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Best Watches for College Students & College Graduates

Not only is a watch a useful tool for you to keep track of time, but it can also be a pleasant accessory for both men and women.

For students, in particular, having a reliable watch can really create a difference.

They can see the time, plan ahead of their schedules, time their exams, or simply having something cool to show off to their friends!

And today, I’m more than happy to give you a detailed review of some of the top-rated wristwatches for students.

Stay tuned to find out more!

Product imageProduct nameBest forEditor’s ratingPrice
Garmin vívoactive 3, GPS SmartwatchGarmin vívoactive 3, GPS SmartwatchBoth men & women[usr 4.8]cta
Timex Unisex Expedition Classic WatchTimex Unisex Expedition Classic WatchBoth men & women[usr 4.8]
Casio Baby-G Digital WatchCasio Baby-G Digital WatchWomen[usr 4.7]cta
Casio G-Shock Digital WatchCasio G-Shock Digital WatchMen[usr 4.7]cta
Citizen Watches Mens BM8180-03ECitizen Watches Mens BM8180-03EMen[usr 4.7]cta
Casio GA 100-1A1 Military Series Watch in BlackCasio GA 100-1A1 Military Series Watch in BlackMen[usr 4.7]cta
Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size WatchTimex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size WatchMen[usr 4.8]cta
Seiko Womens SUT116 Two-Tone WatchSeiko Womens SUT116 Two-Tone WatchWomen[usr 4.7]cta
Timex Womens Indiglo Easy Reader Quartz WatchTimex Womens Indiglo Easy Reader Quartz WatchWomen[usr 4.7]cta
Speidel Original Scrub Watch - Medical Scrub ColorsSpeidel Original Scrub Watch – Medical Scrub ColorsWomen[usr 4.7]cta

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Top 10 Best Watches for College Students You Should Not Miss Out

Best Smartwatch for College Students – Garmin GPS Smartwatch

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You can customize your own unique watch with a number of free watch screens, applications, and gadgets from the Connect IQ store of the manufacturer.

The excellent memory allows you to record up to 7 timed activities and 14 days of activity tracking data.

As a college student, you will love to play sports and do exercise.

For your convenience, the watch is capable of over 15 preloaded GPS as well as indoor sports apps such as cardio, cycling, and even yoga.

The lens is made of chemically strengthened glass and bezel, so it is very durable.

In addition, its case is made of fiber-reinforced polymer with stainless steel rear cover.

Moreover, you can also balance your life with stress level, and health measurement features apart from scheduling your daily activities.

Pros
  • Multiple free bonus apps
  • Usable for all types of sports
  • Extra durability
Cons
  • Rather expensive for college students

Best Digital Watches for College Students

Timex Unisex Expedition Classic Watch

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The watch comes with a plain but dynamic outdoor design, which is very suitable for young and energetic people.

Besides, a quick-wrap velcro strap saves a lot of time for people who are always hurrying as it will just take you 1 second to wear the watch.

If you love to record and break the record, the watch offers countdown timer, stopwatch, alarm and record history.

Meanwhile, the plastic case provides durability and is extra lightweight.

The watch is water-resistant in the depth of 100 meters and can light itself in the dark so you can swim freely without the fear of darkness creeping inside your brain.

Furthermore, there is no need for you to worry about the durability.

You can throw it, scratch it, drop it, or whatever you want but it won’t break down easily.

Just don’t purposely hammer it to prove me wrong though.

Pros
  • Dynamic design
  • Lightweight
  • Low cost
Cons
  • A velcro strap can lose its sticky level over time

Casio Baby-G BG169G-4 Digital Watch

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This plastic Casio watch is either made in the USA or imported from other countries.

Apart from its sparkling outfit, the electronic watch is also multi-functional.

You can have a shock-resistant watch with a memory of up to 25 records, 29 international time zones, day counter and countdown timer, daily alarms, precise-to-millisecond stopwatch, and EL backlight feature.

Moreover, the plastic case is 42-mm thick in combination with the Japanese quartz movement to make its durability unquestionable.

Plastic band with buckle closure also allows you to wear the watch comfortably.

The water-resistant is effective up to a depth of 200 m (approximately 660 ft), which is quite great for most water sports and activities except for scuba diving.

Pros
  • Multiple time zones
  • Great water-resistance
  • Excellent memory
Cons
  • Somewhat poor design

Casio G-Shock DW5600E-1V Digital Watch

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The shock-resistant and 200-meter water-resistant cover together with a 45-mm case will ensure your watch can survive in the harshest environment.

Furthermore, you can see the time clearly even in the dark with its EL Backlight and Afterglow feature.

It also comes with a countdown timer, date and time setter, a pre-programmed calendar valid until 2039.

The auto-repeat function and the hourly time signal are very appropriate for college students who need to know when the lesson will start and end.

Nonetheless, the navigation button is a bit hard to press though,  to prevent you from using it by accident.

Just to make sure you don’t freak out and think you received a faulty product.

Pros
  • Excellent shock and water resistance
  • Auto-repeat function
  • Date and time setter available
Cons
  • The button is quite hard to press

Related: 10 Best Tablets For College Students

Best Men’s Watches for College Students

Citizen Watches Men’s BM8180-03E

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Be aware of the fact that Citizen watches can be made in the USA or imported from other countries.

Thanks to the Japanese-quartz movement using solar energy, you can charge it under any type of exposure to light.

In addition to its eco-friendliness, this feature of the watch will help you save energy, money, and time simultaneously.

The mineral crystal dial window and luminosity are easy to look.

Moreover, all the buckle closure, the textured crown, and the analog display create both an attractive appearance and convenience for users.

But it has a small disadvantage.

The water-resistance only works in the depth of 330 feet (around 100m), which is a bit inferior to other watches.

Pros
  • Modern design
  • Eco-friendliness
  • Easy-to-read
Cons
  • Can get scratches easily

Casio G-SHOCK GA 100-1A1 Military Series Watch

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With this product, you can also enjoy the stopwatch, countdown timer, and the automated calendar similar to others.

There are not only analog but also digital movement, the time of 48 cities in 29 different time zones as well.

Furthermore, the plastic watch band comes with a metal buckle closure so that it can fit your wrist tightly.

Made by the famous Casio brand, the watch can resist mechanical shock, gravitational shock, and vibration.

Water-resistance is applicable to up to 200 meters under the water.

Therefore, it can survive any serious accidents and ensure a lifetime use.

Plus, its appearance is eye-catching to anyone in any activity.

Especially, the big size gives off a dominance vibe and will surely boost your confidence.

You can wear a G-shock watch, whether you are playing sports, hanging out or going shopping, etc.

Pros
  • Impressive appearance
  • Multiple time zones
  • Ultra-durable
Cons
  • A bit bulky

Timex Ironman Classic 30 Full-Size Watch

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This is a totally imported watch, but you can buy it on the Internet easily.

The iconic performance design, the plastic strap with buckle closure, Indiglo light-up watch dial, the top pusher – all support the user at its best.

Hence, you will find it extremely simple to use.

The stopwatch capacity has up to one hundred consecutive records for optimal convenience.

There are also an interval/countdown timer and an adjustable alarm for you to access via five buttons around the watch.

Though, being water-resistant to 100 meters (or 330 feet) is generally appropriate for swimmers and snorkelers, but not divers.

Pros
  • Convenient use
  • Lightweight
  • Great functions
Cons
  • A bit expensive

Best Women’s Watches for College Students

Seiko Women’s SUT116 Stainless Steel Two-Tone Watch

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The band color has up to two tones – silver and gold, which makes the watch somewhat classic and polite.

This characteristic of the Seiko’s font is also displayed in the day and date calendar as well as the numbers on the screen.

Also, the Solar analog and the white dial will look very nice for a lady’s wrist.

However, as specifically designed for women, the timepiece only allows water-resistance to 99 feet (about 30 meters).

As a result, it can endure rain and splashes of water, but showering or submersion may exceed its limit.

Pros
  • Classic design
  • Very durable
  • Easily match different outfits
Cons
  • Inferior water-resistance

Timex Women’s Indiglo Easy Reader Strap Watch

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Just like other women watch, this Timex watch features easy-to-read Arabic numbers on a white dial background.

On the contrary to the stiff light-up white screen and the polished silver-tone case, the natural leather strap is in dark color and very soft.

The watch can only resist rain or water drop but nothing more since it is not a sports watch.

Nonetheless, the manufacturer pays attention to every detail necessary to the aesthetic beauty of the ladies.

If you are seeking a unique accessory that expresses your own lifestyle or simple love something different, this is a perfect choice.

Pros
  • Cheap price
  • Easy to read
  • Eye-catchy appearance
Cons
  • A bit loose strap

Speidel Original Scrub Watch

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The watch features both 12 and 24-hour markers for busy women.

Designed for energetic people, the Speidel Watch has a 38-mm case diameter, 3-hand Quartz movement with a highly visible red second hand.

As a bonus, the watch is very easy to clean, soft, and durable.

The 100% silicone band comes with a variety of colors and styles for you to choose from.

Especially, all of them are suitable for women such as pink, teal, purple, light pink, black, and navy.

If you like to have your name on the watch, its stainless steel case cover is engravable.

Feel free to create something special for the woman you love or for yourself.

Pros
  • A range of different colors and styles
  • Comfortable use
  • Excellent warranty
Cons
  • Unisex design is not specific to a woman’s beauty

How to Choose the Right Watches for Students

best watches for college students

Apart from the product list above, I will gift you a detailed and comprehensive buying guide so that you can have sufficient knowledge and confidence to pick the most suitable wristwatches on a budget for students today.

Materials

The first thing we should care about is the durability of the product.

You definitely do not want to waste money on faulty watches that you have to discard in several weeks of use.

Not only a premium-quality watch is made of stainless steel but also any watch else.

Titanium or ceramic covers are superior if you have a big budget.

Unless you buy a stainless steel watch, moisture, skin irritation, and perspiration will soon ruin your timepieces.

In addition, a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating is very crucial to maintain the colors of the watch.

Without it, your watch seems to fade out after one year of constant use.

To find out the materials of the watch, you can see the back of it.

However, in most cases, stainless steel back only tells you that it is the only part made of stainless steel.

Also, the weight of the watch can be a sign of quality.

You can infer from it the hardness and density of the used steel as well as the type of movement.

However, note that you can hardly find information about stainless steel and PVD coating on the watch.

You can ensure these features by discussing with the shop or buying an expensive watch from a big brand or a well-known store.

Glass Crystal

Next, the second factor you need to consider is a sapphire glass crystal.

It can prevent your watch screen from scratches and thus keep it clear.

Nevertheless, if you cannot afford that, the only thing you can do is accepting inferior mineral or crystal glass.

Fortunately, you can read the kind of glass on the dial or the back.

The Movement

Your timepiece should feature a quartz movement or a certified mechanical movement such as Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) of Swiss.

Luckily, you can find a quartz movement in good watches at a reasonable price.

The benefit of quartz is that it requires fewer moving items. Hence, your watches will be cheaper but more precise.

Besides, Miyota, Seiko, and Ronda’s movements are also very worthy.

Water Resistance

Waterproof is compulsory for any watch regardless of its price.

An excellent timepiece always comes with at least 10 ATM water resistance.

This number means that the watch can endure up to one hundred meters (ten bars) of pressure.

10 ATM will allow you to swim while 5 ATM is only for showering and 3 ATM is for washing hands.

Also, you can see this spec on the back of your watch.

The Strap

Commonly, the watch manufacturers use resin or leather strap.

A plastic band is water-resistant, but many people may like leather material as it looks nicer.

This depends on your preference.

One more important point is that the strap should fit and match the case.

What you should expect are symmetrical and narrow seams.

Brand & Warranty

Of course, when it comes to quality, we can search for brand and warranty.

The famous brand names like Casio, Seiko, Rolex, Swiss watches, and so on always make us assured.

However, try to avoid fake products and choose a reputable store along with a long-time warranty.

Conclusion

After reading through our review and buying guide, have you had a fair idea about what you should go for?

Let’s go and grab the best fit for you!

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