You know what?
My hunt for the best field watch for me got me searching far and wide.
I took a look at expensive ones, cheap ones, popular ones, and obscure ones.
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And one of the things I was sure of was that you can find a quality timepiece almost anywhere, and they often come from the most unexpected places.
In this list of the best field watches, I get to show you some of the top watches I stumbled upon during my research.
Keep reading to find out more.
| AT A GLANCE: MY TOP 5 PICKS FOR THE BEST FIELD WATCHES |
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Related:
- The most affordable automatic watches
- Best skeleton watches
- Best ladies’ watches for under $200
- Luxury watch brands you won’t want to miss
- A list of Swiss-made watchmakers
- Vintage watch brands that will surely steal your heart
- American-made watch manufacturers
Best Field Watches for Your Budget – Quick Comparison
In the list, we take a look at some of the best budget options, the best overall field watches, and more.
Best Field Watches Under $100
The watches we take a look at in this section are all under $100 and are best for those looking for a quality timepiece on a budget.
Timex Expedition Scout Chronograph (TW4B04300)
Timex is another brand known for a balance of affordability and functionality.
They’ve got all that covered in this model, plus the design isn’t half bad either.
It has a cream dial, which is a classic take on the field watch, and the three sub-dials further that motif.
If you’re on the hunt for a classic and vintage-looking timepiece on a budget, this might be the field watch for you.
The chronograph works very well, especially when the price of the timepiece is taken into consideration, and the quartz movement it comes with will make sure you stay on time, all the time.
There are tiny and minuscule red details scattered throughout the watch.
Both on the dial and on the strap, which adds a touch of color to a watch dominated by earth tones.
All in all, there’s a lot to praise with this timepiece and not a lot to call out, which is why it’s one of the top picks on this list.
Seiko 5 Automatic Stainless Steel Watch (SNK809)
A list of watches under $100 would be incomplete without at least one model from Seiko, and there couldn’t be a more perfect model than this one.
This Seiko SNK809 timepiece might just be the most affordable field watch under $200 out there as well.
It features a very simple black and white colorway, which is the kind of straightforwardness we’ve come to expect from Seiko at this point.
The markers are large enough to be read and contrast the black dial really well.
The inner dial features the hour markers while the outer dial reads the minute markers, which might take some getting used to, but a day or two with this watch is all it’ll take.
Instead of running on a quartz movement like the other entries on the list, this watch uses an Automatic movement, which is a nice touch from Seiko.
With an automatic movement, expect to lose a minute or two a day, but that’s a small price to pay for never needing to manually rewind the watch or have to go out and change the battery.
The nylon strap that this watch comes with is great for the outdoors as it’s comfortable and reacts better to sweat than metal does.
So if you plan to be out and about while wearing your timepiece, then this affordable Seiko watch might be the pick for you.
Best Field Watches Under $300
If you’re looking in this price range, then I highly recommend the following one.
Citizen Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Watch (AW1361-10H)
Citizen is one of the best brands to go to if you’re trying to save a couple of bucks but still get a quality watch.
This is a prime example of that, which is why it was chosen as the best field watch under $300.
It features a light brown leather strap with cream-colored stitching, which is a classic combination that used to be seen on old school watches all over.
The dial itself is reminiscent of the timepieces of old but with a bit of modern flair.
It has a charcoal background, which serves as a great base for all the markers on the face of the watch.
The way the dial is designed, with one inner dial which serves as the 24-hour display is creative, functional, and really makes reading the time easy.
There is a date window at the 3 o’clock position which makes things much simpler and nicer to look at as well as making the dial look un-cluttered.
The watch also features Citizen’s Eco-Drive movement, which is probably the brand’s most notable technology.
It works like a standard quartz movement, keeping time very accurately, but the difference being that the watch runs on light energy by using a solar panel placed directly on the face of the watch.
This means you get all the horological benefits of a quartz movement without the hassle of having to charge the battery since the battery on this watch charges on its own as long as it gets regular exposure to light.
Best Field Watches Under $500
Let’s raise the price of the watches a bit and check out the top picks for under $500.
Luminox Atacama Field Day 1925 Series
As you might be able to tell from the watch’s name, this is a model that was inspired by vintage field watches of the ’20s.
This Luminox model is pretty large.
With a 45mm case, you’ll definitely have a watch large enough for any man out there.
But since it isn’t obnoxiously large, it still works very well with the smaller wrists.
The dial itself has a black background and large, brown hour markers with the Luminox logo right below the 12 o’clock position.
It has an anti-reflective sapphire crystal which is one of the best crystals you can get, so rest assured that your dial will be protected with this watch.
On top of that, it has a quartz movement and 200m of water resistance, so if you choose this watch, you’re choosing both durability and style.
Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic Watch (H70555533)
Hamilton is a brand that falls right between affordable and expensive in their prices.
But they’ve always made top quality watches.
That’s why this model is our pick for the best automatic field watch under $500.
It has that classic field watch look, with a black dial and a large number of markers placed around.
Everything on the dial looks very precise and intentional, making it really clean to look at.
The case and dial blend perfectly with the brown leather strap that comes with it, and it really invokes a sense of nostalgia at first glance.
It’s water-resistant up to a hundred meters, so you can wear it while going on a swim or taking a shower (though I’d advise against letting the watch get soaked since it has a leather strap).
The highlight of this model is the Automatic self-winding movement it comes with, as all you have to do is wear the watch to keep it ticking.
A real workhorse of a watch, which is why it ended up on this list.
GPW Military Titanium Watch (4260313739868)
This is one of the more durable pieces on this list.
Which is to be expected, since this is a model that was based on watches used by the German Crisis Reaction Forces.
It has a titanium case, but it’s surprisingly light, being one of the lightest titanium watches on the market today.
The watch also has a sapphire crystal, which is by far the strongest crystal you can put on a watch.
It also runs on a Swiss quartz movement, which is just about as reliable as it gets when it comes to timekeeping.
The dial on this watch is very minimalist, which is great for those looking for a nice simple timepiece to wear on a daily basis.
With simple dot markers, you won’t be attracting any unwanted attention with this watch while still wearing a beautiful timepiece on your wrist.
The dial is also luminous, so if you need to check the time in the dark the dial will be very easy to read.
This is a very simple watch that packs a real punch, so if you want a perfect combination of simplicity and durability, you might have just found your pick.
Best Field Watches Under $1000
We get into the more premium, but still affordable watches in this section as we tackle the top watches under $1000.
Seiko Prospex Smoke Dial SS Tan (SSC293)
Yep, it’s another Seiko model.
Most people expect simple designs from Seiko, but with this model, things are a little different.
The design on this watch is nothing short of stellar, there are lots of components, but it doesn’t look crowded at all.
It has a solid dial design, with three sub-dials for the chronograph and large markers to make time reading easy even if there’s a lot going on in the dial.
It uses a quartz movement, which is what to expect from Seiko, a reliable and simple movement for a powerful watch.
This is a watch designed to be used outdoors.
It’s tough, nicely designed, full of function, and easy to use.
There isn’t much more you can ask or expect from a Seiko model.
Luminox Atacama Field Automatic
Capping off our list is another one of Luminox’s field watches.
This is a sleek watch.
With its black strap, dial, and silver case, this is a watch that can work casually and formally.
Which can sometimes be hard to come by with field watches.
This is one hundred percent Swiss-made, which has become a sign that a watch is in the top tier.
On the dial are a precise set of markers that may seem like a lot to look at at first glance, but closer inspection would show that everything is arranged properly so that it doesn’t look cluttered or confusing.
Even the date window, which one might expect to be covered or overshadowed in a dial like this is very clear and easy to read.
To make time even easier to read and to add a touch of style to the watch, Luminox decided to add red details throughout the dial.
This really makes the dial pop, which may not be for everyone, but it does make things much easier.
The watch runs on a Swiss-Automatic movement, which is one of the most sought-after movements with field watches since they can last a long while.
And to add to all of that, the watch is also water-resistant up to 100m, which gives you a bunch of possibilities when wearing this watch.
Which can be a great plus, since the design of the watch is one of the most flexible ones you can find in this price range.
Weiss Standard Issue Field Watch
** Currently unavailable **
Kicking off the more expensive side of this list is beautiful from Weiss.
The dial design on its own is enough to show how much of a premium product this is, even if the design is still relatively simple.
It has a white background with black markers, which is a simple combination that’s been tried and tested over time.
The dial has a lot of space, which allows you to read time very easily, and the Weiss logo right in the middle of the dial is placed perfectly.
It has a double domed sapphire crystal, which is about as good as it gets with watch crystals, but the highlight of this watch has to be the movement.
The watch features Weiss’ signature mechanical movement which is famous for its premium quality.
Like with most mechanical movements, expect to lose a bit of time every day and winding it from time to time, but it’s a small price to pay for the great function of this watch.
So if you’re looking for very high quality without having to shell out the money you’d have to with a Rolex or a Patek Philippe, then this Weiss model is by far one of the better choices.
Other great watches you should consider:
Conclusion
So there you have it.
Some of the best field watches I found during my research.
These pieces are all designed for different people and different tastes.
Which is why it’s close to impossible to name one single watch that is the best field watch available today.
Everyone has different tastes and styles, and there are different field watches out there that can satisfy those tastes and styles.
So with everything laid out, the only thing left to do is decide your price range, take your pick, and make the purchase! If you also enjoy diving or aquatic sports, consider a dive watch from Invicta.
