it may be hard to settle on the perfect watch, there are a ton of dress watches that you can always choose from.
These timepieces rhyme perfectly with the preferred outfit and are designed to give you that attractive and pleasing outlook.
Below are some of the top dress watches under $500 you can purchase.
| AT A GLANCE: MY TOP 5 PICKS FOR THE BEST DRESS WATCHES UNDER $500 |
Related:
- Best watches for successful men
- How to choose watches that suit your styles
- Review of the best Hamilton watches
- Best affordable automatic watches
- Best skeleton watches
What is Considered a Dress Watch?
The best description of a dress watch is a timepiece with a slim profile.
Ideally, these watches have slimmer profiles than sports watches.
The slim profile of the watches allows the watch to fit smoothly under shirt cuffs.
Which is the Most Versatile Color for a Dress Watch?
Color is a personal taste that mostly depends on your preferences.
However, silver, gold, and black colors match most dress colors and designs.
Black is a popular color especially for everyday watch wearers due to its ability to remain clean.
List of the Best Dress Watches Under $500 – Quick Comparison
| Product image | Product name | Editor's rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Seiko SARB033 Men's Japanese-Automatic Watch | [usr 4.9] |  |
 | Hamilton Men's H38511553 Jazzmaster Thinline Silver Dial Watch | [usr 4.9] | |
 | Orient Men's '2nd Gen. Bambino Ver. 2' Japanese Automatic Dress Watch | [usr 4.8] | |
 | Seiko Men's Solar Recraft Stainless Steel Leather Strap Watch | [usr 4.8] | |
 | Bulova Men's Classic Automatic - 96C130 | [usr 4.7] | |
 | Tissot Unisex Everytime Swissmatic - T1094071605100 | [usr 4.7] | |
 | Bulova Men's 96A135 BVA-SERIES 120 Automatic strap Watch | [usr 4.6] | |
 | Orient Men's "Bambino Small Seconds" Japanese-Automatic Watch | [usr 4.6] | |
 | Orient 'Bambino Open Heart' Japanese Automatic Dress Watch | [usr 4.6] | |
 | BULOVA COMPUTRON 98C135 Watch | [usr 4.6] | |
Seiko SARB033 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
For men looking for the best automatic men’s dress watches under $500, the Seiko Auto Stainless Steel Watch is ultimately the best wrist watch to purchase.
Rated as one of the simplistic watches but with an impressive design, this Seiko watch matches perfectly with different outfits including casual and formal wear.
Featuring a tough case engineering concept, the watch is reliably durable against normal wear and tear.
Superiorly decorated facial interface
Featuring a black dial that is decorated with bold silver-tone details, this classic beauty watch has a neatly organized and highly presentable interface.
The hour markers feature a bold silver-tone with the date window positioned at the three o’clock position.
The second, minute and hour hands are silver in color for clear visibility even in darkness and poorly lit conditions.
The sapphire crystal-dial window is scratch-resistant thereby safeguarding the appearance of the watch throughout its life.
Automatic movement
In addition to the watch’s impressive appearance, the timepiece is powered by 23-jewel Japanese (automatic) self-winding movement with a 50-hour power reserve.
The accessory comes with hand-winding as well as hacking capabilities.
What is more impressive about the watch is that the exhibition case back allows you to see the movement of the timepiece.
Pros:
- Accurate and precise time display
- Fluid automatic self-winding movement
- Simplistic design hence easy to read
- Scratch-resistant dial window
- 100m water resistance
Cons:
- Its masculine appearance makes it ideal for men to use only
Hamilton Jazzmaster Thinline Stainless Steel & Leather Watch
If you are looking for a timepiece that isn’t too flashy but highlights its décor in a unique and sophisticated way, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Stainless Steel watch is the ideal accessory for you.
The timepiece has a vibrant display that rhymes with various fashion styles and designs.
This watch is a great choice for men who juggle between official and casual wear.
The brown leather straps resonate well with both bright and dull-colored outfits.
Super thin design
The most fascinating aspect of this watch is that it features ultra-slim stainless steel with a 7 mm thickness.
This makes the watch comfortable and practical to wear even for long durations.
The slim casing is complemented by an alligator-embossed leather strap.
The brown soft leather straps are gentle on the hands thereby enhancing the experience of wearing the watch.
This Hamilton is arguably one of the best dress watches under 5,000 dollars to buy for fashion-conscious men.
Unique display
The sapphire crystal display is anti-reflective, an aspect that provides for a clear display view.
Additionally, the crystal lens resists scratches and resistant to breaking due to falls or other impacts.
The accessory not only helps you have a sharp appearance but also provides precise and accurate timekeeping.
The Swiss quartz movement that powers the watch is reliable and fluid in its motion.
The date display in the watch is positioned at the eight o’clock position.
Pros:
- 50m water resistance
- Easy to read display
- Anti-reflective sapphire crystal window
- Sleek design and appearance
Cons:
- Not ideal for intense water sports like diving
Orient Bambino 2nd Generation Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
Paying homage to ancient models by Orient, the Bambino Second Generation Automatic boasts of a unique vintage appeal featuring an antique-inspired look.
The best thing about this hand accessory is that it maintains the iconic form of the ancient Bambino collection.
This stainless steel watch is comfortable to wear due to the high-quality leather straps.
The watch is light in weight and thus does not feel heavy on the hands.
Practical and stylish
If you are keen on investing in an accessory that you can wear to any event without compromising on your fashion statement, you should consider no other watch other than this Bambino timepiece.
The watch is not only practical but also superbly stylish.
The watch features a lovely champagne-colored dial complemented by blue hands and Roman numeral markers.
The blue hands sweep consistently over the polished markers thereby showing accurately and precise time.
Classic exterior design
The lovely dial in the watch is enclosed by a mineral crystal window that is scratch resistant and equally hard.
The stainless steel casing of the accessory does not corrode or rust thereby guaranteeing that the watch remains in pristine conditions throughout its life.
The brown leather strap fastened onto the casing highlights the décor and attractiveness of the watch.
Overall, the performance and looks of the watch are not comparable to those of other brands in the market.
Pros:
- Powerful Japanese automatic movement
- Has a date window at the three o’clock window
- Comes with hacking capabilities
- 30m water resistance hence sustains water splashes
Cons:
- Not ideal for diving and other complex water sports.
Nordgreen Philosopher Black Leather Dress Watch
Another favorite dress watch under $500 of mine!
If you’re looking for a watch that looks sleek, professional, and doesn’t break the bank, then this Nordgreen Philosopher watch should be on your list.
Designed by Jakob Wagner, a famous watch designer, this timepiece surely knows how to impress and attract the attention around you when you have it on your wrist.
The impressive watch design
What I like the most about this model are the minimalist dial design and the silver hour and minute hands.
And it’s a unisex model as well (with 36mm and 40mm case diameter options).
So, no matter if you’re a man or a woman, you will find this timepiece attractive to have.
Lots of options to satisfy your taste
Other plus points are the genuine interchangeable leather straps and the hardened stainless steel case.
If you don’t like the black leather straps, you can choose other options like Croc leather, mesh, nylon, rubber, etc.
And the stainless steel case will make sure that your watch won’t be damaged when you wear it in hostile environments.
You can also choose other color options for the watch case like rose gold, gunmetal, and gold instead of silver.
Also, the Japanese movement and the 2-year warranty policy will make sure that you get the best bang for your buck when you invest in this iconic timepiece.
Pros:
- Unisex design
- Impressive minimalist design
- Lots of color/strap options to choose from
- Reliable movement and warranty policy
Cons:
- Only 3 ATM in water resistance
You can see more info about the watch here, or see the full list of unisex watches from Nordgreen here.
Seiko Solar Recraft Stainless Steel and Leather Watch
Seiko is definitely one of the leading watch brands across the globe.
True to its status, the brand is popular for designing and developing some of the best Seiko dress watches under $500.
One such watch is the Seiko Solar Recraft Watch with a stainless steel casing and a leather strap.
The watch features an innovative design that is perfect for complementing your dress code.
Like other Seiko watches, this hand accessory boasts of a superior and durable build.
Strikingly distinctive appearance
The rectangular-shaped steel casing of the timepiece features a retro dark green (sunray) dial which glows vibrantly illuminating varying shades of green.
The light reflection in the watch is highlighted by the artistically designed gold-tone display details and a brown leather strap.
The white stitching on the leather strap enhances its décor aspect.
The Hardlex crystal window is scratch-resistant and does not break easily.
Reliable movement
The Japanese automatic movement which powers the functioning of the watch is precise and comes with a 41-hour power reserve.
The movement saves you the inconvenience of having to rewind the watch after every few hours.
The exhibition case back of the timepiece allows you to see the machinery’s motion.
Moreover, you can wear the watch when swimming or when showering as it comes with 50-meter water resistance.
Pros:
- Comes with a date window at the three o’clock position
- Scratch-resistant dial window
- Uniquely shaped rectangular steel case
- Green dial with gold-tone hour and minute markers
Cons:
- Its shallow water resistance does not support water activities like diving and snorkeling.
Bulova 98C135 LED Computron
Bulova has over the years developed high-end watches with superb features and unmatched performance.
The Bulova LED Computron ranks as one of the best men’s dress watches under 500 dollars in the market presently.
This sleek accessory pays homage to iconic watches produced by the brand back in the 1970s.
The watch is reputable for its reliability especially since its high precision movement ensures that it only loses a few seconds monthly.
Classy and attractive appearance
Bulova has pulled out all the stops when it comes to the appearance and design of the Bulova Computron watch.
The timepiece features a sleek design that highlights its decorativeness.
The face of the watch features a light-emitting diode that enhances the attractiveness of the watch, especially at night.
The standard 7 segments LED display is brilliant blue in color.
The display is angled in such a way that it is readable from any angle even when driving.
Solid stainless steel casing
For people concerned about the strength and solidness of the watch need not worry as the casing of the accessory is made using solid stainless steel.
The casing is scratch-resistant and does not dent easily.
What is more amazing about the exterior design of the watch is that it comes with adjustable stainless steel straps.
The casing and straps are corrosion and rust-resistant.
Pros:
- Classy design
- Comfortable straps
- Power saving movement
Cons:
- The stainless steel straps may put off people who prefer leather straps.
See more:
What to Look for When Buying Dress Watches
Finding the ultimate best women’s dress watches under $500 is not as easy as most shoppers presume.
This is because, in addition to the brand, there are a ton of other aspects worth considering when looking to land the best watch.
For starters, you need to settle on a brand that is functional and practical depending on your needs.
Here are some of the things to consider when shopping for these accessories:
Case material
Most dress watches feature titanium or stainless steel cases.
These cases match well with different outfits as they have a neutral color tone.
Ideally, you can wear titanium or stainless steel cases with outfits that are brightly colored or those with dull colors.
Rose Gold metal bracelets are also ideal as they have a less flashy and more elegant appearance.
Ideally, you should only settle on a case material that will match with your dress code without any compromises whatsoever.
Case thickness
Watches with slim cases match perfectly with different dress codes as they slip out easily from dress shirt cuffs.
On the other hand, timepieces with thick cases are mostly tool and dive watches and hence such cases are not ideal for dress watches.
Most dress timepieces have a case thickness of 10-11mm with some watches having super slim cases with 7-9mm thickness.
Brand
The brand of the watch of choice goes a long way in determining the efficiency, durability, and reliability of the watch you are planning to purchase.
Avoid buying timepieces from brands that are known to be less durable, unreliable and non-reputable.
Such watches are likely to break down within no time thereby requiring you to repair or replace the watch regularly.
By investing in a good brand, you get a reliable watch that is bound to last for a long time while remaining highly efficient and reliable.
Case diameter
Just like for the case thickness, the case diameter also plays an important role in determining the practical aspect of the watch.
This is because dress watches need to have a sleek design and appearance for a lower profile which will slide under a suit jacket with great ease.
The ideal diameter of the case to settle for should not exceed 44mm unless for people with huge hands.
However, the ultimate diameter for people with average hands should range between 38mm and 40mm.
Straps
The choice of straps in the watch of preference is purely a personal taste.
This is because there is no particular strap that has an impact on how the watch runs.
However, stainless steel straps are the best choice for people who will be using their watches in moist and wet conditions.
Leather straps are more comfortable but can get damaged by continuous exposure to water and moist conditions.
See also: Bulova Caravelle Dress Watches for Men
FAQ’s
Are dress watches durable?
The length of time that a dress watch can last depends on several aspects.
For starters, the brand of choice impacts the durability of these watches as some brands are more durable than others.
With a good quality watch, you can be guaranteed that the watch will last for a long time.
Should you wear a dress watch tightly or loosely?
Ideally, a dress watch should be worn tightly so that it does not slide over two inches down the wrist when the hand is placed in a perpendicular position to the ground.
Moreover, the watch should not be too tight in a way that causes discomfort to the hand.
Are dress watches water-resistant?
The water resistance properties of dress watches differ from one watch to the next.
There are some watches with a water resistance of up to 100 meters while others have 30 meters and others 50 meters.
The water-resistance properties depend on the make and brand of the watch.
As such, it is important to check the water-resistance of the watch of choice before settling on any dress watch.
Affordable Dress Watch Video
Conclusion
Everyone will most likely need a dress watch at one point in their life.
You may be attending an interview or an important meeting that will require you to wear a watch that matches the event’s formality.
The best dress watch should serve you well at both business and formal events.
This is why you should only invest in a watch that blends well with outfits worn for these events.
The watch of preference should have an elegant design that is future proof and should have a dependable performance.
Further reading:
