The 12 Best Watches Under $1,000

June 30, 2025 / Kevin harson /

If you’re scouting for the best watches under $1,000, we’d bet it’s for one of two reasons: you’re looking for a gift and you’ve got a (very generous) budget, or you yourself have been bitten by the watch bug. If it’s the latter, our condolences—we love watches, unequivocally and enthusiastically. But trying to manage a burgeoning watch obsession without destroying your credit score requires a steely sense of willpower.

That’s the bad news. The good news: if you’re walking around with anywhere between $100 and $1,000 American dollars to spend on a timepiece, you’ve got lots of great options.

Right now, the field of competition for the best watches under $1,000 is more crowded than ever. You can find winners across every type of category—divers, field watches, steel sportwatches, and beyond—made by everything from legendary Swiss watchmakers to underrated Japanese icons to upstart microbrands. You can nerd out over automatic movements and flyer GMT complications, or get a dress watch with Art Deco elegance. You can get a watch that will make connoisseurs who use the word “horology” in polite conversation nod in respect.

But most importantly, you can find something you’ll love—and that you’ll want to wear for a long time.

Below are our votes for the 12 best watches under $1,000, plus 24 more options—two in each category. You’ll see a few of the same brands multiple times, because in this budget, we’d rather go with the companies we trust.

Enjoy your new watch. Though don’t be surprised if you end up with more than one.