Most Popular Men’s Dive Watches Under 500
You’re a man of opportunity and adventure. Having an outdoor watch that supports your journey is of utmost importance; but what do you do when you have to decide between form or function? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with the most popular men’s dive watches under $500. These watches not only can be lifesaving by helping you track your time below the surface, but look good enough to keep wearing long after the waves have disappeared out of your rear-view mirror.
Why Are Dive Watches So Popular?
A dive watch is totally water resistance and because of this fact, there is no need to worry about it getting wet. It’s designed with a dial that glows in the dark and it’s easy to read underwater. The dive watch became very popular as a stylish timepiece after seeing James Bond wearing one in the movie 007.
Best Dive Watches Under $500
Invicta Pro Diver Quartz Diving Watch
The Invicta Men’s Pro Diver Quartz Diving Watch holds true to Invicta’s promise of value and craftsmanship. The efficiency of this watch is seen in its durable flame fusion crystal for powerful scratch resistance and fold over safety lock clasp. Even better, it’s decked out with a large 43 mm case diameter for easy reading.
- Pros: Unidirectional bezel movement; water-resistant to 200 meters and suitable for most professional marine activity.
- Con: Not suitable for scuba diving.
Citizen’s Men’s Eco-Drive Watch
Citizen’s Men’s Eco-Drive Watch offers style with a marine flare. The “Blue Angels” blue is a stunning color with a vibrant contrasting yellow on the inner part of the wrist ban. The large stainless-steel case rounds out the attractive look.
- Pros: Powered by any light with atomic time keeping and has a perpetual calendar chronograph with slide rule bezel
- Con: Although it’s water resistant to 200 meters, it is not suitable for scuba diving.
Seiko Men’s Excelsior Black Watch
Seiko Men’s Excelsior Black Watch is certainly the sexiest option for best dive watch under $500. This is where sophistication and function all come together for a striking timepiece. This watch is powered by light, so you never have to worry about battery changes. It is water-resistant down to 100 meters.
- Pros: Stainless link bracelet and fold-over clasp with double push-button safety closure, luminous hands and markers for easy readability, and did we mention it looks amazing?
- Con: While good for swimming and snorkeling, it doesn’t have a bezel movement and it is not for scuba diving.
Seiko PADI Special Edition Prospex Solar Dive Watch
Okay sailor, the Seiko PADI Special Edition Prospex Solar Dive Watch is the watch for you. The nautical red, white, and blue make it eye-catching. Plus, it meets ISO diving standards so it’s the first watch on our list so far that’s suitable for scuba-diving down to 200 meters with a unidirectional bezel.
- Pros: Polyurethane band for optimal comfort and large 47mm diameter case with Lumbrite hands and markers for impressive readability.
- Con: Admittedly, the look isn’t for everyone.
Best Dive Watches Under $200
Invicta Men’s 3048 Pro Diver Collection Grand Diver
The Invicta Men’s 3048 Pro Diver Automatic Watch has a legacy to uphold. Invicta (Latin for ‘invincible’), has been around for over a century and has stood by its promise for quality craftsmanship at a modest price. The ingenuity of this watch makes it an ideal choice for serious scuba divers.
As an automatic watch, it boasts immaculate timekeeping. It simply uses kinetic energy from your regular body movements to keep time, so it never needs a battery – just be sure to wear it every day.
- Pros: Yellow dial face with bold black and white contrasting hands will clearly stand out. Also, it’s cleared for scuba diving to a max depth of 300 meters with a unidirectional bezel.
- Con: It is a fairly bulky/heavy watch and may not be considered comfortable for all-day wear outside of the water.
Seiko Men’s SNZH57 Seiko 5 Automatic
Seiko Men’s SNZH57 Seiko 5 Automatic Black Dial Stainless Steel Watch – another Seiko classic where form isn’t compromised for function.
It’s clean and simplistic with its stainless-steel case and bracelet with gold-tone hands over a black dial. With its Japanese automatic movement, you won’t need to worry about battery life and its durable mineral hardlex crystal will keep it safe no matter what you bump it into.
- Pros: Has unidirectional bezel and has the day function available in English and Spanish.
- Con: Besides not suitable for scuba diving, it cannot be manually wound.
Invicta Men’s 9094OB Pro Diver Collection Stainless Steel Watch
Inivicta delivers again with its bright colors and luminous hands with the Invicta Men’s 9094OB Pro Diver Collection Stainless Steel Watch. The unidirectional bezel is sharp without any backwards slip.
- Pros: Water resistant to 200 meters and has stainless steel bracelet with buckle closure for a secure fit.
- Con: Not suitable for scuba diving.
Popular Dive Watches Under $100
Casio Men’s G-SHOCK Military Series Watch
If you’re wanting a tough-looking watch that holds up on all your adventures, look no further than the Casio Men’s G-SHOCK – The GA 100-1A1 Military Series Watch in Black. It’s like wearing a mini tank on your wrist.
- Pros: As its name states, this watch is shock-resistant making it a great watch for outdoor wear and high-intensity sports; it is also water-resistant to 200 meters with a countdown setting (but not traditional bezel).
- Con: While it’s very tactical look may not be for everyone, its main con is that it’s battery operated with the required battery only lasting about 2 years.
Timex Men’s Expedition Field Chronograph Watch
The Timex Men’s Expedition Field Chronograph leather Watch offers functionality without all the bells and whistles. Inspired by vintage military design, this watch could have easily been handed down by your grandfather.
- Pros: Depending on color preference, you can get it with genuine leather or tougher nylon strap and it boasts the chronograph precision of the original Expedition Scout watch.
- Con: Only water-resistant to 100 meters and has an indigo light-up dial rather than luminous hands.
Invicta Men’s 8932 Pro Diver
The classic look of the Invicta Men’s 8932 Pro Diver Collection Silver-Tone Watch lets you wear it just as easily to a black-tie event as you would in the great outdoors. Unlike other Invicta watches, this tasteful stainless-steel case and bracelet with black dial has no additional distracting colors. It’s also suitable for recreational diving to 200 meters with a unidirectional bezel.
- Pros: Has Tritnite luminous hands and markers for optimal visibility and diver buckle with a safety clasp for optimal securability.
- Con: Not automatic, requires battery replacement.
Casio Illuminator Diver Analog Display Quartz Watch
Like the Invicta above, this Casio Men’s MTD-1079D-1AVCF Super Illuminator Diver Analog Display Quartz Silver Watch keeps it classy with a stainless steel band and black display face.
- Pros: The face is 44mm, making it one of the largest on this list for options of best dive watch under $500 and it is water-resistant to 100 meters with an anti-reverse rotary bezel.
- Con: This watch is a bit thick and doesn’t have a double safety latch, so be cautious if it runs into anything that you don’t lose it.
Invicta Pro Diver Stainless Steel Two-Tone Automatic Watch
Invicta is at it again with its bold color tones on this Invicta Men’s 8928OB Pro Diver Gold Stainless Steel Two-Tone Automatic Watch. The electric blue and gold offer striking detailing to this high-performance timepiece. It’s suitable for professional marine activity down to 200 meters with a unidirectional bezel – except scuba diving – and has a fold-over clasp with safety closure.
- Pros: That electric blue dial is designed for quick and easy readability; plus, it’s got a sleek skeleton case backing to view the Japanese automatic movement (which also means no battery replacement required).
- Con: It is clearly inspired by the Rolex Submariner. It might even be fair to say it’s a knock-off, but it at least does it justice. This watch is beautifully designed and gives you a high caliber watch for a fraction of the Rolex price.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Outdoor Watch
If you need a watch that works as well above the surface as below, this list is a great place to start.
Something specifically to look for that a true dive watch will include is a unidirectional, rotating bezel – typically that can count from zero to sixty (counting up the minutes of an hour) for the sake of tracking time below the surface. Many watches today mimic the look of the bezel, but to guarantee its function for your adventuring purposes, be sure on its max depth ability. Realistically, anything less than 200 meters may not be suitable for submersion.
Luminescence and readability are essential. A dive watch won’t be of much value if you can’t read it underwater. Having all the right markers easy to read is life-saving as timing is critical below the surface – especially when scuba diving.
Lastly, consider durability. This goes for the case and strap. Depending on the sport, your watch may encounter multiple impacts. Also, not only do you not want the display getting scratched up, you want to make sure that a snag or swipe on a reef won’t pull it off your wrist.
Performance Meets Budget with These Dive Watches
For a watch that works for you just as well on adventures as it does in the office, your best dive watch under $500 can be found in this list. There’s no reason to compromise performance for a lower price tag with quality timepieces that offer both.
Your safety is important but so is your budget. Use this guide so you’re ready to dive into your next adventure.
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